Len has Oct 31st set for a workday on DL&W 565. He is continuing the sandblasting and the carpenter is starting wood work on the cab. If you are interested in helping please contact Len @ conrail6370@yahoo.com

We are still looking for a machinist and a welder for some of the parts. Thanks.

Also check out the new website for 565.
http://project565.webs.com/

What species of wood did they finally decide on for the windows? I was just reading in a woodworking magazine that a new popular alternative to mahogany is available called lyptus, which is actually a eucalyptus hybrid. Bottom line is, it's a tropical hardwood that shares many of the properties of mahogany, yet is sustainably grown (matures in like 6 years) and far less expensive. Another one they listed was ipe (pronounced ee-pay) which appeared to be similar to teak with regard to appearance and application. Anybody out there using any of this stuff?

Pat the historian wants her to be close to original as possible, with our budget, we should be able to go back to Cherry Wood for the Window Sashes and White Pine for the doors. We are still checking on the wood species. It's really difficult without the prints for the engine. But we are doing some research and it seems that is the standard wood type for those components. We are getting to the point of making some new parts so we are working with the shop to have them made. Just need to make sure we plan the work with the shop foreman before hand so he can plan the days work for the folks in the shop.

This restoration project has a budget? What is the source? Is there a funding campaign that we don't know about? Thanks for all your help Steve and Len.

Hey Tim. Yes we do have a budget, per se, If we need stuff made or purchased we go thru the Management at Steamtown and they get the funds allocated for the engine. Not too hard just like anything in the government we have to do the paperwork to get things purchased. Nothing I'm not used to. Len and the guys are getting stuff made right now for the front pilot, man that thing is kicking our butts, but we may be close to getting her jacked and leveled so we can start reverse engineering the cross bar that goes from the front driver springs to the equalizer bar. We can't find that.

Don't forget 31st is a workday on 565. Also we were contacted by some college engineer students that are some what experienced with welding and machining. Yes I said some. Now please don't worry Steamtown WILL NOT let them run amuck without being checked out by the shop foremen on equipment and tools.

Here is what they sent us:
We all have actual experience working on lathes, milling machines, casting furnaces, welding experience as well as many other tools. as with anything else we all each have more experience/ background in certain areas. I myself have more welding experience doing restorations to my cars, where as one other guy coming along does construction for a living out side of school, as well as metal experience. so we are all well rounded with actual hands on experience/ book knowledge.

Hope some of you can come out and help.

More info from Len: This is his workplan for the 31st.

On Thursday October 22, I took a trip up to Steamtown to prepare us for the Workday on the 31st. which is one week from today. All the small loose parts that Jim and Kelsey sand blasted at our last workday in September, I primer painted and then placed them on a wooden pallet I took up that has sides. Then while I was waiting for the paint to dry I looked around for more parts in the four round kegs, the two out by 565 were full of a few surprises. I found a brass Oiler cup with glass and it wasn't broken, I also came across the rest of the smoke box cover door clips, I found two grease cake screens for the front lead journals, I also came across the lite fixture for in side the cab and a few switches. I also came across all the valve stems for in the cab. I think I have found the throttle lever also. I shined up the Brake Handle and it looks nice.

Saturday Oct. 31, 09 Workday Agenda

What I like to do first for the outside Sand Blaster is to sand blast all that is left on the Scrap Dock for 565, and that is the two Firebox Cross Bars, Two Air Tank Brackets, Super Heater Tubes and one air pump. We also might have her Table Grates too. I have to look into that more.

For the two in side blasting booths, I like to have the Smoke Box Cover Door Clips done and then primer painted, so we can place them back on to the cover so they don't get lost again.

Also I found the rest of the Smoke Box Cover railing holders, I like to get them sand blasted as well as the railing. Then when we take the cover over to the basement for storage they'll be altogether.

Then I would like to have all the Window and door harnessing parts sand blasted and placed into a box that will be marked 565 Window / Door parts.

Then if we can get to it, I have Three pallets full of parts to be sand blasted. If we can't get to it, we'll save that for our next two workdays in November.

While the sand blasting is going on , I like to have a small party of crew people to help me take finished parts over to the basement for storage.

Thank you all for your help.

Leonard F. Shaner, Jr.
Co - Volunteer Lead

Updates from Len:
On Saturday, October 31, 2009, we had three new members show up for work. They came down from New York state. They're college students taking up metal , woodworking and welding, so in time their skills are going to be needed, when we start making new parts and welding cracks.
The first thing we did was have a small meeting in the storage room, and then we got to work. Because of the weather we didn't have the third sand blaster working, so we only had the two booths inside working. Kelsey was on the small booth and Jim was working the large booth. While they were sand blasting, JT moved the pilot truck stabilizer frame over to track 1 to get primer painted.
Once we had that painted, we moved on to the scrap dock to retrieve the firebox cross bars and two air tank brackets, plus the right side air pump. JT placed the parts over near track 1 for our next workday for sand blasting-as long as the weather permits us to.
Jim was working on the last of the brake cross bars and Kelsey was really getting the small parts done quickly. She was really going to town! She got one whole keg and half of another one of parts done. Jim was working on two valves, one air and the other water. Jim and I were looking through the one wooden keg of parts and we found the brass casting of the steam gauge, but the gauge itself is long gone. I polished the casting and it looks nice.
After Lunch we took parts over to the basement. We took over the pilot wheel set, a pallet full of brake parts, the pilot truck frame and the smoke box cover.We have a lot of room down there so we'll take over most of the parts once they're sand blasted and painted.
While we were working on the parts Dan was cleaning the soot out of 565's smoke box with a shop vac.

Gauge housing

Air pump plaque

Oiler

Parts! No the paint can doesn't go with the engine! LOL

Len and his gang have been real busy over the last few weeks. They are working just about every weekend to get as much done as possible. The parts bins and barrels are yielding many of the cab components. Work has started on the cab wood. Please visit the website for update reports and pic. Way too much info to post.

Website: http://project565.webs.com/

Len and gang had another workday on this past Sunday, Nov 21st. They continued to sandblast and now painting some of the cab controls. It's looking more like we have alot of the cab controls than we thought. Also Len sandblasted the headlight and primed it.

Check out the website for more pics and updates.

http://project565.webs.com/

Len and the gang did one more workday again this month!!!!! Here are some very cool pics they took of the headlight! Thanks Len.


Sandblasted

Primed and ready!

Painted

What the????? It works!!!!!!!!