OWOSSO, Mich. — The brief yet significant operating season for Pere Marquette steam locomotive No. 1225 concluded Dec. 17 with the final runs of the 2023 North Pole Express. The holiday excursions are operated by Owosso’s Steam Railroading Institute, the 2-8-4’s owner, and covered five consecutive weekends beginning on Nov. 18. This followed multiple tests and break-in runs in the preceding weeks for the rebuilt drivers and running gear [See “Pere Marquette No. 1225 returns to service…” News Wire, No. 9, 2023].
“Running-gear-wise, it performed flawlessly,” said Justin Hamilton, SRI’s Master Mechanic of Motive Power. “The couple of little issues we encountered had an obvious smoking gun.”
The “smoking gun” Hamilton refers to took place during the Dec. 16 morning run. He reports that one of the bearings on the drivers was running warmer than normal, while the temperature sensor had a minor glitch (later discovered to be a thermocouple wire needing additional insulation from the steam’s condensation). Immediate diagnosis and corrections were made during the layover in Ashley, though it was decided for the return trip with diesel power to depart on schedule without No. 1225. The 2-8-4 departed afterward running light.
“We found the smoking gun, readjusted in Ashley, and took it easy on the way back,” Hamilton explained, adding that multiple stops were made to inspect the cooled-off bearing. “The reason we didn’t put the locomotive back on the train for the night run was we essentially ran out of time [to take on water, swap out the sensors, and make a final inspection] before the scheduled departure.
“It was a safer move to have No. 1225 stay behind so we can double-check everything.”
Despite missing one trip, the locomotive racked up well over the 300 miles SRI aimed for as part of the continual break-in runs and adjustments [See “Pere Marquette No. 1225 debuts in 2023…” News Wire, Nov. 21, 2023]. With eyes still on mileage for the bearings and other components to be fully seated, Hamilton has his sights on future operations with longer distances. In the meantime, both he and the backshop crew have transitioned into the offseason in preparation for 2024. The appliances, one at a time, will be the main targets for work on No. 1225.
“This year is going to focus on the hot water pump, injector, dynamos, and throttle,” said Hamilton. “Those are what we want to hit before and while in the operating season.”
On another track in the yard sits the boiler of Chicago & North Western No. 175, the Steam Railroading Institute’s second locomotive. According to Hamilton, the frame and running gear of the 4-6-0 are being restored at the Gramling Locomotive Works in Ashley, Ind. The ashpan has been completed and returned to the institute. Boiler work on the pressure vessel is slated as next year’s capital project in the SRI backshop.
“We’re looking at replacing studs and side sheets [of the firebox] and possibly modifying the tube sheets,” Hamilton listed. “The boiler itself has already been ultrasound tested and a lot of the areas needing to be replaced were identified. We’ll just need to double-check as boiler work is costly and time-consuming.”
Visit the Steam Railroading Institute website for future announcements and updates.
