Category Archives: Dardanelle & Russellville #9 Status Updates

Welcome to the Dardanelle & Russellville #9 restoration blog. D&R #9.

Buttoning Up D&R #9 for the Winter

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Update text and photos by Jason Reiman

October 16-17, 2021; Fletch and his crew had a great weekend during the last volunteer session this year on the D&R #9.  Fall is here, so we did what most folks in Wisconsin do; buttoned up and prepared.  In hopes of not losing the great progress we made on the #9 in the last 6 months, we wrapped the locomotive and tender in layers of tarps and did our best to seal the elements out of the cab and coal space, and especially to keep snow and water from sitting anywhere on the locomotive or tender.   It was not hard work, but a lot of guessing and anticipating where water or snow could cause a problem.  We reinforced those locations with wood and bracing.   Hopefully we find her high and dry in the spring. 

We also had the pleasure of meeting a fan of the D&R #9 this weekend.  He stopped by and walked all the way back to our little corner of the museum to say hi.  I apologize we didn’t get your name, but you came all the way from Minneapolis, and I wanted to thank you for coming down, and taking the time to check out the #9.  If you read this, please say hello to everyone here.  If there are any other fans of the #9’s restoration, and you want to see in person how it’s coming along, please, by all means, come over and check us out.  We are down at the far end of the car shop, and would love to say hi.

Finally, we want to wish a Very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the little leader of our crew, Fletcher Reiman, who turned 10 years old on 10/23.  Fletcher is a great reminder of what our purpose truly is when working on the #9.  When we are outside tinkering with parts on the boiler, or planning our next move, we might find Fletcher inside the cab pulling levers and making steam noises.  In his eyes, the #9 is literally coming back to life.  But don’t be fooled, when Fletcher is not daydreaming about the good ole days of Steam, he is out turning wrenches with the rest of us.  Fletchers’ family stopped by Saturday, and we all went out for a birthday supper, opened some presents, and a large crowd of Museum volunteers were on hand to sing him Happy Birthday.  Thanks for keeping us young Fletch, and Happy Birthday.   

And a HUGE thank you to ALL volunteers and vendors that have helped us get the #9 to the point she is at now.  Please continue to watch over winter, as we will be tackling small projects here and there, and will keep you updated with those and more.

D&R #9 Progress Report from Sept. 25-26 Work Session

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on by

Fletch and his crew had a good work session this last weekend (Sept. 25-26, 2021), and we were able to accomplish many tasks. 

Some of these tasks included the removal of the cab seats that were placed into storage for later restoration.  Additional measurements were taken of the pilot and running boards.  These will be used to order new white oak that will hopefully be used to rebuild both over the winter.  In preparation for this coming winter, we located and placed an A-Frame shelter on top of the tender in order to hold a large tarp, in hopes of keeping rain and snow from sitting on the clean metal. 

The most exciting event of this weekend occurred when Steve Pahl re-discovered the #9’s builder plates, and Fletcher re-discovered the #9’s number board. All were checked in to storage in hopes they will be placed back on the locomotive when she is finally complete.

Currently, we have what might be one of our last work sessions scheduled for the weekend of October 16.  Please come out and join us if you can.  Otherwise, please keep an eye out for updates, as we hope to have some additional exciting updates on the #9 before the end of the season.

Fletcher Reiman with D&R #9 number plate, builder plates, and headlamp.
  • Removing the fireman’s cab seat.
  • Cab seats removed and palleted for storage and later restoration.
  • Fletcher and Frank log the removed D&R #9 parts into storage.
  • Watching the museum passenger train pull into the station during a break from the #9 work.

D&R #9 Volunteer Session Planned for Sept. 25-26

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The D&R #9 team will be having a volunteer session the weekend of 9/25 and 9/26. The start time is 10:00 am on Saturday, 9/25. We will be doing inventory, degreasing drive wheels under the boiler, and continuing to prepare the loco for paint and winter projects. All are welcome, so come on down to lend a hand.

D&R #9 Gets Steam Cleaned

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STEAM is rising from the D&R #9 once again!!!. Yes…you read that correctly, steam was seen coming from the #9 during a second volunteer session July 24-25, but this time the steam was produced by J&W Services LLC. Using high-pressure water at temperatures around 250 degrees, the tender and locomotive were thoroughly washed and degreased.

Many thanks to Fletcher Reiman, Jerry Huntington, Steve Pahl, and Frank Fisher for helping to prep the engine on Saturday by wrapping steam lines, removing air hoses, and re-applying grease/oil where necessary. The next volunteer session dates are To Be Determined, as we coordinate with vendor for sandblasting and painting.

Update provided by Jason Reiman.

Prep Work

  • Preparing the D&R #9 for pressure washing.
  • Pre-pressure washing prep work to protect some parts of the locomotive.

Pressure Washing

  • Equipment for the day’s pressure washing.
  • Pressure washing the D&R #9 with steam.
  • The crew from J&W Services pressure wash the D&R #9 with steam.

The Results

  • Tender trucks after steam pressure wash
  • Some bare metal exposed on D&R #9’s tender tank after receiving steam pressure wash.
  • D&R #9 after steam pressure wash.
  • D&R #9 driver after steam pressure wash.
  • D&R #9 driver after steam pressure wash.