Work Session Status Week Ending 02/20/2016

February 23, 2016

Over the last several work sessions we have had abnormally higher temperatures for February. Good for our volunteers working outside.

The never ending job of pipe insulating continued. It’s obvious there are many “never ending jobs” on a steam locomotive.

Progress was made fabricating and installing the various air brake component brackets and supports. It is becoming crowded where all these parts need to be installed.

Using old photographs, our volunteers are arranging the many cab gauges and instruments while integrating those not in use back in the steam era.

Workers hoisted the steam turret into place and installed the injector pipe complete down to the injector.

Various other pipes were installed including the atomizer and fuel oil line.

The components for the cold water flow sensor were fabricated and installed on the cold water supply pipe. The special stainless steel pipe nipple was notched for orienting the sensor then tig welded to the pipe boss previously welded to the cold water pipe.

One small thread-o-let had been inadvertently overlooked on the large tee joining the fireman’s and engineer’s side steam exhaust pipes up to the preheater. The tee was removed and the 1/2″ T.O.L. was welded on.

Sandblasting several small cab components was done removing old paint and grime.

There was some metal wasting on the left forward portion of the firebox floor. New parts were fabricated and welded into place.

The mechanical speed indicator pick-up unit was disassembled, cleaned and inspected. New seals will be obtained prior to reassembly.

Piping for the air compressor governors was located, cleaned and installed. Some were in poor condition and are being replaced.

The two 3 1/2″ saturated steam pipes from the steam dome to the turret were test-fitted prior to them being insulated. Minor adjustments will be made to the metal cone seals for a proper connection on both sides.

The machine shop has been fabricating various small parts. Valve packing nuts and new hinge pins for the turret cover, (we found common nails in the hinges), were among a few of the items fabricated.

There will be a New Member Safety class this coming Saturday at 9:00am in the “reefer” office. Please contact Jon Spargo if you plan to attend. There might not be another for some time. Jon’s email is: Kc5ntw@sdc.org.

Hope to see everyone at the site this week, and as always . . .

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