Work Session Status Week Ending 10/25/2014

October 27, 2014

Walschaert gear assembly work continued as adjustments to the various bearing components were necessary. The fit of the pins and bearings proved to be too tight thus requiring small amounts of the bearing’s surfaces to be carefully removed. The various parts were checked for proper bolt alignment and by Saturday afternoon the massive expansion components moved freely.

The fireman’s side eccentric rod was also removed and reinstalled due to a spacer plate not being in it’s proper recess. It had slipped down during the first installation attempt.

During this busy time the machine shop was rethreading and reconditioning the various attachment bolts for the aforementioned Walschaert gear assemblies.

The superheater fitters were busy precutting and preparing the pipe ends for welding.

Our master superheater welder is expected to be back on the job this coming Wednesday. He has been away due to a knee injury.

More flexible staybolt sleeve welding was done this week. All of these sleeves are being done on the top of the boiler where there are no comfortable places to sit or kneel while welding.

The on-going and never ending job of cleaning the dirt and crud from various parts continues. Once cleaned a new shiny coat of black paint is applied.

The next Newsletter is about to be out so watch for it soon.

Our Safety Officer has informed me that he believes his next New Member Orientation will be November 22, 2014 at 9:00 AM in the reefer office. If you would like to attend please contact Jon S. at: Kc5ntw@sdc.org

There’s a train show coming up November 15th & 16th and if anyone has any time to help Pat H. with this show, please step up to help at this event. More info will be given on that at next week’s General Meeting. Sorry I don’t have more info right now. It will be most important to those that live in the area here.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday night. We get an extra hour of sleep this time!

Hope to see everyone at the site this week, we’ve been missing some of our regulars! And as usual . . .

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