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Monday, February 8. 2010Wood Shop Update - February 7, 2010 2050 Project Victor Humphreys began the painting and finishing of the new windows produced for N&W 2050.  319 Windows Frank Hicks was continuing the priming on the project to renew windows on the CA&E 319.  Cleaning Up Dick Lukin stopped back in the shop after working on and visiting the new arrivals in Barn 8. Thank goodness for someone willing to help on the projects. Here he 'polices' the shaper area after ME 28 panel raising, while Jeff Brady works to construct a new fixture for the shaper. Thursday, February 4. 2010Wood Shop Update - February 3, 2010Well, today we did a BIG job in the wood shop, with nearly every one of the half dozen volunteers participating. For several years we have made very good use of the Berlin sander for finish work on well over 180 windows and doors. One of the abrasive sheets (on drum 3) was about worn out, and last Saturday the sheet on drum 2 failed. So we had no choice but to invest some time to return this machine to service.  Disassembled This is a large and complicated machine - it has over 95 lube points alone! So the first steps are to start the disassembly which has largely been accomplished in this photo. The A frame was used to remove the top deck (seen in the background here) and then one layer of mechanism parts after another to get to the drums. Pete Galayda, John Faulhaber, and Victor Humphreys worked on on this - seen here measuring and cutting a new sheet of sandpaper.  On Deck Pete Galayda, Victor Humphreys and Tim Peters (on the deck) are putting parts back together as the new paper has been installed, and the fussy assembly work is next.  Together Again Amazingly, by the end of the day the machine was almost back together, John F and Pete G reassembling the dust collector ductwork which had to be removed for access. Many thousands of dollars of custom woodworking projects are produced each year in the wood shop, at great benefit to IRM. But like most things there are no funds for ongoing expenses and upkeep of the tools and machinery. By way of example, EACH sheet of sandpaper for the Berlin cost $60 when we bought these some time ago, and we needed to replace two of them now. These were the last of our stock, so, any of you want to send in some coins so we can buy more? Thanks!  409 Sash Rich Witt continued on work for a new wood sash for the CA&E 409, cutting the rabbets for the rails and stiles. Here he is seen laying out the mortise and tenon joinery.  Step Up Henry Vincent, with Frank Sirinek behind him, was fitting new drop steps for the Chicago and West Towns 141. Mike Altrerio went through the shop area and was recruited to fabricate some new fixtures for the mortiser. Charlie Strong is doing project planning for the CA&E 451 and we discussed needed hardwoods and costs. He has quite a 'laundry list' of tasks and I am sure donation of dollars and volunteer hours will be appreciated. Several guys from the Wednesday Special Projects group stopped in to discuss current work, although I suspect the real reason was to warm up for a bit.
Tuesday, February 2. 2010Track Dept Weekend Report
Toms report from Saturday and my report from Sunday-
Saturday- Yesterday Frank and I got there so that we could help with the Electric Car folks with the first moves into Barn 11 - as no one was about in the morning, we dug into the list of stuff to do in Barn 2 - starting with the starter of course. As I noted below - Frank dug out that one from the 585, we did the switch with the 580 and got the 585 running. We let it run a while to warm up and starter in on the 6000. We changed out the broken pin on the right work head, and on the good advice of Frank decided to change the left one too since I bought two new pins... good thing as that one was broken too, hanging on but less the a 1/4 inch...yikes... So it goes to show - inspect your machine as much as you can... Both are now new. After all that was done, Adam showed for the 2nd trick. We headed to Yard 11, to wake up the 50. It took a while with the normal trans oil and warm up, we had to thaw out the transmission air lines too - but it fired up fairly well for having sat for a month...  