WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

[Ed Lecuyer]

Build Locomotive 11 - April Update.

On the fundraising front, we are within shouting distance of 20 percent of the goal, thanks in part to a challenge grant from John Houghton, who matched the first $1,000 that came in for March. Since we are a third of the way into the 2023 fundraiser, we have about eight months to raise the other 80 percent of the dollars. So we need to bring in an average of $5,000 a month for the balance of the year. Please help us move this project along.

Don't forget that we still have the bronze replicas of No. 7’s Baldwin Locomotive Works builder’s plate for those who can contribute $1,100 or more in one donation. The plates look great, and they’d certainly look good in someone’s man cave or train room. We also have the half size 3-D printed replica plates for a donation of $110, and the gift shop is carrying the No. 11 challenge coins for just $11.

Good progress to report again this month. Gordon and Rick, with help from Jason, were able to drill all the holes needed to attach the forward frames to the rear frame extension casting. They acquired a new magnetic base drill that was small enough to fit into the space, and they drilled the hole that was in the tightest location first, or as Rick said, “Thought we’d go for broke.” They did have to file the drill’s casing a bit, just to be certain.

Gordon was making fitted bolts again, and they drove the first one. They installed regular bolts in two holes to hold everything in perfect alignment for reaming on both sides of the rear frame casting. Gordon will make the rest of the fitted bolts in his home shop prior to the next work session, which is planned for the week leading up to the Spring Work Weekend. They expect to work Wednesday through Saturday.


It's a tight fit for the new magnetic base drill, but it gets the job done with little fuss or muss.


The first fitted bolt is in place.


We made chips. Drilling through all that cast iron produces lots of drill chips.


Holes drilled. Each hole is faced to provide a level surface for the fitted bolts.

If you are going to be at Sheepscot for the Spring Work Weekend, coming up April 28, 29 and 30, stop in the shop and to say hi and see the great progress we’re making. Everyone is welcome!

[Ed Lecuyer]

Build 11: May Update from the Spring Work Weekend
Another challenge
 
We have another challenge! An anonymous friend of the Build 11 Project has offered a $1,500 challenge, as soon as other donors match that amount. That will double our dollars. Let’s see how quickly we can do this.

Right now, we have just over $12,500 in donations, or one quarter of the goal for 2023. When we meet the latest challenge, we’ll add at least $3,000 to the total, pushing us past the 30 percent mark. We’re making progress!





During the WW&F Railway’s annual Spring Work Weekend (April 28-30), we were able to accomplish quite a bit of work on No. 11. While the work weekend itself was billed as three days, we actually were able to manage five days of work. Several members of the team began working on Tuesday and we continued through Saturday. We had actually planned to work Sunday, but we ran out of materials by Saturday, so Sunday was canceled.


 
Tasks worked on by the team included straightening of the bunter beam supports on the front of the locomotive. These will eventually support the pilot and front coupler. Then we tackled the rear coupler pocket, specifically riveting the cheek irons in place. These pieces will check the fore and aft movement of the rear draft gear of the locomotive. It all sounds so easy, but it was serious work. A great team of regulars and volunteers spent most of Friday on the cheek irons. Finally, we positioned the large gussets that will attach and support the connection between the rear and front frames to the rear frame extension casting.



Other work accomplished on No. 11’s frame included manufacture and installation of the final half dozen fitted bolts joining the forward frame to the rear frame extension, planning and layout of the permanent attachment of the bunter beams to the front of the frame, and planning and layout of the attachment of the connecting gussets of the rear frame to the rear frame extension casting. All in all, good progress.


 

[Gordon Cook]

Tease Alert!!!
Here's a picture of a boiler which is very similar to the one we will build for No. 11. It is sitting in the shop at Brecon Mountain Railway (https://www.bmr.wales/) in Wales, waiting for its hydro test. It is of welded construction except for the front tube sheet, which is riveted.  it will go into a replica of SRRL No. 10, for which they have frames, cylinders, drivers, and many smaller parts already done.  It is a long term project and will be finished when it's finished.



They have a very beautiful ride and a professionally run operation and they really have the Maine 2 footer 'bug'!

[Graham Buxton]

If the link in Gordon's post doesn't work for you, try this one: https://www.bmr.wales


(the link in Gordon's post appears to be malformed)

[Ed Lecuyer]

[link is fixed]

[Bob Holmes]

Somehow, their website looks just like ours...can't imagine why

[Bill Piche]

Since that's a copy of SRRL 10, that makes it the same size at B&SR 7 and 8, which were a bit larger (33/38 tons) than WW&F 7/11 was/is (26 tons?).

Some very interesting things that separate that British style boiler from the ones that are on 7 and 8. All flanged boiler connections on the backhead for the throttle (will it be rotary like all the others on property?) and two sight glasses. Not sure what the one with the butterfly valve is gonna be.

All welded stays and no flexible stays, so I wonder what the insides look like. I haven't seen the drawings so don't know it that's how the Baldwin boilers were, but the Dillon ones have them. The Dillon boiler originally had welded stays but the overhaul we finished 5 years ago (!) we did threaded stays.

