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Sunday, November 21. 2010CNW 6847 progress, November 20, 2010On Saturday morning, Roger Broms and I arrived about 8:30am and started getting some parts and tools ready to remove the #5 motor and wheel combo. We started the 8537, the US Army 45 tonner, which would be used later to move the 6847 over the drop table. Roger gathered some parts while I moved the new motor over to the steam shop under their new overhead crane. Meanwhile, Nigel and Ralph, and some others were removing the roof from the drop table, and getting the safety fence setup along with other some other items around the table. Jeff Calendine ran the forklift to remove two freight car trucks that were on the lead south of the table and in the way. The 6847 was facing south so we could close the railroad doors behind the shop to keep the heat in the shop. Roger Broms and Bob Milhaupt drilled the last holes in the wheel clamps we made the night before so we could place a clevis on them to attach a chain from there. Roger Bradshaw began prepping the new motor, taking off the support bearing caps and cleaning everything up. Scott Nauer and I removed the last pedestal cross bar and the bracket that holds the traction motor nose pack pins in place. We then moved the 8537 to the steam shop and began to shove the 6847 over the table, lining up the #5 axle in the middle of the table. We tied everything down and moved the 8537 back into the shop out of the way. We blocked up the nose end of the motor. One of the bolts on the rubber pack was broken so we couldn't compress it to remove it easily, so we just let the motor tilt more and more, added blocking as we lowered until the rubber pack was free to be removed. We then lowered the combo the rest of the way, slid over the table and raised it back up to let the Bay City crane lift the combo off the table to where the forklift could reach under it. Jeff moved the combo over to the shop near the new motor. After draining the oil from the support bearings, removing the bearing wick assemblies, and removing the gear cases, we setup both motors on their ends. This way we could eventually lift the wheel off the bad motor, rotate 180 degrees, and onto the new motor. After setting the combo on its end, we could see there was a very large gap for the lateral motion between the motor and axle, well over a 1/4" gap on the comm end of the combo. We started tearing down the support bearing caps and pulled the top bearing shells out. We could immediately see excessive wear on one end of the axle where the flange end of the support bearing meets the wheel. The gear end looks like the gear had been moved or hammered over by almost a 1/8" as it wasn't lining up how it is supposed to be with the marks on the axle. The bearing shells were worn in certain spots and galling in other spots. At this point we figured there was no way to complete the job today and do it right. Roger said if we could get the wheels, new motor and a few of the other required parts to his shop on Monday, they would press the gear into the right spot, machine the axle bearing surfaces and reassemble the combo with new bearings. Hopefully we will have the complete combo back by Wednesday before the holiday so it can be reinstalled Saturday. We started cleaning everything up, moving the motors back to the diesel shop inside on pallets. We removed the roller bearing boxes from the axle and placed those along with everything else on pallets. We dragged the 6847 back into the south end of the steam shop and put the 8537 away. It'll be an extra week that we hadn't planned on, at least the job will be done right and everything will be back together with the proper limits and good bearings. Tentatively we are planning on installing the combo this coming Saturday if everything works out and there are people available on the holiday weekend. Sorry there are no pictures with this update, there were a number of people taking them, but most of them left before we were done so I couldn't ask to use them here. Sunday, November 21. 2010Wood Shop and Other News - November 20, 2010This was more like the last winter with several folks working on many projects in the wood shop. Perhaps a sure sign cold weather is here.  Sunoco Station You have seen the amazing work done by Buildings and Grounds (led by Dave Diamond) in relocating and siting the Schroeder Store. Looking ahead, perhaps the next structure to be placed in its Main Street location might be our 1920's vintage Sunoco Filling Station, relocated to IRM from Covington, Kentucky. You may help bring this about with donations to the Buildings and Grounds Department.  Seats Victor Humphreys was doing some seat work connected with the reupholstery on our TM 972.  