A few days ago, the #1385 felt her first sunshine with the new boiler, and now the boiler has received its first Wisconsin water.
To clean up details from our last update, we have 2 crew photos because someone has to hold the camera. The first shot shows Gary A., General Foreman of Steam Ed R., Gary B., Richard P. and Spec Machine owner, Steve R.
Pete D. photo.
The second shot is Gary A., Ed R., Steve R., Richard and Roger F. Roger provided and operated some of the machines used to lay the track.
Pete D. photo.
After all the work that has been done on the boiler, we need to flush it out before we can prepare for a pressure test. The first trickle coming from a firebox washout becomes a steady flow carrying debris from the stud installation with it.
Pete D. photo.Pete D. photo.Pete D. photo.
A large hose was used in the steam dome, then Ed switched to a smaller hose to flush from the washouts at the front end of the boiler.
Pete D. photo.
The engine seems to be saying, “Ahhhh,” while enjoying the afternoon sun and a nice, clean feeling.
Pete D. photo.
The next morning the steam dome was mounted on the boiler with help from Blue Star Farms who not only provided the water but also mechanical help.
Pete D. photo.Roger F. photo.
With the steam dome in place, the engine was filled. Approximately 2800 gallons later, the vent hole in the steam dome lid looked like a bubbler.
Pete D. photo.Pete D. photo.
We have already identified a few minor weeps that will need attention and once the water is warmed to the proper testing range, we will pressurize the boiler to see if there are any further items for the “fix-it” list. Then the boiler will be drained & dried, the fix-it list addressed, and the boiler refilled and pressurized again to make sure everything was truly fixed. Once we know that we have a vessel that has no leaks, we can look to scheduling a test for the FRA.
Mid-Continent Railway MuseumPosted on by Jeffrey Lentz
This great midsummer weather has all sorts of wonders to reveal. Monday, 7/22 a small group of volunteers met at SPEC Machine and assembled a few track panels leading out the shop door. From that process comes the old saw “If you build it they will come”.
Well, we built it and guess who came out the door? Our beloved 1385 is feeling sunshine for the first time in nearly 5 years. We will have more details and more pictures in the very near future.
“July 6-7, 2024; even though the Chinese Zodiac lists 2024 as the “Year of the Dragon”, Fletch and his crew continued the “Year of the Cab,” and pushed forward this last weekend with efforts on the D&R #9’s cab for restoration.
Frank F., Steve P., Mike L., Jay S. and the team’s 4-legged friend “Roger” pulled first shift on Saturday July 6 where they focused on the backhead. While Roger managed Steve, Mike, and Jay on the ground, Frank pulled up his sleeves and got the dirty work done. He made quick work of the backhead and interior cab getting excess dirt and debris cleaned off to create a better surface for paint application. While Frank was playing in the dirt, Steve received a wonderful Christmas present from Ms. Judy G., who graciously cleaned up the original back windows of the #9 cab and wrapped them up in a beautiful package for safe keeping until they can be re-installed. Merry Christmas Judy. Lol. The guys on Saturday also met with Andy S. to coordinate moving the #9 to a few possible locations for painting the cab. Thanks to Andy and the guys for doing that leg work.
The second shift came in on Sunday July 7 with Fletch, Jason, and Tyler D. Also known as the “A-Team” (this may or may-not be disputed by first shift), Fletch and this team were poised to continue preliminary work on the pilot re-build. However, that was quickly tabled after completing a planned meeting with Chris B. to discuss the upcoming paint work. We identified enough small items that needed removal or work prior to painting, that we felt it best to shift our focus back to the cab for the day. With that, we removed several items to expose more of the metal surface of the cab and allow for better contact with primer and paint. We also conducted some detail work on the cab floor and under the cab to remove additional dirt and debris.
It was good hard work both days, but the MVP award for the weekend will have to go to Frank F. who worked in the warmest and dirtiest conditions by far. Roger came in a close second for MVP, but ultimately received Honorable Mention. Many thanks Frank, and to everyone that helped this weekend.
With that, Fletcher is beyond EXCITED to announce our next work session currently slated for the weekend of August 10 and 11. This will be the culminating event of our year, and we hope to finally get the first coats of paint on the #9 herself. We are praying for a safe and successful move by the operations crew along with good weather that weekend, and that will hopefully set us up for success next month. Fletch hopes you stop by to check it out or lend a hand.”
The 5-day long “All Hands on Deck” session held by the MCRM Restoration Department was very successful. The volunteers really did an outstanding job and performed an immense amount of work in a matter of a few days.
The tremendously successful “All Hands on Deck” Session was held during June 26th to the 30th and we had a total of 32 different volunteers participating in the event, with an average of 20 volunteers per day. In total the volunteers put in over 800 hours of work during this session.
Anyone walking in the MCRM Car Shop after this event will notice a significant difference in the appearance of the cars that were worked on. The progress made during this session exceeded the expectations and this was achieved due to the support, commitment and hard work of the volunteers. Progress made during the 5-day All Hands on Deck Session is summarized below. Note that several of the photos capture the status of the projects before and after the All Hands on Deck session.
