Steam & Excursion > Texas State RR 1986

TSRR shop crew is getting pacific #500 ready to pull the daily passenger train to Palestine and back as former T&P 4-6-0  #316 sits idly by with a wisp of steam from its cylinder  in the Rusk , Tx  engine facility and shop..

The former ATSF 4-6-2 engine is much more colorful than its livery on the Santa Fe of black and tarpon gray with its Southern inspired paint scheme of green and silver with a red roof.   Currently the engine is out of service needing a new boiler.

At the formation of the State Park the Parks board demanded all engines be painted a different color and be colorful.  That edict caused former SP 4-6-0  2248 to receive a putrid baby blue paint job.

John Mccall photos

---

---

I believe a new boiler WAS built, but it can not be certified by the FRA due to poor construction practice. So money was waisted and she still needs a new boiler.

TrackGuy

Posted from Android

Tom, very nice pics, though. Hope the 500 gets to steam again.

TrackGuy

Posted from Android

The story on the new boiler is this:   A non railroad boiler company was given a contract to build a replacement boiler and did.  Only problem is the crown sheet was constructed with 1" steel and the rest is 1/2" as it should be.  This causes stress to the stay bolts, crown area  due to unequal expansion and starts eating out  a part of the crown where the staybolt's connect to the different size steel.  Since the TSR, not the operator of TSR contracted for the boiler, it is up to TSR board to correct it.  I don't think they have the money and they can't go back to the boiler company since TSR accepted the new boiler. .  In other words it  is just a mess.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/16 10:05 by tomstp.

Ihave heard recently that old boiler now is being re-examined to determine if it can be certified again.

tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The story on the new boiler is this:   A non
> railroad boiler company was given a contract to
> build a replacement boiler and did.  Only problem
> is the crown sheet was constructed with 1" steel
> and the rest is 1/2" as it should be.  This
> causes stress to the stay bolts, crown area  due
> to unequal expansion and starts eating out  a
> part of the crown where the staybolt's connect to
> the different size steel.  Since the TSR, not the
> operator of TSR contracted for the boiler, it is
> up to TSR board to correct it.  I don't think
> they have the money and they can't go back to the
> boiler company since TSR accepted the new boiler.
> .  In other words it  is just a mess.

Slight correction Tom.  The Entire boiler is made of 1" material.  The edn result is the same though.   316 is made entirely of 3/4" material.  Same problem.

Thanks Earl.