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Sunday, July 8. 2012Steam Department Update 07-07-2012Another day with temperatures reaching 100 degrees certainly slowed work in the shop. However, we plugged along with frequent "cooling breaks" and made good progress on the key tasks. Alex and I completed tapering the safe ends for the super heater flues. So we are now ready for the welder to attach these to the flues. Paul cleaned up the pressure testing rig, that we need to test the flues once they have been welded. As shown below it consists of blanking plates that are tightened from each end of a rod so that will tightly seal the ends of the flue. One has the connections to allow water to be pumped in and air allowed out. Once free of air, the flue is pressurized to ensure that the welds attaching the safe ends withstand boiler pressure.
Glenn, Phil and Jeff spent the day refitting the piston rod to the McCabe flanger. The rod is now in place.
This view gives some idea of the power of this machine. The main cylinder shown here is approximately 3 feet in diameter. Operating at 90 psi this creates a force of more than 40 tons on a few square inches of plate in the jaws. In this way it can smoothly bend 3/4 inch steel plate with no apparent effort. The downside is that minor errors in adjustment or operation can cause this force to fall onto the machine itself causing issues such as the broken piston rod. There is some tricky drilling to be done to place a set screw but once that is done, we can hope to refit the piston and get the machine back into operation to start work on the firebox patch. Kevin has been working most of the week on preparing and then priming the tender tank top. This is a massive improvement. Unfortunately I failed to take a "before" picture but this area was in really bad condition, probably due to water lying on the tank top at some stage.
Stu and Bob worked on reassembling the planer. A new bearing has arrived and the shaft has been machined so it is beginning to come together. Nigel |
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Comments
Mon, 06-17-2013 09:50
Wish I could be there to help.
Fri, 06-14-2013 16:50
Matthew, Any special event is the decision of the museum Board. My personal opinion is that it is likely that there would be a special event to [...]
Thu, 06-13-2013 18:33
Hi, I have a question, if or when she is restored and back up and running this or next year. Will their be a special event set up for the return of [...]
Tue, 06-11-2013 22:36
The whistle 1630 wore for a while that you're thinking of was a Frisco 6 chime donated by a former member of the steam shop. It was on it a few times [...]
Tue, 06-11-2013 18:03
You are talking here about something well before my time !. I have not seen her with anything other than the whistle she now carries. If she [...]
Mon, 06-10-2013 16:17
i'm curious here. Will 1630 ever wear the ATSF 6 chime she had on for a while? Better defines her, I love the deep whistle she has now but the higher [...]
Sat, 06-08-2013 15:15
Many many many many many thanks for getting the Spaulding webcam working!!!!!
Fri, 06-07-2013 16:55
The donation was to the museum as a whole. How it is used and whether any comes to steam department projects will be the decision of the museum [...]
Fri, 06-07-2013 16:53
Basically the plan is "ONLY" reassembly. As far as we know she is is reasonable mechanical shape. The big mechanical problem that stopped her (slack [...]
Fri, 06-07-2013 16:28
Nigel I read you guys got a one million dollar check donation!!! Will this be used to finish 1630 ,428, 5 and get started on the others next in line?
Fri, 06-07-2013 16:16
So does 1630 basically only need reassembly? With the boiler in particular. Does her tender or running gear need any work before she's ready for the [...]
Fri, 06-07-2013 12:00
Hello.. The voltage we are using and presumed the RR also used is 120 vac. The system is a little unique because the lite bulbs are each 60 volts. [...]