Recovering The Reynolds Corliss
On a day in September of 2001, Bill Klemm, Paul Young, and I (Joe Prindle) set out to retrieve a Skinner engine for our club. Well, sometimes things don't work out the way they are planned, and we got turned away when we showed up to start the removal. Bill and I had both heard a story about a Corliss engine that Paul had found years ago and never got around to getting home. After a little gentle persuasion (how ya gonna get a ride home?) Paul agreed to show us where the engine was. This is the story of that adventure......
Here is what we saw when we got there. As impressive as it was, the idea of getting it out of there was a bit overwhelming! The engine is a Reynolds Corliss built in Milwaukee by Edward P. Allis, in the mid to late 1870's.
Paul Young (left) and Bill Klemm get a closer look.
Paul tries to hide behind a tree, but it is to no avail.
Here is a little better view of the engine as we found it that day.
Paul looking over the engine, getting sick of me taking photos?
Paul checks out the boiler that ran the engine. The boiler was from an actual locomotive, not just a locomotive type. There is a patch in the front where the dry pipe had come through the front tube sheet. Paul believes that the boiler was from a Shay type locomotive, probably 1870's vintage. Even though the boiler was no longer usable, Paul felt that it was worth bringing home.
Here is Bill again, checking out the scene and wondering "What is the best way to try to get this thing out of here?"
And so, that was the extent of our initial trip. After a lot of talking, some of it fast....., Paul owned the engine, again. The next step was to get the truck and crane lined up and bring it home.
