SP # 786 restoration nearing completion

[overall]

The TimesDaily.com website ( a North Alabama newspaper ) is reporting that SP # 786 restoration will possibly be finished in the spring of 2010. A North Alabama company called TMC working in the Wise Alloys industrial complex is doing the work. After they are finished, they will ship the engine back to Austin Texas.

George

[samfp1943]

An interesting story!.

Here is a link to the article by Bernie Delinsky of the Florence (Al.) Times Daily:

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090928/ARTICLES/909285017/1011/NEWS?Title=With-painstaking-detail-workers-rebuild-1916-locomotive

Edit: Link toAustin Steam Train Assoc web site w/photos and locomotive hstory and story of rebuilding:

http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/786.html

As well, here is a link to one of the Mk-5 'Mikes' built from spare parts by the Louisiana Shops of the SP Algiers Shops for the T&NO.

http://www.lasta.org/events_old.htm

You miight say this is a Tale of Two Locomotives

The Locomotive is an SP Mougul Mikado (2-8-2) Mk-5 (in a additional order of 20) owned by the Austin Steam Train Assoc. and according to the article is going to get a new boiler ( manufactured new) and will be reassembled this coming Spring.

I thought it was interesting to note that in the same article it was stated that their next project was a locomotive from a group in Savanah, Ga.

Anyone got any ideas as to what that locomotive might be?

[sunbeam]

 There is a lot of work being done on #786's boiler and firebox, but it is not a newly fabricated boiler and firebox. It will hopefully come back to Cedar Park, TX sometime in 2010, and re-assembly of the locomotive can get started. Texas State RR does have some loco's with a new firebox and boiler.

  http://pointech.com/786/Boiler/boiler.htm

[videomaker]

This rebuilding has taken over 10 yrs to get this far ! Relying on donations dont get the job done..Thanks to a recent $600,000.00 gift the work can be completed and we can see this beautiful locomotive grace the rails of the Austin & Texas Central once again ! I just hope the new commuter rail dont spoil it( it runs on CapMetroRail tracks), A lot of folks have put a lot of sweat equity into this and I for one am looking forward to seeing it run on a weekly basis...  

[samfp1943]

 

 

 

 

 

videomaker

This rebuilding has taken over 10 yrs to get this far ! Relying on donations dont get the job done..Thanks to a recent $600,000.00 gift the work can be completed and we can see this beautiful locomotive grace the rails of the Austin & Texas Central once again ! I just hope the new commuter rail dont spoil it( it runs on CapMetroRail tracks), A lot of folks have put a lot of sweat equity into this and I for one am looking forward to seeing it run on a weekly basis...  

   In another thread there is a comment as to the cost of construction of a mile of new railroad ($5.6 million). This project we have been following on this Forum-- The rebuilding and reconstruction of SP786.

   The clubs investment in just tearing the locomotive down ( mentioned elseware some 7,000 hours) not to mention the monies involved ( estimated elseware to be approx $1.3 million) and then the list of companies with their various, now arcane skil sets to make the new repairs and new parts to enable the engine to be reassembled ( estimated to be about ten years in the total undertaking). It can be a truly daunting undertaking in time and costs.

  Anyway, I thought some photos (linked) might be of interest as to how the ASTA project is coming along:

           http://www.pointech.com/786/BLOG/

       and: http://www.pointech.com/786/

[Lord Atmo]

 I'm personally just glad to see the locomotive is coming back. I just looked up images of it and it looks quite impressive!

 

I know nothing of the background and how its preservation went, but I'm merely glad to see it's coming back.

[fredswain]

There is a live webcam at Listerhill TMC in Muscle Shoals, Al. where the work is being done. A few parts including the frame are visible. I've been looking at this view for months and have yet to see it move or anyone even in the shot aside from the random person in the very back of the shop entering an office door. When something moves here, and it hasn't in a long time, then I'll get excited. Here's the live webcam:

http://12.150.249.155/view/index.shtml

 

[dredmann]

Well I think SP 786 has a way to go before it hits the high iron, but I'm very glad to hear it's progressing and wish nothing but the best to the folks at the Austin Steam Train Association. As previously mentioned, we have the other restored SP Mk-5, SP 745, here in the New Orleans area (pictured in my avatar), and the Austin crew really helped us out when our air pump broke during a state tour a few years ago. (Boy I'd love to see them double-head!)

 

There are also two unrestored Mk-5's in Texas; alas, the one the used to be a park engine in Lafayette, LA was scrapped some years back.

 

[astatrainman786]

As of 2 years ago, SP 771 (formerly in Victoria TX) was located in Grapevine at the Tarantula railroad.

 

Jim

[samfp1943]

astatrainman786

As of 2 years ago, SP 771 (formerly in Victoria TX) was located in Grapevine at the Tarantula railroad.

Jim

A link to photo of SP#771 on display in Grapevine,Tx:

http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=f0354b7e-6a15-4a0f-9148-2184cd8fdff3

There is a breif mention on one website that when SP #771 was moved from Victoria,Tx. outside (in Park) display it was determined that it was unable to be used for it's intended purpose in Grapevine,Tx (no mention of why this was determined.)

 

[txhighballer]

The 771, while needing EVERYTHING except a bell and whistle to run again,could not negotiate the sharp curve from the Fort Worth and Western main line to get into the stockyards in Fort Worth.

[videomaker]

Group,

 Recently  ASTA recieved a monetary gift from Un Pac. Im hoping it was money anyway,can anyone here say what is the hold up on getting 786 back to ASTA and how much longer will it take? Ive also heard rumors that this company in AL. is telling ASTA that 786 needs something else repaired or rebuilt evey time ASTA asked about the completion of the work already performed..Whats that all about,has this company found a sugardady with deep pockets or are they scamming ASTA?  Another thing thats been bothering me is why did ASTA part this job out to so many contractors instead of shipping it to one company to do all the work?

 Inquiring minds want to know 

[tdmidget]

Well Danny, I guess that they should have just taken it over to your back yard instead of a partnership between some the hands from the NS steam program and one of the biggest and most competent machine shops in the country. Or maybe you missed the web cam showing that taken apart it might be occupying more space than your backyard.  And maybe , just maybe , a locomotive that was headed for scrap heap didn't get the best maintenance in it's last days?

Posts like yours will make EVERYONE want to jump in there and save a locomotive, won't they?

It's one thing to inquire, and quite another to impugn the motives and morals of those on your side.

Some call it knowing which side of your bread the butter is on.

[videomaker]

WELL, MR Midgit,

Excuse me ! For asking a simple question,I didnt mean to sound like I wanted the loco scrapped,I certainly was trying to be a SA ! Whats Your Problem with my question>>>