Preservation of the Daniel B. Harrington

Another day with a few hours of work on the D.B. Harrington Porter 2-4-0 locomotive. This project is quickly entering its final stages as metal boiler jacketing & cylinder jacketing is trimmed & hammered into shape. 

The Project Manager & friend,  TJ Gaffney, has been the key organizer for several years on this project. Numerous organizations, volunteers, students & even Canadian National Railway have provided support with financial or physical work on its restoration.

While Port Huron planners & developers politically seem to be eager to erase its railroad heritage, we found a home for this piece of area railroad history downtown at the Wrigley Hall . The cosmetic restoration of the 145 year old DB Harrington will be protected from the elements for decades inside the beautiful building. 

The finishing touches are being done both on the locomotive & the Wrigley Hall at the same time. We hope to have it complete by the time of their grand opening later this Spring. 

It's important to note that at one time the skilled trades used here on the work on this locomotive were once taught in middle & high schools across the country. I learned many of those skills in my shop classes in middle school and high school. Now so many school districts still don't encourage students to engage in these highly skilled & paying careers. All together worse is the talent to teach them are passing on. Those with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to teach, do not have the accreditations needed to hold a teaching position, nor do the schools have the equipment anymore in many cases.