Re: Rolling Locomotives *LINK*

I don't know what kind of care No. 9 has had, but proper preparation of a long idle locomotive for rolling is one of the most important parts of preservation. Water drips off the boiler and down on the axle journals, which are relatively open on the underside, despite the lubricating cellars (the bearing covers only the upper side).
Over time, the underside of the journal becomes rusty. After 40 years or so, exuberant volunteers decide to fix up old 99 and decide it would be better in a slightly different location in the park, laying a piece of track in front. A bucket loader and big chain are procured and attached to the engine. The bucket loader groans, the engine shakes a bit, then lets go with a noise and moves reluctantly.
The soft babbit lining of the bearings has now been badly damaged, because the rust on the journal undersides has now been ground up into the babbit, scoring it. With just a HALF TURN of the wheels!
Tender and pilot truck bearings can usually be scraped free of the damage, but repair of the big driving box bearings means wheel removal and usually rebabbitting. A complete overhaul often requires this anyway, but engines can often be made rollable first by dropping the lubricating cellars and polishing off the rust on the journals with abrasive cloth. With a good coat of waterproof grease, the engine can now be rolled without unnecessary bearing damage. It is by no means an easy job, requiring lots of flat-on-the-back, rust in the eyes, nasty work, but just about the most important part of preserving a steam locomotive.
Of course the more moving parts that can be disconnected and kept from moving, the better. Pistons, valves, crossheads, etc., can all accumulate rust and be damaged, but are more easily disconnected first.
I suspect C&S 9 will need a full running gear overhaul anyway, but lots of engines have been damaged by being moved by people who don't know what they are doing. Cranes can cause even worse damage if not used properly, but that is another story.
Dave Conrad's little steam maintenance book, written long ago, is still the basic primer for the subject, and is linked below.