August 6, 2013 Now that the hot water boiler feed piping has been completed, work on the root valve and it’s related piping has begun. All of it will need to be installed prior to the final installation of the feed pipe. The two replacement threaded rods for the air brake slack adjusters arrived last […]

August 3, 2013 Another busy week at the site this week. Preparations have already begun for the open house to be held on the 28th of September. Volunteers are busy locating various pipes in storage then cleaning and painting those not previously done. They are then installed using disassembly photos and work sheets. The piping […]

July 30, 2013 The past week brought us the monsoon rainy season! Rain fell Thursday and Friday flooding streets accompanied with winds gusting to 89 mph at the ABQ airport. Upon arriving on our site we found the work pit filled to within 6\” from the top. Our pump took most all day to remove […]

July 22, 2013 The first shipment of flexible staybolt sleeve replacements were received this week. They were checked for proper fit then safely stored. Work continues fabricating replacement cab supports. Parts are being cut by hand from 3/4″ plate steel then grinders are used to bevel the edges that will be welded. This will insure […]

July 15, 2013 With the #1 driver air brake slack adjuster completed attention is turned to the one trailing truck slack adjuster which was stolen last year. Parts for the slack adjuster and cab supports are being cut for later welding and assembly. The hot water boiler feed pump supply piping work continues as well […]

July 8, 2013 This week we began fabricating the #1 driver air brake slack adjuster. Parts for the turnbuckle were welded together and the main shaft was machined to accept the yoke end of the assembly. Also the 6 & 8 inch boiler feed piping is being fit into place. The 8″ piece was refabricated […]

We’re baking here in ABQ just like the rest of the southwest. At least it’s not as hot as the deep southwest. I measured the concrete temperature on site with a laser T-stat which read 133°. A little cooler this coming week and possibly some rain. Projects this week were much like the last. Continuing […]

June 24, 2013 The work began early this week as five volunteers journeyed to Pueblo, CO on Sunday morning. The mission was to procure two boiler mounted cab supports and several parts which made up the tender to locomotive buffer. These were some of the items stolen last year. Bob D. and Dave V. began […]

June 17, 2013 Temperatures here in ABQ are heating up. The Wednesday work session ended at noon. Saturday we closed down around 2 pm. Both air break reservoir tanks have now been hydro tested. They have also been gridded for possible telltale hole drilling. One tank was prepped for paint. Taping off the metal parts […]

This week was my first week back from being sick the previous two. Thanks to Bob D. for standing in for me. Work progressed on several projects. Three slack adjuster rods were cleaned, painted and installed. Several more pieces of sheet metal were fabricated and custom fit to the areas adjacent to the steam cylinders […]