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Central States

Steam Preservation

E-Newsletter

Volume I -- December 2014

First, a letter from the president…..

“We first want to thank those of you who have already

joined as members of The Central States Steam

Preservation Association (CSSPA). Since this is our

inaugural issue and not many people know much about

how this organization came into being, I will give a brief

history of the events that have led us to this point. In

2006, Henry Posner III, Chairman of the Board of

Railroad Development Corporation (RDC), purchased two surviving, full-size, Chinese steam locomotives before

they were scrapped, had them rebuilt and brought up to US Federal Railroad Administration standards, then

shipped to America. They are one of the last mass-produced mainline steam locomotives built in the world,

having a 2-10-2 wheel arrangement and designated a QJ class. Individually, each of these engines has its own

contribution to the historical record in that the #7081 was the last of its kind to pull a scheduled passenger train

and the #6988 was the last to pull a mainline freight before the Chinese railroads ended the use of steam,

replacing them with diesels. There are still a few in China, however, these two locomotives could very likely end

up being the last operating versions of their type in the world.

After arriving in the United States, from 2006 through 2008, both locomotives ran for RDC a few times, utilizing

mostly all volunteers, on the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS), a subsidiary of RDC. In 2009 the steam engines

were put under direct management of the IAIS. A steam expert was hired to perform the maintenance work,

operate the engines, and direct the volunteers. Unfortunately, while this arrangement worked getting the

locomotives out to the local communities, it did not fit well within the corporate structure of the IAIS. After the IAIS

spent nearly two years, without success, trying to come up with a solution, which included trying to get an existing

steam operating group to come in and take over, it became evident to the volunteers that the locomotives were in

great risk of going into storage and might never operate again. We were very few in numbers, working under a

freight railroad, but the existing IAIS steam volunteers stood up and agreed to form a non-profit corporation in

order to take stewardship and operational responsibility for these locomotives. We are currently searching for a

suitable property and securing the funding to re-locate from the

IAIS facility in Newton, Iowa to one in a larger metropolitan area,

most likely in the Quad Cities. We are anticipating that RDC will

donate the equipment sometime in 2015, before they would

operate again.

Things have been moving very quickly since we filed the

paperwork in August to form the organization. Operating under a

“Use of Premises Agreement” with the IAIS, a group of

members/volunteers of the newly formed group, put in four long

In this issue:

A Letter from the President……..……..1

About your Board of Directors……......2

Work Progress…………………………..2

Photos……………………………………3

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work weekends in September and October in order to get most of the annual maintenance and repairs done on

#6988 so it is almost ready to operate. Our website is coming on line, a database and an e-mailing system are in

place, and this newsletter has been created. We have been working on plans to operate and expect to announce

details and a schedule in the spring. Most importantly, we have found an energized group of business and

community leaders in the Quad Cities region who are eagerly working to bring our organization and locomotives

to their area.

One of our immediate priorities is to increase membership and volunteers. We welcome all who want to support

us to be become members and encourage those who can and are willing, to become volunteers. Some may want

to learn about preserving steam locomotives and help with their maintenance and operation. Others might be

interested in the technology and the historical relevance behind them and will be creating and presenting that as

part of our organization's community outreach. And, of course, there is plenty of administration, marketing, fund-

raising, and operational planning to do and we need all the help we can get. As members and volunteers, you will

have a big part to play in the future success of this organization. Please encourage all that you know to join us in

this cause. Supporting our group doesn't require knowing anything about steam engines, just having a desire to

keep them visible and accessible to everyone. Thanks for your support,

Steve Haack, CSSPA President

CSSPA Board of Directors:

Steve Haack: Steve owns and manages a plastic molding & manufacturing company in St. Louis, MO.

He joined the IAIS steam program as a volunteer in 2009 after having been involved with park scale steam for 10-

years.

Robert Franzen: Robert is President and owner of Steam Services of America. Robert has been a volunteer

& contractor on the engines since they were first brought to the US. In 2009, his company was hired to supervise

and maintain them and his continued service is being retained by the CSSPA.

Mick Burkart: Mick comes with a career spanning over 50 years in railroading. He recently retired as the

VP of Operations at IAIS. One of his many responsibilities was the steam program.

