Entries by Chris C

I am excited to provide an update on one of the major ongoing projects in the steam department, the restoration of Union Pacific Rotary Snowplow 900075.  This fall, project leader Jeff Calendine and steam department volunteers separated the tender from the rotary snowplow and prepared it for painting.  The tender then went to the diesel shop, where Jamie Kolanowski and other diesel department volunteers worked their magic, yielding the flawless paint job seen here.  









Although this is a major step forward on this project, Jeff informs me that funds are still needed to replace the windows and moldings removed when the plow was retired and to renew the hoses that connect the rotary snowplow to its tender.  And, of course, donations are needed to ensure that this project has indoor track space so that this amazing restoration will remain in excellent condition decades into the future.  Donations to this project can be made at https://www.irm.org/donations/rotary-snow-plow/.  

One of the great things about IRM is the way we pull together to make the magic happen.

Several weeks ago was the first weekend of the Happy Holiday Railway, a heart-warming event that our museum has hosted for many years.

Before the event, several steam department volunteers were busy decorating the museum's grounds and a number of volunteers from the Electric Car Department and Diesel Department were hard at work preparing the trainset. 

A number of steam department volunteers also descended on the depot to fill it with holiday cheer. 

We hope that we will see you at this year's Happy Holiday Railway event!

Greetings all,

Apologies for the delay in posting.  I just started a new job and haven’t had much time to write.  Fortunately, the steam department is full of people who like talking about trains and volunteering to do things.  Accordingly, I am pleased to provide you with an update on the end-of-season maintenance process that was graciously written by Conn McCarthy.  

-Chris

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The operating season may be over, but the work continues as the Steam Department prepares the locomotives for the winter storage and maintenance season.  Here is a brief look at what’s involved in putting a steam locomotive to bed for the winter.

The process starts by removing any leftover coal from the tenders.  Usually we plan the last day’s coal load to minimize the amount that must be removed.  This year due to an unplanned schedule change we ended up with a full load of coal, 9 tons, all of which had to be shoveled out by hand.  The water is then drained from both the locomotive and tender and the water lines between the two are disconnected.

The firebox gets attention next.  The arch brick is removed and stored.  The metal grates that support the burning bed of coal get clogged up with ash and cinders which must be chipped out by hand.  Using a broom, built up soot is cleaned from the sides and top of the firebox.  The tubes and flues are flushed out with water to remove accumulated soot.

Turning attention to the front of the locomotive, the smokebox door is opened, and the netting removed to allow access to the smokebox.  The inside of the smokebox, front tube sheet and superheaters are thoroughly washed out and inspected.









After everything is washed out the boiler is filled with compressed air and the locomotive is run back and forth along the steam leads several times to dry everything out.  After that all of the air and steam powered accessories are run individually on compressed air to remove any remaining moisture.  All the valves are then left open to completely dry everything out.

Next is the boiler wash.  Federal regulations require the interior of the boiler to be washed out every 31 operating days.  Washout ports sealed with threaded plugs are strategically placed to allow the interior to be cleaned out with water.  Working from top to bottom and front to back sludge and scale are flushed from the boiler.

After the inside is clean, it’s time to wash the outside.  A clean locomotive is a happy locomotive!  After the exterior is washed the frame and running gear is steam cleaned to remove accumulated grease and grime.

Now the locomotives are ready to be moved into the steam shop.  Over the winter the steam crew will be busy putting in many hours completing the annual inspection of both locomotives and making sure they are in top condition for next year’s operating season.

This year the steam crew got called upon to perform a task that isn’t part of the usual winterizing process.  A visiting family heard meowing noises coming from one of the locomotives on display in barn 9.  It was discovered that a baby kitten was trapped inside the frame of the GG-1.  A quick rescue mission was dispatched and the kitten was successfully rescued.  







-Note from Chris: the Kitten was taken home by  a steam department volunteer  and is reportedly in excellent health.  Many of you have been asking about the status of the inspection pit.  Work is progressing, track is going in, and I hope to have a much more detailed update for you in the next few weeks.  

And, as always, if you like steam locomotives but are watching from afar, I would encourage you to come volunteer with us.  As Tim and Logan show, you don’t need prior experience, just enthusiasm.  We also have a number of projects, such as research and exhibit design, that can be performed remotely.  Thanks for reading!

First, a short story:









We only have two more concrete pours to go before the pit is completed!

In other news, work has finished on the auxiliary tender, which successfully completed test runs Sunday and will be entering service this weekend following some work on the brake system.  

Congratulations are also in order.  In the past months, our department qualified two new engineers on 1630, a new fireman on 1630, and two new firemen on the shay, and one of our volunteers qualified as a conductor.  Almost all of those involved are 30 or under, a testament to our commitment to training the next generation of steam railroaders.  



Speaking of the next generation, we have welcomed several new volunteers this summer, and we are looking forward to teaching them about the joys of steam railroading come boiler-wash season. 

Watch this space for updates on the coming concrete pours.  And remember, we are always looking for more volunteers to help in the shop, car host, or assist the museum with administrative tasks.  No prior experience is necessary!

Sorry for the extended radio silence: things have been busy in the real world and in the steam shop.

As I’d imagine everyone knows by now, for the first time in many years IRM has two operable steam  engines!  Shay 5 entered service over Memorial Day weekend.  





But there is more good news.  It is not enough to preserve the machines; we also have  to preserve and teach the skills needed to run them.  To that end, I am excited to report that already this year we have qualified two new steam locomotive firemen and one new steam locomotive engineer.  Congratulations to Ken, Don, and Eric.  







But today, I am not here to talk to you about locomotives, I am here to talk to you about holes.  Pits, to be specific.  The IRM steam department has long been hampered by the lack of  an inspection pit, which makes a lot of work underneath  the locomotive very inconvenient to perform (especially for those of us who are not as skinny as we once were).

Last year plans for an inspection pit were drawn up, and work began this summer almost as soon as the Shay and 1630 were out of the shop.  















Stay tuned!