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Thursday, March 13. 2014Steam Department Update 03-08-2014
It was another day of steady progress in the Steam Shop.
The Winter continues to cause challenges that we have to work around. In the last week, we have lost the water supply to the shop. Thank Heavens we had largely completed what we needed to pressure wash. However, we will need a substantial water supply for equipment cleaning within a few weeks, as we spray paint the boiler and cab. So we monitor the thaw with great concern.
Some idea of the snow around the site –
On a separate issue, a number of people have expressed surprise that my name does not appear on the list of candidates for the upcoming museum board election. I have to admit that this was an error on my part in missing the deadline to return the acceptance of nomination form.
On 1630
Painting of the lower areas continued at a rapid pace.
The walkways on the fireman’s side were needle chipped, wire brushed and primed. Hopefully one of the team will be able to topcoat during the week, as this is an area that we use quite frequently. So it would be best for it to be finished and fully hardened before the weekend. In addition, as shown below much of the pilot is now in primer.
Collin, under guidance from Dennis, cut and ground out the last of the old steel mounting points for the spark arrestor from the smokebox. Phil and Brian then started test fitting the new steel assembly. Rather as expected, the first fitting into the final position indicated the need for a bit of adjustment by Dennis. However, the process has started.
In other areas:
Phil has been making major strides on clearing and freeing up working areas in the shop. Some of the results are spectacular for those of us who have been around a few years. The big old workbench on the East side, whose drawers have been unopened for years, has now been cleared and lubricated. It now provides work space and usable drawer storage!.
Work continued on the planer. It is now no longer second hand information. The huge table was moving back and forth smoothly for prolonged periods. The focus was on fixing leaks in the hydraulic system. Several have been fixed. Work continued on a couple that are proving difficult. This commonly means that the threaded union has suffered damage and must be replaced to get a good seal at the high operating pressure. Difficult to see how this could be on a machine that was only stripped down about 50 years ago and then left lying in pieces!.
But here it is. A last check by the proud team.
The huge table starts from the North end.
…. and surprising quickly it has completed the cutting stroke. It does not look much but the table is an enormous block of steel yet it moves smoothly and silently from end to end, stopping sharply at each end.
So, after 50 years it is substantially operational again. Well done guys!.
So steady progress continues for another week. Now if only the thaw continues!. Nigel
Thursday, March 13. 2014March 8-9, 2014 - Slightly Warmer WeatherSaturday night, March 8th, Shelly Vanderschaegen captured a night shot of the RDC in fog. Car lights are shining on the RDC and the lights were turned on inside the car for the shot.  RDC night shot from 3/8/14 by Shelly Sunday, March 9th, Michael Baksic began by installing a handle on a stainless steel cabinet door located in the vestibule between the 1st and 2nd Exhibit cars. The door did not have a handle previously and it wasn't known at first that the door was stainless steel. Drilling and setting screws was problematic.  Handle installed on stainless steel cabinet door by Michael Baksic  Sam Polonetzky and Mark Gellman at lunch  Buzz Morisette and Jon Habegger having lunch in the Birmingham  Ray Mormann installing a threshold in the Birmingham Buzz Morisette was back at work in the Ely for the day to check on the light fixture placement. He drilled pilot holes through the roof and then went up top to check his position. One end was lined up perfectly but the other end was off by seven inches.  Buzz drilling a pilot hole through the Ely roof  Buzz on the Ely roof checking his pilot holes  The pilot nail was seven inches off from where the wiring conduit is located on one end of the Ely dining room Speaking of holes, Shelly captured a top side image of a gaping hole in the roof of the Ely near the kitchen area. It goes all the way through.  Hole in Ely roof near the kitchen The barrier built by Jon and Mark was stained by Shelly and was ready for reassembly on Sunday. In the image below, a reflection of Jon is seen in the plexiglass while Sam looks on as Mark taps the frame together. It was a tighter fit after the staining so the grooves to hold the plexiglass were enlarged a bit to accommodate the panes more easily.  After staining the barrier was put back together  Jon Habegger and Mark Gellman work to get the plexiglass into the stained frame While assembly of the barrier was going on, Kevin Kriebs scuffed the white conduit with Scotch-Brite to prepare it for painting next weekend.  Kevin Kriebs scuffing conduit with Scotch-Brite™  Mark captured this image of the Arrival/Departure board  Jon Habegger took this photo of the finished barrier Michael McCraren was working on Saturday and Sunday in the Pacific Peak continuing the long process of taking down the layers of paint that have been applied to the interior of the car over the years. Mark Hoffman was in attendance on Sunday working on the Pullman Car John McGloughlin. Thanks to everyone for their time and efforts! Thursday, March 13. 2014RI 2612 gets drilled and tappedGary and I were out on a Thursday,3-6, instead of the usual Wednesday. It snowed Wednesday. Gee... what else is new! Gary and I spent most of the day drilling and tapping new holes for which the seat frames will again be fastened. V  Gary and I working away  The results of the drill and tape patrol, securing the panels to the wall  Garys hand was getting tired towards the end of the day  The results from Saturday All the seat frames are taped and secure into place Here is something new. We began removing more rusty steel walls on Saturday, March 8 . This time in back of the 3 nickel seats [long bench seats closest to the doors]. We have decided to cut and remove three nickel seat frames, get them repaired and then reinstall them after the walls has been repaired.  The nickel seat frame has been removed to have access to the rusted wall Gary is admiring his work That's where we stand today.  Now we have to remove the old wall. Here we go again  Two seat frames temporarily in position If you would like to help with this steel purchase send your donations to the Rock Island 2612 Project! And remember too that Irm might be building two storage barns!!. Donations to the Barn 13 and 14 storage barns are being accepted. Thanks Roger Kramer Sunday, March 9. 2014RI2612 update 2-26- and 3-1-14Here's one of those rather revealing reports on our RI 2612 project.
