WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

[Gordon Cook]

A note to add that Jason finished fitting the binders to the frames so that the frames would be properly supported as we moved them around. You can see them on the top of the frames in the last photo (the frames are upside down).
Binders connect the bottom of the frame where there are openings for the driving boxes. They complete a 'box' around that opening and are precisely fitted to tabs on the bottom of the frame so the joint isn't dependent on bolts alone.

Also, the reaming shown was done with a tapered reamer so that we could fit a tapered bolt into these locations. The joints around the x-brace center casting have to be very strong to resist the twisting forces as the locomotive goes over uneven track.
These two bolts also hold the brake beam hanger bar, which has to pass through the middle of the bolt. The hanger bar has to be removable to allow the brakes to be assembled. These hollow tapered bolts were custom machined to match the taper. Hence the extra precautions to make sure the reamed holes were accurate and the bolts were a perfect fit. We were very pleased with the final result.

[Wayne Laepple]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, Gordon. It certainly fills in the blanks of my brief description.

[Jeff Schumaker]

Looking forward to the next update on the frame progress.

Jeff

[Mike Fox]

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Having the frame together will be a major milestone as everyone will be able to see something other than a collection of parts. We will be able to see how big the locomotive will be. I’m looking forward to watching as parts large and small are added to the frame. Making parts is important but watching it grow as parts are added will be fun.
M. Nix

[Ed Lecuyer]

Build 11 - February 2023 Update

Good progress was made on No. 11 by Rick, Gordon and Jason, with welcome help from new volunteers Noah MacAdam and Eric Snyder. During the most recent three-day work session (Jan. 31-Feb.2), the last two holes on the rear frame were reamed and the fitted bolts were installed.


Test-fitting the parts.
 
Then, using a circular saw with a diamond blade and a hand-held grinder, the square edges of the large rear frame extension casting were chamfered to provide a perfect fit between the casting and the forward frame. First, a 45-dgree cut was made with the saw, and then using the grinder, the edges were rounded off. The same technique was applied to the forward frames for a great fit.


Rear frame test fit.
 
Next, the forward frames were flipped right-side up. They were then clamped to the rear frame extension casting to test the fit and alignment. Careful measurements showed the forward frames were almost perfectly parallel, off by only a few thousandths of an inch! The rear frame will be flipped over during the next session in March, and fitting it to the rear frame extension casting will begin.



The forward frame fits well.
 
New volunteer Noah is joining Gordon in machining parts at his home workshop in New Hampshire. He is a skilled machinist and will join the team whenever possible. Eric will also assist as he is able.
 
On the fund-raising front, the 2023 effort has gotten off to a slow start. During January, we raised about one percent of the target amount of $50,000. If you haven’t contributed, we’re always happy to receive your donations to keep progress moving forward. The premiums for larger contributions are still available.

Thanks for your continued interest and support. Learn more at www.build11.org

[John Houghton]

What do you consider a "larger contribution"? What are the "Premiums" for making a larger contribution?  Sorry, but I could not find answers to these questions on your website.

John Houghton

[Graham Buxton]

John, the Build #11 project fundraiser has a page here:


https://fundrazr.com/build11.2023?ref=ab_1CvFKgBBdmf1CvFKgBBdmf


. . . where different sizes of 'builder plates' are offered as Premiums at different donation levels.

[Mike Fox]

[Russ Nelson]

What do you consider a "larger contribution"? What are the "Premiums" for making a larger contribution?  Sorry, but I could not find answers to these questions on your website.

The WW&F Gift Shop has a #11 challenge coin with a list price of $11 plus shipping. One side of the coin is the builder's plate, and the other side is an image of the locomotive and the words "Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway" circling the image, with #11 at the bottom. The museum makes a tidy profit on these and at $11 + shipping, it's hard to justify not buying one. If you're at the museum, no shipping charged!

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Great!  Things are really taking shape now.

[Mike Fox]

[Ed Lecuyer]

BUILD LOCOMOTIVE 11 - March Update
The work days in March were taken up by fitting up the forward frames to be perfectly level, square and correctly spaced. The goal was to be within 0.005 inch in both spacing and parallelism for the length of the frame. Meeting that tolerance took quite a lot of time and care, working with a machinist level and rule while making tiny adjustments with a series of screw jacks.

Jason, Gordon and Harold were also working to develop and design the rear draft gear. There was no Baldwin drawing or even specifications to follow, so the entire design was from scratch. The rear draft gear is a sprung design, which was something Baldwin had put on WW&F no. 7. It was unusual on a locomotive of that era, according to Jason. Gordon Cook said, “We wanted to be sure that it wouldn't cause a problem with harmonic oscillations in normal service, so the spring will be pretensioned so that it is only deflected under abnormal loading. Harold figured out what spring would meet that requirement, and found that an off-the-shelf truck spring would be about right. The next challenge was fitting everything in the short space that was defined by the erecting drawing. The coupler would need to pivot sufficiently to accommodate the sharpest curve the engine would encounter, while also providing the ability for the spring to function as desired. After several hours of modeling and thought, Jason realized that the pin that will hold the bolt which connects the spring plates and the spring to the coupler shank could provide that pivot point.” See illustrations.

Fund-raising is moving along slowly. We have raised a little more than $5,000 so far, or 10 percent of the goal for 2023. John Houghton, a long-time WW&F member from California, a strong supporter of the Build 11 Project, has offered to match all donations in March and April up to $1,000. This is a challenge that should not be passed up, since it doubles the dollars. If you haven’t yet made a contribution to the Build 11 Project, now is the time! Thank you, John!

Learn more and contribute at build11.org

[Ted Miles]

Are the couplers for the #11 going to be the ones that were salvaged from the East Broadtop a couple of years ago?

Ted Miles, Build 11 Contributor

[Ed Lecuyer]

No. The EBT couplers are not suitable for this project.