Southern 2-8-0 (H4) #401 Nearing Completion!

[illinoiscentral]

Hello Everyone,

As many here know, I am an active volunteer for the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois, and as some of you further know, the museum is in ownership of the Southern #401 steam locomotive built in 1907 by the Southern Railway.
For the last 15 years the museum has tried to complete restoration of the locomotive and now that vision is finally becoming a reality. Now that most all mechanical work is completed on the locomotive, we have moved into the cosmetic stage. With the tender painted, the locomotive itself is entering paint.

If all goes well, the locomotive will make its debut run September 19th and 20th.
The said dates are involved in the museum's largest event, Railroad Days. This event has drawn riders from all over the country as we run three trains to Monticello, White Heath and the Camp Creek Yard.

We would love to see you out there,one ticket is good for all train rides, all day, unlimited. We will be having a food tent and hopefully an Operation Lifesaver presentation for the kids.


Cheers,
Woody

 

[SPNGTyler]

Hahaha!:clap: Niiice!!!

Glad to see yall are gettin to the cosmetic stage.

I guess that means yall fixed the problem with the rods being to long? Or are you just goin ahead with other stuff?
I ask this becouse I see no main rods realy in the picture.

Picture of what I mean in June of this year.


PS: By the way, what in the world was that freaky vampire dummy there for?

 

[Steveo241]

PS: By the way, what in the world was that freaky vampire dummy there for?

It's a lifesize model of Woody, of course :hehe:

All in good fun,

Steve

 

[SPNGTyler]

It's a lifesize model of Woody, of course :hehe:

All in good fun,

Steve

Hmmm, so thats what he looks like.:hehe:

But seriously, why was it there?

 

[illinoiscentral]

I believe the vampire is newly crafted for the Ghost Train event. We've been looking at ways to freshen the event this year.
By the way, the heated the rods up to about 200 degrees and swung a hammer down from the ceiling...that took care of the length!

Cheers,
Woody

 

[Klinger]

hope your rod's don't crack over time, bashing it with a hammer seems like a temp fix, but as long as the engine is not operated daily, doubt it will be a problem.

also sounds like something I would do.......If all else fails, hit it with a hammer!

 

[UP5521]

the 401 is looking good so far,nice work on this magnificent piece of railroad history!

 

[illinoiscentral]

hope your rod's don't crack over time, bashing it with a hammer seems like a temp fix, but as long as the engine is not operated daily, doubt it will be a problem.

also sounds like something I would do.......If all else fails, hit it with a hammer!

It won't be run every day, hardly. The engine for the time being has been scheduled to be run once monthly. So it shouldn't be a problem. Plus the engine is likely to never exceed 20 MPH any time soon. That's the speed limit for the whole MRM line, given no signaling. The track is good for 30 mph.

 

[SPNGTyler]

It won't be run every day, hardly. The engine for the time being has been scheduled to be run once monthly. So it shouldn't be a problem. Plus the engine is likely to never exceed 20 MPH any time soon. That's the speed limit for the whole MRM line, given no signaling. The track is good for 30 mph.

Its to bad the line on the opposite side on Monticello (Cant remember what direction, at all.) Basicly the other side of the N&S tracks from you guys the track is torn up for a litte ways. It be realy cool to see something go through that WIDE open farm land. And the other side of "Willie's" Jct (I think) is choc full of cars. At least that side is making money. If you opened both those back up, 401 would have plenty of room to hit 30.

That is a LONG way down the road though I know. People can dream cant they?

If you can get her running by september 20th, I may just have to fly up from Texas just to see her. Its a wonderfull place yall got there. Especialy for cab rides only double the normal fare!

 

[illinoiscentral]

Its to bad the line on the opposite side on Monticello (Cant remember what direction, at all.) Basicly the other side of the N&S tracks from you guys the track is torn up for a litte ways. It be realy cool to see something go through that WIDE open farm land. And the other side of "Willie's" Jct (I think) is choc full of cars. At least that side is making money. If you opened both those back up, 401 would have plenty of room to hit 30.

That is a LONG way down the road though I know. People can dream cant they?

If you can get her running by september 20th, I may just have to fly up from Texas just to see her. Its a wonderfull place yall got there. Especialy for cab rides only double the normal fare!

Well, I have discussed the possibility of the extension west of town however opposition is met...
Here is how the line works, it runs from Champaign to Decatur, a total of 47 miles one way. ICG let the line go for several years, "defered maintanance", and let track speeds get down to 10 mph, the one last wreck on it did it in. It was sold to us in '82.
It is currently split in three sections, CN/IC owns the section from Champaign to Seymour. Abondoned between Seymore and White Heath. Monticello Railway Museum owns the line between White Heath and Monticello. Abondoned between Monticello and Cisco. Decatur Junction Railway owns and operates the line from Cisco to Decatur. Line ends at Decatur.
There is a very neat steel bridge on it just outside of Monticello, one I desire to have on the line. This line has seen some famous days. At one time, IC had enough branchlines, that if for any reason the main North-South line got tied up, they could detour over one of the many branches, thus, when a freight de-railed at Tolono, the City of New Orleans detoured over these very tracks...at 10 mph. And at 47 miles that rounds out to 4 1/2 hours, Champaign to Decatur.



Cheers,
Woody

 

[SPNGTyler]

Well, I have discussed the possibility of the extension west of town however opposition is met...
Here is how the line works, it runs from Champaign to Decatur, a total of 47 miles one way. ICG let the line go for several years, "defered maintanance", and let track speeds get down to 10 mph, the one last wreck on it did it in. It was sold to us in '82.
It is currently split in three sections, CN/IC owns the section from Champaign to Seymour. Abondoned between Seymore and White Heath. Monticello Railway Museum owns the line between White Heath and Monticello. Abondoned between Monticello and Cisco. Decatur Junction Railway owns and operates the line from Cisco to Decatur. Line ends at Decatur.
There is a very neat steel bridge on it just outside of Monticello, one I desire to have on the line. This line has seen some famous days. At one time, IC had enough branchlines, that if for any reason the main North-South line got tied up, they could detour over one of the many branches, thus, when a freight de-railed at Tolono, the City of New Orleans detoured over these very tracks...at 10 mph. And at 47 miles that rounds out to 4 1/2 hours, Champaign to Decatur.



Cheers,
Woody

Eek, didnt know the area between Seymore and White Heath was abandoned. I havent seen that area. Is it torn up? Or just unused. And the area between Cisco and Monticello, its sad that a mere 6 miles are between nothingness and running the line. On the way there from Springfield, I remember looking out the window from the highway and seeing old cars, including and old Heavywait of some kind not far from Monticello. In all honesty, I thought it was just part of the meusum. Turns out the Heavywait( bad spelling, I know) is owned by a local radio host, and is literaly falling to pieces.