Budd 1935 Flying Yankee streamliner returns to the rails

[jbvb]

A short thread from July 2024 about a prototype restoration activity I'm involved with. In Reference Pix because many normally-hidden aspects of the historic train are shown.
In 2021 I was one of a group of B&M fans who got together and re-constituted the Flying Yankee Restoration Group. At the time the FYRG was down to one or two board members and very little activity since well before COVID. We worked out a plan centered on a new business model for the restoration. Then we convinced the State of NH, owner of the train since the 1990s, that state ownership without any state funding was a dead end. Along the way we decided "Flying Yankee Association" was a better way to describe ourselves. The previous name is strongly associated with fundraising for two earlier restoration efforts, each of which stalled when funds ran out.

The FYA bought the train and its stored parts from NH for $1 on July 24. Sunday July 28 through Tuesday July 30 our rigger moved the train from Lincoln NH to Conway NH: First phase was 5 containers of parts plus the 3-car articulated train's 4 trucks:



Loading containers that had been stored on State property in Twin Mountain, NH.



And unloading them in Conway NH.



The center plate of a 1935 high-speed drop-equalizer passenger truck.

Rick checked in:

A worthy endeavor.
Good luck with the restoration.

As did Tom:

Looking forward to this adventure James.

Jerry (Trains1941):

Good luck with the restoration James. Keep us up to date.

And Karl:

Exciting times! Great job guys, get to work!

Thanks, all. Our next goal is to get the train and parts under a roof, which will have to be built new - buildings with 220 feet of track inside are pretty much nonexistent in the White Mountains of NH. The train has to stay in NH for the next 15 years, and we've found an interested partner for operations (someday) in the Conway Scenic.

The second day of the move was spent loading the three cars on our partners' trucks behind the Granite State Scenic RR station (formerly Hobo Railroad) in Lincoln, NH.



The observation (3rd) car was the first lift.



Inevitably there's a dogs breakfast of cribbing, chain binders etc. under each end of the carbody. And even with experienced riggers getting that right takes time and thought. Unless you're moving multiple identical vehicles.

[jbvb]

The middle car was the second lift. It's the shortest and lightest:





We'd made plywood panels for the train doors. I suppose they did keep the weather out after we took down the rubberized canvas that had let people walk through the train while it was up on blocks. But the first thing we did when the cars were unloaded was remove the plywood panels...

The power car is mostly empty; only the rehabbed original DC generator went along for this ride. But it's the longest of the three, and heaviest even mostly stripped.



The bigger crane handled the cab end both loading and unloading.



There was quite an overhang, but it did make it around the hairpin curve climbing up to Kancamagus Pass (2860 feet elevation in the White Mountains does get a little special treatment).

[jbvb]

The third day began well before our escorts arrived. Taking the train through the White Mountains at 0700 rather than around them had two advantages over alternative routes: shortest distance and almost no population along most of the route.



The drivers stopped just past the summit of Kancamagus Pass to inspect, re-secure and take a break while traffic got ahead of us.



We were escorted by both NH State Police and professional escort cars.



I followed the rest of the way to Conway NH.

john_holt commented:

Gotta love the Kenworth Cab-over tractor.

Our rigger (Iron Mountain Iron & Equipment) is a fan of the tools of his trade (plus also somewhat of a railfan). His subcontractors too. I didn't ask how many miles that tractor has on it...

Rick commented:

That was a lot of work but all worthwhile.
Congratulations on a successful move.

Bernd commented:

I believe the Flying Yankee is similar to the California Zephyr? I realize the Yankee is three cars and the Zephyr is four cars. The design looks the same.
 I started to build the California Zephyr from a Model Railroader article back in February 1982.

Another one of those shiny objects I chased and never got done because another shiny object caught my fancy.

Thanks, Rick. Bernd, the CB&Q "Zephyr" was the first successful Budd streamlined train, completed in 1934. It originally had 3 cars, one of which was the RPO section you modeled., As CB&Q bought more Budd trains, the first was renamed "Pioneer Zephyr" and added another coach. I've never learned how the additional coach's articulation works. In 1960 it was preserved at the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry, where it remains today.

The FY was the second successful Budd streamliner, completed in early 1935. It was similar to the Zephyr except the middle car was all coach and the power car had a smaller baggage compartment, a buffet and a number of coach seats. It ran out of North Station Boston on various routes till 1957, when it was sent to Edaville in Carver MA. Edaville didn't do much to it, so when they downsized and the FY went to New Hampshire, everything that wasn't stainless was in poor condition. See Flying Yankee Assoc. website for where we are today.

Bernd replied:

Thanks James. I have a slide in my collection of me standing in front of the Yankee Flyer at Carver, Mass. back in the early 70's. I'll have to dig it out
someday and scan it to post.

Dutchman (Bruce DeYoung) commented:

Hopefully funding will keep up with the restoration needs on this project, James. A worthy endeavor indeed.

[jbvb]

Unloading the train onto Conway Scenic tracks in Conway NH continued well into the afternoon. But it was nowhere near dark when we left the site.



The C (observation) car was the first unloaded, swung over and placed on its trucks.



