RR&G #106 in Imminent Danger

Southern Forest Heritage Museum

Car shop stabilization

Work on RR&G locomotive #106

We had previously advised our readers that Red River and Gulf locomotive #106, long stored in the car knockers shed (car shop) was sinking into the dirt and leaning to the fireman’s (left) side, because the ties had rotted out from under the engine and the light rail upon which the engine rests was disappearing into the dirt underneath.   One of our volunteers, Mike Martin agreed to take on the project of attempting to get the engine out of the shed, new track put down and stabilized and the engine returned under cover, and cosmetically restored. 

 As a first step, Mike, assisted by volunteer Tucker Baker and museum employees Gerald Winegeart and Larry Gillespie removed all the rail and ties from in front of the engine so as to lay new track upon which to move the engine. 

Our study of the locomotive and tender further revealed that there was active subsidence and large cracks opening up next to the locomotive and tender, however we were not aware of just how serious the problem was until in the first week of May, it was observed that over the weekend, the front tender truck and supporting rail on the fireman’s side had dropped 4” and shifted 4” to the left as a result of a large crack opening up next to the tender. This movement caused the right tender wheels to slide off the rails and into the dirt.   The situation was approaching critical much faster than anyone had anticipated.    The decision was made to remove the flooring on both sides of the locomotive to evaluate the ground underneath the shop.  When that was done, more larger cracks underneath the tender itself   were revealed along with a spider web of smaller 1” cracks all along the engine and tender.   After thorough study, the decision was made to fill the smaller cracks with sand and the larger cracks with concrete slurry, as well as building up the surface of the ground to provide a stable jacking platform for leveling the locomotive and supporting the rails.   

As of today, the Mike has filled the small cracks which took more than 800# of sand alone,  and with help of David Hamilton, re-railed the tender, installing several gauge bars to stabilize the gauge.  Mike is completing the surface forms and we hope to pour the concrete next week to both fill the cracks and provide a secure jacking surface.

After completion of the concrete pour, we anticipate jacking up and leveling the engine, leveling and supporting the light rails, installing gauge bars and generally preparing the locomotive for removal.  When we complete that step, we will re-lay the railroad in front of the engine and begin removal.