 Just primed  Hey Pete and Paul!! Who brought the cookies  Are you ready, Roger?  Hear I am at work drilling  Another angle, Lets see which is my best photographic side?
The results of the days drilling and taping. Screws are showing up like mushrooms in the forest on a spring day The last photo of March 1, shows the three sheets are fit into place and have screws already drilled and taped. The drilling and taping of the rest of screws will complete this part of the job on our next visit March 6th. I hope warmer weather is also going to visit us... and too you the reader wherever you live. Too help this project along Gary and I are asking for a few volunteers to come out and assist us with sandblasting duties. We are in search of people, male or female, to clean metal parts that have been removed from the seat frames. Since they have been removed we should clean and paint them before the reinstallation. If you are interested please meet us in back of barn 3 on any Wednesday or Saturday for further "How to" instructions. If you have another day that you are available please let us know. We will make the appropriate accommodations. It's not hard work but it does take some time. Bring you lunch and something to drink and we can lunch inside or out, weather permitting. Remember, to donate to the BARNS 13 and14 building fund. Yes, we might build 2, Yes 2!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for reading this blog Please share if with your friends. Roger Kramer Tuesday, March 4. 2014March 2nd - Sunny but C-c-coldThe first thing Curator Michael Baksic did was to modify and install a light fixture in the 2nd Exhibit Car. Then while Michael and Kevin Kriebs talked about the painting work, Shelly Vanderschaegen got things ready for Kevin to paint the first coat of tan in the vestibule.  Mike Baksic modifying a light fixture for the 2nd Exhibit Car Kevin first painted the vestibule closet door and then started on the walls and ceiling in the vestibule.  Kevin Kriebs applying tan paint to vestibule door  Kevin began applying the 1st coat of tan paint to the vestibule  Kevin applied tan to the seams and hard to reach spots first Jim Windmeier stopped by to speak with Michael about working with Jon Habegger in the Exhibit Cars. Jon and Shelly then visited with Jim in Barn 4 to discuss displays in the exhibit cars.  Mike Baksic speaking with Jim Windmeier in the 1st Exhibit Car Then Shelly worked on a shadowbox display for the Birmingham while Michael did paperwork. Later Mark Gellman and Michael put a lock on a door in the 2nd Exhibit Car.  Mark Gellman and Michael Baksic installed a lock on a door in the 2nd Exhibit Car Lunch in the Birmingham included Nick Kallas and his friend Marcus Reuf, Mark Gellman, Jon Habegger, Michael McCraren, Kevin Kriebs, Shelly Vanderschaegen and Michael Baksic. Michael McCraren brought homemade rosemary garlic flatbread and biscuits to share at lunch. Conversation at lunch included the Rock Island commuter cars currently located in Texas which will be coming to IRM for spare parts and use on the Terror Train. Nick and Marcus finshed wheel chocks that will be used in Galveston, TX on the Rock cars there.  Nick Kallas admiring new wheel chocks  Easily amused by wood scrap, a crowd gathers around Nick  Nick Kallas and Marcus Ruef admire freshly painted chocks Jon and Shelly had assistance from Tim Peters to cut the plexiglass for the barrier around the Union Station sign in the 1st Exhibit Car. Then Jon and Mark finished putting the barrier together. All that remains is to sand the wood and stain it, then final assembly.  Jon Habegger and Mark Gellman appear to be dancing with plexiglass for the barrier  Mike and Jon hold the plexiglass while Mark secures the frame  The Union Station Arrival and Departure Board near the end of the day Michael McCraren continued his work in the Pacific Peak. Kevin had applied the first coat of tan paint in the vestibule between the exhibit cars by the afternoon having switched from brush work to a roller.  By this time Kevin had nearly finished the 1st coat of tan in the vestibule Jon Habegger captured an image of the exterior of the Exhibit Cars on this cold day.  Outside the Exhibit Cars Sunday, March 2. 2014Steam Department Update 03-01-2014
Oh well, we are into March. You would not have guessed it at Union yesterday as we gingerly picked our way across thickly ice encrusted roads to get between the shop and the amenity block. The day was then somewhat shortened by the development of a steady snow storm as darkness fell. However, there was a reasonable turn out and steady progress continued.
