Re: FEC 148

Ok, some things with our locomotive ex- FEC 148 need to be cleared up. First off the assertion that all of the boiler courses on the belly are junk, is FALSE! The only place that the boiler metal is below 60% parent metal on the barrel courses is in the extended smoke box portion of the first course on the belly. Keep in mind that this is well past the pressure boundary of the front tube sheet.
Second, the rest of the boiler needs only knuckle work, some corner work in the fire box, and welded flush patches in the area of the top check valve manifold, due to wastage, and a few flush patches in some other areas as well. Also a portion of the mud ring will also be replaced due to the fact that the mud ring rivet holes have been reamed too many times, and to do that we will rip out and undocumented patch in the throat sheet that needs to come out any way. We will be putting in an entirely new dry pipe, quite a few flexible stays, sleeves, and caps and a few ridged stays, as well as all the usual fire box work.
Now the next thing I keep hearing is a bunch of erroneous statements that the engine "slipped quarter" (which unless you shear a key or break an axel I have no idea how you would do that one and not notice it) or has a "slipped tire" both of the statements are also FALSE! The locomotive does not suffer from these conditions in its currant state.
I hope this has helped to exterminate some rumors, and that you all will come to South Fork soon to ride our railroad. We will have the 148, which by the way has been renumbered to Denver & Rio Grande Railroad P-28 799, operating in daily service by 2011.

Kindest Personal Regards,

Mike Spera
CMO & Gen'l Superintendent
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company
719-873-2003
Wasson, Colo.

Vice President
Denver & Rio Grande Railway Historical Foundation
Monte Vista, Colo.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2009 12:40AM by Mike Spera.