WW&F No. 9 - Official Work Thread

[Wayne Laepple]

I can attest to Stewart's claim that jacking the drivers up into the frame is a lot easier than lowering the frame. The last engine I helped re-wheel was a Pacific (4-6-2) with 80-inch drivers. The boiler and frame were lowered onto the wheels and driving boxes by a 200-ton overhead crane, and it was a scary, scary operation. We had to hold the boxes in alignment in the frame as the boiler and frame came down. I would have preferred a drop table and pit, but there wasn't one available.

[Ed Lecuyer]

[Mod Note]
The ensuing discussion regarding Steve Smith's experiences on the railroad has been combined into the "A Few Stories..." thread:
http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php?topic=1192.0

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Much progress today with construction of wheel casters for #9's drivers.  Because the engine is blocked up off the rails we placed a set of small wheels under the rear set of drivers on Friday.  The wheels act as support casters which allow the drivers to be turned but keeps them from settling and crushing the oil cellars and pads that are in the base of the driving boxes.  We didn't find any more wheels Friday but this morning Mike and Ed went shopping.  They came back with the set of wheels from the portable gantry crane that's back by the tool shed.  Mike and Ed made another caster set for the forward drivers and they turned easily!  The movable drivers allow for more parts to be installed where the crank pins have to be lined up.

Stewart

[Mike Fox]

A few shots of #9 with it's wheels in place.

[Steve Smith]

Thanks, Mike! Exciting to see the great progress the volunteers are making.

[Glenn Christensen]

Thanks Mike!

Your pictures are wonderful to see!


Best Regards,
Glenn Christensen

[Craig "Red" Heun]

Wow great pics and amazing progress

Thanks

[Mike Fox]

Maybe next time I will actually have my camera with me. My phone only takes ok pictures.

[Steve Smith]

Or you could ask Candid Courtney to come along maybe? I bet she'd remember to bring the camera.

[Matthew Gustafson]

Keep up the good work guys, Im starting to see the light slowly appear at the end of this tunnel

[Stuart Tomlinson]

At Statfold  in the UK we turn our frame up sie down so the 10 ton crane can lower the wheel set in and out. Its easy that way, the boiler then goes in when the frames are finnished.

[Mike Fox]

Here are some shots from today with my camera. The flash really helps highlight the underside.





An overall from the west side of track 2




Leon has been working on these rings for the jacket.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Good photos Mike.  The second shot shows the re-installed eccentrics and the third view shows the rear cylinder head.  The pipe coming from the cylinder is a temporary piece to get measruements for setting the crosshead guides.

Stewart

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

What type of insulation is used under the boiler jacket these days, since asbestos is long out of the picture?

Richard

[Robert Hale]

Spun rock wool?