SP&S 700 Boiler Inspection: We Have Separation, Now Let's Go Pound Some Bricks

As our preparation phase for the inspection continues, we have basically cleaned up the boiler exterior in preparation for mapping and marking the measurement areas for the ultrasound. We will be using our map from the year 2000 as a reference, but we will still have to completely map out the boiler surface again for the new inspection. Earlier this month (May), when some of the equipment was being maneuvered around in preparation for Portland Train Day, we had the opportunity to wash out the inside of the boiler, with the engine parked outside of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. The smokebox is now all cleaned out as well. 

Another milestone was the separation of the tender from the locomotive. This was completed on the morning of Train Day, so that the engine by itself would occupy less space inside the house, and enable more space inside for visitors and exhibits. It is also something that was already planned for the inspection, and it was moved up to coincide with Train Day. We had to borrow a special drawbar adapter that the Friends of the 4449 had been using for similar maneuvers. One of our talented mechanical team members built an adapter to fit the 700. The crew members in the picture installed the special drawbar connector and readied it for use. This enabled the movement of the 700 in and out of the house (and directly coupled to the OR&N 197 with the SP 4449 doing the switching duties!!!

Photo by Mark Toal

 With the tender now separated, the plan is to next have some lucky individual crawl inside the tender and clean out the interior (supervised, of course because it’s a very confined space!). Lots of “gunk” from the last 15 years has accumulated and its now a good time to get in there and clean it all up. We will also remove the fuel shutoff valve and do some refurbishing work on that assembly. Also, and next up, will be the firebrick removal. We will pull ALL of the firebrick out of the firebox, and carefully dispose of the brick in a suitable manner. The brick will then later be completely replaced with all new brick.

 Now, a word about Portland Train Day. This even took place on Saturday May 14 at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. Train Day did indeed become the “big party” all of us at ORHF had hoped for and imagined. Attendance exceeded our expectations, and for an event with little lead time and limited marketing our attendance exceeded 4000 visitors. A big thanks to the leaders of the event, and the volunteer team at ORHF who made the event a very successful one. We even had our stablemate SP 4449 steamed up, and train rides behind diesel and some of our Holiday Express equipment courtesy of the Oregon Pacific! The 700 was displayed ahead of the 197, to be viewed and enjoyed by the attendees.

 Also, there is good news to report on the fundraising front. The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association has been awarded a grant by the Tom E. Dailey Foundation for our 15 year rebuild effort. Many thanks to this organization, and the money will be put to good use in this important activity. We hope many of you out there follow the lead of the Dailey Foundation and donate to the cause as well. Every donation helps, combined with our volunteer labor, and will help to get this work done to allow the 700 to return to service!