Windows Much of the body work and painting on our MILW 01984 rib sided caboose is done, and the car moved back into Barn 11. Buzz Morisette was mounting lifts and window hardware, so the sash could be replaced into the car.  Seats Mike Stauber and Frank Sirinek set up some horses in the shop and were sanding old finish off of the next seat to be restored for the open car, Vera Cruz 19.  Doors Tim Peters was on the job working on restoration of 'his' next wood el car restoration, CRT 1797. Here he is repairing the four sliding side/end doors for the car. Two of the large doors are done enough to start receiving new paint and primer, in the background behind Tim. Too bad you all cannot help on this, but wait. You can help with donations to the project. This is a LOT of work and necessary supplies, wood, paint, and other materials must be purchased with cash.  B and M Work Bill Moran and Rich Witt were milling stock to produce new window beading for the next two project windows being made for B&M 1094.  Wood Dick Lukin was out to volunteer some time, and he loves to work on almost any Electric Car Project. So here he is measuring up some white oak billets, that have been drying for 8 months or so. Destination CA&E 451.  Back in the Saddle The wood stock was planed, marked, measured and bandsawed to the rough profile for new roof saddles. Dick has a careful eye and is doing a good job, sanding one to finished shape to conform to the roof of the car.  Big Band Saw I managed to take a few blanks through our large Wright band saw.  More Sawing And Bill Moran took a turn at the saw, continuing to turn out more roughsawn blanks. I think the goal is to produce about 26 of these saddles, a lot of handwork involved. Saturday, November 20. 2010Trolley Bus Dept. Update - 11/20/2010
Over the past several weekends we have continued working on the LA Brill 8002. Helping out has been the ever-present Richard Schauer along with Wally Unglaub, David Fullarton and Greg Cuervorst. Over the last several weeks the following progress has been made: The tar that was under the old flooring has been almost completely removed. The unsalvageable portion of the Masonite ceiling has been removed and the rest has had the paint scrapped off. The interior lights have been removed and thoroughly cleaned. The edge of the old wood roofing, which is caked in tar and tar-like material, has been removed from about 1/4 of the bus. Over 1/2 of the interior window frames have been thoroughly cleaned and their shine restored. The wood for the new roof has been purchased. Either next weekend or after Happy Holiday Railway, we will be spending some serious time in the Wood Shop turning 16' 1x6s into tongue-in-groove roofing. Also today we fired up and ran the Edmonton BBC 181 for a final check before the Christmas event since it will be used as a warming station for our visitors.
Saturday, November 20. 2010Diesel Shop update, November 19, 2010On Thursday night a lot of switch moves were done to put the 1630 inside for the winter and move the 938 back to the turntable leads. We also made some temporary room on track 92 for UP 428 and the Shay. JD Marzec ran the 8537 as Bob Milhaupt and I worked the ground. Jeron Glander joined us later in the evening. After sorting some of the steam locos, we grabbed the CNW 6847 and moved it into the steam shop for some upcoming work the weekend of the 20th. Once the barn 9 and steam shop moves were completed, we finished putting the last car in barn 11 for the winter.  CNW 6847 in the Steam Shop for some motor work, using the drop table The Diesel Department is working with the Steam Department to clear the Steam Shop for a day, this Saturday, so a bad traction motor can be changed out on the CNW 6847 using the drop table. This kind of cooperation will save a lot of money by using the existing facilities rather then hiring large cranes. The order of equipment in the steam shop needed to be changed to facilitate future driver work to UP 428, everything would have been moved anyway, so the timing worked out very well. Thank You to everyone in the Steam Department for working with us to make this happen. Late last year the #5 traction motor on the CNW 6847 failed with a grounded field. The limited operation this year was with a pair of motors cut out, which required a little bit of control rewiring as these CNW SD40-2's don't have motor cutouts. Earlier this year we obtained a good RTO traction motor and have been planning to change it out at the soonest opportunity. After many discussions and scheduling with Tom and others in the steam department, this weekend was chosen to do the job.  before removal of parts  after removal of parts The evening of the 19th, Colton Verzi, Scott Nauer and I worked on cutting and welding some 3/4" steel to make some wheel clamps for lifting the motor/wheel combo with the overhead crane. After a few hours in the diesel shop the lifting clamps were done, and we headed for the steam shop, joined by Jim West. We started preparing the #5 combo, Jim began breaking the motor leads apart while Scott removed the pedestal cross bars. Colton and I removed the brake shoes and shortened the brake rigging via the slack adjusters, and then removed the shock absorbers. Saturday morning we'll drain the oil from the support bearings and prep the TM nose pack while the #5 axle is still over the little pit inside the shop, and then move it over the drop table to continue the job. There are some additional photos added to the gallery at http://www.irm.org/gallery/diesel-november2010. Thursday, November 18. 