Category: Restoration

As we come down the home stretch, the #18 is looking more and more like a complete locomotive. August saw us wrapping up numerous small projects: finishing the sander lines, installing the cab windows and doors, finishing the electrical, adjusting the blowdown linkages, and finishing leak checking the air system. By the time we finished up the air system was nearly leak free! One more pipe “tee” to replace and we will be done. Meanwhile the list of other miscellaneous items is getting shorter and shorter. Still to do are the rear cab windows, engineers side floor, whistle rod, tender-locomotive connections and installing the left eccentric and setting the valve timing.

Throughout the month work has also been progressing on final paint on the locomotive. As of this post, work is about two-thirds complete with the cab and lettering still to be completed. Final paint and lettering on the tender will be done once it is inside the new building.

As for progress on the new building, we have bought and paid for the structure, currently we are working on securing a general contractor to do the dirt work and awaiting the counties issuing of the building and grading permits (no additional approvals required for those). Although we had hoped for the building to be completed by our October BBQ, it looks like it will not quite be done. Slightly disappointing but we have waited this long so what’s waiting just a little longer.

Finally be sure to buy your ticket for the BBQ dinner on October 15th. This year tickets can be purchased right here in advance. This will be a year you wont want to miss!

Yes we’re still here and we would like to apologize for our tardiness in updating this website. Despite the lack of an update, you haven’t missed too much work progress.

Since our last major work weekend in late April there have been some very small here and there work parties to wrap up some minor jobs, the cylinder head, cab windows, and air leaks. The list of things still to do is about a half a sheet of paper. With that said we will still have a couple of more big work days in August and September to really finish things up.

Over on the building side things have gone very well. We have all the permission we need, FINALLY, and a good portion of the funding. We will be letting a contract for the building and dirt work after July 15th. If all comes together as expected the locomotive should be in its new home by our annual fundraiser BBQ on October 15th. Make sure you mark your calendars, it should be an event to remember with a special treat that will be announced in the coming months.

Finally, some photos from this years July 4th parade in Independence. Thank you all for your continued support as we near the finish line.