WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

[Ed Lecuyer]

On Nov. 30 and December 1, a four-man crew including Jason Lamontagne, Gordon Cook, Rick Sisson and new volunteer Eric Snyder completed flanging the throat sheet for No. 10. This work included forming the knuckle by hand, using wooden mallets to form the final curve over a die. The flanging machine was used to hold the workpiece in position on the template during this operation.



That work completed the flanging of components for No. 10’s new boiler. They will be sent out for normalization by heat treatment, and when the parts are returned, the crew will begin to fit-up and test assemble the parts before sending them to Maine Locomotive & Machine for welding. This should mean that No. 10’s boiler will be completed other than installation of the flues. Sometime in late winter or early spring the boiler will be reunited with No. 10’s frame, and we may then see No 10 returned to service sometime in 2022!

Watch the video!

After the parts for No. 10’s boiler are sent to ML&M, the next step will be to make the throat sheet for No. 11’s boiler. That’s the last component for the boiler, so all those parts can also be normalized.



The latest word from Dakota Foundry is that a subcontractor making the cores for No. 11’s cylinder half-saddle castings is backed up, and they now expect to cast them in January. They will cast our other components — drive wheel centers, cranks and rear frame extension at the same time. They will go to another shop for heat treatment to produce ductile iron.



We can sympathize with Dakota, as our shop is backed up with projects, too, and there is currently no space available for us to begin assembling No. 11’s frame at this time. Next spring…

As we raise funds to build WW&F No. 11, we previously had two levels of fund-raising, the full-size brass builder's plate for $1100, and the 3D printed mini builder's plate for $110. Now we’ve got something for everyone! For just $11, you can have the Build 11 Challenge Coin. Challenge coins started in the military, with each outfit making their own coins. The lore around these coins is that if you challenge someone with your coin, and they have theirs on hand, you have to pay the penalty — buy a round of drinks or do push-ups. Otherwise, they pay.

Due to a mix-up in the manufacturing process, the first 100 coins have a spelling error, never to be reproduced. These coins will make great stocking-stuffers! If you want one, you can buy one from the WW&F Museum Gift Shop for $11. Once they're gone, they’re gone, and the new ones will be correct.



In other news, the 2021 fund-raising effort for the Build 11 Project is winding down. It will conclude on Dec. 31. Right now, the total on hand is $89,118, which is 178% of our $50,000 goal. To all of you who have supported this project in 2021, thank you, thank you. We’ll be announcing the 2022 version of the Build 11 Project on January 11, 2022.

Finally, may we wish everyone who follows this project a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2022!

[Wayne Laepple]

The 2021 Build 11 fund raising has concluded with a final total of $97,784! This represents 196% of the original goal of $50,000. It's an incredible achievement, thanks to the generosity of over 100 donors. A special word of thanks to those folks who have donated month after month, as well as to the anonymous friend who gave us $25,000 as a dollar-for-dollar match. In fact, thanks to everyone!

Stay tuned. The 2022 fund raiser for No. 11 kicks off tomorrow, January 11.

[Ed Lecuyer]

BUILD 11 - January Update
An end and a beginning.

At an early December work session, the Build 11 team formed the throat sheet for No. 10, the last piece of the new boiler. Following heat treatment and a preliminary fit up, the boiler components will be prepared and welded by Maine Locomotive & Machine Works. By mid-2022, the completed boiler will be placed on No. 10’s frame, offering the possibility that No. 10 may return to active service this year.



And the best news of all, on January 5, the folks at Dakota Foundry poured the first cylinder half-saddle for No. 11. The 1800-pound casting is a major component of the locomotive, and the other half, as well as other major parts of the locomotive chassis, will be poured in subsequent days. Dakota Foundry has been major partner in our effort, overseeing and producing these complex castings, a point of pride for them.



On February 2 and 3, the build 11 team is planning the first of what we intend to be regular work days devoted to making and finishing parts for No. 11. We are looking for some more folks who would like to be involved in this project, and we invite anyone interested to sign up to join us.

Learn more and sign up at: www.wwfry.org/volunteer



As soon as shop space is available, in April or May, we will begin assembling No. 11’s rear frame extension. In the meantime, however, the team will be working on the main frame sections, making the pedestal binders which hold the drive wheels in position, machining a number of castings and forgings that then will be attached to the main frames, and readying other parts for assembly of the frame.

[Mike Fox]

Gordon and first time volunteer Scott worked on these parts of the rear frame assembly, drilling the holes today.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Build 11 - March Update

Gordon Cook has been spending several days each month at the museum, most recently running the horizontal mill. He’s been finishing work on two rear frame bolster castings. These and three additional castings form the support for the rear truck under the tank and are an important component of the rear frame of No. 11.

These pieces need to be faced on five sides so the entire assembly is square and tight with the strength to support the weight of the water tank and coal. In addition, they must resist twisting and bending forces as the locomotive rolls around curves and on uneven track




Harold Downey has been at work in Texas, making patterns for a number of components for No. 11. Photos show the front spring equalizer pedestal and core box, the lead truck oil cellar and core box and the lead truck journal box and core boxes. This is all rather tedious work, and Harold has continued to do this, along with a number of engineering drawings for No. 11. He’s also working on patterns for several small parts for coach No. 9.




Gordon and his friend Dave Roche made a “solid model” of the main drivers, with the cranks and the valve gear, to prove the angles needed for the key ways in the axles. Gordon explained that this was necessary to make certain everything was correct prior to manufacturing the axles, especially the cutting of the key ways.