2010Wood Shop and Other News - November 17, 2010 New Tenant No, this is not the new paint scheme for CTS 4223 which has occupied this spot in Barn 4 for many years. The Cleveland car has moved to Barn 2 for more paint work, and in its place sits Shaker Heights 63, which has already seen some restoration work in progress.  Framing Repairs George Clark is repairing posts and framing to allow the new wood side sill to be installed on Lake Shore Electric 810.  Shedding Some Light This is a Crouse Hinds headlight housing which saw applications on many transit vehicles. We have searched in vain for many years for replacement and repair parts. Frank Sirinek is the contact for this project. But we have a lead on a replacement clear diffuser ring which goes into the housing, so were taking measurements and making a drawing.  Windows Work moves into a higher gear on two new windows for B&M 1094 with the arrival in the shop of new stock. Rich Witt works on a cutting plan to yield the maximum parts.  An Old Saw Not a stale sobriquet, but John Faulhaber and Rich Witt double check sizes and settings before ripping parts from a piece of mahogany.  The Super Ted Anderson is funding and directing the work on the new windows, and he stopped in to examine and approve the work in progress Monday, November 15. 2010Wood Shop and Other News - November 14, 2010The title of this entry and comments are somewhat misleading this time. It seemed there was not a large turnout of volunteers today, but I am sure they were merely scattered around our large site involved in other projects. At least they were not where I was when I had the camera in my pocket.  Controller Cover But I did get to see Frank Hicks cleaning the old paint off one of the controller covers for CA&E 319. Loud work but the needlechipper greatly speeds up the process. Bob Sundelin and I continued to work inside the Sand Springs 68, on the passenger signal system. By end of day all the connections had been made and taped, and all the trim and car parts reassembled. (We had to take a lot of stuff apart to access and repair, test the system.) Several members dropped in during the day and all seemed delighted to press the buttons and hear the buzzers. This was getting pretty chilly to work out in the car, and is a good stopping point for the winter recess in unheated space. Andrew Sunderland was out working on a Westinghouse D 3 series compressor. Heads off, lots of cleaning, etc. I think this is an exact duplicate of one on the South Shore 1100, but is a 600 volt variety which will improve the operation any of that car's air systems on our 600 volt supply.
Sunday, November 14. 2010Wood Shop and Other News - November 13, 2010 Open and Shut Tim Peters has several of the large doors removed from CRT 1797 and is engaged in patching woodwork, filling, sanding (LOTS of sanding), and restoring them to be replaced in the carbody.  A Window By Any Other Name Bill Moran is looking over the plans and sample original window from B&M 1094. He and Rich Witt did a lot of detective work to make more measurements and resolve discrepancies in the carbody openings. We started cutting the rough stock for a new one today but were not able to get all the pieces from the wood furnished to us by the project team.  More Nosing Eric Lorenz was back on the job fitting more rubber nosing strips for CTS 4223. Earlier entries here showed the nosing and their installation on the four rear door leafs for this car. These are for the front door leafs.  An Insider Meanwhile Ed Waytula was working on the front door leafs inside the car. Tough to get an image here, but you get the idea.  Wiring And here is rare shot of me inside Sand Springs 68. Bill Moran also helped a bit with this project today. Here there was a lot of tracing of circuits and wiring to complete the hookup of all twenty passenger signal buttons. It should have been easier, but here I am inside one of the end seat boxes making the last three connections. They all worked!! |
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Comments
Sun, 05-19-2013 22:13
Hello again. I had an idea that was (somewhat rudely, mid-sentence) dismissed in talking to a museum volunteer a few years back, but here it goes [...]
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!!!!!!!