ASR and Fireup2100 held a small work session on April 2. Attention last Saturday focused on measuring tread wear on the eight drivers. Volunteers in attended included:
Greg Brown, Paul Volosyn, Steven Harvey and contractor Jason Sobczynski

The drive wheel tires were measured and it was found the tires are cupped. While they could be turned, the final measurements would be very close to the FRA limit of 1 7/8". The portable mill hog is now at the roundhouse to cut the new gasket surfaces for the wash out plug seats that are badly pitted. This week also saw the start of the firebox ultrasound testing by contractor Jason Sobczynski.

Upcoming Work Session Tasks:
The following tasks are planned for the upcoming work sessions including:
• Continue taking UT readings inside the firebox and record for analysis.
• Cut new gaskets seats with the portable Mill Hog on the worst of the badly pitted gasket seats saving many man-hours that would otherwise take week to complete by hand. Approximately 12 of the washout plug seats will have new seats cut in this manner.
• Continue lapping the medium size washout plug gasket seats
• Reinstall washout plugs with new gaskets
• Remove historically inaccurate red 3M adhesive reflective material from side skirts and white “2100” numbers from both sides of the cab.

Upcoming Events
• The next work session is Saturday, April 9, 2016 and starts at 9 am.
• Don’t forget to come ready to sign and complete a volunteer waiver and if you are not a member already, come prepared to fill out a membership form and be able to pay your membership dues at that time.

Sincerely,

Rob Gardner
Chief Engineer and Fundraising Chairman

So are you implying that the 2100 is to get new tires before it runs? What are the pros and cons of reprofiling the existing set and running them until they are condemnable vs. replacing the tires now? Would a reprofiling last until the 2100's 1472 days have expired?

That would depend on how much you run it. If it's a roundhouse queen, they would last indefinitely.

ASR undertook the 2100 project to return her to operating condition, not to simply relocate her to Ohio. If reprofiled, the tires will pretty much be at the condemnation limit. It does not make financial sense in our minds to dewheel the engine to reprofile the tires among other things, only to have to then replace the tires after only a few years of operation, if that.

Rob Gardner

Would you be dropping the drivers if not for this issue? Could they be reprofiled with a Lidgerwood or similar device to forestall the tire project a bit?

Filmteknik, yes, a Lidgerwood would work for truing the tires, however, after 5+ years of sitting in a wide open, high desert environment, we also want to thoroughly clean out all of the running surfaces in the boxes and also true up the crankpins while we are at it. While we have not totally committed to this route, quite yet, we will exhaust both options before making a final decision. I know crankpins can be trued up in place as many other locomotives have had theirs restored in a similar manner as well such as SP&S 700 for the truing of the tires.

Rob Gardner

Smart decision, Rob. While you have her down, do it right the first time.

Amen. It's an investment, not an expense.

And I heartily second the motion!