Illinois Railway Museum Blog

Thanks to Phil and Cameron we now have some good photographs of the test running on Sunday.  Good to see the weather was a LOT better than the evening of the steam test.

Based upon input from Brian Davies, it sounds like a pretty successful week in the steam shop with the major objectives on 1630 for the year now achieved.  This is both good and bad from my perspective.  I might have hoped for a few problems to fix and test next weekend when I will be back!!.

It had been the target to do a little running before the winter to ensure that we were able to identify potential issues to be addressed over winter.  That was achieved over the weekend.

After the steam test on Wednesday, Brian and others spent the next couple of days adding items such as the petticoat, that were the minimum needed for significant running.

There was some disappointment on Saturday when the planned running had to be abandoned when a leak was detected in a steam union in the cab.  The rest of the day was spent replacing the unions and, to ensure no further issues, the whole pipe involved.  This may have been “over kill” as close inspection of the pipe suggested that it was sound and the leak affected only the threads at the end.  However, with a steam engine you cannot be too careful and the objective is to locate and fully correct any issues before next season.

With the leak fixed, the locomotive was successfully steamed again on Sunday.  Much of the most important testing was around the rear driving axle.  It was the work on the axle boxes here that caused her to be stopped in 2005 and she has not run since this was done.  The results were good.  There had been some concerns about the reduced flexibility when running around the “Y” but, while she is noticeably tighter than in the past, this was not a serious problem.

Pause to check around

Tom and Cameron inspect the bearings

A number of runs were made up and down the main line.  This allowed accessories and controls that have not been in routine use for nearly ten years to be exercised normally.  The results were good and it also enabled a lot of the team, who have put in so much work, to experience a ride on the result of their efforts. 

Moving on the main line at last

Forging ahead

The new rear axle bearings run warmer than the existing ones but not excessively so.  It looks as if these are good and should settle in as more grease works into them with additional running.  There are probably a few minor items for the over winter work list but it does not seem that anything major was detected.  So, I rather suspect that this will be the last run for 2013 as it is coming time when it would be safer to have the locomotive and water system winterized.

Basking in the Fall sunshine

The view that we have all been working toward

The testing was done with some work not completed.  Various missing lagging and bare metal is apparent in the photograph but it is a great relief to see her operational on the main line and looking good in the Fall sunshine.  Only the essentials for test running were completed in the last few days so, for example, the brick arch and smokebox sheet work and spark arrestor mesh are not yet in place.  This is no problem for a few test runs but required before the season.  Then of course there is the big job for the winter – the application of a whole lot of paint!!.  It looks like a busy winter but the clear expectation that she will be fully ready for the 2014 season.

So I am looking forward to getting back to Union and seeing what she looks like after a spectacular month of effort – great work guys!.

Nigel