IRM Steam Team

Shop Update 6/12/10

Many things were accomplished in the steam department on Saturday.

Tami and Jim finished painting the frame of the 1630.   Tami also finished painting the bottom of the firebox.  Jim also touched up the boxes containing the brasses for the 1630.

Nigel and Jim straightened one of the pins that hold the grease boxes in place.  Trevor and Sean cleaned the grease boxes and primed them. They also worked on cleaning and priming break hangers.  Nigel also began to cut rectangle shaped blocks of grease for the grease boxes.

Dennis put on the drive boxes and welded square plates to them as retainers.  He also welded the front rib, which holds the smoke box door on, back onto the Shay so that the bottom patch for the smoke box can be fitted and later riveted into place.  The plate being used for the patch still needs to be cut to the correct shape and welded onto the locomotive.

Bob and Bruce made a great deal of progress on the water softner.  Bob later needed chipped and cleaned up rods for the 1630’s ashpan.

Terry & Stu began to clean junk off the track that runs through the shop so we can move the locomotives.  Stu also rounded off the edges of the grease groves on the brasses.

One of the spring equalizers was put back onto the 1630.

The next step is to fit the boxes onto the axle of the rear driving wheels of the 1630.  This needs to be done so that we don’t have any “surprises” while putting the wheels back on the locomotive.  It appears that putting the wheels on the 1630 will take place in a few weeks.