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Sunday, March 31. 2013Steam Department Update 03-30-2013The number of people in the shop was a bit reduced at Easter weekend and it was unfortunately one of those days when a lot of hard work did not achieve as much as was hoped. On 1630: · The main focus was on loading the super heater flues. Unfortunately this proved a great deal more tricky than had been hoped. When the tubes were safe ended each was carefully measured with the objective that it was matched to a specific location with a certain amount of excess length to be ground off after fitting. When the first few were fitted it became clear that there is a significant variation from the intended lengths with some shorter and some longer. Clearly, where there is excess length it can be cut off. But if we have any that are too short to be fitted we would need to get more welding done. The key objective became to ensure that the shorter ones can all be used without the need to get a welder in again to lengthen any. So, instead of simply slotting each tube into its numbered hole, it became an exercise in loading and unloading tubes multiple times to ensure that the shortest tube that provides the required projection at each end is used in each hole. As each tube is 17 feet long and 5 1/2 inch in diameter, they are heavy beasts to fit and refit so it was a hard day's work made worse by the fact that it was unexpected. The first part is easy. The fork lift raises the tube to height and in this shot, Phil and Sean slide the tube into the hole in the tube sheet.
The next bit is more tricky. Once the tube is off the forks it becomes a giant lever pivoted in the tube sheet. Here Dave is assisting by controlling the end of the tube to ensure that is slides smoothly thru the hole and can be located in the rear sheet without dislodging the ferrule at that end.
Once it is in place there is a careful process of gauging the projection at each end to ensure we have the required 1/4 inch minimum. Given the length issue, a number were then removed and the process repeated to ensure that the shortest suitable tube was used in each hole. Anyway, by end of day we had all 8 on the engineer's side in place and the first on the fireman's side and have managed to place the shortest tubes.. · With Vince's assistance, Mike finished the tapping for the patch screw on the firebox corner. When I left sparks were flying from inside the firebox as Mike did the final grinding of surfaces inside the firebox ahead of riveting. We are waiting on the return of the air bucker from overhaul and can then set up for the riveting.
· Ed and Richard substantially completed the pipe runs along the boiler sides and started work on the cab pipe work. · During the last couple of weeks Kevin has done more needle chipping to prepare for painting both on 1630 and on the planer. Elsewhere: · Bob continued work on wiring the control system for the planer; and · Dennis finished building up the grease keep for the truck axle box on 428. So next week we target fitting of the remaining flues and then we can set up to roll them into place. Nigel Sunday, March 31. 2013Wood Shop Update - March 30, 2013I suppose ti is thoroughly off topic to begin a wood shop report this way, but yesterday IRM was going HOLLYWOOD. There had to be over 20 semis and trucks parked everywhere, tents set up, and I am sure over 100 carpenters, technicians and players on site shooting scenes for an upcoming production.  New Station Is seems there is a new station platform and canopy just north of the main line. It is early in the morning of the shooting day and paint is still being applied. "Don't lean against that post."  Actors Ready The famous actor I am referring to is our own Nebraska Zephyr train, of course. Just a bit after 9 AM and the trainset is already just west of the station waiting for the director to give instructions. From reports I heard the activity lasted all day, way past the time I had to leave, and there was additional filming inside our C&NW bilevels.  The Jig Back to reality. Here is a very clever piece of engineering! It is a custom designed fixture to take rough castings (of resistance grids for our trolleys) and face and surface the two bosses on both sides. I have done well over 100, maybe 200, the old fashioned way and trust me, I wish this was there when my task was active. And yes the design and construction lies entirely within the IRM Electric Car Department leadership.  Windows Paul Cronin and Rich Witt are doing the final adjustments to fit the mortise and tenon joints for the two new round top windows we are making for Boston & Maine 1094.  Done And then the special two part adhesive was mixed and slathered over all the joints for both windows. It takes a lot of hands to do this quickly. Paul Cronin, Victor Humphreys, and Rich Witt seem to have things under control, both windows squared up and in the press for the glue to cure.  Wired A lot was accomplished on Cleveland Transit System 4223. Eric Lorenz laid out some of the needed new wiring and is making a sort of harness arrangement. He bundles the wire runs and inserts them into cable loom. These are then strung through the car framing since we are ever closer to installing more of the car interior and the wiring must be in place before certain areas are covered up.  Paint Removal Bill Peterson spent most of the afternoon with a power wire brush cleaning steel panels for the 4223 interior. These are the curved panels which ultimately will hold the advertising cards.  Puzzling Paul and Eric are into a real headscratcher. There are many of the above mentioned panels and seemingly only one unique way to arrange them in the car. While some were positively located, it is a puzzle worthy of some thought to figure out the rest of them. And no, they were not marked or documented when removed from the car some 20 odd years ago. Of course much other work went on, including Ray Pollice cleaning up the new to us old table saw to ready it for primer; and Paul and Bill assembling and gluing up the last door panel for the new station door. Victor finished the bottom door panels for our CGW X 38 doors and the molding in in and complete. Thursday, March 28. 2013Wood Shop Update - March 27, 2013Another sure sign of spring - a few hardy souls are accomplishing some work outdoors during the warmer hours of each sunny day.  Truck Work Gerry Dettloff was helped by Paul Cronin as they worked to disassemble this arch bar truck The springs are out and replacements will be used for the broken ones. The truck and its mate will eventually find their way beneath Lake Shore Electric 810.  Out for Some Air The first car acquired by IRM 60 years ago got some exercise as it was run over to track 41 for some attention. I bet Jon Fenlaciki walked two miles he made so many trips in and out of the car, never having been more than 200 from it.  Door No. 1 Just like the quiz show - - - Victor Humphreys had the finish gray enamel out for the new doors we made for Chicago Great Western X 38.  Door No. 2 And Victor made sure door number two got its finsihed gray enamel applied.  Brian Patterson Photo We are working on a new machine base for the table saw we are restoring. Jim Foraker drew it all up in 3D on his computer and Bob Kutella and Paul Cronin are giving it the once over.  Prime Time Jonathan Soucek is priming the old motor for the above table saw project now that bearing issues have been resolved - AGAIN - and the motor has been reassembled.  Sanding and Scraping There were still a few minutes left at the end of the day and Brian Patterson, John Faulhaber and Jim Foraker worked to remove flaking and peeling old paint from the saw.  The Mortise Dave Rogan is trimming out a bottom rail tenon for the Boston & Maine 1094 windows we are making. Fussy fitting that is all in a day's work.  There There - the fit is almost perfect as Dave sights down the stile.  Brian Patterson Photo John Faulhaber is sanding out and touching up any rough spots he can find for the new station door. We have one of the panel inserts glued up and dry, the second can be seen in the background in the clamps. |
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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 [...]