A seldom seen view of an articulation joint partly assembled. This is the front end of the C (observation) car. The rear of the B car sits atop the C car on the center bearing, and the side bearings sit inboard of the C car's.  Of course, the trucks are all different: they carry different loads, the brake rigging differs etc.



It took all the Flying Yankee Association members present to move the A (power) car north so the B car could be placed. Even this crowd couldn't start it. I got the pointy end of a claw bar (spike lifter) between the tread and the rail and budged it enough that we could keep it rolling.



The only photo I got of placing the B (middle) car. It had to mate with the articulation joint at both ends, so lots of checking and adjusting before we dropped it the last little bit.



Once a crane is finished doing the job it was hired for, it takes quite a while to pack up and get ready for the road.

John_Holt commented:

Thanks for posting the photos. I always enjoy "progress" photos.

2025: The Flying Yankee remains stored on Conway Scenic property while we plan and fundraise for its building. We've opened the Flying Yankee for a number of events in co-operation with CSRR. We hope to complete the Town of Conway's planning process in the next few months, but we don't have much hope of starting construction this year.

[Zephyrus52246]

It's great to see the Pioneer Zephyr's sibling being cared for.  Getting it out of the elements will be a big positive.  Is the association hoping to remotor it? 

Jeff

[jbvb]

Thanks, Jeff.

A big negative about the previous restoration attempts was when funds ran out, the train sat outside while work in progress was squirreled away in containers as fast as the contracting shop could do it. No more work would be done till more money came in, so FY parts were in the way and employees who'd been working on it left or turned to other work. That's why the building is our first priority. When funds allow, restoration will continue, when money doesn't allow, the train and its parts will be protected and viewable by the public.

The Winton 201A prime mover was debated fiercely years ago. Even though the Winton had suffered while its stacks weren't capped and the engine room leaked at Edaville, the first restoration wanted to use it. They spent a lot of money making new pistons, cylinder liners, injectors etc. The second restoration planned to use something else, but never got to the point of engineering how the new prime mover would be mounted in the engine room, coupled to the generator, or cooled/controlled. We've been all through the huge collection of documents we inherited; nothing concrete has turned up.

We went into this thinking the Winton would be missing parts; in particular there was no record of the last new injector being received from the shop building them. We're doing inventory and cleaning up everything we find; so far nothing significant is known missing.  Also, the 1990 idea of Amtrak certification and touring the Northeast at track speed has been overtaken by events.  Applying retention toilets will be complicated, expensive and may compromise historic aspects of the train. Conway Scenic has no wyes, though one could be restored at Quebec Jct. and maybe another in Bartlett (abutter encroachment). Without wyes, passengers will ride backwards half the time.  Thus constrained, the restored FY will likely only get out on main track for a few fan-focused trips a year, with scheduled bathroom stops.

From our PoV the Winton remains a possibility. But no decision until we know we have all its parts and experts have evaluated reassembling them. And other experts work out in detail how a current-production diesel could be substituted and the likely cost.

[Bernd]

James,

Here's an idea for possible power. I remember when I first saw this product come out and wanted to build a brass model of it. Never got that far (one of those shiny objects I chase all the time). They use a CAT diesel. Might be something to use. Since it's railroad oriented they might have a solution.

https://www.tractivepowercorp.com/locomotives/tp56-(3-axle)

Bernd

P.S. now you got me motivated to find that slide.

[deemery]

That's One Big Shiny Object!

dave

[Jerry]

James that sure was a lot of work!  Really looking forward to the updates on how you guys do with this project.

Jerry

[Bernd]

That's One Big Shiny Object!

dave

It sure was. That's why I tried it in 1:87. I got as far as getting a cab together.







Now back to our regular program on the Flying Yankee.

Bernd

[GPdemayo]

There are many things in this world that don't need to be preserved for the future, but this project is not one of them.

How wonderful that sweat, time and money are being given to a bit of history that needs preserving. It is sad that future generations have lost so much to the wrecking ball and scrap yards and will never have the pleasure of seeing what made this country what it is today, up close and personal. 

A giant well done to Bernd and his group for doing such a good thing for future generations. 

[Bernd]

A giant well done to Bernd and his group for doing such a good thing for future generations. 

Ah Gregory, I have nothing to do with the group and I live in western New York. I saw the Flying Yankee back in 1970 at Edaville in Carver MA. on a railfan trip. I do wish I was closer to help out. One of these days I'm going to try and finish the model I started many years ago.

Bernd

[deemery]

A giant well done to Bernd and his group for doing such a good thing for future generations. 

Ah Gregory, I have nothing to do with the group and I live in western New York. I saw the Flying Yankee back in 1970 at Edaville in Carver MA. on a railfan trip. I do wish I was closer to help out. One of these days I'm going to try and finish the model I started many years ago.

Bernd

In the early 70s, I remember visiting Edaville.  I was so focused on the narrow gauge I don't remember the Flying Yankee.  Somewhere I have a bunch of photos of Edaville 2' equipment from that trip from my Instamatic.

dave

[Orionvp17]

Annnnnddddd.... Our Representative to the Flying Yankee Group is James (jbvb), who has done a lot to preserve this train and is attempting get her back on the rails and in motion.  May the effort be fruitful within our lifetimes!

Thanks, James!!

Pete
in Michigan