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Alco Diesel 442 Engine Turns 50
The locomotive which had faithfully led all of the Austin Steam Train's
weekend excursions since 2000 will turn fifty years old on June 26, 2010.
Press Release
Steam Engine Southern Pacific 786 Restoration Update
Fall 2011
Work on 786 has now reached the re-assembly stage.
The 786's cylinder saddle, the massive two-piece casting
that holds up the front of the boiler and includes the engine's
cylinders and steam chests, has been mounted on the
frame and its alignment verified. The cylinder saddle will be
permanently mounted with custom-made frame keys and
tapered bolts.
Machining operations on the cylinder saddle were
completed last March at Steam Operations Corporation in a
shop in Muscle Shoals, Ala. The newly made castings, each
weighing about 13,000 pounds, were shipped to Alabama
in March, 2006, and actual machining work began in May,
2007. Replacing 786's original cylinder saddle, the castings
were made by the Fairmount Foundry in Hamburg, Pa.
Restoration work on the boiler by Historic Machinery
Services in Alabama is complete. All of the thin spots have
been replaced with new steel plates, new tubes and flues
have been fabricated and installed, and a new smoke
box bottom has been installed. The completed boiler has
been pressure ("hydro") tested to 250 psi, 25 per cent over
working pressure. It is currently in storage and is ready to be
installed on the frame and new cylinder castings.
The engine's 63-inch driving wheels have been
successfully turned in the shops of the Tennessee Valley
Railroad and eight new steel tires for the drivers have been
fabricated and installed. The drivers are complete and in
storage, ready to be installed under the frame.
The air compressor, cold-water pump and dynamo
have been completely rebuilt by Backshop Enterprises
in Colorado. The hot-water pump and the power reverse
remain to be overhauled.
New driving boxes have been cast
and machined, and they will have new crown brass and
thrust bearings installed before they are placed into the
frame.
Read more about the history and restoration of 786 at
"Where is the Steam Locomotive" or look at the work in
progress at the Photo Gallery.
Read more about the restoration at "Where is the Steam Locomotive" or look at the work in progress at the Photo Gallery.
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