Entries by Adam Robillard

Saturday Report from Adam Robillard and Sunday Report from Frank Devries:

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Today was just one of those days things just seemed to go right.  It's about time I'd say.

The day started early with Frank and myself and the first order of business was to make a run to Farm & Fleet for some hydraulic oil and parts.  While we were away, JD Marzec and Greg Frech both showed up willing to work!  They did some invaluable work 'derusting' and lubing track bolts in the shop and did a fine job.  Upon our return we hit the machine maint. work.  Frank filled the hydraulic on the switch tamper and began testing the new pump he had installed previously.  Unfortunately it turns out the pump is pumping the wrong direction... a bit more trouble shooting and adjusting will be needed to hopefully get the machine back to 100% soon.  JD, Greg and I topped off the hydraulic on the 6000 tamper and about that time Tom Hunter joined the gang.  We did some QC bolt work on the 6000 and cleaned up the tool boxes and prepared to tamp.. The original plan was to do a walking inspection of the main line but the hit or miss weather was enough to keep us close to home.

During lunch we formulated a plan for the rest of the day.  Frank, JD and Greg set to do an oil/ filter change on the Amtrak Ballast regulator which desperately needed it. The air filter is the color of dirt and as Frank put it "hasn't seen daylight since the Carter Administration..."  Tom and I ran to Napa for oil and filters and Frank, JD and Greg prepped the machines in Yard 11.  While that gang was doing the oil, Tom and I switched out the 6000 tamper and began tamping the Streetcar line between Electric Park and the S-Curves.  The initial goal was to test the machine from its winter work and break it back in.  Amazingly everything seemed to work well and only a few minor adjustments will have to be made.  We spent the next four hours tamping the carline and after the Regulator was finished Frank, JD and Greg ran it around to our work area and began regulating the freshly tamped track.  Jeron Glander joined the gang later in the day and did a great job running the regulator after JD and Greg needed to leave.  The four of us worked well into the evening hours surfacing the track with our recreation of an Amtrak surfacing gang.  The ballast regulator made it through the day but the backlog of work continues to pile up.  A few things fell off the machine unexpectedly but nothing to stop the machine from working.  By the end of the evening we had the track fully tamped and a majority of the regulating complete.  Some more work will have to happen in the daylight but otherwise it is mostly complete.  Its amazing how much work can be done with a few good machines and a great crew.  Next up we'll begin tamping the mainline... There is plenty of surfacing work there to keep us busy for a while.  Thanks to all who helped today.  We accomplished an incredible amount of work, far more than any of us expected. Thanks, Adam Robillard

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More of the same......

Today started late, with the time change and all. I arrived at about 10AM and was joined by Jeron around 11.

The first task was to determine the electrical short on the regulator. When the lights were knocked off during the barn 11 project, the one light was hanging by the wire. Seems during our work on Saturday, it came in contact with the muffler, burned through the insulation and shorted. Jeron had noticed the high amp readings Saturday night. A quick clip of the wire resolved the short. The light bulb was broken in that light anyway. I noticed most of the lights are burned out on the machine. Next trip out I will pick up some spares from Napa.

We fired up the regulator and resumed the plowing and brooming of the carline between Electric park and the S curve. After a short period of time Jeron noticed a hydraulic leak. I sent him back to yard 11 to put the machine away. Jeron found the leak was a loose hydraulic hose, and with quite a bit of trouble, tightened up the loose connection. Apparently like all track machines it was not as easy as putting a wrench on and tightening. From what I understand it involved a hydraulic power pack unit, and a lot of contortionist like moves. Once fixed, it was back to work. Brooming and plowing continued until another leak was noticed. Seems the valve for the oil pan had worked itself loose. When the leak was noticed we shut down quick, and resolved the leak. So that machine had it's second oil change this weekend. I will hit up the hardware store to get a plug for that valve to avoid a similar issue from happening again!!! By the end of the day
the track looks really good. There is still a bit of box work to be done, but it is a huge improvement.  

While Jeron was fixing the hydraulic leak, I went for a walk. Track walking that is... I was able to inspect from East Station switch to Signal 251. During that walk, I found several loose joints, a couple of hanging joints that will get fixed when we tamp, but no breaks, no other defects that will affect opening day. I also marked several piles of OTM and scrap along the main for pick up with the 50. Brush through this stretch looks good. A touch up could be in order around Karsten's, but that's about it. I also marked ties for replacement between E. Station and Karsten's. I think the total was around 140 ties. I marked 5 ties off the bridge to ensure we have good support going into the bridge.

Photos have been posted of the Carline results in the gallery below. A few shots of things from barn 10 as well.
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album240

Frank D.

This weekend was all about track machines-

Saturday I was out along with Frank DeVries and our plan was to get our heavily used machines serviced and ready to go.  We started early with a trip to Behr Recycling in Woodstock to cash in eight old machine batteries we've been collecting over time.  Most places will give you a $5 or $7 credit toward a new battery but since we currently don't have a need for new batteries we brought ours in for cash.  We picked up $39.30 for the batteries and that money was put into the EJ&E 529 caboose fund.

