June 1, 2015 Hello all, Well, it has been more than a month since I produced a progress report for you. Gail and I went to Alabama to the Talladega race via a small private aircraft. We had planned to be gone for about two weeks, but the weather moved in over the mid section […]

May 23, 2015 We were a little short handed administration-wise these next few weeks, so no detailed status was prepared. However, work was performed and a photographic record can be found here HERE in the usual place. You might want to jump ahead to 05/30/2015 where detailed status reports resumes. Keep on Steamin’,Rich Bugge, WebmasterNMSL&RHS

April 21, 2015 We had an abbreviated work week. Saturday the 2926 Society entertained the AAPRCO folks on site. They toured the restoration site and observed volunteers working on the engine and marveled at the progress achieved since their last visit. The rail car owners were provided a barbeque lunch complete with pulled pork, brisket, […]

April 14, 2015 Superheater pipe fabrication continues as usual. The projected completion of the superheater work is mid to late June. Fireman’s side timing rods were installed this week including the union link, radius bar lifting link and combo lever. A new pin for the combo lever was fabricated. More bolts were welded to the […]

April 7, 2015 Other than the normal on-going projects, volunteers were busy tightening some bolts to stop slow fuel oil leaks at the front of the tender. Workers also completed the shimming process for both of the steam valve piston shafts.   Several men hoisted the heavy timing rods into place on the engineer’s side.  These included […]

March 28, 2015 Besides the ongoing projects of jacketing stud replacements, lube line flushing and superheater piping fabrications the 80” drivers got new shoes. The locomotive was rolled over the pit to help workers install the heavy brake shoes and their hangers. Preliminary slack adjustments were done. Volunteers have been working some extra time hanging […]

March 23, 2015 Another restoration milestone was achieved this week. On Thursday at 1:00 PM all of the boiler tubes had been seal-welded and re-expanded. We are now taking steps to seal off various boiler openings. The 29 remaining full replacement flexible staybolts have been ordered and are currently being fabricated by outside contractors. Men […]

March 17, 2015 One set of rebuilt 26L air brake parts arrived during the week. They were unpacked and secured in one of our containers. The search continues for spare valves. Various suppliers are submitting pricing for those items we deem necessary to have as emergency replacements. Also we received a brake stand core. Various […]

March 10, 2015 No boiler tube work was performed for the last two weeks. Our contractor had to spend extra time out of town due to weather related delays of material deliveries. They have however resumed work this week. The throttle quadrant has been repaired and painted. Some of the stud bolts that attach it […]

February 25, 2015 The work week we had was favorable working weather. The tube and flue rolling project began Monday. The contractor is working five days per week. Our group had a minimum of four persons on site each day to open up the site and assist them any way we can. In other areas […]