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Sunday, July 29. 2012Steam Department Update 07-28-2012Another good week in which we were able to move a lot forward on 1630. Various tasks support the overall work plan. First we must finalize preparation for the inspection of the boiler shell. Not much remains to be done to enable this so the next focus is on the tasks that will enable us to make the boiler water tight again. For this, we are preparing all the flues and materials that we need to refit the tubes and also to complete the patching of the firebox. Finally, whenever possible, we work on ensuring that parts that can be fitted once the boiler is watertight and passes its first hydro test are cleaned and ready to be fitted quickly when required. · During the week Jeff and Jerry managed to complete the cleaning and hydro testing of the super heater elements. The conclusions were good. 24 passed the pressure test at 1000 psi with no issues and are back in the box car ready for refitting when the boiler is ready. 1 passed the pressure test but has some minor damage to the protective shield (a simple sheet metal construction that is wrapped around the element to protect the most exposed areas from erosion by cinders flying thru the flue) and only 2 failed. The last 2 will require the attention of the boiler welding specialist when he comes in to safe end the flues. · Phil and Collin cleaned up the front tube sheet in preparation for re-tubing.
· Eric did a great job clearing the medium from around the firebox. This is important so that everything is clear and visible for the upcoming inspection. The blasting medium is deceptive stuff!. We knew that there was some still on top of the firebox. The initial comment in the morning was "don't think there's much there". Having used an air line to blow it off the firebox crown and the stays at the sides of the firebox so that it settled into the bottom of the firebox water legs, Eric sucked it out with long pipes on the vacuum cleaner. By end of day we have a clear view along the bottom of all the water legs .......... and probably 80 lbs of medium extracted !.
· After a lot of adjustment to get the settings right the McCabe was used to bend a test sheet for the firebox patch. Past experience with the Shay has demonstrated the importance of proving exactly how the patch will be formed using an old piece of steel before we do it "for real" with an expensive piece of new boiler plate. Considerable progress was made. The McCabe was used to bend the sheet
........... and the radius formed proved to be an excellent match to the critical curve in the mud ring.
Having been cut to the template, the piece is a pretty good fit to the firebox and can be used to make minor adjustments to the template for the final patch. The next step is to form the piece to fit the slope of the front tube sheet.
· Ed and Jim identified and measured the pipe work to be replaced along the boiler and this can now be ordered. · Phil, Jeff and I started another job that looks like it will be a lot more "fun" than we had hoped!. A number of the bolts that project from the front ring of the smoke box to secure the smoke box door sheet are wasted and need to be replaced. In theory they can be driven out by hammering them back (towards the boiler). In practice the effect of 60+ years of heat and rust on bolts that were a tight push fit to begin with is "interesting". After 90 minutes of effort with a heating torch and air hammer we have one out. Only another 15 or so to go !!. · Bob Hunter has now finished the computations and supporting documentation for the form #4 submission. This is the engineering assessment of the boiler which confirms that, having regard both to original design and subsequent wear as now measured, it is suitable for the intended operating pressure. This is now ready for submission. Nigel Sunday, July 29. 2012CGW X 38 Update - July 28, 2012This day was HUGE in the work and progress made on the Russell plow. Weather was good and many willing volunteers turned out to lend a hand. This very productive day made up in part for the recent dog days of near 100 F temperatures where neither man nor beast was able to function for long outdoors. BTW the next three days are forecast to return to 90-95 F.  Move to the Rear, Please Dick Cubbage has moved on to the rear of the plow, seen here working on the rear end sill. Both he and Kirk Warner spent some extra days on the project this week and the progress really shows.  The Old Grind Tom Bernacki did many tasks throughout the day, seen here inside the box, grinding welds smooth on the rear wall.  Drill It Victor Humphreys also spent all day on the plow, seen here inside the shop drilling holes to mount a new left rear corner post. The counterbores were done earlier in the day by John Faulhaber assisted by Tom Bernacki. They provide relief for the many rivet heads inside the box. In the morning this was just a stick of wood, by the end of the day it was fitted, prime painted, and installed.  