Several of the mounting studs for things such as steps, injector pipe brackets and cab attachment brackets are badly corroded on Georgia Northern 107. The worst are in the backhead and wrapper sheet areas where the lagging remained. This locomotive is currently undergoing substantial cosmetic restoration. We have successfully removed a couple of the studs and the threads in the plate are in good condition. Rather than weld on replacement studs I would prefer to keep the original construction intact by using threaded studs. I am looking for a source of studs to replace those that are in the worst condition.

As always, any help would be appreciated.

Stephen Syfrett
Albany, GA

ssyfrett@bellsouth.net

About the best and only source for studs to fit a locomotive boiler is a South Bend (or any other brand, for that matter) lathe, with an operator who knows how to cut threads with a single point tool.

The vast majority of stud and washout hole threads in boilers are 12 TPI and tapered, cut with a series of taps that go from about 1/2" dia up to 3" plus in an unbroken series. Each hole is tapped out as needed to make good threads, with little regard to standardization. Therefore, each stud is custom made to fit its hole.

Get yourself some SA-36 steel bar, and make friends with someone who can single point threads. Once in “production mode” it does go pretty fast.


kelly@strasburgrailroad.com

If you are replacing studs then you are stuck with using tapered threaded studs. If you are adding studs then perhaps you would use a newer technology.
http://www.studweldprod.com/studs/index.php

I would advise you to borrow some boiler taps from a major museum or else contact one of the repair contractors to swing by sometime and tap out your holes. The new studs can be made readily ao any lathe but are made a lot easier on one with a taper attachment. If our are going to do any maintience work you should get one for your shop or find a small local shop close by. I recommend stress proof or 1137-heat treated as it machines much better and is much stronger. If all else fails, Send me a sketch and I can make them for you.

fwantz@pressenter.com

Thank you for your replies and suggetions. I wish we did have a shop in which to work. Unfortunately, we are working in the open and I must contract all the machine work. But hey, this is shortline railroad stuff...gotta keep it in context, right?

Stephen Syfrett
Albany, GA

> Several of the mounting studs for things
> such as steps, injector pipe brackets and
> cab attachment brackets are badly corroded
> on Georgia Northern 107. The worst are in
> the backhead and wrapper sheet areas where
> the lagging remained. This locomotive is
> currently undergoing substantial cosmetic
> restoration. We have successfully removed a
> couple of the studs and the threads in the
> plate are in good condition. Rather than
> weld on replacement studs I would prefer to
> keep the original construction intact by
> using threaded studs. I am looking for a
> source of studs to replace those that are in
> the worst condition.

> As always, any help would be appreciated.

> Stephen Syfrett
> Albany, GA


ssyfrett@bellsouth.net