From John Ezovski

Sometimes it might feel that not much is being accomplished, but my notes show that is not the case!

• Boiler
  
  • Wire wheeled and repainted.
  • Weld all remaining stay bolt holes - about 14.
  • Attach by welding remaining staybolt half sleeves.
  • Install and hammer seal all remaining firebox staybolts.
  • Pad weld 6" x 4" "waste" area of firebox on left side along running board.
  • Weld fitting to backhead for water column.  Test fit column.
  • Extensive measurements of the crown sheet stays were made for use in future calculations.
• #2 Pedestals
  
  • Weld large cracks where pedestal joins main frame beam for wedge pedestal 2 left, 2 right shoe and 2 right wedge.
  • Replace #2 left pedestal face.
  • Grind flat #2 left and right shoe and wedge pedestal shoulders after weld repair.
• Running Gear
  
  • Measure, measure and more measurements of frame with and without shoes installed.
  • Trim drive spring saddles.
• Locomotive brake foundation
  
  • Remove brake levers
  • Grind and weld approximately 9 large cracks in brake foundation.  Install brake levers (again).
• 1215
  
  • SP1215 Pipes and appliances removed cataloged in Portola and stored in San Jose
  • SP 1215 moved to San Jose from Portola
• Caboose
  
  • Caboose was re configured with railfair displays
• Clark Forklift
  
  • Remove, repair and reinstall vertical hydraulic cylinder for Clark forklift.
  • Remove, repair and reinstall tilt cylinders.
  • Remove for repair water pump - install.
  • Manufacture hardware to mount new operator's seat.
• Wiggins Forklift
  
  • Remove for repair and install both vertical hydraulic cylinders.
  • Remove for repair both tilt hydraulic cylinders.
• 40 Ton Press
  
  • Moved and installed under outdoor shop.  Required adding roof extension to contain upper housing of press.
• Site
  
  • Cut lots of grass and weeds.
  • Improve site appearance by consolidating rail/tie and other misc. items.
  • Clean debris along perimeter fence.
  • Compressor and welding sheds were repainted.
  • Herder shack was moved.
  • General site cleanup.
  • The compressor and the welding sheds were cleaned and repainted.
• Miscellaneous
  
  • Field review of Little butter cup in Sacramento and report.
  • Number of meetings with Neighbor association.
  • ARM convention attendance.
  • Many locomotive parts and assemblies have been reconditioned for subsequent re-installation.
  • Two scale models of the proposed San Jose Railroad Museum were created.  One is the size of a very large briefcase and the other is N-scale and about the size of a table tennis table.

For Immediate Release

In the afternoon on Tuesday, October 16th, a 75 ton steam locomotive will be unloaded in Kelley Park for eventual inclusion in a railroad museum proposed near downtown San Jose.  Built in 1913 and now owned by the non profit California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (CTRC), locomotive 1215 had operated for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Locomotive 1215 is representative of the many small steam engines necessary to move freight between food processing industries that once dominated San Jose’s economy and landscape.  Benefiting from market access provided by railroads, the Santa Clara Valley was recognized from 1920 to 1960 as the largest food processing region in the world.

The locomotive will be stored at the San Jose Historical Museum adjacent to CTRC’s trolley barn.  This location will enable CTRC to begin a cosmetic restoration of this historic artifact.  CTRC volunteers are currently restoring a second and larger Southern Pacific steam locomotive at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.  Both locomotives will be relocated in the future to the proposed San Jose Railroad Museum Park.

Proposed for a vacant parcel near downtown alongside the Guadalupe River Park trail, the San Jose Railroad Museum Park will feature restored railroad equipment, relocated city designated landmarks and replicated historic buildings from our community.  Supplemented by educational exhibits, the facility will celebrate the railroad’s roles in San Jose’s agricultural and food processing heritage.  CTRC is actively enlisting the fiscal and political support to protect the property and eventually fund the project.

Formed in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation has a mission of preserving and reflecting the rich legacy of rail transportation in the Santa Clara Valley for the educational and recreational benefit of present and future generations.  The organization has restored nine historic trolley cars, four of which operate for the Valley Transportation Agency’s transit mall in downtown San Jose.  The remaining trolleys operate for History San Jose’s school aged educational programming at the historical museum in Kelley Park.

Measurements of the locomotive frame continue with tram wires and wheel gig installed on the locomotive.

Wire brushing and painting of the boiler continues around the firebox.

Ford forklift parts were organized and stacked on pallets.

The planning section will discuss the move of 1215.

From Jack Young

Tram wire adjustment on the locomotive continues.

Shoes and wedges were remeasured to double check size before final machining.

Prep work for sealing two rigid stays is in process.

Miscellaneous piping was wire brushed and cleaned.

The original boiler jacket is being laid out on the ground to determine location on the boiler so drawings can be made.

Ford fork lift is being drained of fluids.

Chain saw was cleaned and tested – This will be used to cut the cribbing for the locomotive.

Completed weld repairs to locomotive's brake foundation.  Cleaning and painting of boiler continues.  Tram wires have been strung to allow further measurements with shoes and wedges in place.

Repairs to the Clark forklift are complete.  Several minor mechanical issues have been addressed.  Weed cutting in roundhouse and rail storage area.