Hi everyone!
On May 26th, 2019, I ventured up I-81 to Scranton, Pennsylvania to visit some friends of mine who are volunteers at Steamtown National Historic Site. Knowing that Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 #26 was running I decided once again to showcase what these hard working individuals do on a (mostly) volunteer basis to keep steam alive in the hard coal region of Pennsylvania. I hope you enjoy these photos!
A hot fire is in progress as the bank had already been broken by the time I arrived shortly after 7 am...
"Sunrise at 7": Hostler Jerry Dziedzic works hard on the fire of Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 #26 in the early morning hours of another day of steam railroading at Steamtown National Historic Site. On this particular morning, Jerry arrived to the engine with a bank that was almost out. Even with some stressful conditions, he had the fire back up in no time as #26 began to build pressure once again inside the former Lackawanna Railroad roundhouse in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Forged and machined to perfection (or as close to it as tolerances would allow at Baldwin)...
I want to say #26 has reverse Walschaerts valve gear since I noticed that when in reverse the reversing arm pushed the radius rod down into the forward position versus up towards the top of the link where the reverse position typically is. If I'm wrong someone please correct me.
"Stablemates": Former Canadian Pacific #2317 and Canadian National #3254 sleep peacefully inside the former Lackawanna Railroad roundhouse at the Steamtown National Historic Site. Once stalwart and trusted motive power for this mecca of steam, both engines since 2010 and 2012 respectfully have napped peacefully awaiting the warmth of a fire once again. It is unknown to many what lies in store for either locomotive as projects are always dependent on the funding and time available.
At about 7:45 am Engineer Chris Labar began stuffing various pins with Alemite soft grease...
Silhouetted by the early morning light entering through the roundhouse doors of the former Lackawanna roundhouse, Fireman Mike Rinkunas chats with the other crew members aboard Baldwin Locomotive Works #26 as Canadian National and stablemate #3254 patiently waits for her next call to duty.
To Chris' eyes no stone is to be left unturned...
A few more odds and ends to check with the flashlight (even for enormous windows and warehouse lighting it's sometimes hard to see into the frames of these mechanical beasts)...
"Arriving on the job"
Engineer Chris Labar jumps up onto the pilot of #26 as he makes one last minor adjustment before heading out of the roundhouse. Chris is a 22 year veteran of Steamtown as a volunteer and recently just completed his first year on the full-time staff there.
Now backing out of the roundhouse you can see my earlier point regarding my deduction that #26 has reverse Walschaerts valve gear. I have to admit she's handsome in her original olive green paint scheme...
Time for a spin...
"Blowdown!": Since #26's blowdown valve shoots out from the fireman's side, the locomotive is pulled up to the south end of the yard well away from pedestrians visiting. To the left of the locomotive is the old Lackawanna sandtower. To the right is the former coal dock now a pedestrian walkway that could once simultaneously coal up multiple locomotives at a time...could you imagine that sight?
Now out on the mainline shared with the Delaware & Lackawanna #26 makes haste for Nay Aug Tunnel...
"Up Grade on the Lackawanna": Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 #26 stomps past the former Lackawanna Railroad station and under the former Lackawanna signal bridge as she makes her way to Nay Aug Tunnel in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania.
That's all folks! Thanks for looking.
Very nostalgic looking. 
National Park/National Historic Sites have/had a deferred maintenance list, which works well, with all the required paper work, necessary for Federal Funding. 
