IRM Steam Team

Shop Update 8/1/10

Yesterday, a great deal of work went on related to getting the 1630 operational.  Valves were lapped in preparation of a second hydro.  In addition, the draw bar was put back on the locomotive.   Afterwards the hoses that carry water from the tender to the locomotive were also put on the engine.  Doing these things took up most of the day.

In the past, one of the major issues with the 1630’s tender was that the metal side-sheets were so thin that they were springing leaks.  This was especially true of the engineer’s side of the tender.  Since pieces of side-sheet had been cut out and patches welded in place and the surface smoothed, the sides of the tender were repainted in black.  Yesterday, the number 1630 was completely repainted on the engineer’s side of the tender, and the repainting of the numbers on the fireman’s side was started.  The remaining numbers on the fireman’s side will be painted next Saturday.