With 20s return from the amazing runs on the C&TS we dove into a boiler wash and 31 day inspection. Once the inspection was complete we fired her up for testing, then set her aside for Polar express. We used 346 for the first few weeks of polar as 491 is still out of service with the pistons removed. Polar is longer than 31 days so we had to keep 20 out of service till we would reach the end on 31 days. As a side note about 346, her last run was Friday the 19th. Quietly and unceremoniously she will be removed from service to begin the preliminary scope of work for her next overhaul. She will return.
Getting back to 20, as part of my quest to make 20 more historically accurate and to prepare for Polar we set to work making curtains. Al Blount deserves all the credit in the world for sewing them up and putting up with me and my determination for accuracy. Using historic photos as well as 5, D&RGW drawings sourced from History CO and our shared files with the D&S we set to work.
Below are the results and a comparison to a photo from 1948 or 49 from the Friends of C&TS Dorman collection. I wish I had had these done BEFORE our trip to the C&TS.
Jeff Taylor
CRRM curator of equipment and rolling stock.