IRM Steam Team

Weekend Update for June 14, 2008

Work done to the Frisco 1630:

The Decapods tender was the focus for JD and Greg. They were busy replacing and welding areas where leaks have occurred. They are getting it closer to being finished. We hope to test fill the tender soon. If there are no more leaks, we can then proceed with the bondo, priming, and painting of the patches.

Work will soon be done to the newly cast ash pan door. Rick, Collin, and Terry moved the turntable attachment onto Bruce’s lathe so that he can drill the door for the hinge pins.

Work done to the UP 428:

Hydro time…again! Bill, Stu, Terry, Vince, Collin, Greg, and Rick hooked up the piping from the bottle car, to the pool heater, and then to the 428. Water was pumped into 428 from the bottle car. Circulating water, through the pool heater, allows us to heat it to the desired temperature for the hydro. This way no fire is needed to be built in the firebox. This allows us to inspect the staybolts from within the firebox, as well as from the outside. It also gives us the added benefit of doing the hydro inside the shop, rain or shine.

The “squeeze” was put on the boiler. The good news is no staybolts leaked! A few items (pipes, steam dome gasket, sight glass) had minor leaks. But, all in all, things looked good. It was the best hydro 428 has had to date! We’re getting closer to an actual steam test…

Work done to the Shay:

The McCabe Flanger was the primary focus. Rick, Nigel, Stu, Vince, and Collin worked on it in the morning. They removed the base die that was deteriorated. It was replaced with a better one that was found in the Flanger parts container. The crew also found a scrap piece of 5/8″ plate, in the scrap yard, to use as a test sheet. Testing will continue until everyone is comfortable and confident at using the Flanger. We’re new at this folks. We don’t want to chance buying the new boiler sheet and make a mistake. 5/8″ boiler plate is not cheap!

Rick and Collin moved the Flangers steel pallet, from behind the Shay, to the outside of the shop. This is so that the Buildings and Grounds Department can finally lay the asphalt down inside and outside the main shop door.

Things seen and done, in general, around the shop:

Ed, Dan, and Matt cleaned the front of Santa Fe 2903, in Barn 9, from all the dirt and grime that blows in from the outside. JD and Greg cleaned out the Milwaukee Road baggage car and brought in that old Marx train layout, so that it may be sold for additional funding. Rick and “Disco” Stu crated and banded the Bay City Crane road motor. The engine will be delivered to Rockford, next Saturday, to be line bored and re-built to operate.