Restoration Journal - June 15, 2010

Western Mechanical arrived at the site on Monday June 14 and proceeded to set up their Hydraulic Gantry Lift and other equipment, and performed a brief test lift with the locomotive, leaving it suspended an inch or so off the ground over night.

On Tuesday June 15, the locomotive and tender were lifted separately and loaded onto large floats. Once the engine and tender were loaded, Western Mechanical proceeded to dismantle their equipment and begin transferring it all to the new pad.

Prior to lifting the engine, blocks of wood were installed under the journals of the three axles equipped with Crown Brass driving boxes, and under the driving box of the driving wheel equipped with floating bushing driving boxes. Blocks of wood also installed under the journal boxes of all the engine, trailing, and tender truck boxes and under the journals of the trailing and tender trucks too. The engine and trailing trucks were then firmly chained to the locomotive frame.

To lift the locomotive, a sling was placed underneath the smokebox and a large steel beam placed under the cab, which is essentially how these engines were lifted when in service. As the smokebox is in excellent condition, the bolts connecting it to the cylinder saddle held, and the locomotive did not break in two.

While the locomotive was in the air, we took the opportunity to attempt to turn the wheels on the pilot truck in order to circulate any residual oil or grease that may still be inside the roller bearings, but the break shoes were seized to the wheels, so it didn't work. At some later date we will attempt to free the brake shoes from the wheels, then take some weight off the axle and try and turn the wheels.

Wooden blocks placed under driving wheel journals.

Chains securing engine truck to locomotive frame.

Wood blocks under trailing truck journal boxes, as well as the chains securing the truck to the locomotive.

Chains securing trailing truck to the locomotive frame.

Wood blocks under tender truck journal boxes.