The locomotive’s exterior plumbing and jacketing is largely complete and new air tanks will are expected to be installed in July. A motion test will ensure all items are properly installed before the reassembly of the drive shaft is fully complete.
Crews will spend the coming days insulating and jacketing the cab area before minor in-cab items are finalized.
With the reassembling of all cab components, cylinders, and the locomotive’s air tanks, Climax No. 9 remains on schedule for completion in mid-August.
Cass shop crews expect Climax No. 9 to make a grand debut in time for the railroad’s Rail Heritage Weekend on Sept. 6 to 8, 2019. The three-day event will feature runbys and authentic freight train consists for photographers. The Climax will be incorporated in those festivities for day and nighttime photography opportunities.
The railroad plans to share another restoration update on Aug. 1 in preparation for the locomotive’s unveiling later next month.
The Climax restoration is part of a more than decade-long project spearheaded by the Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association and the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. The Cass Scenic Railroad took over the restoration when the park’s railroad operations were privatized in late 2014.
