In early December, we were sub-contracted by Robert Yuill, of Historic Machinery Services Corporation, http://www.historicmachineryservices.com/, to perform the off-site machine work on the running gear of a 2-6-2 that Robert is overhauling for the Camp 5 Museum in Wisconsin. A very tight schedule demanded that the parts must be ready to return to WI by the last week in February.
In addition to our own annual work, and the other outside jobs we currently have underway, we completed the following work on this engine: One new driving axle, all other journals turned or polished, all ten wheels reprofiled, all crankpins quartered, turned, and polished, all crankpin caps modified, two new eccentric crank pins, two new knuckle pins, all side rod bushing holes bored for tram, all new side rod bushings, all new crown brasses, four driving boxes trued up on all bearing surfaces, two new driving boxes built to replace those too damaged to reuse, and all cellars properly fitted to the driving boxes.
We also made a CAD layout of the frame (with data supplied by Robert, on site), wheels, and boxes in order to accurately determine the thickness of the outer flange of each shoe & wedge. This information will assist Robert in machining the new shoes & wedges for the proper lateral.
In a collaboration repeated successfully several times now, we used dimensional data for the boiler, supplied by Robert on site, to perform the boiler strength calculations needed for a Form 4.
We have just received the go-ahead to build three new engine truck boxes, and overhaul a forth for this engine, which will follow the balance of the parts to WI, probably by late March. I must say that it is a pleasure to work with Robert, and we look forward to many similar collaborations in the future.
In other news: Work on the Colorado Railroad MuseumÂ’s #346 continues, with a new lower barrel course being welded in, not to mention three patches in the firebox, and repairs to the lateral motion of the running gear. Boiler work on the EBT #15 is scheduled to resume with the arrival of warmer weather. There are other exciting projects in the offing, which I hope to be able to report on in the future.
We have acquired three new (to us) machine tools this year which will be a great help in doing work in an efficient manner. A 15” x 4’ Carlton radial arm drill press, which doesn’t think twice about drilling very large diameter holes in tube sheets and the like, a late model Bridgeport mill with digital readouts which will greatly speed those fine close tolerance jobs like injector parts, and a 14” Morley slotter, just the thing for overhauling driving boxes.
#89 is in service, and opened our 2004 season last Saturday. #31 has finished her annual work and is serviceable, #90, #475, and Thomas (a. k. a. “The Little Blue Bastard”) are all nearing the end of their annual work. The 15” gage Cagney is getting her annual, and will be getting a considerably longer run this year, with track due to be laid past the Back Shop to the East end of our property.
This shot shows the Babbitt hub face of one of the new driving boxes built for Robert Yuill.
Strasburg Rail Road
kelly@strasburgrailroad.com
