Work Session Status Week Ending 05/30/2015

June 1, 2015

Hello all,

Well, it has been more than a month since I produced a progress report for you. Gail and I went to Alabama to the Talladega race via a small private aircraft. We had planned to be gone for about two weeks, but the weather moved in over the mid section of the US preventing our return. Eventually we came home via SW Airlines leaving the aircraft in Alabama. I plan to retrieve her the end of this week. So please accept my apologies for the lack of updates on the website.

Much has taken place since my last report. For all the superheater sponsors I am pleased to report there are only six units left to be fabricated.

The man-way was bolted into place and awaits hydro test equipment to be installed.

Much work has been on going regarding the lubrication system and the associated fittings. Most of the lines have been flushed. Flexible hose lines are being removed from various locations around the chassis. Their termination blocks are being thoroughly cleaned and reinstalled. New flex hoses will be installed.

We received 29 new staybolt blanks from Steam Services of America. They have been expanded by the forging practice on both ends then gun drilled through. Our machinists are doing all the threading on site. Machinists are also fabricating new brass nuts for various lube oil locations.

We are still waiting on, hopefully, the last of the heat treated brake pins to be delivered.

On Friday several workers arrived on site early to assist with an official metallurgical test required for completion of the Form 4 document. The men were finished around 1:00 PM. These tests will generate a report for submission to the FRA.

One more small flexible staybolt sleeve had to be removed due to particularly bad threads for the new plug. The bad part was that it was located in a place not convenient for welding. However Danny R. persevered and competed the replacement.

The three safety valves have been reassembled and are awaiting an opportunity to be bench tested, set and tagged.

We had a defective air brake hose on our car mover, Lurch. A new one was procured and installed this past week.

Several valve control rods have been brushed down to bright metal and received a fresh coat of paint. These rods control the valves which operate various appliances which use steam from the turret.

Stud bolt removal continues. They are drilled out then the existing hole’s threads are cleaned up with a tap. New studs are fabricated as needed.

One of the brass lubricators for the steam control valve broke off leaving the male threads behind. We drilled out the nipple about 90% then used tiny abrasive flapper wheels to remove the remaining brass just down to where the steel female threads were visible. The remaining brass was removed by collapsing the thin layer of brass.

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

Keep on Steamin’,

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