Track Department

Again, today's primary function is to protect the Santa Trains. Again, Today's cast of track department characters, was again, Me, Myself, and I.  Tom Arrived around 1400 but was engaged in conversation for the duration of his visit.

Since mother nature finished with the white stuff yesterday, and the snow wasn't really drifting. So a quick sweep of the snow, and the switches were in service.

Since there wasn't much to keeping the trains running, it was off to the barn where, as always, there is a plethora of work to do. This wasn't such a bad thing as the temps were hovering in the teens for the duration of the day.  To start with, I replaced handles on a couple of spike mauls, and a sledge that all had met an untimely fate.  Next up was to continue working on our hanger queen - the switch tamper.

When last we left our heroes the switch tamper had a motor fail, as well as a power cable to another motor. There was also a hydraulic leak due to a failed crimp on one of the new hoses.  Only on track machines can you do a 100% hose replacement, and still get failed hoses!!!!! So I found the old hose,and re-installed it to take care of the leak.  Next up, was to re-wire the cable. The old cable was held into it's mount with some caulk and some press fittings. Fortunately we had replacement SOOW cable on the shelf, as well as the mounting lugs, so a repair was in order.  All was going well until I went to wire the cable back on the machine.  Apparently when the cable was taken off, one of the screws was lost.  A small search was mounted and a suitable replacement was found.  Next up was to remove the failed motor. Four bolts and a few minutes later, a small push and the motor was on the ground.

About this time, it was time for a thaw break. Off towards the silver cars I went, when I was told of the festivities in barn 4.  So some chit chat, some food and some awesome apple cider.  Of course that about did it for work for the day.  A tour of the KC PCC car by Frank S., one last throw of the switch for the winter trains, and it was time to call it a day.

All that is left on the Switch tamper is to mount a replacement motor on the machine, and we should (again) be ready to work. Another big project for this winter is to "ring out" the wiring on the 6000 tamper and verify we don't have a wiring problem on that machine.

Frank D.