D&R #9 volunteer session is scheduled for this weekend, starting at 10:00 am on Saturday 10/16. This may be one of the last for this year, so if you wanna lend a hand before the snow flies, please come down and check it out.
Category Archives: Dardanelle & Russellville #9 Status Updates
D&R #9 Progress Report from Sept. 25-26 Work Session
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.
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
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
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.
D&R #9 July 10-11, 2021 Work Session Report
We had an A-mazing session working on the #9 this last weekend. The locomotive looks very, very different, as we removed the grab irons, sand dome, base of the steam dome, and her bell for restoration of those parts, but also to increase exposure of the boiler for future cleaning and painting. It wasn’t all stripping of parts this weekend, as we did reinstall the smokestack. So she still does look a little like a locomotive. Thanks to Ed Ripp for his excellent operator work on the Lull. And thanks again to our regular crew of Steve, Frank, Mike, Jay, and of course Fletcher, for making it an enjoyable and safe job. The next volunteer session is set for July 24-25, so come down and lend a hand, bring some young members family, or friends.
Update provided by Jason Reiman
Getting ready to remove items from the boiler. 
Prepping the repaired smokestack for installation. 
The Lull forklift begins lifting the repaired smokestack for installation onto D&R #9. 
Volunteers place the smokestack on #9. 
Volunteers attach lifting straps to the #9’s sand dome cap. 
Removing the #9’s bell. 
Partially disassembled sand dome. 
Continuing to take apart the #9’s sand dome. 
Removing components from the #9 for cleaning and repainting.