Michael,
The last time the Democratic party controlled both the Senate and the House C&TS Commission member Carl Turner arranged a Federal grant through, if I recall correctly, the FHA for $550,000 to do the 463 restoration and to build 3 passenger cars from scratch. I guess if you are not a C&TS fan you would see this as pure "pork barrel" spending by the Democrats. We did however create and/or save about 15-20 direct local jobs in Antonito and Chama, provided work to machine shops in Farmington, Durango, and Pueblo, and acquired a stock of flat car frames for future cars.
Here is the body of a post I made back in april of 2008. It details most of what we did.
The following is a partial list of what we did.
1. Apply two large patches to the boiler to correct conditions caused by pitting and spring hanger slap.
2. Install new flues and tubes.
3. Build and install all new superheater units.
4. Bore valves and cylinders.
5. Make new valve rings, pistons, and piston rings.
6. Turn and quarter drivers.
7. Rebuild driving boxes, shoes and wedges.
8. Rebuild springs, spring hangers, equalizers, fulcrums, spring saddles, and equalizer pins.
9. Install new steel wheels on lead truck.
10. Install new steel wheels and new axle for trail truck.
11. Build new riveted tender tank.
12. Rebuild tender frame.
13. Build new tender deck
14. Install new draw bolts between drawbar pocket and rear coupler pocket.
15. Replace all tender wheels with new steel wheels.
16. Make all new side rod, main rod, and knuckle pin bushings.
17. Build new boiler tube pilot.
18. Make all new jacket.
19. Build new cab.
20. Replace all steam and water piping.
21. Install #6ET air brake system.
22. Apply mechanical lubrication system.
23. File “Form 4” with FRA.
24. Rewire electrical system.
25. Paint and letter.
The above list is not everything but it covers most of the things we did when we put the engine in service. Remember we didn’t complete this in one winter. It took two years. We were however keeping the other 5 steam engines the two diesels and the rotary in serviceable condition at that time.
In direct answer to your question #463 will require a complete 1472 day inspection before it can be returned to service. The rules are different than they were in 1994. A complete boiler survey will have to be done and the stresses calculated. I have not worked on the engine since 1996 and am not in a position to comment on the service or maintenance it received after 1997. If it was serviced and maintained in the same manner that the other locomotives were during the 1989-1996 period I would not expect it to have major boiler issues.
I am certain that the driver tires should be turned, and the crankpins should be quartered. The lead and trail truck wheels may also require re-contouring. The spring rigging will have to be rebuilt, and I am sure the shoes, wedges, and driving boxes will need attention. A new side rod segment will have to be made. It will of course require new side rod and main rod brasses.
All and all it should require no more than a normal rebuild. When I was there we figured a normal running gear rebuild every 4-5 years and a new flue job every 8-10 years.
Please keep in mind that these are estimates on my part and that I did not get the opportunity to observe the engine in operation in the last days of operation before it was removed from service.
As regards costs, when we put the #463 in service we had a grant from the Federal Gov’t (your basic pork barrel / earmark grant) for $550,000. With that money we did the complete rebuild on the 463, purchased 11 steel flatcar frames (they had been the old Rio Grande ribbon rail train) and turned 3 of them into new coaches for the passenger trains.
Lots of people deserve to be recognized for their contribution to the success of this project.
Carl Turner, Bill Richardson, Pete Domenici, Leo Schmitz, Joe Vigil, John Rupley,
Jack Campbell, Marvin Casias, Donald Martinez, Fred Delgado, Tommy Garcia,
Chris King, Mark Yates, Orlando Ulibarri, Juno Casias, Gerald Blea, Bernie Holmes,
Ricky Rivas, Earl Knoob, Alan Palmer
The names of others who helped with this project not appearing on this list are absent by oversight not intention.
John Bush
