Hello to all
of our friends and followers! Winter has passed us by, and as is the case here
in California, we never really had one. Spring is upon us and it is time to
start considering what we want to, and can accomplish in the 2014 season.
Our primary
goal for this year should be completing a successful hydrostatic test on the
boiler. For this to happen will take a great deal of effort on the part of all
of us, but when we pull together, a lot can get done. This is evidenced by last
years effort to get the chassis back on its drivers, as well as putting up the
rebuilt springs. When we work as a team it can happen. Thanks again to Roger
Stabler for funding the spring rehabilitation!
As I write
this, the superheater flue material has arrived in Mineral, Washington and they
await the swaging on the ends. This will be done by Stathi Pappas and his crew
at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. The completed flues will be brought south
in June when Stathi’s Porter locomotive number 2 comes back to California for operating dates on several railroads.
Thanks to those guys for helping us along with this project. Also thanks again
to all of our superheater donors that made this possible! A list of donors is
forthcoming.
The Spring
work session will be Thursday May 8th through Saturday the 10th. Someone should be on hand most of that week
prior cleaning and priming. Kirk, Dave and Charlie continue this chore, the
locomotive is looking far better for it.
We are soon to finish
up the welding on the patches after boilermaker Norm Comer completes the
fitting of the new metal. We will then be ready for the new rigid and flexible
stays. After that there are studs to replace, plugs to make, water glasses to
install, and a few other sundry details before we start rolling tubes and flues
in. Plans are
being made for a full-out two week long session in Portola to get all of this
done, more details as they become available.
Again thanks
to all of you have been supporting this project, not only with your donations
of time, material, and funds, but also with your moral support and kind words
of encouragement. That means more to us on the steam crew than you can imagine.
See you soon, and have a great Spring season! - JCA
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| WP 165 in the Portola Roundhouse, October 2nd, 1945 - Bob Sims Collection - FRRS Archives |