When we got back we started by replacing the four large high pressure hydraulic oil filters on the 6000 tamper.  It was a messy job and my legs and arms were soaked with hydraulic oil by the time we finished but got the job done.  These don't have to be replaced very often but we've never replaced them since owning the tamper; they were certainly due for replacement.  We also heated the engine room to thaw out the throttle cable which often freezes solid.  After a trip to Napa for some parts and oil, Frank did some re-plumbing on one of the air tanks which was leaking. The next task was to get the Model 50 Burro crane over the the Pit on 41 Track and give it its annual service.  After warming up the crane, Frank ran it over from Yard 11 to the pit and started with an engine oil/ filter change.  This time Frank was the one draining the oil and ended up getting drenched.  Say goodbye to that coat!  We tackled our leaking transmission as well. While I added engine oil, Frank drained the transmission oil and made a new liquid gasket for the leaking filter plug. The car shop was kind enough to let us leave the crane overnight on the pit for the gasket to cure properly.  We oiled the drive shafts, inspected the wiring and cleaned up a bit before calling it a day.


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Sunday the gang was myself, Frank DeVries and Tom Hunter.  We began on the pit by refilling the transmission oil in the Model 50 Burro to find that the new seal appears to be working without leaking.  We attempted to start the crane without any luck.  After a few attempts we put the battery charger on it and headed to Tk24.  The big project for the day was to pull ALL of our machines from Tk24 to switch the heated portion of the diesel shop.  We started by getting the 6000 tamper, the ballast regulator and the EJ&E 585 motorcar all fired up.  Without diving into the details of the switch list, we were able to pull everything out of the barn and onto the Carline without much difficulty.  In a rare move, the old SOO line brush cutter that was in the heated portion of Barn 2 was also pulled out for the first time in years.  We will find it a new home soon but it will no longer be in the heated shop.  After the big switch and getting everything put back inside, we took the Burro Crane back to Yard 11 and brought the 6000 tamper onto the pit and gave it its annual service.  The three of us did an engine oil/ filter change, lube and once over while on the pit. Tom and Frank did some electrical work as well. We made quick work of it, got it back to Tk24, cleaned up and called it a day.  The 6000 tamper and Model 50 Burro Crane are ready to earn their keep this spring.  The first projects we intend to start will be tamping on the Carline and Mainline in April with the 6000 tamper.  We will begin track inspection this coming weekend and dive into mainline repairs during March in anticipation for service in a month.  Thanks to the Electric Car dept for use of the pit and everyone who helped out this weekend.  We got A LOT done.

Franks photos from the weekend are on his Member's Pages here:

http://www.irm.org/gallery/album238
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album239


Thanks,
Adam Robillard
IRM Track Dept.

Toms report from Saturday and my report from Sunday-

Saturday-
Yesterday Frank and I got there so that we could help with the Electric Car folks with the first moves into Barn 11 - as no one was about in the morning, we dug into the list of stuff to do in Barn 2 - starting with the starter of course. As I noted below - Frank dug out that one from the 585, we did the switch with the 580 and got the 585 running. We let it run a while to warm up and starter in on the 6000. We changed out the broken pin on the right work head, and on the good advice of Frank decided to change the left one too since I bought two new pins... good thing as that one was broken too, hanging on but less the a 1/4 inch...yikes... So it goes to show - inspect your machine as much as you can... Both are now new.

After all that was done, Adam showed for the 2nd trick. We headed to Yard 11, to wake up the 50. It took a while with the normal trans oil and warm up, we had to thaw out the transmission air lines too - but it fired up fairly well for having sat for a month...

In the end it was not needed - so that ended a good day

(Seems the EJ&E folks installed the wrong starter in the 585 - one with too small teeth on its gear - that DID grind away some on the fly wheel, but after Frank removed the 585 starter and we went into the barn to see what was on the 580 (how cool to have spare motor cars huh?) and saw it was a lot bigger motor on the 580... sooo..switcho we did -)

Tom Hunter
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Sunday-
Tom and I made up the gang and chose to clean off the CNW flatcar of 'stuff' gathered from along the RoW with the Burro crane we serviced Saturday.  Tom fired  up the Model 50 in Yard 11 and I went to retrieve wreck knuckes and such.  The CNW flat was buried in the middle of a string of cars on Station Tk 2 so we had to move a bunch of cars to get it out.  I do believe the Model 50 moved more tonnage that day than ever before!  We moved a very heavy six axle flat, eight axle flat and Rock Island coach uphill in one pull!  With a full transmission and full throttle it crept the cars upto
the main at a brisk 1-2MPH... It was amazing.  After making the switch we headed to yard 14 to unload a slew of line poles we had picked up from Schmidt Siding and then went to the diamond at South Jct to unload three old signal foundations from the old 151/ 152
signals.  Tom reported how heavy the things were to pick up.  6000lbs is not light. We finished the heavy lifts and ran the flat back to station 2 and put away all of the other cars.  We tied up the crane and called it a day.  I bought three sheets of 3/4" plywood for a little shelf project in Tk24.  I hope to start that soon. On another note it, the diesel guys plan on switching the shop on Track 24... That means we'll
have to clear out ALL of the track machines from the Barn.  Included is the old brush cutter in the heated portion of the shop.  If anyone is working on it, please let me know as it may be moved permanently out of the shop due to track space issues.

Take Care,
Adam Robillard
IRM Track Dept