From the Mid-Continent Enginehouse:

Two new studs were applied to the boiler of the Western Coal & Coke #1 on December 27, 2003. Big Deal, you say? Indeed it is a big deal for the steam program...more for what it represents than the actual item. These are the first two new parts of many more to come to be permanently installed on the boiler.
The stud itself is a rather mundane item, a piece of rod, of varying length according to application with threads on each end. One end is permanently threaded into the boiler shell and the body is used like a bolt to hold brackets for various appliances on the boiler. Those appliances include things like running boards, air compressors, brake stands and the cab.

In this rebuild we will be replacing all the studs. To prepare for that, many volunteer hours have been spent measureing the length and diameter of each one. Another major task has been creating a system to precisely log the location of each stud on the boiler shell so those locations can be transferred to the drawings being made as the rebuild progresses. Many hours are also going into those drawings.

The next task tackled was determining the best method for removal of the old studs. All known processes were tested and the most effective that caused the least stress on the boiler was chosen.

At the same time archives were searched and a 1940's Baldwin standard for stud manufacture was chosen as the specification for the new studs. Our next step, after determining what was required, was to find a supplier for the proper certified material. A supplier was found and one of our members donated the material. A procedure was then written up that will govern the removal, manufacture and installation of the studs which involved even more volunteer time. At the same time test pieces were machined to check the manufacturing procedures as well as to produce some jigs to aid the process. After the test pieces were made and the jigs tested out two studs have been so far produced and installed.

Big Deal, you say? You decide.



Western Coal & Coke #1 Restoration

bowens@rypn.org

Boyd,

What's the status of 1385 now? Is the boiler in Arizona? Jim

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Due to a shortage of funds, Mid-Continent will be doing all the 1385 work in-house now, I've been told. As funds become available, and the enginehouse crew has the time, after returning WC&C #1 to service (2005?), work is to commence on the 1385. Hopefully the funding shortage will be overcome, so that she can have some outside contract work done on her, so she can return to operation sooner.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

> Due to a shortage of funds, Mid-Continent
> will be doing all the 1385 work in-house
> now, I've been told. As funds become
> available, and the enginehouse crew has the
> time, after returning WC&C #1 to service
> (2005?), work is to commence on the 1385.
> Hopefully the funding shortage will be
> overcome, so that she can have some outside
> contract work done on her, so she can return
> to operation sooner.

> Boyd

Next to the new studs is what looks like a bolted boiler seam. What is the story on this. Does the boiler have lap seams? Great to see another ex-Canadian engine getting TLC.


http://www.wcra.org
gandmferguson@shaw.ca

> Next to the new studs is what looks like a
> bolted boiler seam. What is the story on
> this. Does the boiler have lap seams? Great
> to see another ex-Canadian engine getting
> TLC.
What you see is the fitting up of the bottom 1/3 of one of the boiler courses. This is a new sheet that will be welded in place on that course, then riveted along the joints of the individual bioler courses.

KenB

breher1257@aol.com

The bolts are only temporary. The seam in the photo is where the smokebox is riveted to the boiler. The bolts were to hold the new boiler plate in place while it was installed.
Photo below is a better view of the boiler being worked on. Photo was taken earlier on in the rebuilding process. You can see the cuts where the lower part of the boiler was being removed. In the photo in my original post, if you look close, you can see the new metal installed just below the new studs.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

Thanks for the better explanation Ken. You answered while I was typing my less informative response.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

> The bolts are only temporary. The seam in
> the photo is where the smokebox is riveted
> to the boiler. The bolts were to hold the
> new boiler plate in place while it was
> installed.
> Photo below is a better view of the boiler
> being worked on. Photo was taken earlier on
> in the rebuilding process. You can see the
> cuts where the lower part of the boiler was
> being removed. In the photo in my original
> post, if you look close, you can see the new
> metal installed just below the new studs.

> Boyd
Thanks for the clarification and the great photos. Might this become the basis for an article on the restoration or at least an on-going series. Any insights into what others are faced with in dealing with old boilers will be a great help to us all.


http://www.wcra.org
gandmferguson@shaw.ca

Mid-Continent's web site (http://www.mcrwy.com/) is updated frequently with info on the ongoing restorations taking place there. Linked below is the page on the WC&C #1 rebuild (be sure to check out the archived photos also).
I agree, we will have to work on getting an article or series of articles from them for RyPN.

Boyd

WC&C #1 Rebuild
bowens@rypn.org

> From the Mid-Continent Enginehouse:

> Two new studs were applied to the boiler of
> the Western Coal & Coke #1 on December
> 27, 2003. Big Deal, you say? Indeed it is a
> big deal for the steam program...more for
> what it represents than the actual item.
> These are the first two new parts of many
> more to come to be permanently installed on
> the boiler.
> The stud itself is a rather mundane item, a
> piece of rod, of varying length according to
> application with threads on each end. One
> end is permanently threaded into the boiler
> shell and the body is used like a bolt to
> hold brackets for various appliances on the
> boiler. Those appliances include things like
> running boards, air compressors, brake
> stands and the cab.

> In this rebuild we will be replacing all the
> studs. To prepare for that, many volunteer
> hours have been spent measureing the length
> and diameter of each one. Another major task
> has been creating a system to precisely log
> the location of each stud on the boiler
> shell so those locations can be transferred
> to the drawings being made as the rebuild
> progresses. Many hours are also going into
> those drawings.

> The next task tackled was determining the
> best method for removal of the old studs.
> All known processes were tested and the most
> effective that caused the least stress on
> the boiler was chosen.

> At the same time archives were searched and
> a 1940's Baldwin standard for stud
> manufacture was chosen as the specification
> for the new studs. Our next step, after
> determining what was required, was to find a
> supplier for the proper certified material.
> A supplier was found and one of our members
> donated the material. A procedure was then
> written up that will govern the removal,
> manufacture and installation of the studs
> which involved even more volunteer time. At
> the same time test pieces were machined to
> check the manufacturing procedures as well
> as to produce some jigs to aid the process.
> After the test pieces were made and the jigs
> tested out two studs have been so far
> produced and installed.

> Big Deal, you say? You decide.

'Tis a great big deal! And it is wonderful to see such a nicely proportioned locomotive under active restoration. Well done.


amiller@rtms-movietrains.com