November 2024 Update

Yesterday our crew pulled the steam dome off the Kiso Forest Railway 9. We wanted to get a good look at the inside of the boiler. This gives us a general idea of the condition of whether the boiler is worth saving or not. Luckily, the locomotive has been well cared for and used minimally since it was rebuilt in the 1960s. The locomotive last ran in 1999 and has been stored dry, indoors.

Our next steps will be to use borescope to inspect the crownsheet, staybolts, and tubes, followed by an ultrasound and hydrotest.

As we get closer to returning the locomotive to operation we will need volunteers and donations to help us in the process.