Can anyone offer any tips and tricks for lifting a steam locomotive? We're going to have to lift 6167 and we're trying to make sure we have all our bases covered.

We are going to pull out all the cellars and block of the axles on the driving boxes so the axles don't collapse and don't crush the cellars, and we're going to chain the engine and trailing trucks to the frame.

Looking at photos of CNR engines in the shops, it would seem that CN would lift engines WITH the trailing trucks in place (but the engine truck removed), and chained to the frame. It appears that for the trailing trucks they DIDN'T block those wheels, as they seem to be hanging much lower then the driving wheels.

By the way, Western Mechanical is going to do the liftin using the same equipment used to install the turntable at the John Street Roundhouse, and move CNR 1531 in Barrie.

I hardly think you are in any danger of collapsing axles.......

Choose your lift points well and distribute the load. Spreader bars can do a lot to avoid damaging less robust fabric like cab walls and roof, assuming you lift from above. Look out for smaller bits that might get caught when the slack is taken up and damaged. Pretty much common sense and applied geometry.

good luck.

dave

Joe, this famous image of 6218 in the London Shops should give some guidance in safely lifting and carrying 6167. Be sure the smokebox is solid, otherwise loop the front attachment around the frame.

http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/JPEG/SANDBOX/12-29-2008-20-50-55--aeoliandave.jpg

Since Western Mechanical is the contractor, they will probably erect their portable bridge crane system for the job. I'd expect it would be very well suited to moving the locomotive in this manner.

Steve Hunter

RMEO
Smiths Falls, Ontario

Are you sure that's just looped around the smokebox? Looks like that would be a bit risky to me, especially that close to the front.

Follow the cable down and look closely at the frame. What's that bolted under the steps, about where the front wheel would go? It appears (squinting at the photo, can't really make it out) some sort of attachment to the frame? What are the round objects? Look to be where the may have attached the cable?

Anyone have a bigger/better version of the shot?

These Northerns had the air receivers mounted on a bracket that attaches to the frame. I'm quite sure this is what you are seeing.

In cleaning up derailments and other occasions where lifting was needed, CN wasn't afraid to lift by the smokebox. However, you want to be darn sure that years of rust haven't taken their toll, and lifting by the frame would be more comfortable if there is much damage.

Steve

Ditto - I never lift by the smokebox unless there is no rational way to get under the frame. One of these days some crane jockey is going to tear the front end loose.........

dave

In some pictures, CN is very clearly lifting by the smokebox such as in "Canadian National In The East Volume Two" pg 16, where there is a photo of CNR 6000 (a 4-8-2) in mid air at the newly expanded Pte st. Charles shops. The crane is supporting the engine from the smokbox on one end and by a large beam underneath the frame (underneath the cab) at the other end.

I don't have any literature in my collection that talks about the finer points of lifting an engine, so I thought it would be nice to consult with the community. And I don't imagine that the engine will be lifted by the smokebox. Here is how Western Mechanical moved CNR 1531:

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/journal/080820.html

Oh and that Photo of 6218 is at Stratford.

Not London. Stratford. The car shops were in London.

Good point, Rob. Oops!

Steve

The sling is definitely under the front of 1531's frame in the photos above. The shackles joining the sling to the lifting cables are clearly visible between the smokebox and the cylinders.