IRM Steam Team

Shop Update 6/26/10

Saturday, the big event was moving the Shay from the Steam Shop into Barn 9.  This was done because the Shay has no front coupler and must be out of the way when the 1630 is moved.  The coupler was removed as part of the restoration project.  Ralph ran the crane with a ground crew of Nigel, Bob, Matt and Ed.  Collin made sure that visitors were out of the way during the move.  The move will allow us to put the 1630 over the drop pit to put the rear drivers back on the locomotive.

Tami and Rick worked at cleaning up, priming and painting rigging which had been removed from the 1630. This way it will be ready to put back on the locomotive.

Dennis did a good amount of work.  He welded lifting tabs onto the bottom patch sheet for the smoke box of the Shay.  This way it will be ready to be lifted into place, for measurements, when the locomotive is brought back into the shop.  He is also fabricating new metal sheets for the 428’s tender steps.  The tender’s platform was actually an inch lower than the deck of the cab of the 428.  During the rebuild of the tender, additional medal plating was added to the floor braces to even out the floor.  This means the fireman will have an easier time throwing coal.  This resulted in metal panels, that hold the stairs onto the tender, being an inch lower than the rest of the platform.

Stu and Jim fit the brass shims onto the boxes that go on the frame of the 1630.  Afterwards, they number each shim.  Later in the day, the boxes were put on the axle of the driver wheels to see if they fit with any problems.  There were none.

Glen continued putting the engine for the Bay City Crane together.  To finish his work, he welded up an frame to put the engine into.

If we can get everyone out on the same day, it would appear the next step is to put the wheels back on the 1630.

Due to the heat, everyone was gone by 7:30 in the evening.