US Loco Restoration

PBS TV channel (dunno if this is just UK, where it's ch276 on Virgin) is screening an episode of "Ultimate Restorations" entitled 'The Sierra 3 Locomotive', which according to the info panel, dates from 1891. The programme is scheduled for 17:30 tonight (Weds 3rd) and at the same time this coming Saturday (6th).

I'm in utter ignorance of this loco (and the TV series, for that matter!), so haven't a scooby what to expect, but am sticking a 'record' on it on the offchance.

 

PBS is the American public broadcast channel, largely funded by private subscription/donation which shows a lot of BBC programmes and jointly produces some programmes shown on the Beeb.
Sierra No 3 is an historic standard gauge 4-6-0 which operates at Jamestown, an offshoot of the California State R.R. Museum, on part of the Sierra R.R. Those of us of 'a certain age' might remember it as "the Hooterville Cannonball" or more likely its alter ego in Back to the Future 3. Here's a couple of links http://www.ultimaterestorations.com/sierra-3/ https://railtown1897.wordpress.com/category/restoration/sierra-no-3-restoration/
Ray.

 

Just having watched the programme I plugged in post #1, it was well worth a look. Aside from a few uncharitable thoughts about harmonicas and rectal speculums, I found it a thoroughly well constructed and enjoyable overview. My recording has a 'keep' on it!

A couple of things surprised me. Firstly the flangeless driving wheels, presumably due to curvature on it's original line, which appeared to have a subtly different profile (and the centres looked a very light casting compared with any std gauge loco built after about 1870). Then the cast iron frame bed ... on a loco built in 1890! Cast steel, later on, I knew about....

Then there's the use of graphite & linseed oil. Was that ever so used this side of the pond? As for the rivetting on the tender ...... Ye Gods! There's dedication to the cause.

Odd that re-refitting endless yards of pipework isn't sexy enough for TV ..... I begin to understand why those who maintain steam locos may look more fondly on certain designs than those who have to go round then with an oilcan several times a day ....

 

Glad you enjoyed it. It seems it was episode 3 of the first series first shown on 20/10/2014. I'm in the U.S. at the moment and had a quick look for the episode on PBS on demand but it didn't show up in a search - I'll have another look for it in the morning. If anyone missed it there are a couple of trailers/extracts on Youtube e.g.
As regards the flangeless centre drivers ("blind" in U.S. parlance) these were quite common on both 6 and 8 coupled locos of that era as they had quite a long coupled wheelbase due to the position of the 'keyhole' firebox between the middle and trailing drivers. Graphite and linseed oil was traditionally used as a jointing compound and I still use it albeit in a tin marketed as Foliac. The chaps in the Antonito workshops of the Cumbres and Toltec have just completed hand rivetting a new tender tank for the, under restoration T12 4-6-0 #168 which is of a similar age.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

The blind/flangeless arrangement still strikes me as slightly odd. A measurement dictated by firebox length .... I get. Ditto allowing for tight curvature (not something I thought most US public lines were too severely constrained by), but having just checked the Nasmyth-Wilson design for FC de Mallorca (3ft gauge) and the Highland Rly Jones Goods, both 4-6-0's of similar vintage and both with noticably asymmetric coupled wheel centres, I see no sign of this practice on either. I'd love to know the rationale behind the idea. Anything to do with the light rail sections favoured on secondary US routes perhaps?

 

For UK viewers, this programme is being repeated on Saturday 6 January 2018 at 12.50pm, 5.30pm and 11.35pm on PBS America (Sky Channel 534 / Freesat 155). Some Freeview viewers may be able to pick it up on Channel 94.

 

Channel 94 on freeview works for us..

 

Down here in deepest Cornwall it doesn't unfortunately!

 

Here is a photo of No 3 at Jamestown in 2011:

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/UStrains/California-State-RR-Museum/i-mt9sBGS

Cheers

Andrew N