The Wisconsin State Journal writer Barry Adams paid a visit to SPEC Machine to take a look at the latest progress on Mid-Continent’s Chicago & North Western #1385 steam locomotive and interviews shop owner Steve Roudebush.
NOTE: Article may require a subscription to Madison.com to access.
Progress continues on the grate bearers and grates for the #1385. As seen in the following photos, the center bridge has been completed as well as the Engineer and Firemans’ side outside bearers. As will be shown in a moment the grates will be supported by the round pins on the bearers.
With the grate bearers now installed, efforts turned to the grates themselves. Looking from the Fireman’s side (see Grate Photo 1) almost all the grates have been put in place and are hanging from those pins. On the Engineer’s side one grate has been left out (see Grate Photo 2) to illustrate where the grates hang. It can also be seen how the grates pivot or rock on the pins to allow the crew to clean and manage their fire.
Looking in through the firedoor (see Grate Photo 3) at the left side you can see how the grates form a solid yet perforated floor to hold the fuel yet allow enough air up through the fire bed to promote complete & proper combustion. On the right side the grates are rocked forward to a degree that the fireman would be dumping the fire into the ashpan. This is done in the morning while cleaning the fire of yesterday’s ash while preparing for today’s fresh fire and another day of steaming. If the fireman simply needs to even out the fire or shake down some accumulated ash the grates can be rattled back and forth just a small amount. This will cause the ash to fall down into the ashpan through the holes in the grates.
You can see in the photos we are using “experienced” grates. A few are bowed due to poor ashpan management causing excessive heat and causing the grates to warp. Here is a more detailed shot (Grate Photo 4) of the open grates and the large “dump grate” at the bottom of the photo.
The dump grate (Grate Photo 5) is closest to the firedoor and is about the size of two of the other grates. It pivots not in the center but along the edge closest to the firedoor and as the name implies is used to dump a large amount of either ash or fire as needed into the ashpan.
The grates are divided into three sections looking back to front in the firebox and there is the fireman’s set and the engineer’s set. The large tabs that extend down from the bottom of each grate are connected by a series of tie bars, pins and levers to the grate shaker fulcrums in the cab.
At the time the photos were taken, the shaker arrangement was being laid out on the floor for evaluation of the extent of needed repair/replacement of parts. The shaker fulcrums and latches will be mounted to the boiler and some of the other parts will get mounted to the rear boiler support which has also been newly installed.
Bit by bit the puzzle pieces are finding their way back together to form a living, breathing iron horse and soon #1385 will again be the Whistle on the Wind!
Update text and photos by Jason Reiman
October 16-17, 2021; Fletch and his crew had a great weekend during the last volunteer session this year on the D&R #9. Fall is here, so we did what most folks in Wisconsin do; buttoned up and prepared. In hopes of not losing the great progress we made on the #9 in the last 6 months, we wrapped the locomotive and tender in layers of tarps and did our best to seal the elements out of the cab and coal space, and especially to keep snow and water from sitting anywhere on the locomotive or tender. It was not hard work, but a lot of guessing and anticipating where water or snow could cause a problem. We reinforced those locations with wood and bracing. Hopefully we find her high and dry in the spring.
We also had the pleasure of meeting a fan of the D&R #9 this weekend. He stopped by and walked all the way back to our little corner of the museum to say hi. I apologize we didn’t get your name, but you came all the way from Minneapolis, and I wanted to thank you for coming down, and taking the time to check out the #9. If you read this, please say hello to everyone here. If there are any other fans of the #9’s restoration, and you want to see in person how it’s coming along, please, by all means, come over and check us out. We are down at the far end of the car shop, and would love to say hi.
Finally, we want to wish a Very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the little leader of our crew, Fletcher Reiman, who turned 10 years old on 10/23. Fletcher is a great reminder of what our purpose truly is when working on the #9. When we are outside tinkering with parts on the boiler, or planning our next move, we might find Fletcher inside the cab pulling levers and making steam noises. In his eyes, the #9 is literally coming back to life. But don’t be fooled, when Fletcher is not daydreaming about the good ole days of Steam, he is out turning wrenches with the rest of us. Fletchers’ family stopped by Saturday, and we all went out for a birthday supper, opened some presents, and a large crowd of Museum volunteers were on hand to sing him Happy Birthday. Thanks for keeping us young Fletch, and Happy Birthday.
And a HUGE thank you to ALL volunteers and vendors that have helped us get the #9 to the point she is at now. Please continue to watch over winter, as we will be tackling small projects here and there, and will keep you updated with those and more.
D&R #9 volunteer session is scheduled for this weekend, starting at 10:00 am on Saturday 10/16. This may be one of the last for this year, so if you wanna lend a hand before the snow flies, please come down and check it out.
Fletch and his crew had a good work session this last weekend (Sept. 25-26, 2021), and we were able to accomplish many tasks.
Some of these tasks included the removal of the cab seats that were placed into storage for later restoration. Additional measurements were taken of the pilot and running boards. These will be used to order new white oak that will hopefully be used to rebuild both over the winter. In preparation for this coming winter, we located and placed an A-Frame shelter on top of the tender in order to hold a large tarp, in hopes of keeping rain and snow from sitting on the clean metal.
The most exciting event of this weekend occurred when Steve Pahl re-discovered the #9’s builder plates, and Fletcher re-discovered the #9’s number board. All were checked in to storage in hopes they will be placed back on the locomotive when she is finally complete.
Currently, we have what might be one of our last work sessions scheduled for the weekend of October 16. Please come out and join us if you can. Otherwise, please keep an eye out for updates, as we hope to have some additional exciting updates on the #9 before the end of the season.
