...Or the latest project at the Strasburg Rail Road. The Colorado Railroad MuseumÂ’s #346 is up on shop trucks having its frame steam cleaned as an early step in its overhaul, and 1472 day inspection. Some sheet replacement and grooving repair is in store for the boiler, while the running gear will have its lateral tightened up, along with other incidental repairs.

Also in the shop is an eight foot long valve gear model for display at a local museum. This is a scaled up version of an antique valve gear model of LinnÂ’s. All of the moving parts will be under a plexiglass cover to prevent pinched fingers, while a hand wheel and reverse lever on the front of the table allow complete operation. All of the moving parts on this display run on sealed ball bearings, or oil impregnated cast nylon bushings, so no lubrication is needed. There was concern that the display would be stable enough to prevent enthusiastic kids from tipping it over, so the entire display was built of steel. At 1500 lbs, I think it will stay put. See a photo at:

http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/wmsr/i ... el_800.jpg

Work on the EBT #15 is continuing with new bushings being fitted in the rods, repairs being made to the equalizing, and a crew traveling up there on a regular basis to overhaul the boiler.

Other projects are in the works that I hope to be able to report on in the future.


Strasburg Rail Road

kelly@strasburgrailroad.com

That valve gear demo is nice work. Altoona Railroader's museum has a smaller version, and it actually captured the attention of my digital-age teenage sons, normally into C++ programs and download program speeds. After seeing their reaction to hand-cranking a demo, I think this is a GREAT idea, and should be considered for more sites than just a handful... Many current and proposed RR museums should have such a display.



randygustafson@stoneconsulting.com

> ...Or the latest project at the Strasburg
> Rail Road. The Colorado Railroad MuseumÂ’s
> #346 is up on shop trucks having its frame
> steam cleaned as an early step in its
> overhaul, and 1472 day inspection. Some
> sheet replacement and grooving repair is in
> store for the boiler, while the running gear
> will have its lateral tightened up, along
> with other incidental repairs.

Since those are unpowerd trucks, wouldn't that make it a 4-0-4? :o)

The South Carolina Railroad Museum
mconrad@compuzone.net

> Since those are unpowerd trucks, wouldn't
> that make it a 4-0-4? :o)

Actually Matt, since the boiler is already offset on the shop trucks by the difference in gage centerlines it becomes an obvious candidate for conversion into a shay. In fact we figured it would be the only horizontal cylindered shay driven on one side by rods from a central crankshaft. By putting two mainpins on the crankshaft the lead truck would be 90 degrees from the rear and we would have front lead as opposed to left or right lead. The outer pin would obviously have to be fastened in a similar manner as a Walschearts eccentric.

Since I don't know anything about Shays I cannot speak to their classification, however I am assuming Kelly's reference to an 0-4-4-0 took into account that this could potentially be crank driven.

While I know this would open new frontiers in steam locomotion, I suspect the Colorado Railroad Museum would take a rather dim view of such a conversion.

As it is pictured though, I would say you are correct that it is a 4-0-4 and barring any incursions from a parallel universe, it will most likely remain such until it once again is a 2-8-0.

Strasburg Rail Road
linnwm@supernet.com

> Actually Matt, since the boiler is already
> offset on the shop trucks by the difference
> in gage centerlines it becomes an obvious
> candidate for conversion into a shay. In
> fact we figured it would be the only
> horizontal cylindered shay driven on one
> side by rods from a central crankshaft. By
> putting two mainpins on the crankshaft the
> lead truck would be 90 degrees from the rear
> and we would have front lead as opposed to
> left or right lead. The outer pin would
> obviously have to be fastened in a similar
> manner as a Walschearts eccentric.

I don't think I'd call that a "Shay." It sounds more like a cross between a Shay and a Climax. You ought to draw that up, maybe you could patent it. :o) If you decide to actualy build one, bring it down here, we'll run it. :o)

Hmm, what to call it... a "Climay?" "Shamax" maybe?

Oh, I know -- the "Moedinger!" :o)

The South Carolina Railroad Museum
mconrad@compuzone.net