Project 3713 L&WV Chapter, NRHS
P.O. Box 3452 Scranton, PA 18505-0452
Our websites: www.laurellines.org www.project3713.com The project to restore Boston & Maine no. 3713 is a partnership between the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc. and Steamtown Na onal Historic Site. The partnership was formed in 1995, and its goal is to restore the engine to opera ng condi on. When completed, the restored Boston & Maine locomo ve will be the first American‐made mainline engine used at Steamtown NHS. The L&WV chapter is a 501c3 charity, and dona ons to the Restora on Fund are tax deduc ble. If you wish to help, please fill in and mail the coupon below, along with payment to : Locomotive Restoration Fund L&WV RHS, Inc. P.O. Box 3452 Scranton, PA 18505-0452
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Work Resumes in Earnest When the Steamtown shop crew rolled the The next components to leave Scranton for Pennsylvania Railroad box car containing restoration will be the two air compressors and Boston & Maine #3713’s carefully tagged and the Pyle National dynamo. We are hoping stored components into the Scranton shop this volunteer transportation will be available for past January, it signaled the next phase in the these parts, as well. Work is also expected to restoration of the historic locomotive. Key progress soon on the other assemblies as well decisions about the restoration work stream as the cab and tender cistern. and fundraising success have resulted in great momentum for the restoration. Back at the shop, the crew is preparing for the upcoming boiler work. A major milestone was Progress has accelerated under the renewed passed at the end of April when Valley Project3713 partnership between the Inspection Services performed the required Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway x-rays on the previous steam dome opening Historical Society and the Steamtown National repairs. The steam dome liner repair welds Historic Site. Just a bit over one year into the were also magnafluxed. Everything received a renewal, Project3713 is almost 1/3 of the way to clean bill of health; so after 4 rivets are set and the partnership’s $750,000 fundraising target. the final seal welding is done between the liner and barrel, the steam dome can be riveted in New funds raised by Project3713 are being place. deployed to restore key components of the locomotive. Steamtown will be providing the While the work picks up pace, fundraising labor and funds for the remaining boiler work. continues in earnest. Look for new ways to Boiler tubes, staybolts and numerous other support Project3713 this year, including the items previously purchased by Project3713 will adoption of locomotive parts like the safety be used by the Steamtown crew. valves and head/back-up lights. Tickets for the huge model railroad raffle, model railroad cars Although it was hoped that #3713, officially and railroaders memorial plaques all remain named “The Constitution” by the Boston & available. Details are on our website at Maine, would steam-up in 2017 to celebrate the www.project3713.com. 230th anniversary of her namesake the United States Constitution, it is evident that restoration We have also initiated a new email list to keep will require a bit more time. If funding and donors informed of news updates. You may join mechanical progress align to expectations, it the list by visiting the “Email list” page on our will likely be 2019 before the big Pacific is done. website. Project3713 will continue to update our donors regularly as work continues. There are many ways to support Project3713 in addition to monetary contributions. The While we all anxiously await her return to Steamtown shop is always looking for volunteers steam, there will be many milestones that are interested in locomotive restoration, while the passed over the next few years as restoration Project3713 team is appropriate for volunteers work heats up. The first large component, the locomotive’s feedwater pump, has returned to its original manufacturer for rehabilitation; the Coffin Turbo Pump Company of Englewood, NJ. Project3713 volunteers Norm Barrett and Carl Packer personally delivered the pump, a courtesy that saved thousands of dollars if spent on commercial shipping. LAUREL LINES
A publication of the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc. 3713 SPECIAL EDITION
Summer 2016 www.project3713.com
Cutting the Ribbon Returns Steam to Steamtown
NPS photo, Kenny Ganz
On Sunday, April 17, 2016, Steamtown’s Superintendent Debbie Conway and Northeast Deputy Regional Director, Jonathan Meade initiated the new steam era for NPS operations at the turntable. A ceremonial ribbon cutting completed the restoration process for Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 26. Steamtown’s shop crew will be training VIPs and staff on proper operation of No. 26 into early summer and then pick up on Boston & Maine 4-6-2 No. 3713. National Park Week 2016 began the previous day with the Phoebe Snow Gala. More about the Gala inside.
What Makes #3713 Unique? Phoebe Snow Gala
The amount of steam locomotives under going Saturday, April 16, saw a flurry of snow at the restoration in the United States is staggering. Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in From Union Pacific’s Big Boy #4014 down to the Scranton. Phoebe Snow flurries, that is. The smallest of industrial engines, one could argue Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter, NRHS that this is the golden age for a steam revival. participated with the Erie Lackawanna Dining Boston & Maine #3713 falls right in the middle of Car Preservation Society, the NPS and the the list of active restorations; she’s not too large, Friends of Northeast Railroading to celebrate but not too small; she’s not the most expensive, the legacy of Phoebe Snow and her importance but not the least; and she’s not the newest nor is to the Delaware Lackawanna & Western she the oldest. But don’t think for a minute that Railroad. makes her average. Tours were given by local historians and park #3713, known as “The Constitution,” is one of the rangers of the train station, and both dinner and finest American passenger locomotives. That, lunch were served in the 1949 Phoebe Snow combined with her place as part of the Steamtown streamliner diner, No. 469. B&M 3713 related National Historic Site permanent collection, is why items were available for sale, as well as tickets our fundraising campaign gave her the nickname for raffling off a Lackawanna Trainmaster model “America’s Locomotive ™.” She’s a wonderful produced by Lionel. It was a beautiful day in machine, but there’s even more that makes her town, and the attendance, which was close to restoration unique. 200 participants, made for a successful event. When completed, #3713 will operate on the lines At noon, the “Little Miss Phoebe Snow used by Steamtown, including the former DL&W Pageant” took place. The darlings of the rails Railroad mainline. These local routes are owned taking part in this activity stole our hearts the by the counties which Steamtown operates way the original Phoebe Snow, Marion E. through, and steam trains are welcome. When Murray, stole the hearts of travelers over 100 #3713 is completed, she will have a proper place years ago. to run. Steamtown is also one of the few places where visitors can get up close to both operating steam locomotives and those under restoration. Once #3713 is fully restored, she will be much more than a tourist attraction: she will be a living interpretive tool of the steam era in America. Of course, the other thing that makes her unique is you, the supporters of the restoration. Through the many years since Project3713 began, her donors have been consistently supportive. Now, with work picking up pace as we head into the final stretch, this unique locomotive still needs The Li le Miss Phoebe Snow Pageant took place your help. Please visit our website at as part of the Phoebe Snow Gala, held April 16 at www.prioject3713.com for details on donations the Radisson Lackawanna Sta on Hotel in and other ways to support Project3713. Scranton. PA. NPS Photo, Kenny Ganz.