Track Department

Saturday Report ---

The day's primary project was the joint effort with the Signal Dept to get the very large Corwith Tower lever machine into our Spaulding Tower.  This proved to be no easy task.  The entire lever machine is roughly 20 ft in length and weighs nearly 9000lbs...  The signal dept can report further on its future but our part was the heavy lifting with the Model 50 Burro crane to get it into the lower level- through the doorway.  Tom Hunter ran the crane and after a few test lifts near Barn 9, we lifted the machine near the station and ran it into the Tower very slowly and carefully.  We were successful in getting it in the building around 2PM and hit lunch. Lets hope that machine never has to leave the tower again!

After lunch, the crew of Tom Hunter, Tyler Hunter, Frank Devries, Jeron Glander and myself, Adam Robillard split into a few groups.  Jeron and Tyler ran to Napa and picked up new fuel filters for the Burro crane and along with Tom Hunter replaced the filters in the crane and fueled up the machines in yard 11.  Jeron did some wonderful electrical work on the Amtrak regulator and also broomed a yard track in Yard 10 to test the functions. All which appear to be working well.  Nice job Jeron!  Meanwhile Frank and myself were at Track 24 pulling the bad vibrator motor out of the Switch Tamper and prepping the install of the new one Tom had stored in his garage.  We managed to get the new motor in and wired up but it hasn't been tested yet. That's for another day.

The next project was to relocate the brush trimmer that has been stored in one of the electric carbarns.  It cannot be left in the open near the public beginning next weekend so we needed to switch it back into Track 24.  Tom and the gang took the EJ&E 585 motorcar to retrieve it only to have the entire machine derail on the Yard 6 lead.... Call in the Model 50!  While Frank, Tom & Tyler took time to rerail the cutter, Jeron and I headed onto the carline to weld traction bonds.  The portion of track we surfaced over the last few weeks revealed three joints with broken or non existing bonds.  Some quick work with our stick welder resolved that problem and the two of us went back to Tk24 to clear all the machines out of the Barn. When the cutter was rerailed, now well after dark, we shimmied it into the back of Tk24 and switched everything back in the Barn.  We called it a night around 9PM.  Wow, what a day.

More of Frank's photos can be found on his page here: http://www.irm.org/gallery/icemancne

Sunday Report---

Four Mile Siding

Today was a quiet day so I spent it finishing the mainline inspections and greasing switches.  I took the EJ&E 585 motorcar out to Seeman Rd and walked one rail all the way to the end of the railroad and walked the other rail back.  Not much to report other than a broken bolt and a few joint/ tie defects we'll have to either spend a day repairing or add ties in this section for Volkmann.  I oiled and tested all of the mainline switches from Four Mile Siding to Schmidt Siding and tested the power switches.  Carline Jct wouldn't respond on power mode so it's back in hand operation until the Signal Dept can troubleshoot that.  I changed a handful of signal lamps on the line while I was out there.  There are still dark signals along the carline, and one at East Switch though everything appears to be working properly.  That's all folks.

Adam Robillard
IRM Track Dept
lzeje657@msn.com

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.