K4 Update

Wow!! Dave did you stay up all night.

Mike

Mike,

My days are long.  Night time....even longer.

Dave

Dave, 

Sorry I didn't see your post already. I posted about the K4 on the roundhouse post. 

Did the museum state whether the assembly was for cosmetic restoration or are they planning on eventually getting her running on the rails? I have heard both.

The museum already has so much time and effort into her they might as well get her running. They could use the enormous revenue that engine would make if it was on the rails. 

Mike,

My days are long.  Night time....even longer.

 Dave

I've been there.  A part of life that at times I miss.

Mike   

Mike,

They are talking about making her a runner.

Dave

Awesome!

They might as well with all the money put into her. The new board members there are running the museum way better now and are controlling the funds much better unlike before. 

thanks for the update!

Who will finish the firebox then?

The firebox/boiler has been in Orbisonia, PA., EBT railroad, since it left Steamtown last year.

AND

The firebox/boiler will be moved to Altoona and placed inside the roundhouse for restoration. 

Oh my this sounds like a race; which will be delivered and running first, K4 #1361 or my K-4 Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 from the 2011 volume 2.  Smart money is on #1361 

This 1361 project has become a history lesson.  Keep in mind that 1361 was removed from the Curve in Altoona, PA and made operational in the mid 1980's, It had some issues with an axle and bearing, I believe 1988.  Someone has been fixing it ever since (24 years).   I'll be conservative and say it would be nice to see it other than in pieces.  I'll be really optimistic and hope for a coat of paint on the restored tender before it rust badly.

Mike 

OK, what do you mean by "restoration"? If only for cosmetic purposes, that would be a piece of cake.

But to be made operational, the rebuild/up-grade of the K4s firebox, in order to comply with CURRENT FRA specifications, needs to be finished by PROFESSIONALS, and not simply "put back together" at Altoona.

NO. Besides, "up and running" where?

According to an Altoona Mirror article the locomotive will be returned to operating condition inside the roundhouse. 

From reading the article the executive director of the museum said the boiler (this is a year ago btw July 2011) is at Orbisonia at the EBT to be inspected by 3 qualified contracters. From what the contractors find the museum reps will decide what neccessary moves will be taken. Also, one of the contractors of the 3 will also look into Steamtown's records to see what they did right and what they did wrong and what they have to fix.

The boiler of 1361 was passed by the FRA but someone "trying to be helpful" decided to put a grinder to the welds and the FRA immediately pulled the plug on the certification. The FRA told the executive director that the boilers are not to be tampered with, etc. etc. and that they will look at the boiler once the repairs are done.

Lastly, while the boiler was being worked on the steam chest was bored out and trued up by Steamtown while the main frame was aligned at Strasburg. Both of these components will come back to the roundhouse for tests.