And I really appreciate the work! Got a lot of fine images with the sunshine yesterday, and got to briefly introduce my daughter to the cab courtesy of the visitor ladder. Thank you!
(Photos if you're interested at https://www.flickr.com/photos/21283723@N03/sets/72157653320766926)
Steve,
Thank you. It is the appreciation and introducing new generations to working steam that makes the work worthwhile.
Impressive set of photos. Nice to see her in operation "from the outside". When you are working on or around her you do not often get the chance to stand back and appreciate the overall picture.
Nigel
What kind of bearings does 1630 have? Also are there ever going to be any plans to ever run a steam locomotive any larger than 1630? Plus is 1630 the largest steam locomotive to run at IRM?
Dave,
#1630 has conventional bearings for a steam locomotive, brass or white metal (babbit) depending upon the location.
There are no current plans to overhaul a larger locomotive and #1630 is the largest IRM has operated. (I cannot speak to any locomotives that may have or will visit in the future).
The reasons are economic. #1630 is much bigger than we really need but is our mainstay locomotive because she has such a good boiler (always the biggest factor in the practicality of overhauling a preserved steam loco). Her size means that it costs around $1,000 in coal each day she is steamed.
You could easily double that for one of the big locomotives and you must do all the work for the annual inspection no matter how few days you operate.
SO. It would be very nice to see a big locomotive in operating condition but I do not see it happening ........ unless there is someone out there prepared to support this with substantial funding.
Nigel
Nigel
Raphael,
And of the two it is no doubt that it should be #428. A large amount of work has been done on her and the boiler is fully overhauled to current specs. (Even if it would soon need a new 15 year inspection. It has not been used so you could be 99% sure this would not require significant work).
Basic issue is that any major rebuild will take years on a purely volunteer basis. We need to develop a plan that will attract the sponsorship / donations to fund full time work if we are to get one of these into steam.
Nigel
Actually, your response begs the opposite question.
What is the smallest locomotive in the collection that would be suitable for pulling 5 coaches on the line for demonstration purposes? Or rather, the smallest restorable locomotive?
I just wanted to toss in my two cents here. I have always thought that Illinois Central 201 would be suitable. It's not the big, it's not that hard to take care of (as old as it is), and it could probably pull a 2-3 coach train on its own power.