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Rebuild Steam Locomotive No. 3 Project  Steam locomotive No. 3 has been undergoing a major rebuilding since 2002.  This is a very long and complex project because of the work being done because precision in every aspect of this rebuild is mandatory.
 
The old boiler, installed by CPR in 1909, was the second boiler on No. 3 having replaced the original 1882 boiler.  In 2001, it was found that the 1909 boiler needed to be completely replaced.  Since that time, The Vintage Locomotive Society Inc. has worked to raise the nearly $300,000 needed to have an entirely new boiler engineered and manufactured according to current engineering and regulatory standards.  The project also includes reconditioning various other parts of No. 3
 
Society volunteers commenced the preparatory work in 2003 which consisted of first photographing every area of No. 3, then carefully disassembling and tagging all parts.  The Society contracted Saskatoon Boiler Manufacturing Ltd. to create a complete set of engineering drawings since no drawings of the 1909 boiler existed. This Company is fully certified to complete a project of this nature.  The old boiler was removed on August 28, 2003 and sent to Saskatoon Boiler to permit their Engineering staff to obtain all the dimensions, commence the new drawings and begin manufacturing the new boiler.
 
In the interim, Society volunteers continued to work on reconditioning the various parts including the wheels, assemblies and appliances, etc., as well as generally prepare the frame for accepting the new boiler.  The new boiler was completed and delivered on October 8, 2004.
 
Since that time, Society volunteers have completed attaching the new boiler to the frame and wheels, and have been carefully re-assembling the exhaust appliances.  Precision in this phase of the re-assembly is crucial since improper assembly would certainly result in major problems with No. 3’s performance.
 
The work currently underway includes completing installing of all the front end exhaust appliances as well as working on the cab structure. In addition, work is underway on No. 3’s tender which will get a new set of wheels. Various piping and appliances will be installed over the next several months, after which time a test steam up will occur to check all piping connections and appliances.
 
Following that, new boiler insulation and a new jacket will be installed, followed by a complete new paint job.  In the photos shown, various aspects of this project can be seen.

Rebuilding Photographs

No. 3 at Inkster Junction August 2001. (Credit Andre Pelletier; VLS Collection)	No. 3 at Inkster Junction May 19, 2002 with jacket removed following ultrasound testing (Credit: Amanda Knott; VLS Collection).
No. 3 under disassembly March 8, 2003	Firebox showing ultrasound markings, May 8, 2003.

Cab Removal May 31, 2003

Boiler Removal August 28, 2003

Saskatoon Boiler - construction of the new boiler
- Spring and Summer, 2004

Working through engineering details at Saskatoon Boiler, September 9, 2003

Delivery of the new boiler - October 8, 2004

	Cutting the hole for the smokestack February 19, 2005
Reconditioned air pump February 19, 2005

Installation of the new steam splitter pipes, May 4, 2005

Installing the smokestack July 16, 2005

Installing the cab November 10, 2005

The work continues - November 26, 2005

Re-assembling the Air Brake Piping	Cab Interior work - piping and lining
Lifting tender - July 26, 2006	Loading Tender wheels for rebuilding
New Boiler insulation - November 11, 2006
Cab work, including the new steam turret and valves and new cab liner boards (unpainted).