Results of Firebox Survey of J&L 57

We were surprised when we started ultrasonically testing the firebox on the J&L 57!
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[@randyclyde4939]

What a great way to start spring! Wonderful news and I thought there'd only be one engine running and the other two were going to end up as static displays! Very exciting. Many thanks!

[@Billblom]

When the folk working on 15 (several years ago) at the EBT, the boiler's thinnest point was at new spec. Amazing. Baldwin made a great boiler...

[@stevenspaziani9159]

I'm sure you will do as good a job on that as you did with #58, good luck, hope everything turn out well for you and the engine.

[@trainst]

Amazing I can not wait to see 57 operational

[@Bigjimvideo]

Fantastic news!!

[@LIMowersAndMore]

Great news I can’t wait to see 57 back on the rails!

[@m611martin]

Looking forward to hopefully seeing the Narrow Gauge Railroad in June. Glad to be a member.

[@wilsonhardy2100]

That's wonderful to hear!

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Good news is always welcome. 👍😎

[@timeflysintheshop]

Thanks for the update! I like old tools and its always great to find markings that tell you who made it! Though even if I would have fit, I don't think I would climb into a firebox! You buddy deserves a beer for that! 👍😁😂😁👍😁

[@gravelydon7072]

Not sure I would on that one but I have been inside of a firebox of a light Pacific and inside the boiler while it was still warm to work on a throttle. That firebox doesn't look big enough for me to stand up in.

[@timeflysintheshop]

@@gravelydon7072 No it surely is not! Have you been to the Youngstown Steel Heritage museum?

[@gravelydon7072]

@@timeflysintheshop Unfortunately, no. Even though it basically is just a drive up I-77 and over on I-76 from our hometown in Ohio. Last time I was in the area I was in court at Warren, Ohio in 2015.

[@timeflysintheshop]

@@gravelydon7072 Well if its not too far a drive for you, you should try to make up to one of the operating days this summer. It is not very expensive and there is a lot to see. Also, I am not sure how far south you are, but the Age of Steam roundhouse in Sugarcreek Ohio would be closer to you. Here is a link to a video I posted from my visit there last year. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH6lq2iaatithtE

[@henryszubielski8601]

That's great news! I hope everything else works in your favor for the little locomotive!

[@thebuilderxen6858]

Great job 👑

[@saltleywsc]

Superb news Rik !

[@williamlee1429]

Whoo Hoo! Great news!

[@robertsanders6463]

Thank you so much for the great news and update!

[@travelingtom923]

It sure is nice when someone sets you up good like that. Those kind of breaks are few and far between. Might have been one of the reasons that locomotive never went to the scrapyard.

[@mr.sir.]

Oh that's amazing!!! Glad to know she's doing good!

[@kleetus92]

They probably put half inch plate in to pick up some weight and traction.

[@clydecessna737]

Terrific.

[@coreypage2851]

Always a good thing to have that kind of good news, especially on a steam locomotive!

[@s16100]

That is fantastic news. Awesome.

[@christoffsuron4143]

thanks from France !!!!!

[@davelewandoski4292]

Great news Rick! And you gotta love Spring in North East Ohio...70s today...3 inches of snow tomorrow!

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

great update video 🚂😮

[@stephenciszewski3564]

My guess is, they used half inch plate because that's what they had readily on hand.

[@catapultking8861]

No boiler work?! Well that is really nice! If that’s set, then I can see you guys steaming her in the foreseeable future.

[@martythemartian99]

I believe it was William Shakespeare who said in the Tempest "I love it when a plan comes together." ...or maybe it was George Peppard in The A Team. Oh well, take your pick. :)

[@IndianaPentecostal23]

#FireUp57!!! Would be wonderful to see 57 & 58 operational! 🚂🚂🚂

[@ypop417]

Nice find!!

[@robertbucher2427]

Double check that the 0.5 is not too thick. It can remove flexibly and you’ll end up with staybolts breaking all the time. Texas state had new boilers built in the late 90s or early 2000s and they basically had to scrap them after a couple years of use. It was more than just thick inner firebox but that was big problem. Hopefully it will be good and just need tubes.

[@bcbloc02]

Would be interesting to take a detailed look at the mounting of the boiler. I remember on 58 there was some speculation on how it was attached to the front plate and how it floated on the frame for expansion. Curious what if anything they did different

[@tractorhead04]

Those are good initial findings. 57 may breathe again!

[@theanimerailfanthehagersto1280]

Wonderful Rick I can't wait for 57 to be restored also how is 58 and 60?

[@svenschlenkrich]

So far so good! What about the stays and crown stays? What about the bottom half of the boiler barrel?

[@DerLabbeduddel]

Be happy to have such a good firebox, but don´t forget, everything needs the okay of the office of boiler surveillance, especially the welding. I`m sorry, I don`t know how it is called USA.

[@happyhome41]

WOW, you'll have three of these in operation ?! Better than Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ! Whoa ! You said "J&L 60" ??? Does that mean four of these ? What is the engine parked behind 57 ? And it would be really helpful if you put some cold/rainy weather effort into adding verbose captions to the lovely photos you have on your website.

[@eliotreader8220]

does it look like they replaced the fire box before they took the engine out of service?

[@RRspartan24]

to me looks like you need to start work on a 2nd and 3rd tender and water tank for 57.

[@YoungstownSteelHeritage]

We will use the old tender, which currently is being used to carry the welder and cutting torches around. I'm more concerned with getting the transfer table built so that the locomotive has somewhere to go.

[@RRspartan24]

@@YoungstownSteelHeritage interesting one of these day i should make the 2 to 3 hour drive from mid Michigan when your open up for the public and check you guys out.

[@MidnightRailfan]

How does 60’s boiler compare, or was any ultrasounds performed on it?

[@davestambaugh7282]

How can I tell if when I click on the headline that it is going to give me a menu instead of a video. I hate it when that happens.

[@raydewley9796]

Would the next step in the firebox's survey to hammer test the staybolts and then U.T. the barrel? I would assume the stays were replaced with the new fire sheets.

[@gravelydon7072]

Looking at the backhead, no need to hammer test them as they all appear to be ones with tell-tale holes in them.

[@titan_redeemer7371]

I wanted to ask, what does your company do that allows you guys to be able to restore these small engines and make your own railway? Is it steelwork or has to do with something else?

[@YoungstownSteelHeritage]

We are just a bunch of volunteers with a passion for these locomotives.

[@calvinthedestroyer]

Are those Canadian 1/2 inches or American?

[@SteamCrane]

It needs some more weight.