Also no couplings in any of the locations that the washout plugs go (they're tapped right into the boiler).

The big one noticeable immediately is the British style flanged dome. Makes it a lot easier to service the throttle valve but probably only if you have a shop to pull the cover since it's so heavy. (not saying 7's lid is light but 4 people can get it off by hand in a pinch). I think I remember seeing a picture of Edaville 11's new boiler that Brian did it this way.

[Dag Bonnedal]

...

Some very interesting things that separate that British style boiler from the ones that are on 7 and 8. All flanged boiler connections on the backhead for the throttle (will it be rotary like all the others on property?) and two sight glasses. Not sure what the one with the butterfly valve is gonna be.
...

The  BMR South African Pacific has a rotating regulator lever, as this is standard on SAR locos. But No. 1 Santa Teresa (Mogul rebuilt as a Main Prairie with new boiler) has the standard American pull out throttle. As the BMR are such US enthusiasts, I am pretty sure the 10 and 23 will also have the pull out type.

[Ed Lecuyer]

June Build 11 Update

There was no work session in May since there were two work sessions in April including 5 days during the Spring Work Weekend. There will be an engine 11 work session this month on 14th thru the 16th.

There was however progress in May including rear draft gear design as well as a visit to Mountain Machine Works to finalize plans for machining the cylinder castings. Early this month, repair work on Engine 9's valve gear lifting links took shop crew time away from #11 but the pit in the new engine house made the work much easier.

The Build 11 Fund Raising has slowed in the last 30 days and we barely passed the one-third mark on the current $1,500 challenge. So far we have raised $13,263 of our $50,000 goal. Remember we have nice gifts for donors including a full-sized cast bronze replica of WW&F #7's Baldwin builders plate (for one-time $1,100 donors) as well as half size 3-D plastic builders plates for $110 and the very popular challenge coin plates for $11 which are sold in the WW&F gift shop and on-line store.



One of the cylinder saddle castings that will be machined at Mountain Machine Works.



The April work session included riveting the draft gear pocket on engine 11's tail frame.



A view of the tail frame (which is upside down) showing the bolster casting and the rear draft gear pocket.



Engine 9 needed repair work on the valve gear lifting link rods and new bushings had to be made. This took time away from #11 but engine 9 was back in service by June 9th for a school charter.



This full-sized replica of WW&F Engine 7's builder's plate may be had for a one time donation of $1,100 to the build 11 Project. Smaller reproductions are also available for smaller donations.

[Bill Reidy]

Harold Downey was machining the rear truck journal boxes today (June 24th).

[Bill Reidy]

The tank truck journal boxes, as seen today.


Harold Downey was machining another casting for the tank truck.

[Ed Lecuyer]

BUILD LOCOMOTIVE 11 - JULY UPDATE!

A very successful and productive No. 11 work session took place June 14-16, facilitated by five volunteers. They worked on several facets of the lengthy riveting process, including learning how to make flat head rivets, which are necessary in the gusset plates that join the rear and forward frames and also cradle the firebox of the locomotive.

In addition to driving up those rivets, the crew also partially riveted the bunter brackets on the front of the main frame as well as some work on the rear coupler pocket.

During the July work session, the final handful of flathead rivets will be installed on the frame gussets and the capture plate that goes on the bottom of the rear coupler pocket will be manufactured and bolted in placed. If all goes according to plan, the rear frame will be flipped over and lined up with the forward frame.

We are pleased that the $1,500 challenge grant offered by a friend has been met, and we’re thrilled to announce that another good friend of the Build 11 Project has offered a $6,000 match. If we can raise $6,000, he will match the amount, dollar for dollar. Does this sound like Public Television? If we can raise that $6,000, we’ll have $12,000, putting us over the 50% mark in our effort to raise $50,000 in 2023. Remember, every dollar counts, and we need your help to keep up the momentum. You can donate directly by check to the museum, use a credit card to donate through the gift shop, PayPal, or you can go to: https://www.build11.org/


Harold Downey used the big radial drill press to countersink holes for flat head rivets in the frame gusset plates.

 

The rivet heads in the near gusset plate are normal, but the inside rivet heads on the opposite side have been flattened to allow for expansion of the firebox of the locomotive.
 


New rivets holding the bunter bracket at the front of the frame. A couple of additional rivets remain to be driven using a “holder-on” device.

 

The riveter had to be tilted in order to drive a rivet close to the frame.

[Joe Fox]

In Wayne’s memory, I hope anyone who hasn’t contributed to the build 11 fund will join me in donating in honor of Wayne. I am guilty of not contributing to the campaign thus far, but thought what better way to honor such an important part of our organization than by donating to a project he was such a huge part of.

[Bill Baskerville]

Joe,
An excellent idea.  In memory of Wayne, I am following your lead.

[Mike Fox]

I had thought of doing it on Wednesday, bit forgot. Turns out, it was his birthday. So that may be an annual donation on his birthday for me, if I remember...