January 20, 2014 Since the last progress report Mother Nature has been easy on our crew as outside temperatures have been mild with highs in the mid to high 50’s. Time for some rain/snow though as we are DRY! As you may remember I last reported we had a broken adjusting bolt on the last […]

01/14/2014 No Status was prepared for this week. Most of Saturday was consumed with the Monthly General Meeting followed by the Annual Safety Training Refresher class. Both events were held in a rental property behind Source One Furniture on Menaul (thanks to Bob D. for providing the venue!) About 30-40 folks attended. For the workers […]

January 6, 2014 Saturday was our first work session of 2014 and the only one last week since New Year’s day fell on Wednesday. The day began moving the locomotive positioning the number one set of drivers over the pit to remove the last two compensator buffers for cleaning and inspection. One was discovered to […]

December 29, 2013 Our last work session of 2013 was a productive one accompanied by an unusually large number of visitors. Two more Franklin compensator and snubber assemblies were removed, cleaned and reinstalled. Work on the final pieces of the radial buffer continued as tack welds on the center portion were ground smooth for later […]

12/24/2013 Our dedicated volunteers continue working through the mornings and breezy afternoons. Since the last TW3 we have been sorting out more electrical fixtures and conduits. They are being cleaned and prepared for paint. All the driver air brake leaks have been located. The air supply pipes and their two-hole connector yokes were removed, disassembled […]

December 9, 2013 Old man winter has taken up residence here in “The Land of Enchantment”. Morning temperatures have plummeted to below 20°. Many of our dedicated volunteers are braving the temperatures and continue working on 2926. Wednesday morning one of the driver air brake slack adjusters was adjusted as needed then the locomotive was […]

December 4, 2013 Restoration work resumed on Saturday the 30th with favorable weather. An inventory was done in regards to the final materials needed for the small flexible staybolt sleeve repairs. Those items have now been ordered. Trailing truck air brake linkage parts were being reassembled with new pins fabricated in-house. Air tests of the […]

November 24, 2013 Hello all, We had an abbreviated work week as the first winter storm moved in. Wednesday morning brought a steady light drizzle of rain. Volunteers began the usual work of flexible staybolt sleeve grinding prepping new sleeves and welding new ones to the firebox. Independent brake piping was being tested. Several leaks […]

November 17, 2013 As with most of the past work sessions, flexible staybolt work progressed at a steady pace. No staybolt sleeve welding was done Saturday since those workers were not present. We took the opportunity to position the trailing truck over the pit to install slack adjusters. The machinists were called upon to fabricate […]

November 12, 2013 Hello all, Work progressed in several areas this past week. Custom angle cutting of the large flexible staybolt sleeves continues along with their beveling. Thread chasing of existing sleeves is ongoing. Various stud bolts are being reconditioned with thread chasers while others are being replaced. Foot board brackets were located and are […]