After a five month absence, steam returned this weekend to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum (HDRRM) in Calera, Alabama. Their only operating steam locomotive, a 24” gauge Crown 4-4-0, returned to service after having been shut down for a badly needed overhaul.

The propane-fired locomotive was acquired by the museum in 1991 and had run for decades at the Birmingham Zoo, prior to its move to the museum. It had never been overhauled, and, according to master mechanic Denverd (pronounced Denver) Moss, its deferred maintenance was definitely showing. “We ran it during Thomas, and I could barely keep steam and water in it - the firebox was leaking so bad it looked like a lawn sprinkler in there” said Moss.

Former Birmingham Zoo Crown 4-4-0 24" narrow gauge steam locomotive now operates as Shelby & Southern #3. Photos by Dave Lathrop.

Upon disassembly, Moss found the boiler heavily scaled internally, and the tubes pitted. Cleaning and surveying the boiler revealed a marginal area in the belly, which was repaired, and the boiler re-tubed. The firebox was completely reworked, and the front end rebuilt at the same time.

The running gear was also badly worn. Valve travel on little Crowns is minimal, so any lost motion in the valve gear is critical. The valve gear, journals and boxes, and rods and bearings were rebuilt. One D valve was in poor condition, and was replaced. All cab valves, piping, and appliances were gone through and repaired as required. The front truck was completely torn down and rebuilt to like new condition. All wheel profiles were turned.

All told, Moss was able to get the overhaul completed in just 16 working days over a 5 month period. “I do good work, but I’m slow as Christmas” says Moss.

The only repair he was unable to complete was replacing an axle that has had one of the reverse eccentrics welded to it in the wrong position. She runs good and square in forward gear, but limps badly going backwards. He hopes to finish that repair over the winter off-season.

Besides the locomotive, the coaches are getting thoroughly inspected and repaired one at a time. The trucks on the coaches were in very poor condition, with worn wheels and loose frames. They are emerging from the shop with newly overhauled running gear and automatic air brakes, with air supplied by a chain-driven compressor between the locomotive frames.

No. 3 on the loop.

I rode the roughly ¾ mile loop 3 times on Sunday, October 9, and was impressed with its general tightness and steaming capability. It was difficult for the engineer to prevent the safety valve from blowing off between runs with the blower barely cracked and the gas fire turned down low. It sounded good, crisp, and square climbing the grades and rounding the sharp corners laid out through the woods.

1910 Alco 0-4-0T waiting for overhaul.

Moss hopes to move up to a standard gauge 1910 Alco 0-4-0T, now disassembled in the engine shed, as his next overhaul.

(Dave Lathrop)

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