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Thursday, September 13. 2012CTS 4223 Update - September 12, 2012Work continues along on this project, even if I had not been able to catch some quick images on the shop work.  Pressing Work On the Drill Press, that is. Lorne Tweed is involved with a boring job, boring many holes in the new trolley board timbers. Then Lorne sent me two images (seen below) to include here. Keep them coming, Lorne!  More Parts Simon Harrison was applying the finish paint to still more parts that have been prepped or fabricated for the trolley board assembly.  Here It Is Here is the first view of the fairly complex trolley board assembly as each part is tested for fit. A good sized chunk of this will be lifted to the roof in one piece to avoid as much as possible, the same work up on the roof. Yes, this is seemingly a small part of the overall project, but many parts and pieces are needed, each to be fit in a particular place. Tuesday, August 7. 2012Michigan Electric 28 Update - August 5, 2012More Side Window Replacement and Roof Slat Installation On Sunday, Norm Krentel and Ray Schmid were successful in installing five restored windows into the right rear window openings. Two storm window sashes and two lower sashes were installed along with one interior upper sash. All the wood stops and trim pieces were also screwed in place to hold the windows. The pictures below show the finished upper sash. Side note: Only the interior upper sash contains pressed prism glass that is frosted. The exterior pressed prism glass is clear. The pattern on both windows is identical. The light coming through the newly cleaned prism glass is making these windows appear much more attractive now that the raised arch pattern can be seen.  Installed Interior Upper Sash  Prism Glass Patterm Jeff Brady is shown below nailing the second and final layer of slats over the first. Each basswood slat needs to be hand tapered and fitted so that it will lay flat on the rear curved roof. He is finished with the second layer where the slats will bend without breaking. The side slats on the left and right have such a severe bend that they will break in two or split if they are bent dry. These will require Jeff to treat them with steam until they become more pliable. Once bent and nailed, the steam treated slats will retain their shape after drying. With the 90 to 100 degree weather we are having this summer Jeff is waiting for the weather to cool before using steam in the car barn. I think this is a wise decision!  Jeff nailing roof slats  Shaving and fitting the slats Thursday, August 2. 2012Michigan Electric 28 Update - August 2, 2012Roof Slat Installation and Side Window Replacement Continues! Jeff Brady is shown below belt sanding the first layer of rear roof mounted wood slats. In the blazing heat this summer, he is nailing the second and final layer over the first. The front and rear will both have two layers of slats that create the contour of the roof. The center carlines of the roof were covered with formed Masonite hard board that has now been painted with a flat black primer. Holes were recently cut by Walt Staffa (not pictured) for the roof vents that will be added following the installation of the canvas roof covering. Shown below is Doug Johnson removing the vent louvers inside the car before Walt cut the holes in the Masonite roof. Norm Krentel continues to disassemble the window sash openings to repair or replace the numerous pieces of wood stops or guides, and metal post caps while the sashes are out for restoration. Upon their return, the sashes are fitted with latches or lifts that will allow the passengers to operate the windows. Several window openings have been completed with the restored windows.
Ray Schmid is shown below installing the latches and lifts to the restored lower sashes. Also shown is Ray’s process for cleaning each pane of ornate upper sash glass before he sets them into the restored frames. There are interior and exterior upper sashes that span a set of two lower sashes. Ray has installed several cleaned panes into the waiting frames. Several of the pressed glass upper sashes have been installed on the car this summer. The press glass exterior upper sashes were painted white while the car was used as a cabin in Michigan and did not allow light to pass into the interior of the car. After paint removal and cleaning, the newly installed sashes make a huge difference in the appearance of the car. The before and after result is amazing! See for yourself in the above pictures in front of Norm.
