Steam & Excursion > Texas & New Orleans 745 On KCS Meridian Speedway, April 2005

Couple of runbys with T&NO 745 heading east on the KCS in April, 2005.
Second is crossing the Ouachita River in Monroe, Louisiana amongst the crowd. 
Interesting to hear the two different sounding whistles.

Regards, Jim Evans

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Great video, thanks for sharing.
When I helped restore SP 786 here in Austin, TX for the first time, we often discussed operating 745 and 786 as a double header.
But alas, it was only a dream.
745 has a much better chance of running than 786 as 786 still sits in pieces in the ASTA yard rusting away.
My guess is that it will never operate again.
Too bad.
Pat
South Austin,TX

So, how far away is 745 from being completed and running again?

745 is operational, mostly for special events and displays.  I don't think it has powered an excursion since the low-water event a decade or so ago when it dropped several fuseable plugs whilst operating on the KCS.

Great sounding whistles.  Love the first one especially.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great sounding whistles.  Love the first one
> especially.

First whistle is an SP six chime. Second, more shrill whistle is a Chinese whistle.

T&NO 745 is a good looking locomotive, but that Chinese whistle is just plain terrible and on its visit to Pittsburg, KS and I had to cover my ears when they blew it . 

sptno Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great video, thanks for sharing.
> When I helped restore SP 786 here in Austin, TX
> for the first time, we often discussed operating
> 745 and 786 as a double header.
> But alas, it was only a dream.
> 745 has a much better chance of running than 786
> as 786 still sits in pieces in the ASTA yard
> rusting away.
> My guess is that it will never operate again.
> Too bad.
> Pat
> South Austin,TX

I helped take the jacket off the 786's boiler. Way back then, it seemed like they had all the tasks lined up to put her back in service in a couple years. Hard to believe it hasn't happened.

This is the latest update on 786.  ASTA also has to restore their ALCo RSD-15 Alligator #442 to service as well. 
Right now they have a leased unit. They did finish their new concession car. There are several other projects like repairing their NKP City of Chicago lounge car.

Ricky


From the ASTA website. 786 Restoration Update 7/5/2018The bearing boxes (2 per axle) ride on the axle journals and support the entire weight of the locomotive. They are cast steel, machined and fitted with a “crown brass” (actually a special bronze). Babbitt metal is formed on the sides for a thrust bearing. New bearing boxes had been cast a few years ago, but it was determined they were too thin to be used. So, Strasburg Railroad arranged for new castings, machined them beautifully and installed the crown brasses and babbitt thrust faces. An excellent job, on-schedule and on-budget! Strasburg RR has been a real pleasure to deal with.The cylinder heads, front and back for each cylinder, had been cast new and machined in Muscle Shoals, AL. It was discovered that the diameter of shoulder (the part of the head that is inserted into the cylinder bore) was left too large by about 1/16″ so it could not be assembled. We contracted with a large machine shop in Taylor, TX (Babco) to machine the diameter of the shoulder down to the proper, accurate size (26.220″). This will allow the heads to be assembled and bolted on for a hydrostatic pressure test, to be done at a later time.

• Also, the trailing truck, now with the new bushing welded in, has been flipped to its normal position and painting is complete.
• Trailing truck pivot has been aligned and tack welded into the support strap and will be attached to the frame with tapered bolts.
• Essentially, all the wheel restoration work is complete.
• Pilot has been painted and is on display at the passenger platform until it can be installed on the frame.
• Remaining parts inventoried, springs and rigging laid out in the yard.
• Appliances such as the turbine, power reverse, cold water pump for the feedwater heater, cross compound air pump, air jacks and air motors for the reamers have been lubricated and operated as part of our periodic maintenance program.
• Periodic cleaning and coating the rods with a moisture resistant coating which has held up well considering all the rain we have received in the Spring months.
• Tested fit of the face on the smoke box for hinge hole drilling.

Restoration Project ListNext up on the restoration list will be:

• Installing the studs on the new cylinder saddle, fitting the new valve and piston head castings, blanking off the exhaust ports and running a hydro test on the cylinder saddle.
• Begin drilling and tapping holes for remaining studs on the lower half of the smoke box as well as installation of the lower hinge so the face can be permanently mounted on the smoke box.
• Spot re-priming and painting the frame.
• Fabricate oil cellars on the driving boxes so we can mount the boxes on the axles.

