Author Topic: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread  (Read 224786 times)

Keith Taylor

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #555 on: December 15, 2024, 06:38:30 AM »
I understand that uncoupling requires "slack" to be present (tension removed from the coupler by pushing the cars together) to allow the crewman to operate the cut lever or chain.
And that is also true for the standard knuckle (Janney type) coupler.

Keith

John Kokas

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #556 on: December 16, 2024, 10:11:12 AM »
I do not understand the reasoning of mixing coupling systems at this time.  As we expand and we gather new equipment it should be a "no brainer" that we need to acquire new/used Janey couplers for the acquisitions.  It is far better to bite the bullet and purchase a bunch of couplers so that we have spares and also have the ability to sell extras other operations as they need.  If this needs to be a special funding project, then IMHO the BOD needs to establish it this year.........

BTW - I believe that there is a sample 1/2 scale janey coupler still on display at the entrance office to McConway & Torley's mfg. plant in Kutztown, PA.  I can check it out if the powers to be decide to proceed.
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Dante Lakin

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #557 on: December 16, 2024, 10:19:02 AM »
John, the way it's been described to me is that we're going to have attachments that slot over the Miller couplings to act as "half-automatic" knuckles. Think how 52's knuckles work, where you reach in to move/remove the pin. As well, the thought is to have lighter-weight knuckles, in case we need to split the train (think doubling the hill reenactments). From how I understand it, this whole system of knuckle adapters over the Millers is cheaper than sourcing (or building) full automatic couplers. Plus, it makes coaches 3 and 9 more original to 1894 standards ;)

Jason M Lamontagne

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #558 on: December 16, 2024, 10:55:45 AM »
John, in studying the Miller system we’ve come to understand the Miller “hook” was part of a much broader system called the “Miller Safety Platform,” which combined a series of platform trusses, body-in-line buffer and captured draft hook which significantly stiffened and strengthened coach platforms over predecessors.  We also realized that when converted to Janney, the Maine 2 foot cars had their Miller trusses hacked off.  W&Q 1,2 and 3 were built with Miller Safety Platforms and lost them.

We want to reconstruct the Miller system for a number of reasons- to achieve the proper safety platform, to construct coach 9 as coach 2 was built, and to use our unique circumstance as a captured railroad to demonstrate a working Miller system on a train set, as was common on Maine two-footers in the 1890s. 

The Janney adapters for the Miller heads are a concurrent development to ensure continued interchangeability.  However to at least some of us- the no-brainer is to not waste this opportunity to do right by the coach 9 historical reconstruction and coach 3 restoration by, in part, equipping them with proper Miller Safety Platforms.

Thanks
Jason
« Last Edit: December 19, 2024, 11:33:24 AM by Jason M Lamontagne »

Gavin Dalessandro

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #559 on: December 16, 2024, 02:27:09 PM »
Are Miller couplers even still FRA legal?

Benjamin Richards

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #560 on: December 16, 2024, 03:31:58 PM »
Miller safety platforms meet the requirements of an "automatic coupler" per 49 USC 20302 (a)(1)(a):
Quote
couplers coupling automatically by impact, and capable of being uncoupled, without the necessity of individuals going between the ends of the vehicles;

Gavin Dalessandro

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #561 on: December 17, 2024, 10:13:56 AM »
fair point

Mike the Choochoo Nix

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #562 on: December 18, 2024, 11:38:08 PM »
In Rhinelander  Wisconsin at the county museum they have a three foot gauge car that still has its Miller couplers. The reason they are still there is that the couplers are slotted for link & pin and it was a logging railroad that never went to knuckles. Unfortunately the safety platforms were removed at some point by the railroad. M. Nix
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Ted Miles

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #563 on: December 19, 2024, 01:45:48 PM »
In addition to the Rhinelander ccoupler platform; there is a replica set on the Virginia & Truckee #4 passenger car at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. The car was beautifully restored some years ago,
Speaking of the NVRM, they just moved the V&T #20 up there from the Southern California Railroad Museum to join the many other V&T cars there.

TM WW&F Member train watcher.

Ron Ginger

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #564 on: January 13, 2025, 07:54:28 PM »
Another milestone  has been reached. The final coat  of paint  on the outside has been applied. This was after much sanding and vey close detail inspection. It is a beautiful deep color.

Then of course we started rubbing it all down with scotchbrite to prepare for the decorative painting- the Name of the RR and its number and some striping. When that is done it will given 2 coats  of UV resistant varnish, rubbing down of course between coats.

I wish I had been counting the number of times we have hand sanded  this thing, both inside and outside. It has been a year now since we started the outside finish.

We also have seen the  first 2 of the 21 ceiling panels. Tomorrow we will deliver the rest of the panels  to the sign company for their decoration.

ALAIN DELASSUS

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #565 on: January 14, 2025, 12:47:53 PM »
Coach #9  when completed will be a real masterpiece of amazing skillfullness and tenacity. Now I quite understand why you call such a coach a "varnished"

Bob Holmes

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #566 on: January 14, 2025, 07:19:44 PM »
This has been such an immaculate replication that perhaps we should just never run it, and put it on display alongside the Rangely!

James Patten

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #567 on: January 14, 2025, 08:10:35 PM »
Alas, once Coach 9 comes online, Coach 3 has to go offline for some much needed repairs and refurbishment.

Mike Fox

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #568 on: January 18, 2025, 08:42:18 PM »














Mike
Doing way too much to list...

Mike Fox

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Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread
« Reply #569 on: February 08, 2025, 08:58:30 PM »








Mike
Doing way too much to list...