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From: MDelvec952 mdelvec952 AT aol DOT com
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2011 00:16:04 -0400
Subject: DL&W F3 Volunteer -- mission accomplished.
"Tri-State_F3_Scranton_6-3-2011_016_edit.jpg" - image/jpeg, 1389x774 (24bit)



Hi all, and the title says it all. After another full work session today with six people, we completed what had to be completed to earn the FRA blue card, which has been issued by Steamtown National Historic Site. Even Superintendent Kip Hagan stopped by today to express his happiness at our steady and consistent progress. All of us shook hands then went back to work. These units are going to be like "This Old House," as there will always be something to do, fix or improve.

The 664 was used on the Steamtown yard shuttle on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Supt. Hagan took a ride on it and loved what he saw. His father owned a lumber yard in Scranton and Kip often talks about recalling the freight F3s in his childhood. These memories are dear to him, and we're helping him relive those while telling the tale that is the mission of Steamtown.

The 663 won't get a break in run before the Sunday excursion, but we've had it running for a few hours and put it through numerous tests, including a load test. It will fully operate with the 664 as the brakestands and throttles are talking to each other when the two are m.u.'d for operation.

The Sunday trip to Winton Siding is on, and the F3s will be pulling it. Jersey Central RS3 1554 has also been restored and painted, and it will be pulling the yard shuttle on Sunday with the two restored CNJ coaches. Lehigh Valley C420 414 and Reading RS3 492 are also parked around the turntable radial tracks making this the first time these pieces of restored ARHS equipment has been displayed together in on place. The F3s will join them Sunday about noon, after the excursion.

If attending the excursion, remember to check in with the Park to pay the $7 admission -- very critical. The excursion is $48 -- if you registered in advance you're good; payment will be accepted on the train. I don't know if the trip has sold out, so if you haven't signed up and advance and would like to ride, all I can suggest is to take your chances. Enjoy the day. I'm going to try to make it, but I'm working Saturday night past midnight and my folks need my help Sunday. We'll see -- would sure love to see them among the Lackawanna scenery in Scranton. Please take pictures.

Meanwhile, we will keep the work sessions going as there is still so much to do. Among those are need to paint the cab and the engine room, label the stuff that requires labeling, install the new airbox drain containment system, install a new cab floor, continue the interior rust proofing and treatment inside the nose and under the cab floor and other stuff. We'd also like to pass the hat some more as we're over budget and buying supplies on our credit cards. Modest contributions would do the job to keep the units in service and to keep the improvements happening. Last year's fund raising was tremendous and the generosity of so many are what got the units painted and running, for which everyone can be grateful and proud. Thanks, all.

Meanwhile, the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society's 2011 Convention is in Scranton at the end of September, and we're talking with them about involving the F3s. Tri-State may organize its one event in concert with the ELHS. Lots to talk about. Meanwhile, Steamtown's philosophy is to keep steam operating in the Park as much as possible. With just CNR 2-8-2 3254 in service right now, Steamtown will be turning to the F3s for some of the trips outside of the park. We'll try to post news of any operations. Keep an eye on the Tri-State facebook page (Tri-State Chapter NRHS). The ARHS and Steamtown NHS facebook pages may also contain notices.

More photos, and again thanks. Hope everyone can make it Sunday to see them run ....Mike Del Vecchio



Later in the day the volunteers are tackling the smaller items. Here, Rich Jahn (low in the red hat) is working improve the operation of the front cut lever while Barry Levitt (standing in blue) loosens the bolts holding a cut-lever bracket.





Below: Barry Levitt and I are installing the porthole rings with the new glass in them. For Lackawanna railfest they had been installed without glass for the benefit of the photographers. While we had new glass made to the size of the broken glass that was removed from the porthole rings, the gasketing today was thicker than the original. Unable to make the new glass and gasketing to fit into the portholes, we turned to Snow's Glass in Dover, NJ, to have the glass professionally installed. The two Johns at Snow's (father and son) have made all of the new glass for the 663 and have taken quite a liking in the project. The porthole glass is very important -- not only is it required by the FRA as protection for crew members who may be in the carbody, it also plugs the portholes so that all of the air used by the diesel prime mover is passing through the carbody filters.






Below: Rich Jahn is starting the 663 to test the air line leak that we repaired today and to ensure that the two units m.u. properly. The 663's diesel engine runs very smoothly thanks to the repairs to the No.9 cylinder by Mike Bast in 2009 when it first arrived in Steamtown, and the adjustments made by us during the restoration. You can see that the next step is a fresh coat of paint on the engine and its exterior parts.






Here's a taste of what the roundhouse area is going to look like Sunday morning. The ARHS is making Scranton look more like Bethlehem. The Reading RS3 is to the left of the LV 414, the Lackawanna 426 is to the CNJ RS3. The F3s will be among this line-up somewhere as the ARHS dedicates its unit. The 663 will be the trailing unit and not visible in this line-up.,
--72343f48-d836-451c-a071-e364210cc24b

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