[Accrs] FW: Behind the Scenes - Keeping the Steam Locomotives Steaming

Tue Dec 28 20:39:04 PST 2021

FYI.

From: Nevada Northern Railway<mailto:info at nnry.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2021 11:08 AM
To: Tony Long<mailto:tony.long at outlook.com>
Subject: Behind the Scenes - Keeping the Steam Locomotives Steaming

Maintaining Steam Locomotives in the 21st Century
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Operating Steam Locomotives in the

21st Century – Part 1

This is part 1 explaining some of the background on what it takes to maintain steam locomotives in the 21st century. It is a long read, but it provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the trials and tribulations of overhauling steam locomotives. Enjoy!
[All NNRY locomotives under steam]

The Nevada Northern Railway has two steam locomotives in operation (Locomotive 81 and 93), with the third one under restoration (Locomotive 40) and the fourth (Locomotive 309) waiting its turn. As you might know, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum has been awarded two Save America’s Treasures grants. Both grants are matching grants which means every dollar raised is matched by a grant. And that’s where I need YOUR help, all memberships, membership renewals and donations are MATCHED dollar for dollar. https://nnry.com/n1009a<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3837343430327L34323537323736>

One grant is for $487,160 through the National Park Service to restore Locomotive 40 back to operation. The second grant is from the Institute of Museums and Library Science for $260,000 to help with the preservation of the railroad’s archives.

There is a remarkable backstory on both grants. These grants will allow us to address a critical need with YOUR help. They will allow us to do more than just restore Locomotive 40 or preserve the railroad’s records. Rather the grants allow us to look back to Locomotive 40’s creation by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in July 1910. And at the same time, the grants will help ensure that when Locomotive 40 comes in for her next 1472-day inspection in 2038: the people, the skills and the knowledge will be here at the Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark. This will help ensure that Locomotive 40 will once again return to service until 2053. One of the lessons I’ve learned at this job is that you have to look ahead for decades, sometimes a century. And at the same time, you need to look back decades or even a century. Stay with me and I’ll explain what I mean.

The biggest challenge facing the Nevada Northern Railway Museum is not the money as most would assume (though that has its own set of challenges.) Rather it is finding the right people who want to get their hands dirty, to learn the skills and knowledge that is necessary to keep the steam locomotives steamin’.
[All NNRY locomotives under steam]

Locomotive 40 with the tubes coming out.

Locomotive 40 is currently in for her federally mandated 1472-day boiler inspection. All steam locomotives undergo a boiler inspection every 1472 operating days or 15-years whichever comes first. In our case, it’s the 15-year mark. To do the inspection, the boiler is stripped down and all of the boiler tubes are removed. Then the boiler is examined closely looking for any weaknesses. If any weaknesses are found, they can be repaired. At the conclusion of the 1472-day inspection, the locomotive undergoes a hydrostatic test for strength, while also looking for leaks. Once the test is passed, the locomotive can enter operation once again.

This is the second 1472-day inspection on Locomotive 40 that I have been part of. The first one started in 2004 and was under the direction of Jack Anderson, who was our Master Mechanic at the time. In his career, Jack had restored nearly a dozen steam locomotives back to operation. Jack was a remarkable individual, I called him my magician because I was convinced there was nothing Jack could not repair, fix, cajole or make work. It was not just that he could repair things, but he did it in a low-key, understated way. It was experiencing artistry.

My job at the time was to raise the money needed to complete the 1472-day inspection on Locomotive 40. Jack’s job as Master Mechanic was to do the work to complete the 1472-day inspection. To do a 1472-day inspection on a steam locomotive, you need to follow a standard. Jack told me which standard he was following but I didn’t pay much attention. That was his responsibility or so I thought. My job was to ensure he had the resources to do the work.

Jack and I were the same age, in fact, our birthdays were only a week apart. Jack and the crew had made great progress, fortunately, we had the original blueprints from Baldwin to help with the work. They had stripped Locomotive 40 down and had removed the boiler tubes. You could stand in front of the locomotive and look through the boiler, a little unnerving to say the least, especially for me, this was my first boiler inspection. Things were looking good, it looked like we would have Locomotive 40 operating in 2005.

Then on December 1, 2004, tragedy struck. At noon, I receive a call from my wife, she demanded that I go to Jack’s house. “NOW!” I arrived quickly; my wife answered the door. Stepping inside, I saw Jack’s wife and son were crying, across from them there was a blanket covering a chair. At the base of the chair, there was a pair of boots sticking out. Jack had died and they were waiting for the coroner.

Jack had called in sick that morning, promising that he would be in later that day, but later never came. Jack’s death was a tragedy for his family, for the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, and for the steam fraternity. For with his death, all of his knowledge on rebuilding steam locomotives died with him.
[Locomotive 40's firebox]

Looking through Locomotive 40's boiler from the firebox all the way to the smokebox

That night, I went to the engine house and stood behind Locomotive 40, looking through the boiler, wondering, “Now what?” How were we going to get Locomotive 40 back in service again? Standing there, I did have a realization, I had three problems, the first one to finish Locomotive 40’s 1472-day boiler inspection. The second one was to make sure the original drawings from the Baldwin Locomotive works were preserved. And finally, the most important one was to find the young men and women who wanted to learn and get them trained so these marvelous steam locomotives would keep operating for years, decades, and even a century to come.

Jack’s death became a “call to arms”. Volunteers came forward and we finished Locomotive 40’s inspection and she returned to service for the 2005 season. Since that time, we did the 1472-day inspection on Locomotive 93 and restored Locomotive 81 to operation once again.

Our goal is to raise $200,000 for Locomotive 40 and $130,000 to preserve the railroad’s archives. The goal is to raise the combined total of $330,000 by December 31, 2021! We are at $192,488 as of December 27. That leaves $137,512 yet to go in four days. Can we, do it? Yes, with YOUR help!

This is where I need YOUR help. ALL memberships, membership renewals, and donations are MATCHED dollar for dollar. https://nnry.com/n1009a. And we have a unique thank you. Become a member, renew your membership, or make a donation of at least $50, and we will email you a digital copy of the Locomotive 40’s erecting drawing. Increase your membership or donation to $250 or more and we will send you a printed copy of the drawing suitable for framing. Locomotive 40’s erecting drawing is from Baldwin Locomotive Works. This is a tangible way for you to experience and enjoy the Nevada Northern Railway’s archives.
[Locomotive 40's Erection Drawings]

Locomotive 40’s erecting drawing

And secondly, any Hands-On History Experience purchased by December 31, 2021, will be MATCHED dollar-for-dollar too! And better yet, as a thank you and to encourage you to book now for 2022, the membership discount has been raised to 22% through December 31, 2021. https://nnry.com/n1008a<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3837343430337L34323537323736>.

It is an exceptionally high honor to be selected as a recipient of a Save America’s Treasures grant, but to be selected for two is an astonishing distinction. This is in recognition of the exceptional special excellence of the Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States. The awarding of the two grants is evidence of the significance and the importance of our efforts to preserve this remarkable American treasure.

Help us reach our goal, ALL memberships membership renewals, and donations are MATCHED dollar-for-dollar. https://nnry.com/n1009a<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3837343430327L34323537323736>. Also, any Hands-On History Experience purchased by December 31, 2021, will be MATCHED dollar-for-dollar too! https://nnry.com/n1008a<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3837343430337L34323537323736>.

 In the next few days, I’ll send out part 2 - Operating Steam Locomotives in the 21st Century - Finding the Right Stuff.
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[From Mark Bassett, President]

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