With the 6 out of action, the 16 will see a new role as a primary engine -- instead of being "the poor cousin who gets dressed up but her date never arrives." The 16 will be the belle of the ball in 2009!
However, cliches aside, the belle needs lots of food and our coal bunker needed some work to get it ready for the coal. When first created a year ago, while the posts were long enough to accommodate 6 or 7 courses of ties, only three courses of ties were placed on the three sides.
Special thanks to Ms. Elsie B. for taking the following series of pictures!
Elliot H. and Abe C. move a tie to the coal bunker.
After placing a full tie on the north wall, Griffin W. measures the remaining length for a custom cut.
Rather than cranking the long lag bolts in by hand, a portable air compressor and impact wrench easily runs the bolts into the wood. The extra hand above the impact wrench is pouring some dish soap on the bolt to ease its way into the wood.
Cutting a few inches off a tie is done with a gasoline chainsaw.
While the shop staff was working on the coal bunker, the conductors were cleaning the coaches after their winter storage.
-steam.airman
