The rolling stock was moved around during the morning, primarily to get a flatcar next to the tender of the 1. Why bother? The "plan" is to send the 1 to Colorado for refurbishing at the shops of the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Presuming the MCRR's 3-truck Class C Shay is pulling trains, the same flatbed tractor-trailer that carries the 1 to Colorado will bring their 2-6-2 number 12 to Mount Pleasant.
So, back to the reason for the flatcar next to the 1's tender: hardware removed from the 1's tender is placed on the flatcar. This way, we can move the flatcar somewhere else and get the entire load of removed parts out of the way. Once the space next to the tender is no longer necessary, the flatcar can be brought back.
...and why are we removing hardware? Since we are paying for the 1's restoration, it makes sense that certain elements of the work are done locally to reduce our cost. In addition, we need to start finding all the parts from the 1 and getting them to one place in time for the shipment.
The main thrust of the day's effort was to remove the oversized fuel tank from the tender. Jerry C, Steve R, and Braden G. are standing on the tender plotting what needs to be undone to get the tank off the tender.
With a few people standing on the top of the tender, Brian B. and Roger R. disconnect the fuel lines from the tank while Dan H. watches the progress.
Brian B loosens a fitting on the fuel line.
This scene is reminiscent of ants crawling around a chunk of food, removing morsels to take back to the nest.
Dylan D. searches for a large combination wrench for those perched on the tender.
Roger R and Braden G discuss the next bolt that needs removal prior to lifting the tank off the tender.
Most of the tank's attaching points are gone and the tank is almost ready to lift.
Oops...one more pipe to be removed.
The pipe resisted removal! As a vertical piece was loosened, it seemed to get tighter. The problem was traced to not having a union along the pipe's run. Loosening it from one fitting tightened it in another fitting.
It looks like a cow birthing a calf! The tank is being hoisted out of the tender.
A close look at the modified tank after its removal from the tender.
The tank was sitting on a few boards
A view of the tender without that ugly extended tank protruding from the top. Our guess is that during the engine's conversion from coal to oil, it was determined that a flush mount tank wouldn't carry enough fuel to rove very far from the fuel depot. The solution was to add the 15 inch upper portion.
-steam.airman
Photos courtesy Steam.airman and Braden G.
Photos courtesy Steam.airman and Braden G.