    
Thursday, August 2. 2012TMS Project Update - August 1, 2012Let's talk about brakes and stopping of a streetcar. Many grasp the concept that the motorman's brake valve sends air pressure to a cylinder. That extends a piston and rod and somehow though bell cranks and more levers and rods, move the brake shoes to grip the wheel treads and stop the car. As they say the devil is in the details. A streetcar goes around some pretty sharp curves, and if a conventional system of levers was used, the act of that truck rotating and pivoting would serve to apply the brakes unintentionally. In fact that is what happened on many early designs. The designers came up with many ways to overcome this. Basically some way to direct the force toward the center pivot of the truck, thereby isolating any unwanted forces, regardless of the orientation of the truck and the curvature of the track ti was negotiating. Which brings us to our project car, TM 972. They used a heavy circular plate, an arc or portion of a circle, hung above the rear frame member of the truck. The brake rod from the cylinder came close to that and then was connected to a harp or something with rollers or sliders that could move left or right along that arc. Thus, if correctly designed and installed, the braking for the truck would be relatively independent of its rotation. The second part of the equation is how to release the brakes. As air is released from the brake cylinder, there is nothing to make the piston return to its position of rest. So again, perhaps more levers and springs to pull the brake shoes off of the wheel treads. On our project car that system of parts was worn badly, almost to the point of failure. Clearly the company in Milwaukee was not investing in anything but absolutely minimum needed maintenance and repairs. Now that the new wheels are on, and the truck almost 100% rebuilt, the assembly work continues. In the case of the above mentioned description we find that many parts need replacement.  Spring Anchor So here is the assembly for the return spring. Four nicely machined NEW parts that fit perfectly! I am constantly amazed at the depth of knowledge and skills of our volunteers. You cannot go buy any such parts, or find an instruction manual on the internet. Yet they have the mechanical common sense to understand the design, to determine if replacement is needed, to machine new parts and thus help insure long term preservation. WOW! Thursday, July 19. 2012TMS Project Update - July18, 2012This is just a quick photo showing that progress continues, and the first traction truck is BACK TOGETHER. Next up, motors and journal bearings  Going Together Gerry Dettloff is lowering the completed truck frame on the east end. There seem to many balls that need to be keep in the air this season, and somehow milestones continue to occur in many of the major projects. By end of day the truck was completely assembled. And just in case you wondered how we get so much done on a weekend Saturday or Sunday, there are folks volunteering and working nearly every day of the week on one project or another. Friday, July 13. 20122012 Trolley PageantAs has been the custom, IRM presents an Independence Day Celebration every year. Following is a sampling of photos from Don Burkett, who does some really fine work. I do not think these need much captioning, and are in no particular order, except for the Sand Springs 68 which I was operating. A total of 30 cars were in the parade.  Don Burkett Photo  Don Burkett Photo +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Don Burkett Photo  Don Burkett Photo ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Don Burkett Photo  Don Burkett Photo ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Don Burkett Photo  Don Burkett Photo +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Don Burkett Photo  Don Burkett Photo +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This only represents a sample of some of the operating equipment, and you need to appreciate the amount of hard work by the Electric Car Department, led by Rod Turner, to plan, stage, and present this event. Three of the cars pictured had never operated at IRM until less than two weeks previous to the event, can you spot them? Be sure to click on the thumbnail images to see the full views.
Friday, July 6. 2012TMS Project Update - July 6, 2012A lot has happened on this project in just the last two short months. A few of these pics have appeared in the BLOG previously, but some of you may have missed them, so I will review the milestones now.  New Wheelsets The wheelsets returned with new tires mounted upon them in the first week of May. They are beautiful.  Second Truck The second truck was steam cleaned and restored and repainted in our shop space as shown here. Those who have been following this project know that a substantial amount of time and money were expended in what amounted to a total disassembly and rebuild of the thoroughly worn out first truck for the TM 972.  Assembly Area All of the restored parts for the first truck were moved to the east end of Barn 4 where the assembly is being done.  Spring Forward The first assembly steps included installation of these new leaf spring assemblies.  Bolster This past week saw the other set of leaf springs installed and the truck bolster inserted into the frame, along with all the bars, nuts, bolts and other parts in this area. Everything from the spring plank to the side bearings are ready for the next step. But now for the real excitement. DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!! I bet there might be an ad card in the car from Wrigley's but we received pledges for new MATCHING DONATION money this week amounting to several thousand dollars. There is no doubt this money is needed, as there are always new discoveries and items needing repair on any restoration project. SO PLEASE, consider a donation to fund RTMS and each dollar you send will become two for moving the work closer to completion! |
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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. [...]