IRM Steam Team

Weekend Update for September 27, 2008

Work done to the Frisco 1630:

Matt, Bob, and Jim worked on the installation of the tender water shutoff valve. This valve had been leaking when the locomotive was in service and should now be fixed.

Bob, Ed, and Jim fitted the old ash pan door onto the 1630’s ash pan. This was done to see if the holes, being drilled into the new ash pan door, are being drilled into the right location. The one hinge on the locomotive is completely broken and will need to be replaced. The hinge on the fireman’s side is still on, but it will need to be built up with weld so that it will not crack and break off.

Work done to UP 428:

Ed worked on the casting for the water line connection from the tender.

Bob and Jim worked on the knob for the water-line valve (fireman’s side) of the tender. It turns out that the knob hits the tender frame. They began discussing ways to correct this. A smaller knob would make it harder to turn off the water.

Stu measured, cut, and installed new copper mesh screens for the injector water pipes from the tender.

Work done to the Shay:

Stu, Tom, and Brian traced the outline of the new tube sheet and began cutting the excess steel with the band saw in preparation for the drilling the holes for the flue tubes and eventual installation.

Rick worked on grinding a flatter mating surface between the new tube sheet piece and the bottom on the boiler.

Work done in general around the shop:

Collin, Rick, Ed, and Nigel lifted the roof panel off the pit for inspection of the damaged concrete wall and then removed the cracked concrete grout, at the rails, in preparation for replacement.

In the morning, a brief meeting was held for all active Steam Team members, to hear a short summary of the IRM Board meeting and to discuss a project to bring a Porter 2-6-2 and Baldwin 2-6-0 locomotives to IRM from Monee, Illinois.

On Sunday September 28, 2008, Matt, Bob, Nigel, Bill,  JD, and Rick went to Monee to scope out the project to bring the two locomotives back to IRM. Brush was cleared from around the locomotives and all moving surfaces were oiled before the bearing boxes will be worked on and the axle’s rust will be removed with emery cloth.

Bob wired the disk/belt sander and rewired the light circuits on one of the lathes.

Brian painted the air tank to the shop’s air compressor.

Stu, Bill, and Bob investigated the installation of a transformer for 120v lamps on the one of the big lathes.