Author Topic: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread  (Read 435158 times)

Dag Bonnedal

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #645 on: October 14, 2024, 03:19:34 AM »
Fantastic to see, such craftsmanship.
Almost anywhere else, the easy way out would have been to build the fork by welding (no one can see it afterwards).
Here it is done the old way.
But as we say in this business, the only salary we get is the satisfaction over a job well done.

Ted Miles

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #646 on: October 30, 2024, 07:17:51 PM »
Congratulations on completing the fund raising for the year 2024!  And I have a question. If additional dollars come in between now and December 31, 2024; will that money roll over into the 2025 fund raiser? Or will it get sent to another project like the SAR Ballast Cars?

Ted Miles Build 11 Contributor for every year

Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #647 on: October 30, 2024, 07:46:02 PM »
Hi Ted,

Any donations made to the Build 11 project will only be used for the Build 11 project - regardless of when they arrive. We have exceeded our yearly fundraising goal for Build 11 every year. These additional funds are enabling us to complete the project more efficiently.
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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #648 on: November 11, 2024, 09:14:01 PM »
BUILD WW&F LOCOMOTIVE 11 – NOVEMBER UPDATE!
Our latest Build 11 work session was held October 11 -14 coincident with the WW&F Ry Fall Work Weekend. On Saturday, Joe and Jay Monty manned the torches to heat the transverse equalizer so that we could form the “ears” on each end. Rick Sisson, Bill Steussey, Joseph Gilbert, and Joe and Jay drove our forming tools with a sledgehammer to spread the ears which we later compressed with the flanging machine to form the proper geometry.



 

Here we see a photograph of the first completed end: Harold Downey directed the heating operation (It’s difficult for the torch bearers to clearly see what they’re doing) and Harold positioned the forming tools for the sledge bearers.




We used our lunch break to let the equalizer cool enough so that we could repeat the process on the remaining end.




We also drilled the forward frame pedestals for the bolts that will hold the driving box shoes and wedges in place. Rick coordinated this effort and was assisted by Bill and Gordon Cook. We mounted Bob Longo’s right-angle mag drill to a 90 degree angle block to drill holes parallel to the top of the frame using our favorite annular cutters.




We have purchased all the Oilite® bronze bushings required to fit up the forward suspension system components. Joe and Jay turned several of these to a shorter length for us because they were not commercially available.




Gordon and Rick were able to assemble the components needed to form our tramming tool. These parts were designed by Jason Lamontagne and were laser cut and shipped to us. The design allows very precise fore-and-aft positioning of the shaft upon which trammel points are fastened and rotated. When the shaft is properly positioned, the trammel point will just touch the tram wire in both the forward and rear rotations. This indicates that the rotating shaft is exactly perpendicular to the tram wires, which are precisely located on the cylinder center lines. The next step will be to mark the shoes and wedges with the trammel points and to record the distance from each shoe and wedge to the tram wire. These measurements will be used to complete the machining of the shows and wedges.




Quentin Bethune brought the lead truck frame back to the shop; Quentin completed the machining operations begun by Noah MacAdam – both in their home shops! Harold and Rick spent a good number of hours aligning and holding in place the lead truck components and then aligning the lead truck frame within the complete assembly. The next step will be to match drill the lead truck frame to the remaining components.




Quentin was also able to rough machine several pins for the forward suspension system. He will finish these and cut threads on them in his home shop.




Meanwhile, our 2024 fundraising is continues! To date we have received $54,045 - 108% of the $50,000 goal for 2024!!!! Remember, you can still 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/ All gifts above our 2024 goal will be used to accelerate the construction of the locomotive.
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Mike Fox

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #649 on: December 07, 2024, 06:02:22 PM »




Mike
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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #650 on: December 11, 2024, 09:31:21 PM »
Build Locomotive 11 - December 2024 Update

The WW&F Build 11 volunteers have been as busy as Santa constructing our new steam locomotive! Hark, that's Harold riveting!

Gordon Cook has been making 3-D models of the various components for locomotive 11. Here is a full rendering.



Now if Santa could only bring us a big enough 3-D printer, we'd be done with the locomotive by now! (But what fun would there be in that.)

Our latest Build 11 work session was held November 4-6. We’re continuing work on the forward suspension components. Jason Lamontagne completed the last welding operations on the main equalizer.



Harold Downey completed boring, drilling and reaming the holes in the lead truck and main equalizers. Here, Harold is drilling the center pivot hole in one of the main equalizers.



And Harold is reaming a spring hanger hole in one of the main equalizers.



Rick Sisson, Joe Monty, Harold Downey and John Pierce pressed bushings into these holes which will receive pins when the entire forward suspension system is assembled. We used both the bench arbor press and....



...this Baldwin 100 ton press which was just commissioned with Josh Recave’s assistance. Yes, Baldwin as in Baldwin Locomotive Works. In later years, BLW produced tools as well as locomotives and we're thrilled to be putting this machine to use.



One of the main equalizers complete with bushings, ready for assembly.

Rick Sisson and John Pierce also bored and reamed all the spring hangers using our enormous radial arm drill which was well suited for the task.



We will have all the equalizers and spring hangers available for final assembly for the next Build 11 work session which starts TOMORROW 12/12/2024 and runs through Saturday. Stop in and see the progress - new volunteers with shop skills are most needed to keep the project "on track".

Meanwhile, Quentin Bethune and Gordon Cook continue to fabricate the forward suspension pins needed for final assembly. Here are some of the bolts that Quentin has fabricated.



New volunteer John Pierce was tasked with drilling and reaming the remaining holes in the lead truck frame. Next, we’ll fabricate fitted bolts and complete the lead truck assembly.



We continually refer to engineering notes as we work in the shop; here is a current example specifying forward suspension system pins and bushings.



