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Planning, Planning, Planning…July!!!!

The RAILS Team met again this morning to continue planning for the summer retrieval of the A313. Obviously, things are a bit uncertain at this point, but we are looking hopefully to mid July to make the trip to Alaska to get all of the parts and pieces ready to come back home.

Additionally, we will be working with a videographer to capture our work and some interviews with folks who have played important roles in the life of our A313. We will be creating a documentary of the rescue and rebuilding as it continues.

We are fortunate to have a team of knowledgeable folks from our RAILS Team, from the Cass, WV Climax rebuild as well as from Alaska who will be assisting in preparation, packing and, once the A313 is home, with getting the engine back together and ready to roll.

Over the next few months, watch for opportunities to hear more about the plans and process. Watch for your chance to buy a mile of the A313’s trip home. And, once the engine is back in Corry, be ready to celebrate the arrival and to kick off the next chapter in the A313’s life story.

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A Trip to the Industrial Past

In preparation for rebuilding the A-313, some members of the RAILS Team will make a trip to Rice Landing, PA to visit the WA Young Machine Shop. Built in 1900, the shop produced parts for steamboats, coal mines, railroads, and for local businesses. The Machine Shop, as it’s known, received recognition as a National Historic Landmark in 2017. https://riversofsteel.com/attractions/w-a-young-sons-foundry-and-machine-shop/

While visiting the shop, the team will meet with people who are knowledgeable about Climax Locomotive rebuilds (at Cass, WV and others). The photos taken during the fall trip to Alaska will be reviewed and labeled as a part of the Bill of Materials being developed. This Bill of Materials will be helpful as the A-313 is packed for travel, and later as the rebuild continues back in Corry.

Some of the machines at the machine shop are probably similar to one used for building the A-313 in 1902 or its later cousins, Climax B and C.

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Making Plans for Transport

The Corry RAILS Team has been meeting and making plans for the next trip to Alaska-this time to get things packed up and ready to ship. Our trip is planned for early June and arrangements for shipping are underway. The A-313, in various containers should arrive in Corry this summer! We can’t wait to get started on rebuilding this 1902 Class A Climax Locomotive. The A-313 has been waiting a long time for this new life and we are anxious to get underway. Stay tuned- we will post updates here as we go.

One of several containers holding the A-313 and parts

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Fall Trip to Alaska

A lot was accomplished during our 11 day trip to Alaska in September. Connections were made with several families and individuals who support our endeavor to transport the
A-313 Climax Locomotive back to Corry. With their assistance, transportation arrangements were begun and parts and pieces that need to be packed were found.

We met with Charlie Reader’s (Curly Q Railroad owner who found the A-313 after it had been abandoned for 59 years) daughter, Cussy. She shared some of her dad’s documents and photos with us. One document was a letter confirming that Charlie drug the A-313 into town in 1969.

We heard about and talked to folks who had more background on the early railroads and locomotives that may become important and helpful to us as we continue in our venture. We are grateful to those who helped with housing and made connections for us.

The “village” who is getting involved with Project “A” of Corry RAILS is growing as we work together to get our Climax A-313 back to her birthplace. If you’d like to become a Corry RAILS villager and help in your choice of ways more information is available here.