Hello everyone,
We are getting closer and closer to the smell of coal smoke coming out of Reading 2100. Here's a glance at what we have done in the past month.
- Work continues with the sandblasting of the 560 newly machined staybolts. We do this so that we can remove the mill scale and give our welders great material to work with, without etching into the steel.
- We are also carefully checking each staybolt for quality and sorting them by length.
- Don't forget, we're still fundraising to complete the welding of the staybolts! Make sure to visit our online gift shop to sponsor one today for just $9!
- The stoker jet casting was found to have damage, and it is to be repaired by Gemini Industrial Machine Group of New Philadelphia, Ohio. We also allowed our friends at the PRR T1 Steam Locomotive Trust to take measurements of the casting to make a duplicate for use on their giant in the making!
- We have been in the process of taking a full ultrasonic survey of the entire boiler vessel, as the locomotive's 1472-day inspection is due this summer. With the ginormous size of the boiler, this will take quite some time, but it's a necessary job in the process of bringing a steam locomotive back to life.
As you may have heard lately, our friends out east at the Reading & Northern Railroad have been making fabulous progress on sister engine no. 2102, which is on track to steam next year. This past summer, the locomotive passed her hydrostatic test, and work on various components continues. Work has picked up this year, but the crew is in no hurry to see her steaming out of the shop. Their goal is a post-COVID rollout, so large crowds can congregate and view the locomotive safely.
Read more at this Railfan & Railroad Railnews article!
Thank you for your support of Reading 2100 and American Steam Railroad.
