Last Update:  February 1, 2010
In January of 2010, repairs were needed on the prime mover of No. 801.   The blower needed to be exchanged for a rebuilt
unit and one of the power assemblies was leaking and needed to be removed, resealed and reinstalled.   While the OPR crew
does 99% of its own maintenance and work on all track and equipment and locomotives, Jerry Van Loo, a heavy diesel
mechanic is often contracted out to do heavy diesel work on the OPR locomotives.   Jerry has been working on and rebuilding
OPR locomotives for many years.   Most work is done on site with Jerry's mobile mechanical service.

The 801 has a 567B V-8 diesel engine, producing 800 h.p.   The engine had almost seen its last days in the late 1990s.  In
fact, No.
1810 was originally purchased with the intent of replacing the 801.  But Jerry Van Loo was able to rebuild it by
replacing most or all of the power assemblies and it has continued to serve the OPR for well over another decade.   And
these minor repairs should keep the 801 going for a quite a bit longer.

Today, the No. 801 serves along with the No. 901 on the Molalla Branch as one of two primary locomotives.  The 801 is most
often used to service Willamette Egg and RSG Forest Products at the far end if the line, and therefore sees the most miles
and the most use, switching the longest loads of cars from the far end of the branch to the interchange.

For more information on the No. 801, visit our
No. 801 Page.

For more information on the Molalla Branch, visit our
Molalla Branch Page.

Photos are courtesy of OPR's Craig Samuels.
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Webmaster
Brian McCamish
Oregon Pacific Railroad
Webmaster
Photo on the left is the airbox cover removed to show the air intake ports of the assembly liner.
Photo in the middle is looking at the top of the power assembly with the valve cover removed.   The power assembly on the right is the one to be
removed.   Exhaust valve gear is removed in preparation for the power assembly removal in the right photo.
Repairing Engine 801's Prime Mover
With the crab nuts removed and the rod unbolted from the crankshaft, the power assembly is now ready to be removed from the block.   OPR's
Craig Samuels operates the crane that lifts the power assembly out of the block.  Jerry Van Loo (pictured) guides the assembly out.
Looking into the block where the power assembly once was.
Looking inside the opening in the side of the block at the crankshaft and rod journal of the power assembly that was just removed.
Jerry resealing the power assembly and reinstalling it into the block.
The power assembly reinstalled and the preparing the valve gear for reinstallation.    A view of a torque arm that appears to be used to turn the
motor, for aligning the crack and piston rod.
Interesting torque multiplier tool/adapter used to torque the huge crab bolts that hold the power assembly into the block.