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B&SR 7 to visit WW&F? has been converted from the pre-July 2008 WW&F Discussion Forum.
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htbrandes wrote:I post this on this forum as this is currently a thought and is not anything official at this time. MNGR is in the process of soliciting enough additional funds to allow us to bring #7 back to Form 4 compliance. We envision the boiler work being done at Boothbay with most all other work being done by MNGR volunteers.
Since #7 would have to be trucked up and back to Boothbay, we have thought of the possibility of having #7 "stop by" for maybe a long weekend of high visibility festivities, namely operations on the entire length of WW&F track, photo run bys, you name it. (Obviously, WW&F would have to be OK with this).
We believe this would be a lightning rod of positive motivation for both our volunteers and a gesture of goodwill to WW&F to show that the 2 footers are a community working together and sharing Maine history.
Again, this is very preliminary, but that is what some of us on the MNGR steam team are thinking.
Your thoughts, especially those at WW&F, would be most appreciated.
Ira Schreiber replied:Although I have NO official capacity, other than a member, I think it is an excellent idea for the reasons that you have stated.
The publicity and good will: Priceless.
Ira
Jason M Lamontagne replied:While we haven't had much chance to discuss this (so this isn't official), or how to arrange for it, I suspect that we would be receptive to such a visit. We'd have to work out some details- but that'd be easy, and all in all we'd be grateful to MNG for providing such a unique opportunity.
Jason
htbrandes replied:Jason,
Things are still progressing on our raising funds and preparing for putting #7 back in service. We should have a much better picture where we stand on this by late December. This year has been our most concentrated effort yet to bring #7 alive once again. We have been investigating having a documentary DVD made of the restoration project. Should we be able to visit WW&F, then this too would be part of that documentary. From a personal view, it would be great if MNGR and WWF could jointly plan for a great, highly pubicized event at WW&F.
Should our fundraising come together as planned, and we gain approval by our committee and board, then we can have further discussions on this on a more official basis.
Stay tuned,
Hans
htbrandes replied:We now have board approval and are planning to start work in January. No target date for how long this will take but we would like to think by summer to fall we can be back in service. Discussions at a more formal level will start regarding visiting WW&F will begin once we start to make progress and see where we stand with firebox work.
Can anyone start to smell 33 tons of steam power at Alna?
Ira Schreiber replied:I can't smell the smoke but I sure can hear those 33#rails in the yard area creaking and groaning.
Stewart Rhine replied:I think #7 is the best looking engine of the four that went to Edaville. There is also a family resemblence to WW&F #7 so she'll look great pulling varnish or freight at Sheepscot. Motive power lending between MNG and the WW&F started almost 10 years ago when Monson #3 came to Sheepscot for the picnic in 1998. That was the first time steam ran on the WW&F in 65 years and it was a big success thanks to the efforts of both groups. Number 7 visiting would be an even bigger event. I plan on being there to see it.
"There's only one 'bo that's got the stuff to try me, and you ain't even on the list."
Wayne Laepple replied:If this happens, it would also be a great opportunity to sell many copies of Part II of the Gus Pratt films.
Mike Fox replied:Would look awful nice with a magnet of black background with the letters " W W & F "on it. We could make some interesting photo ops. Without disturbing the paint.
Mike
BM1455 replied:Would look awful nice with a magnet of black background with the letters " W W & F "on it. We could make some interesting photo ops. Without disturbing the paint.
Mike
If memory serves me correctly, B&SR #7 spent a good part of it's life with only the number and no other markings....as did the WW&F #7. Perhaps for this event it could be painted in this historicaly correct way, which would represent the two similar locamotives on each line.
petecosmob replied:Hey, that IS a thought,
especially if the bunker is in need of painting & preservation (as we Navy dudes call it) work. Sinse she's "going in," the bunker should probably get a good sanding and painting....(in the Navy, our ships get that wether they need it or not! *chuckle*)
Then you could leave it solid balck til she gets back to Portland.
Just a thought.
Pete
htbrandes replied:Currently it is not in the plan to repaint the entire exterior of #7. We are doing what is necessary to comply with FRA Form 4. In this case it is more important that we paint the inside of the tank.
If #9 visited MNGR we would not want to hide that it was a visiting engine and neither would WW&F.
htbrandes replied:Latest update: Our worksession on #7 yesterday moved us one step closer to Boothbay (no forecast movement date yet). The wishbone pipes were removed from the smokebox to give us clear access to the tube sheet for tube removal. The throttle valve was taken out of the dome, staybolt drilling started as did ultrasounding. We were able to ultrasound the entire inside of the firebox. Boothbay is reviewing this information and will determine what our course of action is, if necessary, for the firebox.
Our next worksession is on April 5. Hopefully it might feel like spring as it has been a cold and snowy winter.
htbrandes replied:Our April 5 work session was very productive. We are over half way complete with ultrasound, flues have started to be cut and removed. The ash pan and grates have also been removed to gain access to the firebox. UT readings have determined that there is crown sheet thinnng along with upper sheet thinning.
