Here is an update on the NP #2165 locomotive as well as a current status of the MTM steam program.
I am a current MTM member, Board of Directors member, have spent the last 3 plus years working on the #2156, and am directly involved with a team in refining the steam program for MTM.
A major loss for the steam program and the #2156 happened this year with the passing of Lee Tuskey. Lee has documented much of the current locomotive and its condition, as well as what is needed to bring it back to operation. He will be missed.
Current work on the #2156 includes rebuilding the lead truck, rebushing all of the spring rigging, driving box rebuilds, recast shoes and wedges, new studs for the entire boiler and firebox, and rerouting the high pressure steam out of the smokebox and into the top center of the steam chest valve body.
At some point in the past the steam chest froze while standing water was inside and the force broke out a significant portion of the steam passage. This is a very poor candidate for a weld repair for a number of reasons that I will not cover here. Suffice it to say that the steam crew, with much advice from experts, decided to take the path that many railroads did in rerouting the steam pipes to avoid a repeat of this problem.
In the near future as donations and workers, our two greatest needs, allow; we would like to start building the cab. We have drawings and the #2153 to work from so it shouldn’t be too difficult to get and accurate build.
The #2153 is inside awaiting cosmetic work. Someone occasionally adds a little something to bring her a little closer to presentable. Many of us steam dreamers see a day when both locomotives will be operational with their major overhauls staggered enough to always have one of them running and at times both of them. Imagine a double header pulling your passenger train.
The NP #328 locomotive doesn’t belong to the MTM. The ownership is still with the city of Stillwater Minnesota. There is steady work being done to bring her up to cosmetic display standards but a very major overhaul and transfer of ownership would be required before it would ever whistle its way up the river bluffs again.
Finally we have a 12 inch gauge, wood fired, steam engine #1 Red Cedar and Western that needs some work before it can run on rails at Jackson Street Roundhouse. There is a fund for the restoration of this unit and Moorhead Boiler, who built the boiler, is considering going thru it and bringing it up to code.
I hope this helps clarify the questions about our steam program.
Dave Miller
MTM
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