Re: SP 1215 - background from PRM
Author: Ken Middlebrook
Date: 05-22-2020 - 07:12
David Dewey Wrote:
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> I will admit that I
> am disappointed that 1215 is apparently only going
> to be a display, as it seems to be in pretty good
> shape for a restoration (but there's been no ultra
> sound, so who knows?).
Hi David,
Never say never. Perhaps a fully funded opportunity for operation may appear someday...
In the meantime, she is cared for and in a safe space.
Reading your newsletter article about the settling of her previous display track made me smile. In preparation for 1215, we went overboard in building the display track...going down two plus feet below the lawn surface, spreading and compacting base rock, several inches of ballast underneath the ties, 110# rail...and capping off all adjacent sprinklers. She is on solid surface.
Glad you mentioned the original window casings. Our volunteers repaired and returned to them to the cab and used like thickness plexiglass for the window panes. As you are already aware, 1215's cab windows are unique among the surviving SP 0-6-0s in that she retains her original front cab window on both sides. In a maintenance cost saving measure, SP typically plated over these windows. For whatever reason, that did not occur with the 1215. The extra red sashing looks great.
Ken