Steam at Steamtown

Egad, has it really been almost 15 years??  That thing seemed to be ubiquitous every time I went to Steamtown.  Well, good news anyway.  thanks.

Egad, has it really been almost 15 years??  That thing seemed to be ubiquitous every time I went to Steamtown.

 

WEll it must have been 15 years since you have last seen it running. I saw this loco as a shop queen for about 15 years.

April 2014 photo.

Additional pictures.

I stopped again, August 2014, on the trip through to Boston.  No one was available for tours. The shop is a restricted area. All Rangers were west fighting fires.  Apparently western fire season is over and the Steamtown employees are back.    I have a Senior Life Time National Park Pass, which allows access to any of the National Park Service fee area, of which Steamtown is one.

 

You got to admire some of that paint work.  Baldwin Locomotive Works would be proud. 

That is the first steam locomotive I ever ran.

 

Jerry Jacobson (of Age of Steam Roundhouse fame) owned it at the time. It was down in Jackson, Ohio in an old steel mill, as I recall.

While I don't mind the Canadian steam in operation there (if people want to complain about the lack of American equipment there, they can only use what Blount had access to, and that was Canadian steam, which was the closest to running condition), I think a place called Steamtown with no operating steam is kind of pointless.

 

Beyond that, I haven't been there probably since the last year that 0-6-0 was running, so it's great to see her running again!

I stopped in on a Sunday last winter on my way back to CT from a fraternity conference at Penn State.  I spoke with the woman in the giftshop for a while and she mentioned she was sorry I couldn't be there when the trains were running, but as I got there it started snowing, so finally getting to see the place I had heard of for 20 years and getting to see all those trains against a background of snow was quite magical for me.  Also I was one of like 2 other people there that day, so I basically had the place to myself

I'll have to make a trip back some day and see everything in action.  I only stopped in because I saw a sign on the highway, so glad I did.  

Also, now I am fascinated with RPOs after seeing the one in their collection.

 

Steamtown's photographer, Kenny Ganz sent me these photos to share online.  Above is Dave Kulesa attaching the water line from the tender to the boiler.  I'm not certain, but I would say the boiler holds about 300 gallons or so.  

 

This is John Melliand watching the fire begin.  The first fire was on Tuesday, Dec. 2. A problem occurred, but not a big one.  It was a condensation issue.  Water was in the firebox as they raised the fire.  Some of the guys worried there were leaks in the tubes, but that would be impossible.  They are rolled and peened and welded over. It truly would be water tight.  The water they found came from the fact it was a humid day. With all that room temperature water in the boiler and heat in the firebox, the air was condensing on the tube sheet.  It took a while to adjust to this, but on Dec. 3, they raised the pressure to 25 psi.  The boiler operates at 180 psi.  At 25 they found a few leaks at the blowdown valve, and new injector lines.  Nothing that cannot be fixed.  

 

 

This is them blowing down the boiler as part of the test.  With minor repairs being done this week, they plan for full pressure this coming week.  

it has been a long time since she last ran... December 12, 1999.  She will return to being the work horse of the fleet.  A lot of cool things are in the works for 2015, and 2016. Stay tuned.

Thanks Tim

Good News,  Tim

 

Conductor Earl

Fantastic news.  Seems like it might be time for another trip to Steamtown.  Living between Steamtown and Strasburg, I'm very fortunate.  Congrats to the Steamtown team.

Ron

Great news but a tiny switcher? If only the Big Boy.......

 

--Greg

I seriously doubt that will happen. The 4014 in P's shop is pristine compared to the 4012. It would take mega millions to restore it.

Don

Thank you for the update, Tim. It is always nice to see photos of progress. Any steam is good steam, especially at a place called Steamtown!

Anyone know if they have run any more tests yet? Al

Some unavoidable delays this past week, Al.  It looks like another fire-up this week.

Thanks Tim

Any progress on the cosmetic restoration of DL&W #265? She was a sweetheart when she was on display at a Wayne, NJ restaurant in the 70s and one of the two extant Lackawanna steam engines. 

No news on DL&W 565.
But the second fire-up of Baldwin 26 led to a whistle blow this afternoon, at low pressure. On Wefnesday, Dec. 17, the plan is to bring her to full pressure. Possibly more whistle salutes.

Stopped at Steamtown today. BLW 26's boiler was taken to full pressure and the pops were set. Lots of other activity as well. B&M 3713 was out in the light of day while being moved to another bay.

 

Conductor Earl

 

Great news on both!  How far along does 3713 look?  The website for it is a bit past due for updates.

 

Looking forward to seeing both when I head up there next month!

It's been a long time coming, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now near.  Baldwin Locomotive Works 26 is expected to be fired up and put into service in late August, 2015.  Nickel Plate Road 765 should be in the Steamtown yard by August 24, so it is possible that Steamtown goes from no steam to two operating steamers on the same day, or within a few days of each other.  

A good first step but I won't be happy until B&M 3713 is up and running