Category Archives: Western Coal & Coke #1 Status Updates

Welcome to the Western Coal & Coke #1 steam status blog! Work on the #1, a.k.a. “the Montreal,” is on hiatus while efforts focus on other locomotives. Updates from past years are archived here and on the Locomotive Shop forum of the MCRM members’ webpage.

Pilot Made on WC&C #1 Pilot

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Progress is being made on the WC&C #1’s pilot. The structural elements of the base assembly have been cut and fitted along with the uprights for the supporting members. The retaining ring for the base has had the old finish and rust ground and/or sanded off, primed, and painted. Bob Ristow has fabricated or machined all new hardware with the exception of the cast pieces and connecting rod that rest on the top of the pilot. All of the new hardware was returned to my shop where it has been cleaned, primed and painted. All of the old nuts, bolts, and washers that were salvaged from the old pilot have been cleaned with a wire wheel on the grinder.

Tomorrow (Thursday, December 7, 2006) I hope to start drilling through the base of the pilot and the uprights to begin reassembly. This may take all day as caution must be taken to line everything up accurately. There are no second chances, and oops makes it firewood.

Now for the bad news. I’ve run out of usable lumber and will have to purchase more cured white oak to finish the front of the pilot. Hopefully, Endeavor Hardwoods (Lyndon Station) will have the 8/4 white oak I need.

More as it happens.

–Roger Hugg

Riveting Work Weekend

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Work this weekend included installing 8 rivets in the WC&C #1 fire box patch. Friday afternoon and Saturday morning was spent in preparation. A backer plate was fabricated. Then a test plate with 4 holes was formed and used to determine the rivet length needed. All the tools were lined up and test hole riveted. Testing went perfect and all 8 rivets in the patch were installed in an hour and 15 minutes.

Rivet crew of five; Bob Ristow, Pete Deets, Roger Hugg, Ed Ripp and
Jim Connor.

Pictures show Pete Deets welding on the backer plate. Pete and Bob Ristow reaming rivet holes. Ed Ripp running the rivet gun. Completed patch with 8 rivets installed. The patch will be welded in place in the near future. Also a picture of Bob’s progress on the boiler check valves.

–Jim Connor

Lund Machine and Tool Works on Firebox Replacement Pieces

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Some progress finally to report. Jim Connor took some photos and hopefully will forward them to you. Lund Machine and Tool arrived Monday after noon. Work started immediately on the firebox replacement pieces. The old sheet pieces were removed in the area of the new rear tube sheet, a 1/2″ thick plate with the keyhole shape was fitted into place. The engineers rear corner patch was fabbed and is ready for 9 rivets. The front tube sheet was removed.

The swing links for the front truck have new bushings installed and work continues on disassembling and inspection.

–Bob Ristow

Photos by Jim Connor.

Dome Surfacing Machine

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New member Randy Way, Jim Connor, and Bob Ristow where able to set up the dome surfacing machine enabling truing of the gasket surface. Mark Jones joined Bob on Sunday, the ‘cut’ on the dome was dressed up and a ‘new’ storage box was built for the surfacing machine. The new box is about 3/4 the size of the old one and will facilitate storage since it can now fit thru a door. Several front tube sheet rivets were drilled in preparation for removal.

–Bob Ristow

Jim Connor photos.

Barrel Patch Riveting Projects Completed

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Last weekend was another sucessfull riveting party! Over 40 rivets were installed completing all three barrel patch riveting projects. Only 3 of the 200 rivets installed over Spring Fling had to be replaced! Not bad for a bunch of rookies.

In addition, much work was completed on the DL&W combine #425. The truck and bolster were readied for installing back under the combine. Center plate and draft gear framing was repaired. The truck was actually rolled under the car on Monday, Tuesday work continued to repair the center sill/draft gear superstructure. It is anticipated that the car will be finished by this weekend.

Thanks to all who assisted in the above projects…your efforts do not go un-noticed.

May 22, Jeff Lund will return to finish the installation of the rear tube sheet. This will leave only the front tube sheet and rear firebox corner to require TLC by the welder.

Stay tuned for additional info and project updates…. “We can do this!”

–Bob Ristow