Engines 400 and 535 easily handled the relatively light loads on this gloomy Sunday. The 400 continues to have intermittent minor problems with one or more cylinder cocks but otherwise performed well. The right injector which had been operating sporadically on 535 was replaced with a spare that Mike Walsh had identified as usable. It was and performed well. A number of engineers have run 535 and all say the engine is running and firing very well. We are giving as many engineers as possible the opportunity to run this engine to gain experience with or retrain on a coal fired engine. When we begin an extended rebuild of 400 next winter we will rely on one oil burner and two, possibly three coal burners so engineers will have plenty of opportunity to shovel coal. Reassembly continues on 928. After a (hopefully) brief break in period this engine will be road worthy. After a trial trip on the 10^th, Jerry reported that the new throttle valve has given the already powerful engine significantly more power. We’ll have to get used to going a little easier with her so we don’t dump passengers along the line. No more pulling the throttle into the tender!

The RH crew plans to hydro the 403 and finish up plumbing next weekend. Mike Walsh will make new eccentric rods when he returns after college graduation at the end on the month. Congratulations Mike!!!

TCW-SMP