Frank adding transmission fluid to the crane  Tom checking the transmission fluid level on the crane In the end it was not needed - so that ended a good day (Seems the EJ&E folks installed the wrong starter in the 585 - one with too small teeth on its gear - that DID grind away some on the fly wheel, but after Frank removed the 585 starter and we went into the barn to see what was on the 580 (how cool to have spare motor cars huh?) and saw it was a lot bigger motor on the 580... sooo..switcho we did -) Tom Hunter -------------- Sunday- Tom and I made up the gang and chose to clean off the CNW flatcar of 'stuff' gathered from along the RoW with the Burro crane we serviced Saturday. Tom fired up the Model 50 in Yard 11 and I went to retrieve wreck knuckes and such. The CNW flat was buried in the middle of a string of cars on Station Tk 2 so we had to move a bunch of cars to get it out.  Moving cars on Station 2 the main at a brisk 1-2MPH... It was amazing. After making the switch we headed to yard 14 to unload a slew of line poles we had picked up from Schmidt Siding and then went to the diamond at South Jct to unload three old signal foundations from the old 151/ 152 signals.  Lifting old signal foundations from the CNW flatcar have to clear out ALL of the track machines from the Barn. Included is the old brush cutter in the heated portion of the shop. If anyone is working on it, please let me know as it may be moved permanently out of the shop due to track space issues. Take Care, Adam Robillard IRM Track Dept Monday, February 1. 2010Website stats for January 2010Below are some general stats for the IRM website:
Monday, February 1. 2010Wood Shop Update - January 31, 2010 Sand Springs 68 Barb Lanphier is checking a new window just glued up and destined for the SS 68. It is good to see her back on site and getting around pretty well after knee surgery in 2009.  Caboose Window Buzz Morisette was there continuing on new windows for the MILW 01984 caboose. At day's end three new frames were fitted, glued up, and in the press clamped overnight.  Lettering And for you fans of the Trolleyville cars, Frank Hicks is working on lettering tracings for the CA&E 451, where FUTURA style numbers were discovered underneath the CP&SW paint scheme. Other work not pictured included Shelly Vanderschaegen painting passenger car seat frames and Phil Stepek receiving new glass number plate inserts for the CNW 9934. These are ready for painting the black background and should be complete and ready to install with the anticipated warmer weather . . . . 3-4 months? Monday, February 1. 2010Michigan Electric 28 Update - January 31, 2010 Shaper Jeff Brady and I spent a fair amount of the afternoon working to manufacture raised panels for the new baggage doors. Jeff designed and purchased custom ground cutter tooling to be able to reproduce the needed profile. Then it was on to the shaper. One problem or 'challenge' after another was solved in an effort to support the work and guide it through the machine. We were working with a setup panel and Jeff is shown removing that from a run through the shaper. We THINK that a few more changes and construction of a jig will make this phase complete. |
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Comments
Thu, 05-16-2013 21:52
Looking good Bob! I hope to come out soon once I'm done with school.
Wed, 05-15-2013 21:28
I was not around at the time. General discussion suggests that it was "pretty marginal" in a number of areas. Nigel
Mon, 05-13-2013 11:08
"THUMBS UP!"
Fri, 05-10-2013 02:15
No, it will not be necessary to hold any of the work waiting for the plow to be turned, end for end. Weather will be the major factor, but there will [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 19:54
The CGW X-38 plow is really coming to life. Bob Kutella and Vic and crew need to be very proud of your collective efforts. I am very appreciative of [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 15:20
The snowplow looks great! Are you going to apply the door and upper windows befor it is turned to continue work?
Thu, 05-09-2013 09:09
Max, Is there any progress to report yet, in regards to the installation of the poles and overhead wires? Have a good day, sir.
Wed, 05-08-2013 18:40
Thanks for the update! I still don't understand why Commonwealth #5 was removed from service. Do you know why?
Tue, 05-07-2013 09:28
Mr. Kolanowski.....I was just wondering if the Spaulding webcam will be up and running soon for us stay-at-homes. Thanks!2FP
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:04
Max, Has work begun yet on the construction phase of erecting the poles and putting up the wire? Wish I could be there to watch it happen.
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:02
Keep up the good work, Bob. Wish I could be there to help!!!!!!!
Sun, 05-05-2013 18:53
Ah yes, I have made such Jibs myself. If it were me, I would add in each corner an angled piece from the base to the Jib to act as sway bracing. [...]