Ready for the Zephyr

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:25 pm

Well not quite, I think it still has some internal water leaks, but WP 805A looks good just the same, at Portola.

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?may03/05-10-03/WP805PortolaRRMuseum.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

Roger Mitchell · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2003 9:34 am

> Well not quite, I think it still has some
> internal water leaks, but WP 805A looks good
> just the same, at Portola.
Thats the primary reason that only water is used as coolant in most EMD products and why they leave them running all the time. Internal water leaks are not an uncommon problem with them.
Roger Mitchell
Master Mechanic
Fort Collins Municipal Railway

n0mcr@netzero.net

David Dewey · **Posted:** Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:46 am

Thanks, I consider 805A to be perhaps my most significant cosmetic restoration. Applying the wings was challenging, but the feeling as I removed the masking was incredible. It turned out much better than I had hoped.
The water leak has been an ongoing bug, this is one of the early block designs, which I an told has cronic water seal problems. I'm no longer at Portola, having taken a curatorial position here in Oroville, so I don't know what the present plan is for the prime mover.(which, amazingly, is the original one!)
Steamcerely,
David Dewey
(yeah, I know; what was a steam nut doing in Portola?)

djdewey@cncnet.com