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Sleeping car DULUTH: Installed new veneer pieces under the windows in the smoking room and one in the sleeping compartment, installed the new window header (veneer with marquetry) in the smoking room, installed the headliner trim on the west side of the smoking room, applied canvas and painted to the two headliners for the smoking room (east side), installed filler pieces in the sleeping compartment lamp openings, installed cleats along the edge of the original veneer ceiling panels in the sleeping compartment, installed one new piece of bending plywood in the sleeping compartment ceiling, removed the remaining clerestory window frames from the car, primed and cut new car siding to length, installed a portion of the car siding on the east and west sides (approximately 30%) and took delivery of three new interior doors, two mirror frames and four vestibule end windows.
Duluth sleeping compartment ceiling BEFORE AHOD.Duluth sleeping compartment ceiling AFTER AHOD.Duluth smoking room east wall BEFORE AHOD.Duluth smoking room east wall AFTER AHOD.Duluth west car siding BEFORE AHOD.Duluth west car siding AFTER AHOD.
Removing clerestory windows in the Duluth during the AHOD
East Jordan & Southern #2: Painted the entire exterior of the car with the EJ&S green, sanded and varnished the interior the entire passenger section of the car as well as the saloon (multiple coats), installed the lower inner window stops, painted the brake beams, trimmed bolts to length under the car, sanded the seat footrests and cleaned and painted the car body end rails.
EJ&S #2 exterior status BEFORE AHOD.EJ&S #2 exterior paint progress AFTER AHOD.Interior of the EJ&S #2 before AHOD.Varnishing inside the EJ&S #2 during the AHOD.
Lake Superior & Ishpeming #64: Reconstructed the car framing for the two oval windows, installed the car siding around the two oval windows, installed the last of the straight battens on the car, primed the entire exterior of the car, cut and fit the window frames on the east side of the car, primed ten of the window frames, sanded much of the interior woodwork, cleaned and painted the car body end rails and cleaned up springs for the window frames.
The LS&I #64 BEFORE the AHOD session.The LS&I #64 AFTER being primed during the AHOD.The LS&I #64 east side oval window BEFORE the AHOD.The LS&I #64 east side oval window and siding AFTER the AHOD.
Priming the LS&I #64 during the AHOD session.
Rock Island #1094: Removed the last of the cabinets and sink in the baggage room, scraped and painted the north half of the baggage room including the clerestory area, the water tanks and the side walls. Reconstructed the south doorway in the bunk area, replaced missing and deteriorated headliner boards in the bunk area and baggage room and made a mockup of the bunk side rails.
The status in the Rock Island baggage room BEFORE the AHOD.The progress in the Rock Island baggage room AFTER the AHOD.
I’d like to thank all of the amazing volunteers who put in a tremendous amount of work during the past 5 days! Special thanks are also extended to the volunteers that prepared all of the meals for the entire crew during the session as well as the MCRM operating crew that took the group on the Pizza Train ride.
Volunteers participating in the event included: Peter, Jeff Ha., Owen, Judy, Darryl, Larry S. Jack, Jerry F., Fred, Bob R., David P., Gregg, Jane, Steven M., Larry T., Steve W., Bob B., Dean, Jerry M., Marty, Thomas, Altha, Kelly, Nate, Jay, Steve P., Dan P., Colton, Jeff Hu., David M., John T. and I. Please accept my apologies if I omitted the name(s) any of the volunteers that participated.
Some of the 32 volunteers that participated in the AHOD session.
Dinner time for the AHOD crew.
MCRM Volunteers on an evening excursion to the R&GN.
Thanks again to everyone that participated in the session and helped to make it a huge success. Our next volunteer work session is scheduled for July 13, 14 and 15.
“June 8, 2024; Fletcher was pumped this last weekend getting back to work on the #9 here in 2024. We had a planning session in May where we set our goals and benchmarks for the year and knocked out some coordination for future work.
Fletch and I met with Frank F. Saturday morning and headed to the museum with hopes of cleaning the backhead in preparation for painting later this summer. BUT, mother nature had its say and we had to nix that plan with the rain that was coming down most of the day. So, we were forced to work inside, and decided to put some work in on the pilot. Many thanks to Ed R. for taking time from his work in the Engine House to help us out. Ed came up to Storage Shed #1 and did the forklift work to help us get the #9’s pilot down from the upper most racks. Once we had the pilot on the ground, we spent most of the day collecting more precise measurements on the timbers that precariously held the pilot together. Frank found his inner Star Trek and created a 3D image of the current pilot to give us a reference in the future. A special thanks for Frank’s Pup “Roger” for keeping us on track with the pilot.
Once we had our measurements and images, we moved to Storage Shed #2 to inspect the white oak timbers that will make up the rebuilt pilot. Fletch checked moisture levels of the timbers using a moisture meter and found them to be at good levels. Another big thank you to Jerry M. for all his advice and guidance when we talked in May. Jerry M. provided us a lot of insight to help us start moving the pilot re-build forward.
And with that, we continue to move the ball forward on the D&R #9. We currently have two volunteer sessions planned on Friday 7/5 and Sunday 7/7. Fletch and his crew would love for you to join us.”
Frank taking measurements of the top portion of the pilot.Fletch collecting photos of the pilot.Fletch checking the moisture levels of the timbers using a moisture meter.
