Entries by Chris C

Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Friday, March 15. 2019

Mid-winter update (Part II) Posted by Chris C in Steam Department at 17:08

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Work has continued to progress on 1630’s annual inspection. Over the past few weeks, a number of tasks necessary to having a water-tight boiler have occurred, including the installation of washout plugs.

Blake and Blake carefully cleaned the washout plugs to ensure a tight seal.

This is the tapered washout plug and corresponding hole for the front engineer’s side corner of the mudring.

Blake installing one of the few plugs that can be reached without climbing on or under the locomotive.

Last year several plugs were unusually hard to remove, which indicates that they are getting worn. After careful measurement, Eric machined replacements.

We also reinstalled the arch tube caps. The arch tube caps must be removed every year so that the interior of the arch tubes can be cleaned.

Jason and Ray reinstalling one of the arch tube caps in the cab.

A few weeks ago, I showed a picture of Don repairing a defective patch on the front of the auxiliary tender. That patch had been installed to seal two holes in the tender tank. Last week, Don and Sam cut out the bad section of tank from the interior and patched it to prevent further deterioration.

The holes were positioned underneath the coal bunker, meaning that Don and Sam had to lie down to reach the holes.

During preparations to recoat the interior of 1630’s tender a minor hole was also discovered. Further investigation revealed a small section of bad metal which Don and Sam cut out and repaired.

A slightly easier spot to weld.

We are fortunate to have such skilled volunteers willing to dedicate their time to keeping our trains rolling.

In the past few weeks, work has also continued on 428’s spring and brake rigging.

The slot on the right shows how worn these components were when this locomotive was removed from service.

After they were filled in with weld, Ben remachined the slots to the specifications that Baldwin intended.

Finally, for the past two weekends the track department has been conducting its annual track inspections. Several steam department volunteers joined them to assist in this important task and to gain familiarity with our railroad.

They sure picked a warm day to do it.

Minor repairs were performed as they went.

The track crew on March 2nd.

Tuesday, February 19. 2019

Steam Department Mid-Winter Update Posted by Chris C in Steam Department at 13:30

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Steam Department Mid-Winter Update

Steam Department Mid-Winter Update

Despite the Polar Vortex, work in the steam shop has continued unabated.

Our shop crews have been hard at work on 1630’s annual inspection.

Conn testing telltale holes in the firebox.

Volunteers inspecting the valves on the cross-compound air compressor.

Phil inspecting and cleaning the sight-glass and water column passages.

Conn again, using an ultrasonic tester to chart the main reservoir’s thickness.

And Carina, painting it black again afterwards.

These volunteers worked their way down the frame of the locomotive, cleaning old grease off the rigging.

Work on our auxiliary tender, which we are hoping to place in service this spring, has also continued.

Several patches on the front of the tender were laminating. Don cut out the bad metal and welded in new patches.

Holes were drilled to mount new steps.

And a new platform was installed to provide access to the brake wheel.

Don needle-scaled around the rivet heads.

While Carina and the Blakes gave the front of the tender a final round of sanding.

Surface preparation on the tender is almost complete, and we are hoping to be able to begin painting in the coming weeks.

Our machinists and welders, meanwhile, have stayed busy working on projects to support Union Pacific 428’s eventual return to steam.

I spent the last month machining new T-bolts for our wheel lathe on the 1940s vintage Boye and Emmes lathe.

While Ben has continued to bore holes in the brake rigging on the Kearney and Trecker milling machine.

Meanwhile, worn components were built up with weld so that they can be remachined.

Although I do not have any pictures to prove it, work has also continued on the Shay. Following the successful steam test this fall, we are continuing to make minor improvements and we look forward to public operations this summer (dates will be announced on the IRM website once finalized).

As a reminder, you can also follow the steam shop on facebook at facebook.com/irmsteam.

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Comments

Roger Kramer about New Acquisation: What is CN 15444?
Sun, 03-17-2019 16:42
Hello John There is not much news about the 15444. Nobody really wants to travel down to Georgia and ready the car for transport. That's [...]

John Carpenter about New Acquisation: What is CN 15444?
Sat, 03-16-2019 17:29
CAN you tell me of cn 15444 steam car at muesum. Tank you looking forward to coming out this year

Ethan Armitage about Santa Fe 92, The History and The Plan
Thu, 03-14-2019 19:30
Good Job on the Santa Fe 92.

Ethan Armitage about Mid-winter update (Part II)
Wed, 03-13-2019 17:17
Good Job on the 2019 Part 2 steam update.

roger kramer about Milw Road Dynometer X5000
Tue, 03-12-2019 20:18
Hi That is an older stove that was with the X5000 Its fuel is propane Chili was good but the interior was Really cold

Raphael Chapman about Milw Road Dynometer X5000
Mon, 03-11-2019 21:06
Wait... what kind of stove is that on the Dynamometer car? and it's functional?

Ethan Armitage about Milw Road Dynometer X5000
Mon, 03-11-2019 19:18
Good Job on the March 2019 Coach Update.

Raphael about Steam Department Mid-Winter Update
Tue, 02-19-2019 14:02
If I remember correctly, the tender that’s being worked on was off a Steam Pile Driver?

Matt Maloy about General Upgrade of Barn 3
Wed, 01-30-2019 12:42
I see M&E 18 finally made it home! Congratulations to you guys in the diesel department, and to the museum in general. If I'm able to, I'll try to [...]

Ted about General Upgrade of Barn 3
Fri, 01-18-2019 17:04
Car Barns are the best means of Long Term preservation of rail cars. I just got my new membership card for 2019. Have you sent in your contribution [...]

Matt Maloy about T & N O 2-10-2 #975
Sun, 01-13-2019 08:08
There are several issues with restoring both 2707 and 975 to operating condition. Money is a big issue, seeing as we have no idea what condition they [...]

Raphael about T & N O 2-10-2 #975
Sat, 01-12-2019 01:08
Nice Thought, but those two engines are unlikely to operate on the museum line if operate at all, Because of Size, Condition, and Necessary Budget for [...]