Did you pass inspection?
Nope… Not yet…We are scheduling a new work session to address the leaking stay bolts…
When it happens… I’ll keep you’all posted.
Dave, I just read #315 is a guest of the C&T from the Durango Silverton Railroad. How often do guests arrive and how do they get there?
I feel like I’m about to ask, who shot J.R.?
Glad to see you’re back Dave… it’s been a cliffhanger… what happened with the 315?
1st… 315 is wholly owned and operated by the Durango Railroad Historical Society (DRHS), so what ever RR we run her on, she is a guest to that RR. Previously 315 was run on the D&S before moving to the C&TS in 2016.
2nd… The DRHS is partnered with the San Juan County Historical Society in Silverton Colorado, and are the owners and operators of what is now the Silverton Northern RR (SN). The SN is the smallest RR that the insurance companies recognize in the USA. Since we own an operational Engine, Trackage, Cars, and such…
3rd… Years ago, DRHS entered into an agreement with the C&TS, that the DRHS would run 315 for excursions and such, with the C&TS paying the cost of transporting 315 from and back to Silverton ( her home is officially listed as the SN engine house). Hauling a locomotive is very $$$$… The 2020 agreement with the C&TS covered the 1472 inspection and has her on the RR thru the end of the 2025 operating season.
4th… during 315’s stay at the C&TS, The Durango & Silverton RR (D&S) had a large fire in the forest adjacent to the ROW, The D&S requires that all coal burning locomotives are restricted to running ONLY with a snow cover on the ground. The D&S has converted its fleet of locomotives to OIL burning, and as such removed all of its coal loading and most ash handling facilities.
5th… SO… 315 could only run on the D&S in the dead of winter… not a good time for paying customers and excursions… On the C&TS there is no restriction on running coal burning locos, they do have two of their locos converted to OIL burning, to maintain operational capacity if the forest service stops coal locos.
6th… This year (2024) during our FRA mandated “Annual Inspection”, A couple of stay bolts in the fire box were found to be leaking, and the standard procedure to stop the leaks ( Peening over the bolt, and/or stay welding ) failed to stop the leaks, it was decided that we would error on the side of caution, and replace the leaking bolts and a number of additional adjacent ones.
Replacing stay bolts is a routine endeavor, but a major hassle, since the engine is not a part of the C&TS operating fleet, we ( DRHS ) are contracting out the work, which will be performed this spring. The 315 crew will help out as needed ( removing the cab, the lagging, and such).
7th… our goal is to be operational for the opening of the 2025 season on the C&TS…
BTW: I am a Crew member on 315, and sit on the Board of Directors for the DRHS.
What you don’t have to climb into the firebox, I love that picture from a while ago