On 1630 it was very much “more of the same”, which is exactly what we need at this point.
Painting continued on the frames and running gear. Christian joined the team for the first time and, by afternoon, was fitted in between the frames and top coating the cylinder casting and adjacent areas. There is a lot of variety in the steam shop. As a new volunteer, you cannot be sure if you will be handling a paint brush or a 20 pound hammer!.
Meanwhile Jerry worked between the frames ahead of the firebox. So most of the lower areas of the locomotive have now received top coat and attention moved to the tender. Jim and Jerry painted most of the tender frames during the day. (The positioning of the bucket is unfortunate. Honest, we are not painting it with driveway sealer!!).
There are a few more weeks of work on the lower areas of locomotive and tender that will not be obvious unless you are standing next to the locomotive. A number of pipes and the under sides of the walkways need to be cleaned, primed and painted. In addition there is a major review and touch up exercise. Whenever you shine lights and look from different angles you spot areas that are not fully covered. So there will be a significant exercise of inspection, with a brush in hand, to touch up these spots and finish the job.
Dennis had welded some areas of the cab last week and identified further areas on the fireman’s side that needed grinding out and clamping so that he could weld. I cleaned these up so they are now ready for welding.
This weekend Dennis was cutting the new mesh sections for the smokebox spark arrestor.
Jason located another steam heat gauge, very similar to the existing one. He was able to exchange the face of this one with the damaged face of the existing gauge so we now have a good looking gauge to fit.
Rick removed the sander discharge pipes as these would be in the way of spraying the cladding sheets of the boiler. He then wire brushed these ready for painting.
On 428:
Ed worked on the sander manifolds. He showed me an interesting feature. The inspection plugs of the sand channels are filled with lead. Apparently this wears better under the force of steam driven sand than does iron or steel. One of the plugs needs a new lead filling.
Dennis and Phil worked on one of the brake rods.
In other areas, a major milestone was reached last week on the planer. I understand that, after much investigation and adjustment it is now effectively operational. Critically, it was adjusted so that it now moves on the cutting stroke at an adjustable speed and then returns for the next cut at a surprising speed for such a large machine. In addition, features that were not previously understood are now seen to operate. For example, a small hydraulic cylinder actually lifts the cutting head at the end of the cutting stroke so that it is positively lifted above the work as the table returns.
All of this is second hand from the team as the machine was not operating this weekend. A number of leaks were identified in operation so a couple of seals will be replaced and some connections remade to bring it to readiness for routine.
So a week of steady progress. Now what we need is the Spring!. Nigel |
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Comments
Tue, 09-05-2017 10:17
Hi Matt We estimate the costs for installing 100 amp 240 volt stand by service would be between $2500 to $3000. Our shop is now designated area of [...]
Mon, 09-04-2017 09:34
@ Roger, how much would it cost to get this 10oamp 240 service? Because I think that would be a worth-while investment if the museum installed it.
Sun, 09-03-2017 23:01
FYI, Otto Engineering in Carpentersville wants the ex CNW bridge over the Fox River removed which is just north of their property. However I have [...]
Sun, 09-03-2017 11:29
Folks, This is a grand old Pullman built sleeping car; they are what IRM is all about!
Sat, 09-02-2017 23:32
Nigel, Just wanted to say thank you to the Steam Department for putting on a spectacular show tonight (9-2) with the 1630. In all my years [...]
Sat, 09-02-2017 11:49
Mike- I remember the build date on the GE 44t as being a day or 2 before Thanksgiving of 1943. I operated that locomotive for 11 years at TC; 6 of [...]
Tue, 08-29-2017 08:10
Hello Kirk First the interior needs a complete redo painting and floor repaired. Second we have never tested the A/C because the museum has [...]
Mon, 08-28-2017 17:59
The exterior is looking wonderful. What is the condition of the interior and does th a/c work as this is a sealed window car?
Sat, 08-26-2017 00:31
i was the best friend with nick kallas 40 years ago please if its him ask him to come in condackt thank you
Wed, 08-23-2017 11:23
Coach folks, How about having the web master change the roster entries from E & J to Dover Strait and John McLaughton, now that the cars [...]
Sun, 08-20-2017 10:00
Yes
Fri, 08-18-2017 19:01
Yes, they were.