July, 2018, Work Weekend

The D-9 gained its torque converter!

Rex F. and John K. discuss the next move for getting the torque converter into the frame.

Hoisting the engine to slide it forward.

The torque converter nestled between the transmission and engine.

Joanie M. wire wheeling the crud off the D-9's chassis.

Yippee! Roger R. finalizes the sanders of the Vulcan FS-2! We will now need to see how well they work. Unlike No. 12, FS-2's sanders are gravity fed. This should be interesting.

No. 6 has been under extensive maintenance in the past 7 months. Those of you familiar with the 6 will not recognize the fireman/engineer's area.

Dave O. installs the overflow pipe for the right-side injector. Matt W. adjusts the boiler check valve.

The new mechanical lubricator. As of this writing, it has not been mounted on the engine but will be installed in the next few weeks.

Alan C. and Dom H. wrap the fiberglass insulation on the steam pipes and manifolds in 6's cab.

The current view of 6's cab. Yes, that is No. 6 and not the 12.

Matt W. replaces the steam line for the air compressor.

Once work was complete, the 6's boiler was filled to the appropriate level and the tender was topped up. In anticipation of running it on Sunday, Dom H. poses while a natural gas fire is heating the boiler.

The 6 performed quite well on Sunday. Pulling a 3 car consist, it made it around the system numerous times. Everyone that wanted to run or fire the engine had a chance to do so. A short list of fixes remains as well as a few more items that still need to be installed.

Photos courtesy Dom H., Alan C., Elliot H. 

-steam.airman

June, 2018, Work Weekend

Two inside work areas and one outside work area.

The Plymouth diesel switcher, D-9, had lots of attention. Both the D-9 and No. 14 were acquired from a liquidation sale of a rock quarry operator in Ohio in the 1990's. No. 14 was the better of the two and was placed in service soon after relocating to the MCRR. The D-9 was a bit rougher and never saw regular service. A restoration effort has been ongoing since 2009 with long periods of nothing happening.

The staff removes some of the sheet metal to expose the engine compartment in anticipation of getting the repaired torque converter installed.

Dustin B. supervises the volunteers as they rebuild the brake cylinders.

Dustin B. gets the transmission front end cleaned in anticipation of connecting the torque converter.

No. 6 was buried on shop's west track. The Vulcan Iron Works FS-2 pulled No. 6 and the D-9 out of their holes for continuing maintenance.

Jesse V. carefully places the gasket onto No. 6's right steam cylinder so the valve chest can be put in place.

A few members resumed the fireside cleaning of No. 12. Poor weather from the end-of-season operation in December until this work weekend has kept the last few hours of its annual pickling from being completed. Elliot H. holds the locomotive in place and then watches as Micah M. and Alex M. open the smoke box door.

Alex M. and Micah M. take a rest from their first task of cleaning the firebox.

In the firebox.

-Photos courtesy Joanie M. and Elliot H.
-steam.airman

May, 2018, Work Weekend

In preparation for the wheel upgrade project, we moved the large wheel press from a flatcar to the machine shop floor. Steve P's large crane easily lifted the press off the flatcar.

One of the trouble areas on the 6 were the leaky seals for the slide valves' rods. Jesse V. resurfaced the rods and made new bushings. The newly acquired tool post grinder was a vital piece of equipment for this job.

No 6's upgrade project continued. Matt W. modifies the air compressor's steam delivery pipe.

Kendall O., Matt W., and John W. bend a delivery pipe for the new Monitor injectors.

The volunteers moved some cabinets from the main floor to the loft over the office. The cabinets were loaded with heavy parts. Each cabinet was emptied of its drawers, hoisted to the loft and reassembled.

-Pictures courtesy John W. and Elliot H. 

-steam.airman