Re: Arriving Thursday at the Colorado Railroad Museum, Part 3--new pictures

Greetings,

Well, Murphy was at work today. The engine arrived prior to the noon arrival time we were told, so yours truly showed up a few minutes after the unloading process had begun. Then, a few mintues into the process, my camera batteries died, and Murpohy managed to completely conceal the package of spare batteries I had purchased yesterday in anticipation of just such a situation (still haven't found them). So not too far into the process of unloading, I was camera-less. Sorry. I am hoping that Al Blount will put up some of his photos to fill the gaps in mine.

The basic process was to use the large excavator you see in the background of some of these photos to serve as a brake for the engine. Its bucket was chained to the front coupler; as the bucket arm was slowly extended, the engine would roll off the trailer. At the other end of the engine, CRRM #4 was chained to a rear frame member under the cab. By tugging on the engine with #4 even as the excavator slowly extended its bucket, the resulting tension across the engine allowed for ciomplete control of the descent of the locomotive. Once the #30 was on level rail on the ground, it was towed to the turntable, turned, and shoved into one of the radials used for display purposes--right next to #318. The tender was then retrieved, pushed up behind #30; the coupling link was shoved into the pocket at the rear of the locomotvie, and the pin was dropped into place.

The #30 is now in the safest environment it has had since it left the RGS.

You will notice unfinished details, like no stack, headlight, or pilot, water lines not connected, and the firebox wrapper in the cab isn't painted yet. My understanding is those itemswill be finished up by the contractor sometime between now and when a consultant to the City of Boulder shows up in early May for a final inspection. I also understand the City of Boulder and the CRRM are planning some sort of celebratory event in August for the #30/74. Stay tuned for the announcment.

And yes, Russo, the jacket IS green! Very dark green. We have an operations day tomorrow, but I will try to sneak off and get some shots of the mostly-assembled locomotive

Mike