Locomotive 463 Progress Report

[Tim Tennant]

We are now making visible progress every day. The jacket has been completed and painted. The driving boxes were delivered January 20 as scheduled. They look beautiful! While Scott Lindsay was in Monte Vista, we test fit them on each journal. Each fit very well the first time. Bob Sullivan machined the grease pockets in the crown brasses, and I am grinding in the grease grooves. We have begun attached the various pieces to the smokebox. Yesterday we mounted the running board brackets. Today they drilled the holes for the sway braces and mounted the air reservoir.

Dave Griner has completed the Form 4 boiler documentation and I received it today. It is a fairly extensive document, with the specification card, material documentation, and stress calculations. This will be submitted to the FRA to show that the boiler is safe to operate.

Mike Thode has done a fine job fabricating the new ash pan. We are planning on riveting it together this weekend.
Marvin Casias and the Antonito shop crew have taken apart the front tender truck. The lead wheel set is in the Chama wheel lathe to be reprofiled.

It has been decided to wheel the locomotive once it returns to Antonito in late March. Marvin is planning to use it on ballast trains to break it in. This is an ideal service, since she will be pulling a load but not operating on a schedule. This allows the crew to make plenty of inspection stops.

Marty Knox, Chief Mechanical Officer, Project 463