RAILROAD COMPLETES FEDERALLY MANDATED OVERHAUL OF BOILER

JACKSON -- The good news is the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad's Number Five steam locomotive will soon be back under steam again. The bad news is it won't be this weekend, as planned.

The steam locomotive was in service for a brief, two-week period in May, before it was discovered that several of the pipes in the boiler had cracked.

"We were really hoping we could get Number Five under steam and back in service by the weekend, but during the hydro test of the boiler we discovered a minor leak around the throttle that will have to be repaired," said Danny Davis, chief mechanical officer for the tourist line railroad based in Jackson.

Davis said he expects the engine to be back in service by July 18.

After replacing all 140 of the flue tubes in the boiler, Davis said the locomotive's boiler was filled with water Tuesday at a pressure (240 pounds per square inch) 1 times its normal operating pressure.

The hydro test was conducted by Ken Mackey of Solomon Boiler Works of Moberly. The actual boiler inspection was performed by an inspector from the Hartford Insurance Co. "We did real good on the test and inspection," said Davis.

Davis said with the rapid growth of tourist line railroads in the United States, the Federal Railroad Administration is taking a much closer look at their operations, particularly in the area of safety.

While the steam locomotive has been out of service, Davis said the Iron Mountain's diesel switch engine, 911, has been handling the weekend and special excursion trips. As soon as the steam locomotive is back in service, Davis said the diesel switcher will be used for track inspections, track work and as a backup for the steam locomotive and the Jackson & Southern Railroad's diesel locomotive.

During the fall and winter months, Davis said Engine 911 will be used for special events and excursions, when it is not feasible to operate the steam locomotive.