The Polar Express 1225 undergoing a overhual

[rpicardi1]

Just came back from Tiny Trains open house at the Michigan Steam Preservation Insitute. The Pier Marquette 1225 has been undergoing a magor overhual after last year's North Pole Express. Major boiler reconstruction and inspection has been completed. What is left is reconnecting all of the plumbing and heat shields. A seal is being replace in one piston. Several gauges related to the braking system have been updated. Work is expected to be completed in time for the 2006 North Pole Express.


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Side view with heat shield removed for boiler and firebox inspection and repair. Several stay bolts were replaced.

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Front plate is unbolted and is hinged to open for inspection.

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Shot inside the boiler firebox. You can see the siphon tubes that were replaced in the last overhual.

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Engineer's chair. Note all of the origional steel piping is now replaced with copper.

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Top right view of valve and gauges. Other gauges and valves to be install in the newly replaced fittings. The origional course threaded ones kept leaking under pressure.

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Modern air braking system installed.

I will add some more pictures as I get them processed to forum specs

SRV Ron

[jay611]

Beautiful shots! Hope her overhaul goes off without a hitch!

Cheers,

Jason Underwood
Newport News, Virginia
CSX Peninsula Sub MP.16
WMRY303@hotmail.com

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/jay611/BCR_400_R.gif

[rpicardi1]

More shots, This time, # 76 undergoing a big time reconstruction. The insitute wants to use it for excursions when it is just too expensive to use the heavy 1225. # 76, being much smaller, will work for excursions with several cars and where the 1225 can't be used because of weight restrictions.

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Specs on #76

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110268.jpg
The tender box

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110269.jpg
The drive carrage. 2-8-0. Drive wheels are much smaller then the 1225.

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The boiler. It has undergone an inspection and repairs.

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110271.jpg
Piston closeup. The drive bar has been removed along with the front caps.

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Suspension system over the firebox

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Tender frame.

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Suspension and wheel carrage for the tender box

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The cab.

They hope to have this engine assembled and operational at the end of 2007.

SRV Ron