Steam Department

Here is another news post courtesy of Jim Opolony.  Be sure to read the comment posted by Nigel a week ago for more info on recent efforts.  It looks like the Steam Team is working in earnest to do what basically amounts to dismantling parts of the 1630.  This is needed to do the in depth inspections to determine the extent of all defects and repairs.

"Here's what went on in the steam shop on July 9th.
 
Glenn got out to the shop at 6:00 AM to start the job of removing the front of 1630's smoke box.  The door was removed, and with the help of Rick and Jim, who arrived before 8:00, the front ring was removed.  In addition, Nigel, Rick, and Phil shoveled the coal out of the 1630's bunker into the scoop of the John Deere tractor.  The nuts holding the blower to the bottom of the smoke box were cut with a torch since they were rusted on the threaded rods.  After this was done, a hammer and cold chisel were used on the nuts to break them off the rods.  The petticoat still needs to be removed from the stack. Once we have access to the front tube sheet, we will remove the tubes.  Nigel and Jim also started the process of removing the lagging from the boiler.  This needs to be done so that boiler can be inspected.  All jewelry on the locomotive will be removed, with the turret valves, for a full inspection.  Once all this is done, the boiler will be inspected inside and outside.  In addition, the tube sheets will be tested using ultrasound.

Over the last several weeks, the doors of the firebox were removed with the firebox ring that holds the doors in place.  The plugs were removed from the boiler and the tender was drained of water. Mike also began to drill out the centers of rivets that must be removed to cut out the weak section of the firebox.  Drilling them out will allow the rivets to collapse on themselves when they are hit to remove them.

While this work was being done Stu, Milwaukee Bob, and Mike were using the lathe to true-up part of the brake rigging for one of the Lackawanna coach cars that is used on the Thomas train. Since other departments often help us, we try to help them out in return."