We will be having a voluntary session for the D&R #9, this Saturday 5/14/22. Start time will be 10am until complete. We will be continuing to knock out small tasks in preparation for the next phases of cosmetic restoration. I hope you can make it. – Jason Reiman
The latest accomplishment on the 1385 boiler has been the installation of the Try-Cocks. That is the proper name of an important set of monitoring and safety devices. In previous posts the question “What’s the first 3 things to know about any boiler?”, was asked and the answer is still “Where’s your water?“, times three. It was also shown the highest point of the crown sheet was measured and marked. We are additionally required to install water level indicating devices whose lowest reading shall not be less than 3 inches above the highest point of the crown sheet.
Close study of the locomotive drawings has shown (Thanks, Ed) that the C&NW standard was to install the indicating devices to show not less than 4 inches of water, giving us an extra inch of safety margin. One of the types of indicating devices is a set of three Try-Cocks, so named because they allow the operator to “Try” the level of the water in the boiler.
In the first picture the punch marks showing the water side of the crown sheet can be seen just above the blue tape. Steve R. of SPEC Machine works so quickly it is sometimes hard to catch a clear picture as evidenced by the photo of him placing a punch mark to locate the center of one of the Try-Cocks. A hole is then drilled and threaded to accept the base or “spud” of each Try-Cock.
The above shot shows all three in place along with a temporary placing of the throttle handle to check clearances. This is part of the 3-D chess necessary to make sure all the components will fit before they are installed. In the circle is a marking of the water side of the crown sheet so we can be sure the lowest Try-Cock is at the proper level.
The Try-Cocks themselves are a mixture of new and old. As seen here, the bonnets and stems are original to the 1385 but the spuds were machined from a new piece of code-compliant material. This was necessary because the new boiler has a reinforcing plate applied to the inside of the backhead in order to meet with the strength requirements of the current construction code. This means the steel in that area is much thicker than the original boiler and in order to properly reach far enough into the water space the spuds needed to be longer.
Each Try-Cock has a drain tube installed in the valve stem to direct the steam and water into the drain cup when the valve is operated to “Try” the water level. Below is how they look after final installation of the spuds, stems and drain cup. The drain cup will have a pipe that extends through the cab floor to drain the water out onto the right-of-way.
In Upcoming Updates: The throttle handle and rod as well as the engine lubricator.
The #9 crew got together this last Saturday for our first working volunteer session of 2022. Unfortunately, Fletcher was not able to join us again, as he was attending a birthday party. But we continued our efforts to prepare the Tender for its first coat of paint. We fully removed the tarps that protected the Tender all winter. We also oiled the journal boxes, and strapped up loose chains and hoses so they wouldn’t drag when the tender is moved.
The #9 itself didn’t get much attention on this day, but we did oil the rods and some other moving parts in the event the loco gets moved. Finally, we inspected the #9’s window frames in the car shop. They are coming along nicely. We had an enjoyable day, and we are all excited to be back at work. Many thanks to Steve Pahl and Mike Laabs for all the hard work.
We are tentatively looking at our next volunteer session on Saturday, May 14. We will confirm that within the next couple of weeks, and hopefully we will see you there.
Jason Reiman
On April 23, 2022, a team of volunteers consisting of Kyle G., Ross S., Perry A. Richard P., and led by Ed Ripp, Mid-Continent’s newly named General Foreman of Steam Power, worked on jacking up the front of the tender and rolling out the tender’s front truck. While the truck was out from under the tender, the wheelsets were removed from the truck to facilitate inspection of the roller bearings.
The inspection was necessary due to flooding at Mid-Continent Railway Museum in 2018. The bearings were potentially reached by the floodwaters which could have led to corrosion on the bearing surfaces. To make sure no water damage had occurred, it was necessary to remove the wheelsets to allow for a full, detailed inspection. Fortunately, the inspection of the front truck wheelsets found no evidence of corrosion.
The volunteers also made an adjustment to one of the shim plates so the plate will sit correctly against the tender frame. This work was able to be completed by evening.
Another volunteer work session will be forthcoming to inspect the roller bearings of the rear truck and possibly start installing fittings on the water ports of the cistern.
Sorry this is coming out so late. But we will be having a volunteer session for the #9, tomorrow, Saturday, April 23, 2022. The start time will be 10 AM until complete. We will continue to knock out small tasks in preparation for the next phases of cosmetic restoration. I hope you can make it.
– Jason Reiman
