Greetings all!

I was told this forum would be a good place to ask questions regarding our project. We are currently working on replumbing the air system on a little baldwin steamer and at the point the air line needs to come up into the rear head of the brake cylinder (under the cab) there is a frame member in the way ...looks to be just a 1 1/2 by 4 or so portion of the rear beam. Our thought is to cut a notch about half way through it to make room for the brake line.

Any thoughts?

Probably not a really great idea to cut or notch any frame parts....can you use an angle connection on the rear of the brake cylinder? Perhaps a length of Aeroquip reinforced pressure-rated hose with some swivels will get you out of the tight spot.

That technique has worked well for us on air brake (and other) piping replacement, where the old pipe was too inaccessible and difficult to remove. One of those "they must have hung this pipe in the air and built the locomotive around it" situations.

One of the guys in our maintenance group commented to me recently about air brake piping on a diesel: "The guy who piped this must have been standing on his head". Actually he was pretty close to being right. The cab sub-base was built on a turning fixture and much of the piping was indeed installed with it upside down.

What has changed from the original installation?
Have you changed the cylinder?
Any photos before the disassembly?

Seems to me that you need to fit a 90-degree ell on a short nipple to the rear head. Maybe even a street ell (that is a male x female threaded ell). That may allow you to "turn the corner" within the available space.

Roger - would it be possible to make a new steel cylinder head with the pipe connection offset to clear?

dave

Maybe some of the pipe has to be attached to the brake cylinder before it is mounted on the locomotive?

As was suggested, a street ell or possibly a union ell might be helpful.