Work Session Status Week Ending 03/29/2014

March 31, 2014

Another milestone for the 2926 restoration was seen this week. Volunteers temporarily inserted two large boiler tubes for the first superheater piping “fit-up”. Two return bends were welded to the new piping with new centering shoes and bands. These were then slid into their boiler tubes and tack welded to the bifurcate assemblies. The whole assembly was removed to the weld-out bench for ease of welding. This set, as well as all others, will undergo hydro testing then racked for storage. Two down and 218 to go.

Elsewhere on site an arbor was fabricated on the lathe to slightly expand the new superheater piping to accept the bifurcates. A support beam was also fabricated to support the new superheater pipes during the expanding procedure.

More areas of the chassis were cleaned and painted.

Several salvageable flexible staybolt sleeves were serviced and re-tapped on the underside of the boiler. These are very time consuming due to the close proximity to the chassis.

On the upper fireman’s side of the boiler more wasted flexible staybolt sleeve material was removed. On the engineer’s side more replacement sleeves were welded on by Welch’s Boiler Service.

Grinding on the back head overlay welding began to blend the deposited metal to the existing surface.

Folks, I want to encourage everyone following the 2926 restoration to seriously consider becoming a member, sponsor a superheater bundle(s) or make an additional donation. We have many upcoming expensive aspects of the restoration along with ongoing ones. Just the crosshead project has come to $8000. The staybolt materials and welding is rapidly depleting our resources. So if you can, please go to our website and donate via PayPal or better yet mail a check to us at NMSL&RHS, PO Box 27270, ABQ, NM 87125. Remember, all donations are tax deductible as we are a 501(c)3 organization. We appreciate everyone that has been supporting us and are onboard with us already.

Weather will be windy but warm this week. Hope to see everyone at the site, and as usual . . .

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