Steam Department

First, a short story:









We only have two more concrete pours to go before the pit is completed!

In other news, work has finished on the auxiliary tender, which successfully completed test runs Sunday and will be entering service this weekend following some work on the brake system.  

Congratulations are also in order.  In the past months, our department qualified two new engineers on 1630, a new fireman on 1630, and two new firemen on the shay, and one of our volunteers qualified as a conductor.  Almost all of those involved are 30 or under, a testament to our commitment to training the next generation of steam railroaders.  



Speaking of the next generation, we have welcomed several new volunteers this summer, and we are looking forward to teaching them about the joys of steam railroading come boiler-wash season. 

Watch this space for updates on the coming concrete pours.  And remember, we are always looking for more volunteers to help in the shop, car host, or assist the museum with administrative tasks.  No prior experience is necessary!

Sorry for the extended radio silence: things have been busy in the real world and in the steam shop.

As I’d imagine everyone knows by now, for the first time in many years IRM has two operable steam  engines!  Shay 5 entered service over Memorial Day weekend.  





But there is more good news.  It is not enough to preserve the machines; we also have  to preserve and teach the skills needed to run them.  To that end, I am excited to report that already this year we have qualified two new steam locomotive firemen and one new steam locomotive engineer.  Congratulations to Ken, Don, and Eric.  







But today, I am not here to talk to you about locomotives, I am here to talk to you about holes.  Pits, to be specific.  The IRM steam department has long been hampered by the lack of  an inspection pit, which makes a lot of work underneath  the locomotive very inconvenient to perform (especially for those of us who are not as skinny as we once were).

Last year plans for an inspection pit were drawn up, and work began this summer almost as soon as the Shay and 1630 were out of the shop.  















Stay tuned!

The absence of posts is a clear sign of progress, or so I will keep telling myself.

It has been a busy month in the shop.  Work has primarily focused on the beginning of the end of 1630’s annual inspection.  













Our concerted efforts over the past month paid off, and I am excited to report that last weekend 1630 passed its federal hydrotest, which is the first of three major steps towards entering service each year (those being the hydrotest, an internal inspection, and a steam test).  

It is not enough to have a working locomotive, however.  You need to have people who know how to run it.  A few weekends back, the steam department held a training class on locomotive firing  and train handling  for all of our operating crew members.  Steam Department  Assistant Curator Jason Maxwell and experienced steam locomotive operator Ken  Ristow lectured on locomotive firing, while Ray Weart and Phil Hehn  addressed air brake and train handling.   







Although many of our efforts recently have focused on 1630, work on other projects has also continued.









Other exciting projects have also been in the works, so stay tuned for an update about everyone’s favorite Union Pacific consolidation.