The Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek recently released its fall report on what the shop forces have been up to in the past few months. Here are some of the highlights.
Open-window coaches Nos. 3659, 4979 and 5010 were sold in October and will be moving to their new owners during November. The report did not say who bought the coaches.
Former Canadian National/VIA Rail Canada combine No. 9300 has had its old roof replaced with a new rubber/fiber one.
The car had been built as a coach by Canadian Car & Foundry in 1954 but later converted buy CN into a 52-seat combine.
Former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie wreck train diner White Castle also received a rubber/fiber roof. This car had been built in 1918 by Pullman as open-section sleeper Aukland. It ended its career in wreck train service.
Tool car 5012 (Conneaut) is slated to receive a rubber/fiber roof. The former Wabash RPO/coach was built in 1920.
Boiler work on former McCloud River Railroad 2-8-2 No. 19 is nearing completion.
The work includes installing washout plugs, boiler studs, water glass fittings, globe valves and other components.
No. 19 is due for a hydrostatic test and its front tender truck is being reassembled, which includes installation of the newly reprofiled wheel sets.
Former Morehead & North Fork 0-6-0 No. 12 was in steam during the annual Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek this fall.
No. 12 was moved to the recently renovated former Wheeling & Lake Erie depot in Sugarcreek for the festival, which marks the cultural heritage of the village’s founders.
AOS also had displays, information and souvenir items at the depot.
Accompanying No. 12 was former Wheeling & Lake Erie steel caboose No. 0222.
The tender from former Bessemer & Lake Erie 2-10-4 No. 643 arrived at the roundhouse on Oct. 18 and was lifted off its big Buckeye six-wheel trucks and devoid of everything removable to reduce weigh.
The 49-foot long tender traveled to Sugarcreek from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, on a highway trailer that had to see-saw around sharp street corners.
Doubled-headed highway trucks were used to get the tender up the steep ramp to Pennsylvania Route 51 at the start of the journey.
Work continues in McKees Rocks to separate No. 643’s boiler and piping from its massive frame, cylinders and driving wheels.
The parts that have been removed from the steam locomotive have been catalogued and moved to Sugarcreek by truck.
Thus far there have been four truck loads of parts that have made the trip.
Tags: Age of Steam Roundhouse, B&LE 643, Bessemer & Lake Erie 643, Railroad preservation, steam locomotives
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