Work Session Status Week Ending 05/04/2013

5/6/13

Another busy week on site. Final preparations are being made for our participation with the National Train Day festivities on 5/11/13.

Much attention has been directed toward the tender air brakes. All eight air brake cylinders were removed, disassembled, cleaned and fresh lubricant applied. New air filters were installed before reassembly began. As the cylinders were reassembled, they were reinstalled in their original locations. Brake linkages were then connected along with the air supply piping using new 90° union elbows. The linkage joints were lubricated and an air test was performed to insure the system’s proper function. Everything went well. We will be cleaning the tender on a special work day this coming Friday, 5/10/13 at 7:30 am. Please bring lots of towels to dry her off if you have them.

Elsewhere on site the 6″ exhaust crossover piping was fit into place and tack welded. It was then removed to the bench for the welding to be completed.

More cleaning time was spent on the burner. A 3/4″ pipe plug had to be forcibly removed to clean out the hidden sludge. Apparently no anti-seize compounds were used back in the day.

More work was done on the on-going projects such as flue sheet nick repair and also flexible stay-bolt sleeve removal.

This week a buyer came forward for our Christmas train. This train was once part of a local bank’s Christmas display. We were commissioned to run and maintain it during the nearly six weeks of operation each year. After several years the Christmas displays were no longer used and the train was donated to us. The train was held captive for several years in one of our storage containers occupying valuable storage space. The buyer wasn’t interested in the track bed so all the track was separated from the wooden frames and set aside to be picked up. The funds it generated throughout the years has been very helpful; as money was scarce in the early years of the restoration. Thanks to Frank G. for marketing the train for us.

Offsite Gayle VH. is heading up a project for us in conjunction with a neighborhood beautification program. Steve B. is another artist that was down helping with the project Saturday along with Martin S. Gayle’s artwork depicting the 2926 in front of the Albuquerque Alvarado Hotel was selected to be transferred to a neglected block wall bordering an alley way. Initial gridding was done on Saturday and pencil outlining of the image began. Work will progress each Saturday in May. Those wishing to assist Gayle should contact me in person or by phone.

On a sad note we have lost another member of 2926. Andy Rutkiewic passed away 4/30/13. He chaired our Plans & Funding Committee and will be sorely missed. He was a very bright chemist and helped us with de-scaling of our piping. You can read a little about him in our Newsletter which is about to be released this week. His Memorial service, if anyone is interested, is 5/14/13 at 10:00 am at Holy Child Catholic Parish in Tijeras, NM. We are meeting at Smith’s at Tramway and Central at 9:00 am to carpool to the site. Apparently there’s a school there also and not much parking. If you want to carpool please be prompt. It was in our ABQ Journal paper yesterday with his photograph.

There’s an upcoming RYAB Meeting (Rail Yard Board) May 9th at 5:30 pm on the 9th floor where the Council Chambers are located.

This coming Saturday is usually our General Meeting at 8:00 am, but due to all the National Train Day happenings we will only have time for a brief Safety meeting regarding AMTRAK coming to get our tender and a few other minor announcements pertinent to Train Day. Please be prompt for the 7:30 (or shortly thereafter) meeting on Saturday.

There’s lots going on this week so I hope to see you all down at the site, and as always . . .
Keep on Steamin’,
Rick Kirby, CMO
NMSL&RHS