A little while between reports, but here goes.
This Saturday's work session will likely go down as the most attended work session of the year. There seemed to be 2 or 3 people for every task listed on the initial punch list, and some that weren't.
In attendance today were Hans Brandes, Joe Monty, Jay Monty, Bill Piche, Larry Perkins, Brian Durham, Trevor Hartford, Gerry Bagley, Colby Miles, Corey Boucher, Tim Averill, Don Wildes, Dakota Dumont, Don Sanger and Tim Jones. Quite the impressive turnout for what would be a whirlwind day of fix-it jobs to get #4 ready for the upcoming Polar Express.
The day started out bright and early with Hans, Larry, Tim J., and Brian helping out Portland Yacht Services wash some coal soot off of a half dozen boats that had been accidentally pelted with soot a few weeks prior. A (nearly) thankless job that helps keep us in good standing with the landlords and their other tenants.
Colby, Corey, Dakota and Tim A, brought down two light trucks worth of firewood, plenty for starting #4 for the rest of the year.
Work on #4 began with firing up #1 (back in service thanks to the efforts of Roger Merrow/Brian Durham and company) to pull #4 out of the engine house to be drained. Once #4's boiler and tank were emptied, then the real work could begin.
Joe, Colby, Dakota, and Trevor started work on getting the boiler inspection and wash done, removing hand holes, mud ring plugs, and setting up the hoses. While the boiler was empty, Jay Monty along with Cory, Trevor and Don jacked up the front of the locomotive to re-orientate a spring shackle that had been put in upside down back in June when a spring was replaced.
Gerry worked on repairing a couple of leaks in the oil lines to the brakes. Old straight pipes and elbows had developed leaks over the last season and needed to be replaced. The new piping includes a union so that we can keep all of the elbows nice and tight. Joe set to work work to repairing a leak in the fireman's injector delivery line and re-lapping the steam heat valve.
The final projects before lunch consisted of the ever popular cleaning of the smoke box and punching of tubes. Big thanks to Corey and Dakota for doing the heavy lifting here taking turns vacuuming out the smoke box and then pushing the punch with Bill. While that was going on, Gerry and Tim A. set to work putting some shims in behind the reverse lever quadrant which had been repeatedly working loose during the summer.
During lunch, the group put together the crew schedule for Polar Express (which has now been sent out). Jay also shared stories from his recent trip to Washington State where he had a great visit to the Mt Rainier Scenic Railroad and spent some time talking shop with the crews and mechanics there.
After lunch the last two remaining tasks of the day were to repair the engine house around #7 and re-fill and warm the boiler on #4. Colby and Tim A repaired several of the ribs on the engine house and added two additional supports so that the side of the bulding is no longer leaning against engine 7. With any luck we'll be able to roll #7 out of the house at the next work session and resume work on the tank and chassis.
All in all, a very successful work day that brought us well on our way to being prepared for Polar Express.
The next and final work day will be Saturday November 17th. Hope to see everyone there!