September 2026 Update
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America is excited to share our most recent significant update for Union Pacific #5511. While all has been quiet on the progress of #5511- we are now closer than ever to bringing #5511 back to steam again for the first time in 70 years.
As of September 2026, Union Pacific #5511 has successfully passed it’s FRA Hydrostatic Pressure test. Achieving this goal is a major milestone for a steam locomotive’s restoration, but the work is far from over.
Let’s review what it took to achieve this goal:
Front Tube Sheet
Early in December of 2025, RRHMA staff found a significant issue with 5511’s front tube sheet. During inspections after the inside of the boiler barrel was sandblasted, a significant crack was found along the radius of the front tube sheet. This was caused by excessive stress along the radius, and over time filled with accumulated minerals from water (millscale) which hid it during initial inspections.
Soon after, RRHMA’s steam restoration crew devised a plan of attack and immediately got to work. Steel was ordered, machines were prepped, and crews grabbed the torches. And in the last week of December 2025, the front tube sheet was successfully removed from the boiler.
Once 2026 began, no time was wasted in creating a replacement sheet for #5511. One of RRHMA’s unique machines, the McCabe Flanger, was utilized to create the radius of the tube sheet. This machine, specializing in bending steel up to 3/4″ in thickness, uses a pneumatic cylinder to apply pressure to steel around a custom-made tool die in small increments to gradually produce the desired radius. In this instance, a unique die was hand-crafted and used in this machine to gradually create the correct radius profile. After multiple passes, the sheet’s radius was now complete and was sent to have the tube & flue holes to be water jetted, matching original boiler drawings down to the nearest 1/16th of an inch.
Once we received the tube sheet back after having the tube holes cut, we immediately cleaned, trimmed, and test-fit the sheet inside the boiler of 5511. Once the sheet was in place, holes were then marked and drilled where the rivets would soon be installed.
Once a volunteer riveting team was assembled, no time was wasted to begin work. A crew of 6 men, a mix between volunteers and our RRHMA steam crew all under the age of 25, started and completed final riveting in just 14 hours.
The following week, Ragan Mechanical came in to perform the final weld to the original sheet as our crew began preparing for tube installation.
Tubes, Flues, and Superheaters
Upon final installation of the brand new front tube sheet for #5511, all of the locomotive’s tubes and flues were cut to length and installation began. #5511 is equipped with approximately 258 of the 2 1/4″ tubes, and 45 of the 5″ Type A superheater flues.
All of the superheater flues and tubes were rolled into the front and rear tube sheets using a pneumatic motor turning a special type of roller designed to “flare” the end of the tube and expand it into the sheet. Once the tube is expanded into the tube sheet, it would then be “beaded” on the smokebox end and seal-welded in the firebox.
Once seal welding was completed, superheater units were then prepped and installed into the locomotive. All 45 of the superheater units were inspected, pressure tested, and successfully reinstalled in the locomotive.
Hydrostatic Test
After countless man-hours of hard work and elbow grease, #5511 had water put in it’s boiler for the first time in 70 years. Upon being filled and pressurized, no leaks were found and preparation for the FRA Hydro began. Over the course of 4 days, the boiler was heated using electric and propane heaters to 120° and filled to the top of the steam dome with water.
Using our industrial pressure water with heavy-duty regulators, the pressure was slowly brought up over time to 250 PSI and held while our steam restoration crew thoroughly inspected the boiler for any leaks. Normal operating pressure for 5511 is 200 PSI, however for an FRA Hydrostatic test the pressure is required to be approximately 1.25x the MAWP (Maximum Allowable Working Pressure). Once satisfied, RRHMA scheduled it’s FRA Hydro Inspection, and successfully passed the pressure test.
What Comes Next?
With a successful hydrostatic test under #5511’s belt, the FRA has granted RRHMA permission to begin the process of preparing for an FRA-witnessed live steam test. While there is still lots to work on moving forward before the test, RRHMA intends to be prepared to execute the steam test within the upcoming winter season.
Stay tuned for more updates coming from RRHMA and the restoration of #5511 by becoming a member today on our website.
-RRHMA Steam Crew
See Union Pacific #5511 in person!
On Saturday & Sunday, September 26th & 27th 2026, RRHMA will be hosting its second fundraiser trip on the Iowa Interstate in celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary, THE LIBERTY ROCKET.
Ticketed guests on our train will have the unique experience of having a one-on-one shop tour after our rides for the afternoon. These guests will be the first to see #5511 up close since the hydrostatic test- and will be the first to hear about our upcoming plans for a test fire.
Tickets are STILL AVAILABLE for this ride, and if you would like to be amongst the few to see this locomotive behind-the-scenes for one of the last times before steam, now is your opportunity!
Book your tickets NOW:
If you would like to support RRHMA and its mission to preserve railroading history, become a member or donate today.
