Restoration

There are always a multitude of on-going restoration projects at the Colorado Railroad Museum, most of which take place in our restoration Roundhouse. Here’s the latest Roundhouse News from our CMO, Jack Campbell.

Roundhouse News - Updated December 19, 2011

It is now a time for a lot of change in the Colorado Railroad Museum Restoration Shop. We have basically completed the Kitchen car No. 04255 and have completed the TLC work to the Colorado Northwestern No. 1026. Also Locomotive No. 318 is very near completion, so we are having a big turnover of equipment in the Round House.

Stall No. 1 - D&RGW Engine No. 318

346 is now in stall 1 for all of December as it will be full of water most of the month. We now are using the flash boiler of our old steam cleaner as recirculation heater to pre-heat the water in the boiler. By taking colder water out of the bottom of the boilers mud ring, heating it and putting back in the boiler at a boiler check valve, we are able to pre-heat the boiler more evenly. This reduces the stresses that boilers experience at a cold start.

Stall No. 2 - Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 318

Work continues on No. 318 in stall #2. The builder’s plates were recently found and are now where they should be, installed on the No. 318. We still have boiler bands and some plumbing work to do to complete the cosmetic restoration and reassembly of the No. 318. The engine is nearly complete and will need its tender before we can display it. Finding all the parts to the locomotive was quite a challenge, but considering it was scattered across the Museum grounds for better than 30 years I think the restoration has gone rather smoothly.

Stall No. 3 - Locomotive No. 346 Tender Trucks

Work on locomotive No. 346’s new tender continues in stall # 3. I estimate that the new tender will be back behind Locomotive No. 346 and Locomotive No. 318’s tender will with Locomotive No. 318 by spring of 2012.

Stall No. 4 - C&S Refrigerator Car No. 1113

We are still in the discovery stage of the restoration on C&S Reefer No. 1113. We will be replacing the floor decking as part of the restoration process. The No. 1113 will be getting a new roof, new siding, and new decking. It will be in the round house for at least 2 years unless volunteers become interested in working multiple days during the week.

Stall No. 5 - Denver & Rio Grande Western Business Car B-8

We have moved the B-8 Business car into Stall #5 and it will be receiving a very detailed exterior prepping for paint. It will aslo receive needed attention to the end platforms. We have 1 passenger car truck for it and hope to have enough oak around to create a 2nd truck, using the newly acquired castings we have. This car will be inside until the exterior of it is complete, sealed and stabilized.

Upcoming projects:

We plan on doing some needed work to both the passenger coaches No. 284 and No. 280 in the next few weeks and hope to get Locomotive No. 3011 in to begin the restoration process on that locomotive.