"Official" STEAMTOWN Thread

[mxdata]

I see where it was recently announced that the West Virginia Rails Festival is scheduled the same weekend as the NRHS "Endless Mountain Rails" National Convention in Scranton which is centered around Steamtown.

MX

[Schuylkill Valley]

Hello all,
I volunteer at Steamtown and I think you should know what is really going on up there, and it's not a Failed Mission either.
Leonard.

February 24, 2010
Loco shop/Operation Update

BLW 26
• Firebox crown stay seal welds in progress
• Turret valve is in place
• Driving boxes are being built up with weld and new bearings are being turned.
• Cross head alignment with guides in progress
• Tender buffer sill is being installed. Cistern shall be mounted to frame soon.
• Cistern is primed and ready for paint. We are installing safety appliances and bunker doors. It will be painted after truck units are under it.

CN 3254
• FRA visit to witness hydrostatic pressure test is March 19th.
• All repairs are complete and compliance work complete up to the point of putting a squeeze on it.
• We are waiting for tender wheels to come in to replace.
• Stoker motor reverser rebuilt
• Boiler check valves rebuilt and lapped
• Water pump and air pump thoroughly cleaned and serviced

Car Dept
• Steam Heat installation in 4 passenger cars near completion
• Rebuild of 2 DL&W truck units near completion
• DL&W 589 will have work done to it and will be painted using outside vendor
• 3 other passenger cars will be repaired and exteriors painted using outside vendors
• Over the next 2 years DL&W 346 will have clerestory window work, repairs and paint in house.

B&M 3713
• Developing AutoCAD drawings for the Thermic Syphons
• Completed fabricating a reinforcement plate for the throat sheet.
• Finalized material list to complete boiler repairs

DL&W 565
• VIPs continue to work on engine focusing on the lead truck right now.
• Crew was issued hand tools and tool box for use on this project
• Len Shaner Co-volunteer Lead and crew developed a new web site for the project at http://projectdlw565.webs.com
• Willard Sturdevant will be the parks point of contact for VIPs working on this project on weekends when the season begins.

Locomotive Shop
Gary P. Bensmen has been contracted to do the Asbestos Abatement on 27 pieces of equipment will begin in March.
Expect the restoration shop area to be secured most of the time. They will be using the Hill track through track 3 to perform the work on the equipment. This project has been in the makings since the Mid 1990s and it is great to see it finally happen!
Replace 3 cranes project is still in administrative phase and should go out for bids any day now. The old back shop crane will be kept at the south end of the back shop and used as an interpretive tool. I believe it is the oldest crane in the park.
The King machine and wheel press located in the back shop will be operational soon.
Our upgraded weld shop is complete and up and running. Included in the upgrade are 2 downdraft weld tables, A Babbitt furnace, A TIG machine, A MIG machine, A plasma cutter, overhead draw fans, overhead crane, wall mounted 18 ft adjustable smoke eaters, new entrance and overhead doors, new air, water, and electric service, the windows were stabilized and or restored, and a complete paint job including encapsulation of lead based paint on ceiling.

[p42thedowneaster]

Sounds great! I'm a big fan of SNHS!
Hoping to convince the family to make an excursion down there sometime this summer. Can't wait to see some progress on 3713.

[Steamtown Observer]

Can't wait to see some progress on 3713.

So you are quite young or just plan on setting a life longevity record?

[tgv1138]

Thanks for the updates. Any news on K-4 1361? Is there still a plan in the works to restore it to running condition? Also, does anyone know when the Big Boy will be open for cab tours this year? I have 2 young boys dying to get a look inside!!!

[Schuylkill Valley]

After the Asbestos Abatement is done on NKP. 759 it will be repainted , Just got the news today from a Steamtown Employee. Don't know any thing else.

Len.

[Mr rt]

Thank you very much for the update, it is appreciated !

[mikeexplorer]

Thanks for the update, its not always obvious the progress that is being made.

Mike

[MBTA3247]

Thanks for the updates. Any news on K-4 1361? Is there still a plan in the works to restore it to running condition?

1361's owner decided to halt the restoration several years ago. Dunno if it's been sent back to Altoona yet.

I'd like to know what the status of CP 2317 is.

[mxdata]

There are three articles relating to Steamtown NHS in the July 2010 issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine, one on the Railcamp Program, one on the Steamtown archives, and the other is an interview with Kip Hagen.

MX

[Montclaire]

Since they are bothering to restore steam heat to several cars, does that mean they plan to extend the excusion season further into the fall?

[chuchubob]

Steamtown last Thursday and Friday

[dgshellie]

I was in Scranton on June 26t, 2010 for the Delaware Water Gap Excursion. The 3254 Engine pulled 6 packed cars out of Scranton. After boarding the Park Ranger informed everyone that a bridge had supposedly been damaged just past Moscow and the Steam Engine was unable to handle the bent rails safely and in Moscow (about 12 miles into the 54 mile trip) two Reading FP7 Diesels were switched in to pull the train to Delaware Water Gap and back.

It was nice to see these two Diesels in action but after driving 500 miles for a Steam Excursion it was a dissapointing trip. The 3254 seemed to be in good shape and looked and sounding great.

The train pulled us past the yard and there were many railcars in need of major repair. There was a Nickle Plate Road Steam Loco in the yard (Berkshire possible) that looked in great shape.

[mxdata]

One of several unusual events like this during the last week, that nobody could have anticipated.

Just another typical day on the railroad, with unexpected problems that have to be dealt with.

But when you have paid your fare and driven a long way it is indeed a disappointment.

MX

[mikeexplorer]

It is a true story, a truck struck a bridge south of Moscow and the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad restricted usage of the tracks due to the damage. The road (forget the name offhand) will be closed so the bridge can be repaired. In the meantime freight traffic is running at restricted speed. I have a friend who lives right by that area and saw the damage.

Mike

I was in Scranton on June 26t, 2010 for the Delaware Water Gap Excursion. The 3254 Engine pulled 6 packed cars out of Scranton. After boarding the Park Ranger informed everyone that a bridge had supposedly been damaged just past Moscow and the Steam Engine was unable to handle the bent rails safely and in Moscow (about 12 miles into the 54 mile trip) two Reading FP7 Diesels were switched in to pull the train to Delaware Water Gap and back.

It was nice to see these two Diesels in action but after driving 500 miles for a Steam Excursion it was a dissapointing trip. The 3254 seemed to be in good shape and looked and sounding great.

The train pulled us past the yard and there were many railcars in need of major repair. There was a Nickle Plate Road Steam Loco in the yard (Berkshire possible) that looked in great shape.