 We need your help!There’s much appeal to the return of 786 to active, steaming life, whether it’s the importance of preserving her as an artifact of American railroading’s high-water mark, or just the irresistible sights, sounds and smells of a moving steam locomotive. If you want to be a part of getting her back in steam, we would be most appreciative of your time and talents, your financial support or both.To donate to the restoration of the 786, please click HERE.To volunteer on our restoration team, please email us at volunteers@austinsteamtrain.org

TexasEagle77 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is the latest update on 786.  ASTA also has
> to restore their ALCo RSD-15 Alligator #442 to
> service as well. 
> Right now they have a leased unit. They did finish
> their new concession car. There are several other
> projects like repairing their NKP City of Chicago
> lounge car.
>
> Ricky
>
>
> From the ASTA website. 786 Restoration Update
> 7/5/2018The bearing boxes (2 per axle) ride on the
> axle journals and support the entire weight of the
> locomotive. They are cast steel, machined and
> fitted with a “crown brass” (actually a
> special bronze). Babbitt metal is formed on the
> sides for a thrust bearing. New bearing boxes had
> been cast a few years ago, but it was determined
> they were too thin to be used. So, Strasburg
> Railroad arranged for new castings, machined them
> beautifully and installed the crown brasses and
> babbitt thrust faces. An excellent job,
> on-schedule and on-budget! Strasburg RR has been a
> real pleasure to deal with.The cylinder heads,
> front and back for each cylinder, had been cast
> new and machined in Muscle Shoals, AL. It was
> discovered that the diameter of shoulder (the part
> of the head that is inserted into the cylinder
> bore) was left too large by about 1/16″ so it
> could not be assembled. We contracted with a large
> machine shop in Taylor, TX (Babco) to machine the
> diameter of the shoulder down to the proper,
> accurate size (26.220″). This will allow the
> heads to be assembled and bolted on for a
> hydrostatic pressure test, to be done at a later
> time.
>
>

• Also, the trailing truck, now with the new
  > bushing welded in, has been flipped to its normal
  > position and painting is complete.
  >
• Trailing truck pivot has been aligned and tack
  > welded into the support strap and will be attached
  > to the frame with tapered bolts.
  >
• Essentially, all the wheel restoration work is
  > complete.
  >
• Pilot has been painted and is on display at the
  > passenger platform until it can be installed on
  > the frame.
  >
• Remaining parts inventoried, springs and
  > rigging laid out in the yard.
  >
• Appliances such as the turbine, power reverse,
  > cold water pump for the feedwater heater, cross
  > compound air pump, air jacks and air motors for
  > the reamers have been lubricated and operated as
  > part of our periodic maintenance program.
  >
• Periodic cleaning and coating the rods with a
  > moisture resistant coating which has held up well
  > considering all the rain we have received in the
  > Spring months.
  >
• Tested fit of the face on the smoke box for
  > hinge hole drilling.
  >
  > Restoration Project ListNext up on the restoration
  > list will be:
  >
  >
• Installing the studs on the new cylinder
  > saddle, fitting the new valve and piston head
  > castings, blanking off the exhaust ports and
  > running a hydro test on the cylinder saddle.
  >
• Begin drilling and tapping holes for remaining
  > studs on the lower half of the smoke box as well
  > as installation of the lower hinge so the face can
  > be permanently mounted on the smoke box.
  >
• Spot re-priming and painting the frame.
  >
• Fabricate oil cellars on the driving boxes so
  > we can mount the boxes on the axles.
  >
  >  We need your help!There’s much appeal to the
  > return of 786 to active, steaming life, whether
  > it’s the importance of preserving her as an
  > artifact of American railroading’s high-water
  > mark, or just the irresistible sights, sounds and
  > smells of a moving steam locomotive. If you want
  > to be a part of getting her back in steam, we
  > would be most appreciative of your time and
  > talents, your financial support or both.To donate
  > to the restoration of the 786, please click
  > HERE.To volunteer on our restoration team, please
  > email us at volunteers@austinsteamtrain.org
  
  This information is older than its posting date of July 2018. There is NO REASON to hydro the cylinder saddle, and I think they have already had flues installed in the boiler. The way they are going they may have to reflue the engine before they even get it back together....