Two big achievements at today's work session:

1) Leverett and Al Jenkins finally got the worn tender truck pedestal free and loaded into Leverett's truck. This piece has a hairline crack and also requires significant metal replacement. Leverett is also going to turn new bolts to reattach the piece. It's a slow process, but we are attempting to do this in a first class manner. 470 will be a safe locomotive as our foremost goal.

2) Roger and Dick started work on the left side valve gear this morning, and were later joined by Ron and Al. All but one of the nuts are free and turning on the valve gear. We can expect the valve gear pieces to be removed for cleaning and inspection in the next week or so.

Believe it or not, this was a very full day's work. Due to short notice and impending freezing rain this evening, the group was just the five of us.

Ron has charged the battery in our compressor, but we haven't yet turned the motor over. Clayton will begin installing the air lines in the near future.

Roger and Dick went to Marden's in Ellsworth and purchased some addition hand tools for the NESCo shops. These included a variety of pliers, wire clippers, fine edge chisels, and punches.