Work Session Status Week Ending 02/09/2019

February 13, 2019

Madam Secretary, Gail, and I are back from the RPCA Convention in Ohio. The past couple of weeks we have been catching up.

Currently we have been trouble-shooting a finicky A-9 ABV valve pipe bracket gasket. We have ordered two repair kits both of which had defective gaskets, another is on its way.

Our workers have been insulating the steam lines to the tender oil tank heater.

In the cab we recently upgraded the boiler water glass valves. Doing so required the upper pipe on the fireman’s side to be re-piped since the original didn’t line up. I expect that project to be completed this week.

The engineer’s side collapsible jump seat is now complete and installed along with a convenient foot rest.

We had a few missing steam cylinder head studs. New ones were fabricated where needed and installed.

The casting crew are still pouring brass tender badges. Apparently they will be pouring various other interesting items to sell. Stay tuned!

The welding crew are fabricating another protective screen for the items which will be installed under the cab on the fireman’s side.

Other workers have been fitting jacketing bands which secure the various jacketing panels and seal the joints.

About eight more panels were picked up last week from the sheet metal fabricator and await being checked for proper fits. Then off to the paint shop.

The electrician crews are busy locating avenues for various conduits going forward to the front of the engine. One dynamo has been repaired and is ready for paint and testing. The other has an oil seal leak which will be addressed in the coming weeks.

Hate to harp on this for Madam Secretary, but there are many people that have not paid their memberships and are not up to date. If you need to contact her to see if you are up to date don’t hesitate to contact her by email above.

If you have missed your refresher course for safety, you will now have to take the complete safety class again. Our Safety Officer, Jon Spargo, is planning to have a New Member class sometime next month. If you missed the refreshers or now will need the New Member class, please contact Jon at kc5ntw@sdc.org.

Hope to see those that can make it at the site this week, and as always . . .

Keep on Steamin’,
Rick & Gail Kirby, CMO & Secretary
NMSL&RHS