Hello everyone,
We have more to share with you regarding the restoration of 2100! But first, I want to let you know of the many ways that you can support the restoration.
First off, we recently announced a brand new exciting event at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum featuring none other than Doyle McCormack! Doyle has been active in railroading almost all his life, growing up on the Nickel Plate Road in Conneaut, Ohio. In the 1970s, he was responsible for the restoration of Southern Pacific no. 4449, a high-stepping streamlined steam locomotive that can still be seen in service today!
The event will be held on Saturday, May 16 in Bellevue, Ohio and doors will open at 3:00 p.m.. Guests are welcome to explore the museum ground where they can inspect the newly acquired Nickel Plate Road Berkshire-type no. 757. Caboose rides will be given from 4:00 to 5:00. At 5:30, dinner will be served, with Doyle's presentation following it. He'll be discussing his life full of railroading, as well as his restoration of an ALCO PA. An audience Q&A will conclude this exciting evening.
Tickets for this event and more information can be found at www.fireup2100.org and the first 10 buyers who use the code "NKP757" will get $10 off their ticket price!
We also have many other great items available on our gift shop including raffle tickets, books, DVDs, prints, shirts, hats and more! Any donation, big or small, makes a difference, and we truly appreciate your support!
Now, on with our recent progress. First, check out our recent video update to see the recent progress that has been made with the engine.
I was able to attend a work session in February. The first part of the work session consisted of a safety class, so most of the work concentrated on miscellaneous tasks that needed addressed. We did more work on the stoker auger, and removed the new wooden pilot steps to protect them.
We also received a few newly forged flexible staybolts, which leads into the next announcement. As you know, we have been in the process of replacing the inner side sheets on the locomotive. They have been welded and riveted into place in the firebox, and all of the staybolts have been measured and the material ordered. The time has now come for the staybolts to be forged.
There are 560 staybolts that need to be made for the firebox. For a small donation of just $10, you can be the one to forge a brand new staybolt that will bring this magnificent machine one step closer to becoming alive once again. You can also buy an old staybolt from the 2100 for $69, which will come stamped with its number and with a certificate of authenticity.
Be on the lookout for our February update, as we'll be showing how these staybolts are formed.
Thanks again for your support, and with your donation, the 2100 will ramble on again very soon!
