A short and second hand update this week, courtesy of Phil and Collin, as I was enjoying myself in New York City last weekend. It sounds as if good progress was made on a number of fronts.
Unfortunately everything else is overshadowed by the news that Glen, one of our regular team, was seriously injured in a motor bike accident last week. From what we can gather, he is in the ICU at Rockford Memorial and the path forward is unclear at present. Our thoughts are with him.
On 1630:
· The flue removed last weekend, that has to be reworked, was cleaned up and prepared.
· The jacketing painted last week is now back in store and the last of the jacketing is now down in the shop for cleaning and painting.
· Mike reassembled the bucker, which is critical to riveting the patch into place. It was hooked up to the air supply and works!.
· Phil, Tom and Mike started working with the bucker in the firebox to determine how it can best be supported to provide a smooth and reliable position when riveting. This is essential as the core of the riveting process is that the yellow hot rivet must be passed into the firebox, put into the hole and the bucker accurately and firmly applied in a matter of 15 seconds. If the rivet cools too much or the bucker moves, you will get a badly formed rivet and the need for many hours of work to drill it back out again and re-prepare the hole. So there will be a LOT of planning and practicing ahead of driving the rivets
A rivet must be set in each of the holes. So we need to be able to place the bucker quickly and firmly and use it in each position, while still allowing room to place the hot rivet.
On the Shay:
· Alex used the degreaser and put it on the front truck. (Sounds like I had better make plans to borrow the steam cleaner from the car shop to finish the process)
· Alex, Brian, Cameron, and Phil fired up the furnace and annealed the last of the flues. They are now ready to be put back in the box car. This was a very positive sign for the future. The whole team was young guys all in their lower 20's or teens, which makes a big change from the reliance on us old codgers!.
In other areas:
· Bill, Stu, and Bob worked on the water supply in the boxcar and started on the modifications to the pumping system. The objectives are to ensure that the locomotive crew can reliably get water with minimum knowledge of the system without risk of damage and that treatment chemicals can be added automatically.
· A key piece of the planer was refitted. The directional control lever was reassembled. As is common with rebuilding old equipment, this was much more difficult than it sounds. A pin had sheared off in the shaft and Bob had worked much of last weekend to get it out without damaging the shaft.
So, a good day, from the progress point of view.
Nigel (as scribe for Phil and Collin !)
Comments
Sun, 02-21-2021 21:12
Hi Ethan The 428 has been worked on recently but the focus now is on the maintenance and repair on the 1630 and the Shay. This Spring we will [...]
Sun, 02-21-2021 15:10
How is the UP 428 Steam locomotive engine is most done being fixed. OK Roger.
Sun, 02-21-2021 13:18
Hello Max The answer is Yes, the Dover will be used along with our other Pullman cars only in special event operations. When not in use [...]
Sun, 02-21-2021 12:30
Hello Jim We will be operating the Dover this year depending upon its mechanical condition. I hope to use the car in display venue as well as in [...]
Sun, 02-21-2021 12:24
Hello Kirk Hello, Yes the Dover is now in great shape. There are a couple of little projects to accomplish when the weather changes. I am [...]
Sat, 02-20-2021 18:55
Will the DOVER STRAIT be operational for Museum trips
Sat, 02-20-2021 17:06
I’m really impressed with the wonderful job your volunteers are doing to restore this historic passenger car. Once the restoration is complete, does [...]
Sat, 02-20-2021 14:02
It is great to see the work that Bob Hunter and Gene Macowiak started in the 1990’s. Great work done in finishing the two bedrooms and the buffet [...]
Fri, 02-19-2021 18:41
Very good article. I definitely love this website. Continue the good work!
Tue, 02-02-2021 10:15
I know it is wintertime, and the Virus is making getting people in to do work is difficult, so in a few months, when it's warmer, would someone please [...]
Sun, 01-31-2021 14:37
Hello Jack Thank you very much We in the coach dept are working very hard to have these trains restored Thanks Roger
Sat, 01-30-2021 18:45
pre oiler is a great idea saves lots of wear and tear on engines. a pat on the back for the diesel crew