IRM Steam Team

Weekend Update for October 10, 2008

Frisco 1630:

Matt and his friend brought back the drive axle/wheel set from Tennessee Valley with the new tires installed and hub liners machined to the proper measurements. See photos below:

Work done to UP 428:

Jason tested the gauge used on the hydrotester, and adjusted it so it was more accurate between 100 and 300 psi. He also tested a back-up gauge that we might want to use that seems very accurate.

Dan and Brian worked on fitting the new rubber hose, on the engineer’s side, between the tender and the locomotive.

In general:

Nigel did various work on the Bay City Crane: steam cleaning the traction motor block, fitting the ammeter and cleaning the cab for future painting.

Brian finished painting the shop’s air tank.

Dave Dye, Bill Moran (and his friend Rick), Ed, Bob, Vince, Greg, JD, and Rick went to Monee to prepare the 2-6-2 and 2-6-0 for transport back to IRM in about a month. Bearings/axles on the tender were cleaned and oiled, footboards were taken off, track was prepared, main/connecting rods were worked on to disconnect them, etc. Moving the locomotives in about 3 to 4 weeks will take a lot of volunteer hours to prepare the equipment and help the contractor load them onto the trailers for transport back to IRM. Please talk to Rick, in the Steam Shop, for details.