DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway 2-8-0 No. 332 has passed a hydrostatic boiler test at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum following boiler repairs. Museum Executive Director Ken Buehler told Trains News Wire the test last week was a success, and the Federal Railroad Administration has now signed off on repairs to the Consolidation, setting the stage for operations in 2022.
No. 332 last operated in 2019; plans to operate it in 2020 were abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspections to return the locomotive to service this year led to the discovery of cracks near the mud ring in the firebox, Buehler said. Over the years the locomotive operated on the Duluth & Northeastern Railroad (1955-1964), four cracks developed that were repeatedly welded by D&NE mechanics. An FRA inspection this spring revealed the cracks had reopened. Initially the museum thought it would have to cut out all the metal around the cracks and install new material, which would be prohibitively expensive. However, an inspection in conjunction with Fraser Shipyards of Superior, Wis., which has years of experience working with steam boilers, revealed the metal around the cracks was metallurgically sound. Fraser proposed the cracks be welded shut and new metal be welded over the cracks, a plan the FRA approved.
After the hydro test, the locomotive was placed in the museum for display this winter. Buehler said the museum plans to fire up No. 332 next spring and conduct tests and training runs. If these are successful, the museum plans to announce several steam weekends for the 2022 summer and fall season on the North Shore Scenic Railroad between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minn.
American Locomotive Co.’s Pittsburgh Works built the locomotive in 1906 for the Duluth, Missabe & Northern as No. 332. It was operated by DM&N successor Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway as No. 332 until 1955, when it was sold to short line Duluth & Northeastern and renumbered 28. The locomotive remained in service on D&NE until 1964. It was donated to the museum in 1974 and was returned to service in 2017. In 2019 it was restored to its DM&IR appearance and renumbered back to DM&IR 332.
