IRM Steam Team

Shop Update 8/15/09

Copied from the IRM Yahoo list with additions:

“Work continued on the 428. Nigel, Mark, Ed, Jeff, and Jim fitted water lines
onto the locomotive. A gasket was made for the engineer’s injector pipe.
Another pipe on the fireman’s side was separated and a new union put on it. The
pipe was reattached.

We began to fill the 428’s tender with water. (One issue we need to know when we
fire the 428 is that there are no issues with the injectors.) As we were
tightening the valves on the tender (The tender has valves for the water lines
that run to the tender’s boxes. We assume that the idea for the valves was that
they could be used to cool the wheels if there was a problem with the journal
boxes.) we discovered that the valve was not tight. We removed it and tightened it down after taping it.

Bob G. lapped another valve for the 428. In addition, one valve was removed from
the locomotive. Tom worked on getting the valve to seal correctly. Eric began
to cut a piece of metal so one of the unions could be properly lapped.

I want to make sure that everyone is aware that when we fire the 428 that this
does not mean that the locomotive is ready to run.

Work on the Shay: Bob G. and Nigel positioned the new bottom portion of the
front tube sheet for the 428. They bolted it in place. Before it can be welded
to the original sheet, it must be riveted in place.

Nigel and Bob G. also put the outer ring of the 428 in place this one done so
that the new bottom sheet could be put in place on a temporary basis. Nigel and
Jeff used the “Big Joe” and straps to raise the new bottom of the smoke box in
place. I helped Nigel push it into place while Jeff tightened the straps. Nigel
marked what parts of the old smoke box still need to be removed to fit the new
sheet in properly.

Sometime in the future, the patch will be welded into place by Dennis.

Matt and Jim began the process of drilling out one of the stay bolts on the Shay.
We finished the outside portion of the stay bolt, but it still needs to be
drilled from inside the firebox.

Bob worked on the 428’s generator with Ralph’s help. It appears to be working
fine at this time.

Ralph also worked on milling brass fittings for the 1630. Bob and Bill drilled
the holes into the first bearing box for the 1630. These holes will be used to
attach the brass plate to the box.

Bruce continued to cut the brass down on the second box.”

As stated above, a steam test of the boiler of 428 will be conducted in the near future. This does not mean that the locomotive will be operational or even capable of moving under its own power. It is simply a test to check the functionality of the injectors, whistle, and other steam appliances.

It should also be noted that a number of steam department volunteers have been assisting with the “Day out with Thomas” event to help ensure that this event will be a success.

On a side note, there are many small projects going on simultaneously in the shop that many members have been working on. Some include: Sandblasting and repairing a headlight casting, welding of a stand to hold the wheel set off 1630 for ease of installation, and work continues on the road motor from the Bay City crane to allow it to travel under its own power.

Thanks to Jim for the Yahoo groups postings and the shop tours.