IRM Steam Team

Shop Update 10/16/10

Yesterday, the steam team got out to the museum early to put a fire in the 1630. This was done so the the FRA inspector could do a stationary inspection.  The inspector wanted to see all three of the safety valves go off on the locomotive.  The good news was that the engine passed this test.

The bad news is that the inspector wanted us to do an orifice test on the air compressor. This was impossible because, after sitting for over five years, a valve on the air compressor appears to be hanging up, preventing it from building any pressure.  This means that the compressor cannot make the air pressure needed to operate a train’s airbrakes.