Work Session Status Week Ending 01/27/2018

January 29, 2018

The week began early with a round trip to Farmington, NM on Monday with about 2000 lbs. of drawbars to be annealed by Team Industrial. The ​return round trip to retrieve them was on Wednesday.

The following is reported by Dr. Mike since I was absent hauling drawbars.

Wednesday the backhead sheet metal project continued with multiple segments of newly fabricated sheet metal were trimmed and fitted under Wild Bill’s supervision. Multiple segments were taken to A Real Body Shop for painting (to be returned to the RIP site on Saturday).

Scott A and Dave V worked with John T to fabricate pipes completing the blowdown assembly on the fireman side.

The Long Beards’ furnace melted bronze for another test pour as they continue to hone their skills for the work on the radial buffer faces.

Navy Veterans Ed B and Gordy M prepared mounting holes on the fireman side of the cab for a ‘Shore Power” electrical box. Somehow they seemed to be the right guys for the job.

Ken D continued work on the brackets holding the new forward equalizing air line being installed under the foot boards on the engineer’s side.

Scott A and Dave V finished the day setting up air lines that run horizontally across the backhead to reach the signal foam meter.

Saturday began with the off-loading of the drawbars and wire brushing the scales from them caused by the heat treatment.

An early trip to the paint shop was organized to retrieve the newly painted backhead jacketing parts.

Other workers began insulating the backhead. Another work session should complete that project. The jacketing will then be installed.

The number board project is all but complete as the boards and crossover connecting conduit was installed.

A large contingent of cub scouts descended upon our restoration site along with their leaders for an escorted tour of the locomotive and tender.

The signal foam meter piping fabrication was completed and will be installed Wednesday. These small pipes were originally under the jacketing.

Don’t forget the 2nd annual make-up refresher for members that have been through a complete safety class will be February 17, 2018 at 0900 in the reefer office. We don’t have a set date for the first new member orientation class as of this date. Jon Spargo will have to get that word out as soon as he decides. Stay tuned for more info on that hopefully by way of the website.

Again, from the desk of Madam Secretary, if you still need to pay your membership donations, please do so ASAP so you’re not lagging behind and Gail won’t have to send you a separate email asking if you still want to be a member. If you are unsure, please contact her at this email or kirby1953@msn.com.

Also as a reminder to send in what you can for the GoFundMe Tool Car campaign going on right now. Even if just a small amount it will still help us reach our goal of $150,000. We’re a little over $102,000 right now. It won’t take much if everyone contributes.

Hope to see everyone at the site this week. Weather seems to be holding onto the 60’s, and as always . . .

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