A big thank you to Brian and Jason for coming down on a cold Friday night to give #7 a thorough look over. We will decide when to go Boothbay after our next worksession (April 19) but am guessing that it will go sometime in May.
htbrandes replied:April 19 was another productive work session. UT data taking is now complete and we know that our issues are with the firebox. We have started to cut flues and now have about 40 that are either removed or have had at least one end cut.
Two more work sessions are on the schedule before Memorial Day. Whatever gets done, gets done. After that we will transport to Boothbay sometime in May depending on when the truck and driver are available.
Hans
tomc replied:Hans, Great news, thanks for the updates.
Tom C.
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Later;
tom_srclry_com
htbrandes replied:Rich Currie and myself came in on Saturday to cut more tubes out (I was all set to come up to WW&F and shovel rock for the day). We ended up cutting 22 more tubes. We are at about 58 cut and removed out of 128. Our goal is to get them all cut out before we got to Boothbay. That means we have our work cut out (no pun intended) for us in the next few weeks.
Our next work session is this Saturday, so more will happen. It's times like this that working on a standard gauge engine would be nice. You just can't stand up in these little smokeboxes!
Hans
tomc replied:Where is Gary Coleman when you need a short person?
Tom C.
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Later;
tom_srclry_com
htbrandes replied:We've started to make plans for trucking to Boothbay. #7 will go up on a low flat bed courtesy of CPM Constructors. I will be taking trailer measurements as we have to build some track and ties so that it rests properly on the trailer based on the trailer's and #7's dimensions/configuration.
I'll keep everyone posted when we have set up an official move date.
As for tomorrow...more tube removal.
Mike Fox replied:Just guessing the measurements but if CPM's trailer is like the one I use, removal of the tender truck might be necessary with the tender resting blocks on the rear of the trailer. This will enable the weight of the loco to be lower.
Mike
htbrandes replied:After discussion amongst us who are most involved with this project (including Brian Fanslau) we have decided to keep #7 in Portland and have BRV do the work in Portland. Apparently #7 came up from Edaville on a special heavy duty low bed trailer. The trailers that we have access to today are can not support the weight or do not have enough low, flat area. This means that hieight, weight and stability would all be issues.
Though BRV travel time will add to the cost, it allows us to continue to use volunteer time through the summer to finish cutting tubes and grinding tube ends for removal. BRV's main job will be firebox replacemnent along with a few other things. Tubes are going to be ordered shortly from BRV.
Based on our challenges with moving #7, what does anyone think if we considerred bringing up #4 next summer to WW&F. #4 can be transported on trailers available to us and would not require a ramp track at WW&F. We could do this as part of a celebration of getting WW&F #9 back in service. Having 3 steamers running up and down the line would be pretty awesome.
Thoughts?
Ira Schreiber replied:Overall, keeping #7 in Portland makes sense has the time span is shortened and more local work can be accomplished. The only real downside is transporting special tools back and forth.
I think this needs to be a MNGRR decision, but as a MNGRR member, I thing it's a good idea.
The idea of a triple steam up is a real winner.
Stewart Rhine replied:Hans, I think it's a good idea. As you know, Monson 3 was the first live steam locomotive to visit Sheepscot 10 years ago. The return of steam for the 1998 Annual Picnic really put the museum on the map. People came from all over to ride the WW&F behind steam for the first time in 65 years. It was hugh. She came back in 1999 and we had just gotten number 10 so there were 3 steam locomotives on the property - again, another event that had not occurred since the 1930's.
Engine 4 could be unloaded on the team track which we didn't have 10 years ago. Having 3 locomotives in steam would be an amazing event that would create good press for both organizations. Of course our Board would have to approve the visit and the members of our steam crew would have to work out crew requirements and operational issues.
Mike Fox replied:The idea of having 3 steam engines fired up at the same time would be a very big event. Better get cracking on the bathrooms.
Mike
Mike Fox replied:According to the latest Railfan & Railroad, there are 4 servicable steam engines in Maine. All Two foot. For some reason they did not list Monson #3. They have the two Henschels at Boothbay, WW&F #10 and Monson #4. It will be nice to see this number at 6 or more. All two foot of course.
Mike
James Patten replied:Monson 3 is down for the count for the year. Probably retubing, perhaps firebox repair as well.
htbrandes replied:Work on MRR 3 is moving right along. They have removed all the plumbing, are well into tube removal. In addition, the asbestos has been professionally removed and they are now in the midst of UT. No word on the numbers yet but my guess is that the firebox may be OK as it is better than MRR 4. Their goal is to get to Boothbay in June.
Yes, they are down for this year, but plan to be up for 2009. They are working hard doing everything to obtain Form 4 in hopes of crossing the road at Sanders some day.
So let's cross our fingers that we will have 2 more steamers up and running.
As for #4 at WW&F, assuming #7 gets back in service, I have already primed our board on this potential event. It also helps when you are the VP (and a steam engineer) and the Treasurer is one of our firemen. Kind of like stacking the deck!
