↓
 

Mid-Continent Railway Museum

North Freedom, Wis.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum logo banner with images of train cars and people.
  • Home
    • Home Page
    • News
    • Join Our Email List
    • Media
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Train Ride/Museum Info
    • Special Events
      • Autumn Color™ Weekend
      • Pizza Limited
      • Harvest Flyer
      • Pumpkin Special™
      • Root Beer Float Flyer
      • Santa Express™/Holiday Flyer
      • Stars and Stripes Special
      • Vintage Rail Car Tours
    • Cancellation Policy
  • Gift Shop
  • Restorations
    • Major Projects
    • Steam Status
      • Overview
      • C&NW #1385 Status Updates
      • Western Coal & Coke #1 Status Updates
      • Dardanelle & Russellville #9 Status Updates
    • Car Shop
      • General Updates
      • DSS&A Sleeper DULUTH
      • EJ&S #2
      • Badger #2
      • Copper Range #25
      • MLS&W #63
      • Copper Range #60
  • Equipment Roster
    • Equipment Roster Home
    • Steam Locomotives
    • Diesel/Other Locomotives
    • Wooden Passenger Cars
    • Steel Passenger Cars
    • Wooden Freight Cars
    • Steel Freight Cars
    • Cabooses
    • Service Equipment
    • Former Collection Items
  • Resources
    • Online Archives Home
    • Wooden Car Builders
    • MCRM Newsletters
    • Gazette Archive
    • Audio Archive
    • Video Archive
    • Wallpaper
    • Kids Page
      • Kids Page
      • What Makes A Diesel Locomotive Work?
      • What Makes A Steam Locomotive Work?
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • About Mid-Continent
    • Board of Directors
    • Department Leaders
    • Our Staff
    • Become a Member
    • Volunteer
    • Employment
    • Tour of Grounds
    • Local History
    • Mid-Continent Timeline
    • Privacy Policy
  • Donate

Tag Archives: lubricator

C&NW #1385: Mounting Achievements

Mid-Continent Railway Museum Posted on July 28, 2022 by Jeffrey LentzJuly 28, 2022

The next item to be mounted to the backhead of the 1385 is the hydrostatic lubricator.  That is merely a complicated name for the device that delivers steam cylinder oil to the valves and pistons as well as to the steam end of the engine’s air compressors.  Steam cylinder oil is specially compounded to mix with and then be carried by the steam to all the internal moving parts.

The lubricator lives in the cab of the engine within reach of the engineer so he or she can keep a constant eye on this vital function.  If the oiling stops the engine will begin to make some really ugly noises in a very short time and if not immediately corrected those noises become quite expensive. 

Once again the 3-D chessboard is set to mock up the placement of several pieces at once and the lubricator is hanging from the chain hoist.  The bracket for the lubricator is mounted using 2 studs and its position is being verified between the try-cocks, throttle and one of the two required water gauge glasses.

A chain hoist is used to hold the lubricator in place during test-fitting.
Placement of the lubricator bracket between the try-cocks and water glass.

Here is the lubricator mounted in its final position showing how it is studded to the boiler.  Our parting shot shows the upper right corner of the backhead and the top of the boiler with the body of the throttle peeking up out of the steam dome area.  The dome was made to be removable to better facilitate maintenance work in the future.

Hydrostatic lubricator installed.
Hydrostatic lubricator with top of boiler and throttle in view.
Tagged backhead, lubricator
QUICK LINKS
PLAN YOUR VISIT
BUY TICKETS
GIFT SHOP
DONATE
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
VIEW WEBCAMS
Live view of North Freedom depot

Contact Us

Mid-Continent Railway Museum
P.O. Box 358
E8948 Museum Road
North Freedom, WI 53951
Office phone: 608-522-4261
or 800-930-1385
E-mail: inquiries@midcontinent.org

Recent News

  • “Last Spike” Ceremony
  • Engine House Track #2 Update
  • 1385 Steam and Air Line Installation/Donation Update
  • #1385 Cab, Smoke Stack, and Hand Rail Installation/Donation Update
  • Your Help is Needed to Bring the C&NW #1385 Home Again!
©2025 - Mid-Continent Railway Museum - Weaver Xtreme Theme Privacy Policy
↑