Electric Car Department

Here is a long overdue update on our Mc Guire Cummings steeplecab locomotive from Iowa.  Rest assured that Pete Galayda and his crew are working on this project every week, in the shop throughout the winter months.

The Cutting Edge

Here is shot of Gerry Dettloff, (trust me, that is him behind the sparks,  under the locomotive with the cutting torch), removing some badly deteriorated electrical conduit which could no longer be unscrewed at its threaded connections.  This is part of the ongoing process of rewiring the locomotive as the detective work by John Nelligan proves how the system needs to work.

Cage Work

Gerry Dettloff and John Nelligan are assembling a rebuilt and restored steel cage on the walkway beside the hood.  This cage was part of the design by the builder, to house and hold seven grid boxes, part of the control system.  With the boxes installed and wired, it will receive a protective steel screen.

The cab, space under the hoods, and under the frame are crammed full of things, so the builder chose to mount the grids on the walkway on top of the frame.  I suppose that would restrict a crew member trying to exit the cab and quickly get to a retriever, but there is no cab door in that corner anyway.

With thanks to Pete Galayda for the pics and update.