Friends, we’re well into the 2022 fund raising effort for No. 11, and we're grateful for all the donations to the project. About 35 individuals, some being one-time donors, while others are regular monthly or bi-monthly donors, have contributed about $3,700. However, we need to receive at least $982 every week for the remainder of the year if we intend to reach our $70,000 goal for 2022. Don't forget, we have a standing offer of $25,000 in matching funds that is only activated when we achieve $25,000 in individual donations. If you are able to do so, please help us Build 11.

Can you help make this dream a reality?



Remember, we have two great premiums for donors. For $1,100 or more, you can get your own full-size bronze replica of WW&F No. 7’s Baldwin builder’s plate. For just $110, you can receive a high-quality 3-D plastic casting of No. 7’s plate, and in the WW&F’s gift shop, we’ve got the No. 11 Challenge coin for only $11.

Contribute at www.build11.org

[Ed Lecuyer]

A special Build 11 update from one of our volunteers...



Hi everyone. I’m Rick Sisson, a member of the WW&F Ry Museum for more than 20 years. I love volunteering there, but because I live more than 200 miles away, and because of Covid era restrictions, I’m not able to get to Maine as often as I’d like. As a member of the Build 11 engineering team, I’m able to contribute to that project by working from home, or “remote working”. I develop designs and drawings on my computer using CAD programs that are shared with and reviewed by the Build 11 team. I can collaborate with the entire team using Zoom meetings.
 
We’ve partitioned the Build 11 construction efforts into 5 phases. The first of these constitutes the forward frame which incorporates two cylinder saddle castings. These are large, complex components weighing about 1600 pounds each. We expect to receive the raw castings this summer which we will send to a local shop to get them machined to our specifications. This operation is complex, requiring specialized machine tools and will take a fair amount of shop time to complete.
 
Accordingly, this will consume a significant portion of this years Build 11 budget. Your contributions to the Build 11 campaign will ensure that we will be able complete phase 1 of the Build 11 project. And let’s not forget, the first $25,000 contributed this year will be matched by the Candelaria Fund. This matching grant will accelerate Build 11 progress. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributes. You’re all part of the Build 11 team!

[Brendan Barry]

Rear frame assembly last week.

[Ed Lecuyer]

We have great news to report!

First of all, during the WW&F’s Spring Work Weekend, several members of the Build 11 Project, as well as other volunteers, began assembling the rear frame extension of No. 11 in Bay 2 of the Sheepscot shop. Over the course of three intense days, components were moved from storage, identified, and laid out on the shop floor. Then the pieces were clamped together and drilled in sequences.



Multiple holes were drilled through water-jet cut holes in the steel sills and into several cast iron brackets. Then temporary bolts were inserted and tightened. Once that had been accomplished, the next step saw the entire framework lifted onto six screw jacks, which allowed the workers to carefully level the frame fore and aft and side to side. The final step will be to permanently mate the various components with either fitted bolts or hot rivets.

Many volunteers and visitors passed through the shop during the weekend and admired the work going on. This work marked the first tangible evidence that building a new locomotive at Sheepscot was becoming a reality. The Build 11 crew was pleased as well, and then more great news broke on May 2, when we received word from Dakota Foundry that the long-awaited cylinder half saddles and the main rear frame casting were both complete and would be shipped shortly.



We received a nice note from WW&F member Bill Sample, who made a generous donation to the Build 11 Project. Bill said, “What really made me go through with the donation was reading Rick Sisson's posting on the "Build 11" project.  Seeing Rick's post encouraged me to participate and dedicate the contribution to all you "Build 11" participants who are not only building the new locomotive but are also making a major accomplishment in heritage railway history. We here "in the Colonies" can also build new full sized locomotives!”

Our 2022 fundraising is off and running, but four months into it, we’ve only reached about 15% of our goal of $70,000. We need your help, in any amount, if we are going to continue to Build 11. Be like Bill Sample — support the Build 11 Project. Buy a "typo edition" Challenge Coin for $11, donate $110 and receive a 3-D printed replica of WW&F No. 7’s builder’s plate, or go for broke, and for a donation of $1,100, you’ll receive a full size cast bronze replica of the builder’s plate. Remember each donation will be matched by the Candelaria Fund!

Learn more and contribute at www.build11.org.

[Ed Lecuyer]

While #53 was the star of today's deliveries to Sheepscot, the cylinder castings for #11 also arrived.
[Photo by Jason Lamontagne]

[Keith Taylor]

While #53 was the star of today's deliveries to Sheepscot, the cylinder castings for #11 were also delivered.
[Photo by Jason Lamontagne]

Are we going to lose the deposit on the pallet? Looks like somebody broke one of the slats!
 
Keith

[John McNamara]

While #53 was the star of today's deliveries to Sheepscot, the cylinder castings for #11 were also delivered.
[Photo by Jason Lamontagne]

Are we going to lose the deposit on the pallet? Looks like somebody broke one of the slats!
 
Keith

Marcel will restore it to it's previous 1940's appearance. Stewart will paint it red.

[Ted Miles]

My God, there are going to be a lot of rivets in the frame of that locomotive! I hope the crew has a couple of air powered rivet guns ready to go! It is real good to see actual construction of this copy of a Baldwin locomotive starting to happen at the Engine House!

Ted Miles, WW&F Member Built 11 contributor

[Mike Fox]

[Rick Rowlands]

There is an impressive amount of heavy steel in that frame design.  She is going to be a stout locomotive!

[Bill Baskerville]

Wow, just a few more pieces to fill in the gap between the rear tank frame and the cylinder half's and we will have a complete locomotive.  (He said with tongue firmly in cheek.)