And we also make temporary shop notes. Here is an example enumerating the fitted bolts we need to complete the lead truck assembly.



With less than a month left, our 2024 fundraising has almost concluded. To date, we have received $65,716 - an impressive 131% of the $50,000 goal for 2024! Remember, you can still donate directly by check to the museum, use a credit card to donate through the gift shop, PayPal, or you can go to: www.build11.org

Wishing a Merry Christmas and a steamy New Year to all our friends, donors, and followers from the Build 11 team.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2024, 02:12:11 PM by Ed Lecuyer »
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Dave Crow

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #651 on: December 12, 2024, 09:35:38 AM »
Ed, looks like there is a repeat of the lead truck photo instead of the photos of the engineering notes and contemporary notes; the mailing I received was formatted correctly.

Dave Crow

Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #652 on: December 12, 2024, 02:06:12 PM »
Ed, looks like there is a repeat of the lead truck photo instead of the photos of the engineering notes and contemporary notes; the mailing I received was formatted correctly.

Fixed. Thanks for letting me know.
Ed Lecuyer
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Mike Fox

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #653 on: December 14, 2024, 04:52:43 PM »










Cylinder head





Pistons



Pistons
« Last Edit: December 14, 2024, 05:00:05 PM by Mike Fox »
Mike
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Mike Fox

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #654 on: December 22, 2024, 10:09:28 AM »










Mike
Doing way too much to list...

Ted Miles

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #655 on: December 28, 2024, 02:07:13 PM »
I am getting ready to send another check to the Build 11 project.

Can you tell me if there is going to be a matching fund for Build 11 in 2025?

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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #656 on: December 28, 2024, 02:22:52 PM »
Quote
Can you tell me if there is going to be a matching fund for Build 11 in 2025?

There may be something in the works, but we can't announce it yet.
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Ted Miles

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #657 on: January 14, 2025, 01:05:32 PM »
It is great to see another matching grant. And over $11,000 on the first day already! I just sent in a donation; it is such a wonderful project and I love matching grants!

TM Build 11 Contributor 2025

Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #658 on: January 14, 2025, 10:20:02 PM »
Build Locomotive 11 - January 2025 Update

$120,000 CHALLENGE - Put Build 11 ON THE FAST TRACK!

One of our members and long-time supporters has a challenge for the WW&F - raise $60,000 in 2025 to build locomotive 11 and he will MATCH each donation, dollar for dollar, up to $60,000! This will allow us to hire additional contractors to assist our volunteers in fabricating and assembling the locomotive.




Challenge 1: More Volunteers!
We need skilled machinists and fabricators who would like to assist us at our shops in Alna, Maine (or occasional work from home.) If you are interested, please email info@wwfry.org and we will put you in touch with the Build 11 team.

Challenge 2: More Speed!
With increased volunteers aiding and overseeing contract labor and outside vendors, we hope to significantly reduce the time needed to complete the locomotive.

Challenge 3: More Money!
We've been challenged to raise $60,000 by an anonymous donor who will MATCH every donation dollar for dollar! So if you give $100 to help us Build 11, it will be matched with an additional $100. Thus, our total goal for 2025 is $120,000 - a big ask for sure - but with the locomotive taking shape, we're confident that our members, friends, and followers will be up for the challenge

We have a huge challenge ahead of us in 2025 - which will put us on the fast track to getting the locomotive completed as soon as possible.

January 2025 Work Session Report
Our most recent Build 11 work session was held December 12-14. We’re continuing work on the forward suspension components and lead truck. Rick Sisson drilled the remaining holes in the perimeter angle which will support the locomotive’s rear deck.



Quentin Bethune began machining the front cylinder head castings, work which will require a few work sessions to complete.



Lead truck assembly continued with Gordon Cook, Rick and Joseph Gilbert installing fitted bolts machined by Quentin. As you can see, these were packaged and labeled in a very professional manner.


https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1736907613/mhs2psm7kxkagelgwtq7.jpg
We then test fit some of the forward suspension components using pins machined by Gordon. Here we see the lead truck assembly nearly complete, with the lead truck equalizer fitted, the transverse equalizer supported by overhead straps, and the transverse to lead truck equalizer connection mocked up with another strap.



And Joseph Gilbert is demonstrating the main equalizer and spring hanger motion.



Gordon transported new piston, crosshead, and rear coupler castings from Springfield, Massachusetts to Sheepscot. Immediately, Alan Downey began machining the piston heads.


Other Recent Work Included:
  • Harold Downey, Quentin and Gordon machined the crosshead guide yoke support brackets and they’re ready to install on the forward frame.
  • Harold completed rough machining and fitting of the shoes and wedges between work sessions.
  • Harold and Rick spent more than a day setting up and troubleshooting the tooling we will use to tram the engine. After many hours of fits and starts, we determined that the bushings supporting the rotating shaft were binding and forcing the shaft end (and trammel points) out of position. Harold modified the bushing and eliminated the binding and the tooling worked perfectly! We started, and Harold will finish making measurements so that he can finish machine the shoes and wedges.
  • Quentin Bethune has started to machine the front cylinder heads. Gordon transported new piston, crosshead, and rear coupler castings from Springfield, Massachusetts to Sheepscot.
  • The entire team planned for our presence at the RR Hobby Show in Springfield, MA - Jan. 25 & 26. Stop in and say hello!

Thank You for Your Support
We appreciate everyone's contributions to the Build 11 project - together we are making what was considered an impossible dream a reality. Please consider helping by contributing on our revised donations page at www.build11.org. Recurring monthly donations of $11 are much appreciated. Know that every dollar you donate will be matched in 2025 - allowing us to put locomotive 11 on the fast track!
Ed Lecuyer
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