N&W 611 - The Restoration Begins

Great work Bob! I also posted this to the OGR Facebook page. It's really amazing when you think that the last time this engine had parts off like this was in 1995.... This is really going to happen! Will be excited to get down south to see her next year if not sooner.

In a word....Outstanding!    Best of success to all of you folks putting in the hours to getting her back on the road!

Great video!  Thank you!

Excellent.

Great footage!  She looks great...I can't wait.

Very exciting news.

Interesting. It is too bad that the folks doing the work in the video are not identified. Also, I wonder why they are removing the main rod/rods?

Wasn't Scott Lindsay in there? Or was I seeing things?

HW are you trying to bait us????  

 

I have already posted about the Trains Special Mag Extra 2014 on the Big Boys and 4014 in particular.  Interesting to note they did NOT remove the mains to move 4014.  But they did remove the piston rods.  HW how easy is that to do?

 

Oh HW in this pub Jim Wrinn states the exposed coolers were gone "by 1951."  Based on pics and DVD I have guessed 52/53, but by 51.

 

Ron

 

Good video, thanks for posting. Picked the right song to play too.

 

Can't wait for a ride.

 

What an exciting time us Steam locomotive fans are living in! On the Right coast BIG steam has really been dead for decades. Then 765 comes to the Curve in 2013, and now 611 is being reawakened.

 

Just a few years ago, who would have thunk it?

 

B&O Pacific should be next!

 

HW I thought you were referring to the rod from crosshead slide to driver (have not looked at video) not main connecting rods.

 

Ron

I would guess for a visual inspection.

That IS "the main rod"! Maybe you SHOULD view the video????

Yes, because you don't want the pistons "pumping air" while being towed, plus without steam flow through the valves and cylinders there is no really effective method of lubricating everything inside.

 

 

When the Santa Fe moved its museum collection to Sacramento the 5021 was towed with the main rods and piston rods in place.  The heat created by the pumping action kept causing hot box detectors to go off and thus dropping the signals to red.

 

Stuart

 

Right, but remember that the management of the Santa Fe, at that time, could have cared less about what happened INSIDE those cylinders! They were simply getting all that "old stuff" off their property, by giving it to the California State Railroad Museum, who wound up letting the equipment languish outdoors. Even that totally pristine Santa Fe Doodle-bug was stripped by copper thieves, due to lack of security buy the museum.

Perhaps they don't want to worry about keeping the crosshead lubricated. Best I can remember, both 611 & 1218 were moved to Birmingham with their main rods removed. I'm sure Scott knows what he is doing and will make the proper preparations to get 611 there safely. I would also think that there will be a 25mph speed restriction when 611 does move to Spencer.

The Machine Oil Mechanical Lubricator will take care of that.

Could it be that removing the main rod is easier than pulling the piston rod out?  Just pull the eccentric and the wrist pin, as opposed to opening the cylinder and trying to free up the piston rod while inside the bore?  Hot has the better way, but sometimes cheaper/faster is chosen.

 

UP took the easy way out in the olden days and just burned them off.  Yuk!

I wouldn't sweat it..Scott know the 611 and knows what he's doing.

I'm not impressed for a couple of reasons.

 Using a non-impact socket on a air impact wrench??

 Trying to manually "pull" a rod by hand?? That's what prybars are made for as in use   your head and not your back. And why walk around with that rod? If it tips or falls       you sure as heck ain't gonna "catch" it.

Sorry but that's the 45+ years of being a heavy equipment/ crane mechanic side of me commenting. 

Not using a impact socket is not a safe idea.  But maybe there is something in the construction of the rod which makes using a pry bar unwise.

Its a good thing "we" know better, than the handful of guys that know the 611 better than anyone else in the world

 

 These guys aren't "heavy equipment mechanics" that have access to a "shop provided"  full line of specific tools, boom truck, whatever.  I don't believe they are being paid a "heavy equipment mechanic" wage either, if at all.

 

 Having said that, given the "background of those involved. I think if they wanted or needed to use a prybar they would have. I believe I saw "Snap On" on the socket as it went around, so at least if it broke they would get a free replacement, as long as they didn't say they used it on an impact. 

 

Personally, I thought they did a fine job with a few hands and a forklift, and if I recall the video correctly, no one got hurt.

 

Can't we just be greatful that 611 will run again one day? Theres simply no end to the critics on this forum. ****ed if you do, ****ed if you don't.

Thank you RickO! Amen to that!

And so it begins.  You have a mechanical team comprised of individuals, many who have wrenched on her before and know exactly what they are doing...and one of which who I believe was in that video who not only fired/maintained her before under NS, but also was hands on in prepping her for the long term storage.  He knows exactly what he's looking for and what to do.  There are times where you have to work with what you've got and make do...not to mention it really didn't seem as if a pry bar was needed.  Let's knock off the arm chair quarterbacking and let em' do their work.   

God bless all those senior citizens bringing this giant back to life.

AMEN!  

 

Having viewed her many times as a static display, I'm looking forward to seeing her under steam at some point in the not-too-distant future.  Best wishes to the entire crew of talented and experienced folks working to give her a splendid new beginning.

Wonderful!

 

Peter

I was wondering about the restoration process for 611. 

For the restoration to be completed in only 9 month what work will 611 need to meet this timeline. I can't see them breaking the engine down to the frame and starting pretty much from scratch. So I’m wondering if the boiler will need to be ultrasound tested and the 15 year inspection? Also I've heard that 611 flue time was up which also lead to retirement in 1994. Also I'm sure the drivers will need to be turned before she can be run again. Does anyone has any information to what work is going to be performed in the 9 month period?

 

Hotwater, 

I was under the impression that turning the drivers was all part of the restoration process. Not know what the condition where when NS killed the steam program and parked 611 for the last 20 years. I know this isn't a case of throwing coal in firebox and water in the boiler and heating it up then off you go. I was just looking to see what work will be done in the 9 month timeframe to get 611 running again. Unless the Fire Up 611 campaign will release this information.

Well Sean, assid from the FRA mandated 15 year inspection, the only other "job" that needs attention on the 611, is repairs to the engine truck (which will need to be dropped-out on the Spencer Shops drop-table).  The FRA 15 year inspection is labor intensive enough as it is.

AFAIK, Spencer does not have a drop table. However, there is one at Shaffer's Crossing so last I heard the front truck rebuild is supposed to happen there. Sean, the 611 was about 7 years into its certification when mothballed.

Great, exciting video to see the restoration process begin with the move to Spencer.

I know what's engine's coming out of my roundhouse onto the mainline today.

 

 

The Historic Spencer Shops does have a drop table large enough to drop 611's engine truck, however the table is non-functional. The last I heard, last year, was that NS MAY simply have the Spencer Shops' drop table repaired, sort of as "good will gesture" for providing a place to conduct the FRA 15 year inspection. Maybe things have changed, and they will drop 611's engine truck at Shaffer's Crossing?