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Sunday, March 25. 2018The Steam Dream is Taking Shape
The Steam Department reached a major milestone yesterday by installing the smokebox cover to the front of the boiler barrel on our Shay #5 steam engine. This is the culmination of years of work and many numerous people working towards this goal. I can't remember when the group first started working on this project but it certainly has been at least nine or ten years. Please notice at least one thing as you view these pictures. The many volunteers are relatively young. These young people are the future of the Steam Department and it bodes well for the museum in general. As I have said previously, on any given Saturday, you can come down to the Steam Shop and see at least 20 people working on various projects. Here now is what happened yesterday and last week in the shop.
 Just to remind you. This is what the shay smoke box looked like a couple of weeks ago.  This is yesterday, March 24, 2018. The smoke box cover is being installed for the very first time.  Here the gang is fastening the nuts onto the studs.  Trevor was inside the smokebox making sure the studs were in the right position. He just climbed out and happy to the light of day again. Only kidding, of course, hes smiling because the job is done!  Heres the installation gang  Another look of the shop forces. Just like the old days. A picture of the guys who participated in the work gang.  Not to be outdone Christian holds the builders number plate onto the front of the smoke box for me to photograph.  Charlie is painting the tool box underneath the 1630s tender.  Charlies Dad Paul is painting the front pilot beam of the 1630. The 1630 is getting sprucing up. We will be celebrating the engines upcoming 100th birthday this year.  This was last weekend. Working on the footboards  Not to be outdone the UP 428 is also receiving a painting job.  This father and son team are painting the flexie stay bolt caps on the 428  Here is maybe the next generation of volunteers. This is Ricks grandson. He sure had a great day. You can tell by the glint and glow in his eyes. |
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Comments
Mon, 09-08-2025 08:22
Good job on the Burlington Nortern 9976. OK.
Tue, 08-12-2025 12:56
No new news that I have heard of thus far.
Tue, 08-12-2025 12:53
I'll also be doing another update on it soon. Keep en eye out for that.
Tue, 08-12-2025 12:47
A little work was done to it for Diesel Days this year. You'll see photos floating around for the temporary short term job that was done to make it [...]
Wed, 08-06-2025 13:01
Is steam car CN 15444 going to be coming to museum several times it was to be moved to muesum
Sat, 07-19-2025 18:56
Yeah, sadly it's still there as of 7/19/2025
Thu, 06-12-2025 19:14
Its been 14 years guys, where is the unit? Like really? Did you guys misplace it? Or are repairs taking that long? At this point be might we will have [...]
Wed, 04-09-2025 17:40
Jamie Thanks for the update. She's gonna shine like every thing else you guys do! Smeds
Thu, 03-06-2025 16:28
Yes, there is a wye. Those two have been MU'ed on diesel days a year or two ago.
Wed, 03-05-2025 14:04
7009 number boards look good. Is there a way to turn a locomotive around at IRM? In case you ever had a mind to connect 7009 and 6847?
Fri, 03-29-2024 21:26
We're slackers and spend more time working on the equipment in the shop than keeping all you readers updated. We'll work on it, but I'm sure updates [...]
Thu, 03-14-2024 08:02
What happened to the Department Blog? It's been over 2 years and I still regularly check for updates, but nothing comes...