Alex Beams: Alex manages the largest 15”-gauge private railroad in the world. He has been a volunteer

on the QJ steam engines since 2009. His passion began at a very young age working on steam tractors.

Colin O'Brien: Colin has followed his father as a life-long volunteer and board member at the Mid-

Continent Railroad Museum and spent most of his weekends growing up there. He is a high school teacher in

Iowa and has been volunteering on the QJ's since 2011.

Work Progress:

The work session this fall ran from mid-August through mid-October focused on tasks required in order

to operate 6988 in the near future. Volunteers came from near and far to help with the work.

The major focus was on analyzing 6988’s boiler/firebox to determine how many stay bolts were

needed to be replaced. It was decided to blank off the throttle to prevent water from several hydro’s

from filling the super heaters, seeing that we would not be able to run the engine back and forth to blow

it out, Joe Richmond and Mike Walsh fabricated a great set up. Once Robert Franzen and Alex Beams

were done hammer testing, making a list, and mapping out the fire box on what all needed to be

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investigated everyone went to work taking the jacket and plumbing off the engine. Crew for this

included Doug Crary, Steve Haack, Ed Ripp, Colin O’Brien, Dan Hetzel, Jared Childress, Alex Beams,

Joe Richmond, and Mike Walsh. After the long process of removing caps and inspecting the flexible

bolt several of the guys took turns cutting bolts out, cleaning sleeves, caps, the outside of the boiler,

and removing stay bolts an inventory was done and new bolts were ordered through Steam Services of

America. Robert, with help from Doug, Chuck Young, and Bob Gold as well as the rest of the

volunteers, were able to replace all the bolts needed over the course of a week and a few weekends.

While fire box work was going on Dennis Daughtery rebuilt and lapped in the 3 boiler checks

and the throttle. Dennis, with the help of Mike and Joe, was able to reinstall all the air brakes in and

under the cab. The tender and engine were separated to perform the annual inspection of the draw bar

along with some major repairs to the stoker tube. Once Doug finished the dye test on the draw bar,

Steve, Doug, and Bob welded up and ground everything to fit back the way it should on the stoker tube

Alex, and Robert helped put the tender back behind the engine after everything was just right.

Colin and Alex worked together to remove the screens from the smokebox, allowing access and

removal of the pipe from the hot water tank to the hot water pump, which developed a few holes in it

due to old age and thin wall pipe. It is going to be fixed over the winter and reinstalled next year. Also

Robert determined that some improvements need to be made on the blast pipe to allow better drafting

when the engine is not working hard, that will be on the list for next year.

Other tasks that were accomplished was the installation of a new check valve in front of the

Fireman’s side injector delivery line to improve performance characteristics of the injector. Mike, Colin

and Doug worked together to prepare the delivery pipe for welding then reinstallation. Dennis got all the

air tanks ultra-sounded as part of the annual inspection. All work was over seen by Robert and Alex,

there were numerous other odds and ends taken care of throughout the fall and by the middle of

October all of the fire box work was completed making the boiler ready for the FRA inspection next year

and the engine was put away for the winter in October.

Photos:

Jitong Railway Class Qian Jin (meaning

‘advance’) locomotives sit in a dead line in

China.

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Here, one of the QJs is being loaded

into the container ship, ready for a long

trip across the ocean.

LEFT: Henry Posner, III, poses in front of IAIS

6988 (pre-Americanization) during the first runs in

the United States.

BELOW: 6988 leads a doubleheader out of

Davenport, IA., on September 17, 2006.

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(Left) Drawbar undergoing magnaflux inspection.

(Below) Colin is having a blast working in the

smokebox with Alex!

(Left) Boiler jacketing has been removed for inspection, repairs and hydro testing. (Below left and right) Joe and Mike worked together to remove the steam dome cover and block the dry pipe passages.

This setup featured a ¼” rubber disc, backed by a ¼” steel disc. The bolt pushes the cross bar up and

onto the structure, providing a seal against the opening. The hydro pressure pushes against the steel

plate, providing even more force upon the rubber, further sealing the opening. Worked great!