While the Morton gang was busy with the South Station, MCRR people were busy installing the new tires on No. 2's wheels.
The first set of pictures shows Dan H. and Chris P. watching the fire heating the tire in anticipation of slipping the wheel inside.
The tire is heated with a propane fired hoop burner. There are several modern ways of determining the correct temperature but for nostalgia sake, we placed a slug of babbit on the tire and waited until it liquefied -- about 500F -- and watched the color of the metal change from shiny silver to light straw to dark straw. Sufficient expansion occurs to allow the wheel to easily slip in place. More critical to the heating process are the initial measurements for correct machining of the tires.
Once the tire reaches the correct temperature, the axle/wheel assembly is lowered into the tire, the fire is switched off, and we wait for the fitted tire to cool.
Jostling the axle/wheel assembly from its vertical position to a horizontal position.
Preparing the bricks for the next tire.
The surfaces of the tire are cleaned with solvent.
The Old Threshers' organization provides school tours of their two museums. We keep a short consist and a locomotive in Museum B allowing us to participate in the tours. Our Dylan D. represents the railroad side of the facility.
A few months ago, we removed a stake pocket from one of the DRGW flatcars in anticipation of having it replicated for use on the other flatcar. Micah M. replaces the stake pocket.
Dan H. prepares the green coach for painting.
Part of No. 6's winter rehabilitation is to have the water side of the tender resealed. The staff removes the fuel tank and access panels to the water tank.
The ongoing inspection the 16's boiler continues. Some needle descaling takes place to insure the accuracy of the boiler wall thickness testing. One of the firebox stays was removed to determine what it will take to do the entire firebox.
-steam.airman
