WW&F No. 9 - Official Work Thread

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Jason
Are you using 36 volt bulbs or throttling back to get lower volts

Gud Jule

[John McNamara]

They are 34 Volt bulbs that I purchased from Aamsco (http://www.aamsco.com/light-bulbs/railway.php) a few years ago. At the 31.86 volts, that Jason mentioned, everything should be fine.

-John

[Wayne Laepple]

The turbogenerator has an adjustable governor that we set to unload at slightly less than 32 volts DC output when we worked on it three years ago.

[Bill Baskerville]

I have tried to figure out what the rectangular white panel is for above No. 9's head lamp.  During reconstruction I thought it was a number board, but they are on the side and no number appeared in the front before she was rolled out.  Since it is an electric head lamp I reasoned it couldn't be a kerosene chimney of some sort.  Could someone enlighten me gracefully so I don't smack my forehead and say "I should'a figured that out!"  Thanks.

[Ken Fleming]

I would guess it's for train number display.  Wishful thinking on a two-footer. "Train number one, now leaving for somewhere to nowhere!"

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The headlight is a Maine Central design from when the locomotive was on the SR&RL and the top panel is for displaying the train number.  We have no records of the WW&F ever using the MEC style panel to indicate train numbers.  

Prior to WWI the W&Q/WW&F displayed train numbers with tin numerals on the headlight lense of the road engines.  There are photos showing train numbers on a piece of wire in front of the glass which would display the train number day or night.  

[Bill Baskerville]

Thanks Ken & Stewart, I knew there was a simple answer.  For us, we have only two directions, Northbound and Southbound.  Of course we now have three locomotives so I guess we could have had a big 'A' and a 'B' on a wire for the Victorian Christmas if we wanted to go all out and further complicate our lives.

[Joe Fox]

Train numbers would be cool to replicate, however for us that means changing the numbers every trip, or 7 times per day.

[John McNamara]

Train numbers would be cool to replicate, however for us that means changing the numbers every trip, or 7 times per day.

Easily done with an LED display.  (Writer hides under desk, and awaits trip to Whimsical Weirdness & Foolery.)

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

We put a train number on #10's headlight during one of the picnics, 2000 or 2001.  The number stayed on the engine's headlight all day.  We didn't make another number for the tank light for a northbound train.  I have photos of the locomotive with a number (7?) on the headlight.

[Ken Fleming]

Just make the job of changing train numbers a function of the conductor.  After all, it's "his" train.  Provide a container to hold the numbers as part of the conductor' s kit.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Today, much of #9's brake and steam plumbing was cleaned, primed and painted black by Eric S.  The work looks very nice!

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Well, #9 has been running well for 5 months.  While we have been enjoying the locomotives' return to service with extras and photo charters another special thing has happened.   

This thread now has,  drumroll please ...

Over 100,000 views.  It's the first thread be reach the 6 figure mark, leaving the next thread behind by over 20,000 views.  Not only is #9's restoration a big thing but the #9 thread is a big thing as well.  Kudos to everyone who helped bring #9 back to life, supported it and followed the progress on line over the years.  It's quite a mile post for the museum.

 [Applause]

Thank you!