Knock Em Out Victor was inside the box here, knocking out old bolts and metal stubs that at one time held the original framing timbers, now gone. To his left you may be able to make out new framing for the right side door, fitted and installed.  Door Framing From the outside here is the door completely framed out - note the shiny fasteners around and above the opening. To help make this possible, earlier Mike Alterio helped by straightening the right grab iron which had been bent up in its earlier life. Tally for the day was five new pieces of framing completed and installed.  NeedleChipping Kirk Warner spent much of the day needlechipping and here he is working "In the Curl" of the front of the plow.  Lower the Boom The project has benefited greatly from the loan of a boom truck from Dave Diamond and the B&G Department. Thanks, Dave! Kirk Warner is in the distance on some scaffolding while Jim Leonard is in the bucket.  Mean Jim Jim is one of the nicest guys out there, but in this pic, he looks like he really means business!  Left Corner Tom Bernacki here is wire wheeling the last nubs of old paint away on the lower left corner.  Time to Prime Jim Leonard was back in the bucket to begin priming some of the cleaned areas by mid afternoon. That truck really improves mobility and safety, AND - there are no wasps living in the boom!  Meanwhile Out Back Kirk Warner had the primer and was applying it to the end sill and about one third of the back wall. Big report, big crew, big list of completed work! Thanks to one and all for supporting the project.
Sunday, July 29. 2012First Look - July 28, 2012For many years the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe was headquartered in a tall building fronting on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I can imagine John Reed gazing east over the "Avenue" and across the green expanses of Grant Park to the blue Lake Michigan waters. There was a large SANTA FE sign atop the roof proclaiming to the world that this was the hub of one of the mightiest railroads in the land. Time moves on and Santa Fe relocated those functions to a newer building in Schaumburg IL. And eventually of course, in the merger fever decades, things changed again and we know it now as the BNSF. That sign remained on that building and became a landmark of sorts to railfans, and indeed, to many Chicagoans. Finally the word came down that the sign was to be dismantled and removed. IRM put out feelers, and eventually succeeded in getting that sign donated and it arrived in Union last Friday.  Santa Fe The sign is now on the lawn in front of our ATSF 92 locomotive - a suitable and stunning backdrop. Note that the sign is of the same type and font as the SANTA FE on the side of the locomotive in the second coming of the famed warbonnet scheme. |
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Comments
Fri, 03-29-2024 21:26
We're slackers and spend more time working on the equipment in the shop than keeping all you readers updated. We'll work on it, but I'm sure updates [...]
Thu, 03-14-2024 08:02
What happened to the Department Blog? It's been over 2 years and I still regularly check for updates, but nothing comes...
Mon, 12-27-2021 16:28
Happy New Year to all the Departments at the Illinois railway Museum! Thanks for all the good work you do in railroad preservation. Ted Miles, [...]
Wed, 10-13-2021 13:33
Was the CB&Q 1309 every transported to IRM?I’ve been reading old issues of Rail&Wire and the car was mentioned several times.
Mon, 06-07-2021 22:40
I was wondering if in the model layout display what scale would you guys be using and would you be displaying model train history as well? Just [...]
Wed, 06-02-2021 17:27
Nice to see 428's cab back on. Looking forward to when it is operable!
Tue, 06-01-2021 16:47
I hope the work will continue on the UP #428. Now that they are the museum's connection to the national railroad network; she would be very [...]
Sat, 04-17-2021 23:07
What is the status of 126, the Milwaukee Buffet car that is in S. Dakota? Any guess on when or if it will get to IRM?
Wed, 04-14-2021 21:09
Perhaps it is time to scrap the remains of the c, B & Q 7128 to make room for the Villa Real. Ted miles, IRM member
Wed, 04-14-2021 15:26
Hi IRM my name is Jason and I was wonder If you guys would be willing to save a CN Dash8-40cm they are currently being retired by CN and being [...]
Fri, 04-09-2021 19:56
Bear in mind that the Nebraska Zephyr is an articulated train set, so cars cannot be inserted at will. Although cars and/or a second engine could be [...]
Wed, 03-31-2021 11:37
I believe Silver Pony is currently on the back burner, and has been put into storage in one of the barns. The car needs a lot of work done to it's [...]