Western Railroad Discussion > Update on locomotive maintenance and restoration, at OERM 11/17/1

Volunteers out on Saturday included Dave, Richard, John S, Carl, Frank, Tom, John B, Bob, Doug, Ryan, Jason Brice & Andy. When you are working on the locomotive fleet, it helps to have many helpers.
1) Our SF FP-45 # 108 and UP E-8 # 942 were coupled back to back and set up for MU operation. I believe this is the first time these units have been operated this way. It took some time to hook them up properly but once that was done they operated well together. Maybe some TO member who was out at OERM on Saturday took a picture of them. The rest of the crew was at the back of the museum where maintenance restoration take place.
Richard and John inspected the #108's cylinders to see if of them displayed wet crowns which could explain the oil spray during operations. Cylinder #13 was the only one showing a wet crown. We will have to determine what to do about this but in the mean time we will shut the unit down during runs to Perris.
2) Enter the picture our newest military locomotive USAF 1601. It came to our museum several years ago and only recently has become a higher prioroity to be brought into the operating fleet. It is an 80 tonner. Saturday it got a set of batteries. We had previously used jumper cable to start it up but now that will be unnecessary. The locomotive moves, and the new bell, thanks to Brice and Andy, rings. Still to come, inspection of one of the traction motors, and general servicing before it can become our shunting locomotive! This will make it possible to reduce the strain on our very old Air Force 45 tonner #7441.
3) OERM #1975 (ex Dot 015) received some much needed brake work from Ryan (our air room expert), and Jason (who is leading the work on 1601). The K-14 brake valve, was replaced as was one feed valve and distributing valve. Still to come replacement of at least two leaking brake cylinder cups as soon as we can acquire the replacements
4) Carl. John, and Doug continued their efforts to clean up the last two power assemblies on the SP 1006. Dave thinks we can have the unit back together by March so it can have its "Shake down" time. Once it the bugs are worked out we can call in a contractor to paint the unit back into its original colors and the Lexan windows, which John and I installed several years ago, replaced by glass! All in all another busy Saturday!

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Here is the 1601 , before it retired from the Air Force.  This photo was taken at the Rail shops when they were at Hill AFB Ogden, UT  in April 15th 1993

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Thank you for that pix. Hopefully when we get the "bugs" out of it we will clean it up and make it pretty! It should last for years, especially since it doesn't have the ancient HB series Cummins like the 7441!

Hopefully, here are some Pix of the OERM Diesels last Saturday, November 17,2018.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

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More diesels from OERM 60th Anniversary Saturday, November 17, 2018.
As an added attraction the 'Mount Rubidoux' ex-Soo Line Business car was running and open all day in the train.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

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Thank you for your pictures of our two large EMD locomotives--both of which are now classics! I rarely get up to the front stage of the museum to see these things! We are trying to get as many operational locomotives as possible in the following year. Even the SP #2958 has been discussed!