Yeah, exciting indeed! This baby is sure going to run again. BTW, when did folks start painting welding masks like hockey goalie helmets??? :tb-biggrin:
Sorry about the delay, My wife and I are speaking at the North American Science Fiction Convention I Raleigh NC Aug 4-8. So we have been busy getting ready for our "panels" Mine is on steam power in the 17th Cent. (well it is alternate history.... Grin) and my wife is doing chocolate for the same story cycle. (The 1632 series by Eric Flint, now up to 4,000,000 words of paid for fiction) Regardless here is the latest crop of photos. 6-26-10 7-3-10 070710 TractorMove 7-12-10 7-17-10 Regards, Kevin
Kevin, I continue to be impressed with your restoration efforts. The inside of the boiler looks pristine! The steam turret plumbing effort looks promising too. What was the problem with that main valve? Stuck, evidently. Thanks for posting this series, it's very interesting and educational. :tb-biggrin:
I think this was the fourth or fifth attempt at getting the main valve disassembled. My best guess is that no antisieze compound was used during the last rebuild. Or the body of the manifold was heated and the valve was chilled to make a really tight fit. (Grin) The welding mask from the earlier set of photos, belongs to one of the "pros" from the pipefitters union, it seems to be the style for the latest generation of top end welders.(Grin) As to the way things seem to be speeding up, we saw the same effect with the tender, years of prep work combine to produce results in what appears to be blinding speed, but really it is the dedication of all the club members working hard over a long time. Every one is doing great things. Regards, Kevin
Amazing the amount of photo documentation on this project. I am impressed with the number of people involved. Boxcab E50
Kevin, many thanks for keeping us posted on the progress on 2926. Those work session photos sure illustrate that there is nothing small or light about steam engine parts. That hot water pump looks enormous when off the engine. So does the sand dome. Tell us more about how they are cutting off the bends in the superheater tubes--will they then weld new straight sections to them? Is there a reason that the entire tubes couldn't be re-used? I just have to post this shot from Harold K. Vollrath's collection, of 2921. You folks are well on your way to seeing 2926 look like this again. :tb-biggrin:
If only we could see a year when ALL of the big steamers were operating and would tour the US/Canada. Imagine the impact that might have on public interest to see so many thunder horses. Boxcab E50
Having them all running would be great! As for the super heaters, we are salvaging the "Y" dividers and connectors from the manifold. All the rest is scrap, we have new "turnarounds" and tubing. Apparently the super heaters were pitted, probably usable, but in the interest of doing the job to the highest standards, we are replacing all the steel tubing. (That way we don't have to do it again Grin). Regards, Kevin
Kevin, this just keeps getting better and better. Looking at the tender sitting on those massive eight-wheel trucks gives one some idea of the size of this locomotive-tender combination. Last week at the Mt. Rainier Scenic the 2926 was the topic of conversation. Someone asked me if I would be in New Mexico when you guys got ready to steam her up. If I'm still alive I certainly will be. The vision of a 2900 in steam is an awesome thing. Keep up the great work! :tb-biggrin:
Another announcement, This years open house is the second of October. Free hotdogs and entertainment! (Grin) http://www.nmslrhs.org/images/OPEN_HOUSE_10-2-10.pdf If you are in the area for the Balloon Fiesta, stop by. Regards, Kevin
More Photos! Open house 2010 The pattern I cut for the builders plates has been cast and installed (at least for the moment) 10-9-10 10-16-10 Regards, Kevin
Kevin, thanks for more updates. Nice builder's plate! Looks like you folks had a great time at the open house, and the progress continues. :tb-biggrin:
Great job on the 2926! It'll be great to see her running, if BNSF will allow her out on their lines... but then the State of NM owns the line to Raton (and Trinidad CO), so there's a possibility. You guys are years ahead of the Pueblo CO group in their effort to just cosmetically restore the 2912. As part of the crew that worked on Grand Canyon's 4960, I know the amount of effort and hard dirty work required - carry on!
Thanks, Kevin. I talked to one of our "snowbirds" who lives in Albuquerque part time and up here in the northwest in summer. Should take me three days to drive there from here, and am looking forward to doing that. :tb-biggrin:
Grin, As I understand it, the area was graded and paved with a six inch concrete pad when the siding was built. Once the pad was in place, the track was backfilled to make it level with the pad, making it accessible for trucks to also use the dock. Regards, Kevin
