RRHMA-Silvis is working non-stop to bring Union Pacific #3985 and #5511 back to steam, while preparing for our first major public fundraiser from our Silvis location. We cannot thank you all enough for your ongoing support and patience during these restoration endeavors, and we are ready to share another update with you all.

Take a look at the latest update on the Union Pacific “Challenger”!

Covered in our last update, UP #3985 has been receiving extensive boiler work, with the final stretch of staybolt installation upon us. In order to complete staybolt work on this massive firebox, the rear tube sheet needed to be installed. And we are proud to announce that the rear tube sheet has been officially installed and in place!

Our steam restoration crew, in conjunction with Ragan Mechanical, spent countless man hours fitting up this rear tube sheet in order to fit as close to the original as possible. Welders from Ragan proceeded to weld the tube sheet in place, while our steam crew shifted their focus to the front tube sheet to be prepped and ready for welding and riveting.

The process of forming and installing the front tube sheet is not quite as simple as fitting it up and welding it in. There are many additional steps that must be taken in order to ensure a steam tight seal using hot rivets.

As seen in these images, our crews are heating and pulling the front tube sheet against the barrel, causing the hot steel to form around the cold steel. This is the first step to creating a steam tight seal. Once the sheet is pulled and set all the way around, the next step is to prep the rivet holes for new rivets. In our case, minimal work was needed and our crews are currently prepping these holes for riveting very soon. Once these holes are prepped, the sheet is then welded to the original boiler sheet- where the inside braces are fastened to.

The sheet is then “caulked” around the smokebox seam. The term “caulking” in steam locomotive terms refers to the movement of material in order to create a seal. In this case, an air hammer will be used to “move” the steel edge of the front tube sheet and force it into the barrel of the boiler, ensuring that it can hold 280+ PSI of steam pressure. 

In addition to the boiler work being conducted, we have also previously announced on our social media platforms of the completion of the Union Pacific #3985 Tender Oil Tank. After many renditions of a strong design for the tank, our crew reached out to Dover Tank & Plate Company to finally begin construction in March. 1/4″ plate steel was used for the entire tank, and highly skilled welders and fitters who worked with the Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust #5550’s frame project started assembly. And as of today, the tank currently resides in Silvis awaiting it’s installation in the very near future.

UP #5511 has been receiving some different attention recently- appliance rebuilding!

One of the most important aspects of the steam locomotives are the appliances that allow it to operate. Without appliances, a steam locomotive would quite literally be most similar to a tea kettle. With such a vast array of appliances, our crews immediately picked one each and tackled the task of rebuilding it.

Some of the higher priority appliaces, such as the water column and steam turret, receive attention first. Both these appliances are necessary in order to perform a hydrostatic test on the boiler (covered in our last update!). Both these pieces were bead blasted, primed, and painted by our crew members and volunteers. Each individual valve has to be lapped into its seat to ensure a steam-tight seal is achieved, and re-packed with valve packing to make sure the valve stem does not leak any additional steam. 

While hydrostatic testing on the boiler of #5511 is steadily approacing, hydrostatic tests on other appliances are already underway! Superheater assemblies from #5511 are in the process of being individually hydroed at over 300+ PSI to inspect for any sign of leakage. If any leakage is found, it is marked and tagged for repair. Once hydrostatic testing of the superheater units are completed and the necessary repairs are conducted, they will be ready to be installed after the tubes.

As we get closer to our fall months, our crews will be working harder than ever to bring these steam locomotives even closer to a successful hydrostatic test. In order to make these goals achievable, we ask for your continued support in our mission to resurrect these titans of steam.

Without donors like yourselves, none of this restoration would be possible. We are extremely thankful to work at the brisk pace we have set for ourselves, and we will continue to push it further with your ongoing support.

One of the many ways you can support us is to check out our latest upcoming fundraiser, The Quad Cities Rocket! This fundraiser is avaliable to everybody, and will feature Union Pacific DD-40-X #6936 hitting the mainline for the first time in nearly a decade. Visit our online information page on our website for more details! This is a fundraiser you will NOT want to miss!