Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Another report from Jim Opolony on activity in the Steam Department - -

Work started with members of the steam shop moving scaffolding in the All Door Car so that the super-heater tubes from 1630 could be stored in the car. After a number of wasp nest were eliminated, the tubes were loaded onto the shop truck and then put into the car. In addition, other items removed from the locomotive were put into the car.

Steam Team members erected a scaffold in front of the locomotive to make tube removal easier. To secure it to the engine, braces were made and placed around the legs of the scaffolding. Next, the braces were clamped to the locomotive. The pneumatic tube cutter was attached to the front of the smokebox of the 1630. After it was set up, a test was done to make sure it would cut the flues and the two inch tubes.  The test went well.  Much of what was done was largely preparatory for next weekend.  About a dozen two inch tubes were cut and one flue. The flue was cut so that it will be easier to remove tubes from the boiler.

Front Tube Sheet

Next week's priorities are to collapse the cut end of the flues so the flue itself can be removed from the boiler. With the cutting torch, we will cut the firebox end of the tubes so they may be removed.  After this is done, large scale tube removal will begin. 

Work also took place on the firebox.  As is known, the corner of the box must be cut out and patched. To do this eleven rivets and two staybolts must be removed.  Two rivets are out, but as with everything steam, things get harder. The pin, that goes inside the rivet gun, was not long enough to be used to continue to pound out the rivets as they came further out of the sheet. David, our machinist, made a new one to make the job go easier and faster. What must be remembered is that the rivets have been in place over fifty years. After coming out about one and one third inches, the rivet did not want to move. Work came to a stop about 8:30 at night.

In addition, David, with the help of his son and "Milwaukee Bob", also did other machining.  They worked on one of the boxes for the UP 428 and began to cut a new locomotive part.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Finally, the tender was broken free from the Shay. To do this, the back of the tender was jacked up to level it off. Years ago, when the engine was being removed from a flat car, the tender "drooped", bending the drawbar that attaches it to the engine. The pin was stuck and would not come out.  Ed crawled under the tender and removed two cotter pins.  At the same time, a jack was used to lift the pin.  The pin was removed and the tender came free.

The plan is to lift the front of the Shay and remove the front truck so new springs can be put under the engine.  The same will be done to its back wheel set.  The universal joint, at the front of the engine, will be dismantled to allow the front truck to be removed.

Work was also done on the Brownhoist crane since it experienced an operating problem last weekend.  In addition, firebrick was brought into the shop, from the Hiawatha car, so that it can be used to make patterns for new firebrick.