"If at first you don't succeed..." Indiana Northern #4- Allen 0-4-0

[318J]

Well, little bit of a setback. The water-jet frames that Allen had sent me turned out to be for their 2-4-0, and not the 0-4-0. Just a little mistake in their shipping that I somehow didn't notice until now. Next time I'll be checking parts against the prints immediately, just to be safe. Steve Alley is doing right and is taking these back so I can get the right ones.

[318J]

Some good news this weekend!

The full sized #4 was rescued from an uncertain fate sitting at the depot in Aledo, and is now being restored to operation by a group in Davenport, Iowa.

https://railfan.com/iowa-group-to-resto ... ocomotive/

industrialrails.org

I hope someday we'll get to see my little #4 and the real one side by side, both under steam.

[318J]

The frame spreader is the first piece I've completed. Hopefully getting the replacement side frames before too long, but it's a good feeling to have a start on something.

First piece

Always a good feeling to nail the print dimension on the head.

[Bill Shields]

One good piece at time.

Before you know it, a decade had gone by...

[Odyknuck]

Any update on this build? Curious minds want to know.

[318J]

Eventually I'll have enough to make a worthwhile post here. Wheelsets for the tender truck are underway currently, locomotive frame started and soon to be finished.

I've been too distracted on another grand scale locomotive rebuild, but I haven't forgotten about this one. Thanks for asking.

[Odyknuck]

Good to know as a lot of projects get started and never completed, been there done that. My Logger Mikado is also in a stall mode due to other interests, and I too need to get back to it in a serious way. Its off road season so my focus is keeping the car in good running order. Headed out on another out of state trip this weekend. Also the train club keeps me busy doing public runs.

[318J]

Well, this isn't much for an update. I'm slowly getting more castings and parts. I have the wire-EDM links and blocks from Allen now, as well as the smokestack, and some miscellaneous jewelry I'm picking up here and there. No more machining has been done since I started on the tender truck wheelsets.

However, the biggest acquisition- perhaps the most important- has been a real shop. (A house came with it, but I'm more excited for the shop!). About 900 square feet of what will be all sorts of welding and machining fun someday.

20240407_131200.jpg (910.8 KiB) Viewed 286 times

It needs some updates before its a real workspace, but this finally gives me a place of my own to start collecting some real machinery and getting some progress made in a much more convenient and effective way. Still looking at this through a long term lens, but I'm slowly setting up for some success.

So, if anyone has a lathe or mill laying around collecting cobwebs, I might be interested!

[NP317]

HAHA LOL!
A good acquisition! BTDT.

A good shop really helps locomotive construction and more. Enjoy the process and results.
RussN

[wewilliams]

OH Man... what I would not give for a shop now

[JBodenmann]

Hello My Friends
I like how you think. "I got a shop, oh, and it came with a house".
Jack

[Bill Shields]

Or in my case. .I built a house for my wife around my shop.