| Railway Preservation News https://www.rypn.org/forums/ |
|
| Steam Crane Back In Service https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18247 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Mark S Bassett [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Steam Crane Back In Service |
Today, the wizards in the mechanical department of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, put Nevada Northern Railway, 100-ton steam wrecking crane A back in service. Built in 1907, by Industrial Works for the NN Ry, the crane was last used by the railroad in 1988 for a wreck on the Western Pacific. (It now has roller bearing arch bar trucks, but that is another story.) As soon as I get photos posted on our website, I'll let everyone know. I have to tell you, it is a sweet piece of equipment. No plastic, no computers, just real beefy steel and iron to get the job done. The crane will be fired up for our February photo shoots. We will be having two photo shoots this year, the first two weekends in February. (Details will be on our website by this weekend.) We will also have it operate on a limited bases during 2006. This is the second steam project the museum has completed this year. In the early spring we got locomoitve 40 steaming again. Next up is locomotive 81, a 1917 Baldwin 2-8-0, and then our rotary snowplow. |
|
| Author: | Mark S Bassett [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
Here's a question, I would like feedback on; should we repaint the crane? The current paint job is serviceable. It is sort of a grimy flat black. You know, it’s the color a master modeler would use if he was making a model of the crane.If we were to paint it, we would use a flat black. The question is should we? I have been told a story of when the property was first offered to the City of Ely for a museum. Individuals from the state railroad museum came over and photographed the equipment. In the process of photographing the equipment they moved it around. When they were done taking pictures, they started to pack up their equipment and were getting ready to leave. They were stopped by a supervisor who insisted that they move the steam crane and the steam powered rotary snowplow back under the smoke jacks. The supervisor informed them, ‘that way if either the crane or the rotary was needed, it would be ready to fire up.’ This happened some time in the late 1980’s. The crane was last used on a train wreck in 1983. I’m not sure of the crane’s last paint job, but I would guess the 1930’s maybe. There is a chance that it is in its original paint job. After all the crane was kept inside out of the sun, so I think it is possible it has its original paint still on it. Any ideas on how you date paint? What I do know is, that for the past 40 to 50 years the crane sat in the enginehouse on standby ready to go to work, in its current paint. Just because we have the crane running, do we need to repaint it? Half of me says, yes. Painting the crane completes the job. It shows that we refurbished the crane and its ready for another century. The other half of me says, no. That repainting the crane would actually detract from the story the crane tells. I would like your views on whether to paint or not to paint. |
|
| Author: | Dave [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 6:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
Mark S Bassett wrote: Here's a question, I would like feedback on; should we repaint the crane? The current paint job is serviceable. This says it all. If it ain't broke.....this is work train equipment, not private varnish. New and shiny paint isn't historically appropriate unless you want to recreate its new from the factory condition.dave
|
|
| Author: | pm-man [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
Got to agree with Dave here --- leave her be. If it begins to be used so much that it becomes "unservicable", then maybe look at it then, but how many places can you got to that let you live the true environment anymore? It was a grimy, well-used, and well-loved machine; if they don't think its pretty, tell 'em to go work their way up through Mary Kay and get themselves a pink cadillac. I'm much more likely to come there to see a crane working in the same place it has for nearly a hundred years, doing what it was intended to do in all its greased-soaked, dust covered glory than see a static piece of equipment restored beyond anything that it every truly looked like in service. No names mentioned, but I've seen it happen, and well, I'll take the later before the former any day.;-)TJ |
|
| Author: | wesp [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
pm-man wrote: It was a grimy, well-used, and well-loved machine; if they don't think its pretty, tell 'em to go work their way up through Mary Kay and get themselves a pink cadillac. PM-Man:"Pink cadillac" - ROFLOL - what a great quote. I'll be sure to use that line as needed when paint schemes and restoration come up as they do at lunch, after hours, etc.Wesley
|
|
| Author: | pm-man [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
Well, being a curator as a profession, that attitude doesn't always go well with my colleagues, but then they don't understand why I like to get sawdust and Epifanes Varnish in every orface of my body one weekend, and coal dust and lube oil over top of those the next. Come to think of it, maybe I need to look at another profession..... or design myself a wayback machine per Mr. Peabody. ;-)TJ Gaffney |
|
| Author: | Dennis Storzek [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:31 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
Dave wrote: Mark S Bassett wrote: Here's a question, I would like feedback on; should we repaint the crane? The current paint job is serviceable. This says it all. If it ain't broke.....this is work train equipment, not private varnish. New and shiny paint isn't historically appropriate unless you want to recreate its new from the factory condition.daveMark S Bassett wrote: If we were to paint it, we would use a flat black. The question is should we? This statement I don't understand. Artificially weathering equipment is something best left of model builders and movie companies. The black paint traditionally used on railroad equipment was gloss black. If the crane needs repainting, repaint it gloss black just as the railroad would have done, in another fifty or so years, it will naturally acquire the proper patina again, all by itself.
|
|
| Author: | Randy Hees [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
First of all, congratulations on getting her operable.As for the paint, there are a couple of questions here.First is to repaint, or not. Since the current paint is “serviceable” and its regularly stored indoors (so is preserved), you have options.1)If you want to present the railroad as it was when active new paint would be possibility. It may also be a necessity at some point to repaint to preserve the unit. Look at the crane with a critical eye. How would the railroad have cared for it if this was 1960, and they were still operating? If the paint is good enough for them, in 1960, (or another date of your choice) then let it be, and chose option two. If not repaint it as they would have using the paint and standards they would have used.2)If you want to present the railroad as a desert survivor, as if the crews had not just walked away, then leave it be, and spot paint as needed.The second question regards how to repaint if that is the choice. While the crane may be flat black today it would not have been painted flat black by the railroad. Old railroad paint was glossy, but weathers to flat black. So if you are repainting it do the paint research and create an accurate paint report and plan. How a modeler would approach the problem is not an appropriate approach. You are running a museum, not large scale model railroad.Paint research is a pretty well documented practice. Typically you sand through the layers using mineral oil or such to expose all layers, then document and photograph the results. You repeat as needed to get a compete picture of the various paints applied. Trace any lettering as exposed. Alternately you can remove a sample with all layers and send it off to a lab where it can be set in resin for sectioning and viewing under a microscope or analyzed by various methods. Additionally you do the “paper” research for clues, either with manufactures records or with local newspapers on in railroad records.I believe you are associated with the Nevada State Museum system. Chris DeWitt or someone from NSRM should be able to help with the paint plan. (which would be a good idea even if you don’t plan on repainting) If that route doesn't work there are lots of us on the left coast who can help. |
|
| Author: | Wooly [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Steam Crane Back In Service Does it need painting |
Come to think of it, maybe I need to look at another profession..... or design myself a wayback machine per Mr. Peabody. When can we expect the " wayBack " machine to be ready!!!???...Wooly |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|