The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association presented these custom jackets today to Greg Fitzgerald, the Executive Director of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, and to Renee Devereux, the ORHF Executive Assistant. These jackets were given to them to show them both how VERY much we appreciate all that they have done, and continue to do for […]
The guys removed the last of the bricks in the firebox. These were the ones that had lined the floor pan. This was done to make it easier to test the flooring thickness. Some of the bricks are reusable, but some were so old (and it is estimated some may go back to the original […]
Yesterday, the guys did the labor intensive task of lifting a superheater from ground level, up in and through the smokebox, to be tested for a fit. Having a forklift was quite helpful, but still, it took several guys to accomplish the task at hand. The good news is that everything worked out as hoped. […]
Last Saturday, a special work party was called together to start completing the safe-ends on the 50 ton press using a die that was created by Harlan Hoult. The safe ends do two things : they replace the material lost to torch cutting from the end sheets and the swaged end is to fit in […]
On Wednesday, February 21st, the Pacific Railroad Preservation Association lost Senior Engineer Greg Kamholz to pancreatic cancer. Greg was one of the primary engineers running the SP&S 700 since it’s return to steam in the 1990’s. Not only was he a primary engineer for the engine, he was also one of our most knowledgeable steam […]
So, slow but steady continues to be the watchword of the day. Here’s what’s gone on lately: 1. Randy W. and Kyle C. continue in their ultra-sounding. They are finding small problem areas here and there, but nothing earth shattering. All thus far have been in areas easy to patch. 2. Monday the 12th, Matt […]
We had a lot of volunteers show up for the Flue Party on Monday. Take a look!
The Portland Winter Light Festival that was held at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center earlier this month was a great success. There was a very large turnout, and a lot of happy faces. The SP&S 700 and her two steam stablemates were beautifully displayed.
The PRPA has had females on it’s work crews as far back as to its original crew under Chris McLarney. Amy is one of our newest volunteers and she was cleaning up the ends on the lay after the safe ends were cut today.
Greg Kamholz is the senior volunteer locomotive engineer of the SP&S 700, and over the years he has donated both his time and his skills to the operations of this beautiful piece of history..In addition to this, through a very generous and substantial donation to the boiler certification fund, he recently became one of our […]