Roots of Motive Power

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Roots of Motive Power

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Roots of Motive Power, Nonprofit Organization, 420 E Commercial Street, Willits, CA.

Roots of Motive Power began in 1982 as a loosely organized group of friends in the timber industry who shared a love of local history and the antique machinery that shaped it.

06/18/2026

Greetings: Last evening was an important milestone in the Daniel Best
#185 restoration. After completing some minor tweaks on the Johnson Bar
assembly, we hooked up our portable air compressor to pressurize the
boiler and test the some of the plumbing. The biggest issue was air
leaking from some of the handhole plates and gaskets on the boiler,
which took some time. Three of the plates are machined flat, and the
rest have a slight curvature for the inside of the boiler. We had mixed
up two of the plates, which would not seal. This was not too difficult
to correct, except that all were installed before the water tank and
plumbing were installed. Luckily, Basil Frew, was willing to fight the
most difficult to reach handhole plate, mostly because Troy bet him $20
that he could not do it. With the boiler sealed up, we cracked open the
throttle and the engine started rolling over smoothly. Air is not steam,
but the engine sounded smooth and even. Now we can slide the drive gear
into mesh, and walk the tractor outside.

We all know what that means, filling the boiler and water tank with
water, and building a fire. I'm sure there will be a few hiccups along
the way. We will let you know as things progress. I am sending three
photographs and one short video. Not sure if the video will send very
well, but it shows the engine turning over and the wonderful sound of a
5" Baldwin Locomotive Works 3-chime whistle. Everything will be better
with steam. Chris

06/02/2026

Greetings: As we have mentioned several times, some days you can make
tremendous photogenic progress on the project, and other days, you feel
like you took several steps backwards. Well yesterday, Monday, we made
both photogenic progress and real progress in a lot of areas. The most
obvious step was to install the canopy on the tractor for its final
fitting. We rebuilt some of the oak cab while we waited for the boiler
to arrive, which required that new holes be drilled and some adjustments
made. Adding the plumbing for the second injector on the fireman’s side,
also added to the complications. But now, the Best looks like a tractor.
We are too tall to get out of the building, so the canopy will have to
be removed again, and the stack folded over. When the Best leaves the
building, it will be because she is going to be steamed-up, which will
be quite the occasion. One of the things that is less visible, is that
after installing the wheels last week, we removed all the jacks and
blocks under the Best and she is now sitting on the wheels and spring
suspension.

Last night we worked on installing the rock guards for the drive wheels.
This went smoothly on the fireman’s side. The engineer’s side will need
some more adjustments. Jay Bonnet was busy finishing the copper drain
for the water glass and tri-cocks to get the water out of the firewood
storage area and away from the wood cab. Jay also completed a new oak
water tank lid, which we will install this week.

We installed the eductor plumbing last week, and Willie England has been
working on cleaning up the hard suction hose which is carried on the
front of the tractor for filling the water tank from ponds, creeks, or
any other roadside source.

Chuck Jones, our resident blacksmith, has been working on hand-forged
adjustment bolts for the steering chains, and those might be installed
this week if the planets align.

04/28/2026

Another Monday Night work night in the books! We are getting close!!!

04/25/2026

Greetings: Roots members have been busy on the tie replacement project
the past few work nights. Roots received two important loans of
equipment for the tie project, a Tamper tie inserter from the Virginia &
Truckee Railroad in Virginia City, NV, and a Catepillar 305 excavator
from Sparetime Supply in Willits. We have both up and running, and we
will report on progress. We have about 300 ties that we want to
replace. At my age, replacing railroad ties is a project to be avoided.
I appreciate the energy of the track gang working on the project.

Speedy Signs of Ukiah, CA has completed the artwork on the Best Tractor.
We turned up the heat in the shop to cure the paint, which should take
two weeks. Then its time for the clear-coat over the artwork, so we can
wipe down the grime without destroying the artwork.

I made a long list of projects to complete after the clear-coat is done.
We will continue every Monday and Wednesday evenings until the Daniel
Best steams out the door of the BLW shop. From Chris Baldo!

04/18/2026

More art on the 1902 Best 185 Steam Logging Tractor

04/17/2026

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and made it out to the Steam Safety class last weekend. We are always looking for the next generation of operators here at Roots!!!
📸 Brittani Talon!

04/16/2026

Just got a little sneak peak of the paint for the Best Tractor!!!!
📸 Willie England

04/15/2026

The mighty Skookum has arrived and will spend the next 5 years pulling cars full of happy people at the Sacramento Railroad Museum!
~Troy M James

📸 Willie England

04/08/2026

Thank you to Garman Construction for hauling equipment to help us set up for the Steam Safety and Engineering Class happening this weekend!

04/07/2026

🚨‼️URGENT REQUEST‼️🚨. Have you seen the tracks down at Roots lately? We have some older ties marked out for replacement but we need help! We are seeking someone who has an 8000lb mini ex that would be willing to help us, or loan us for this project. We have the crew, a tie puller and just need this last piece of equipment. Of you can help us with this project or need more details please call our president Chris Baldo @ 707-498-3984. Thank you and we will see you on the rails!!!

Address

420 E Commercial Street
Willits, CA
95490

Website

http://www.rootsofmotivepower.com/

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