Western Railroad Discussion > Update on locomotive M & R at OERM (SCRM) 2/16/19

An unexpected surprise awaited the crew Saturday morning which had to be dealt with immediately. Our replacement wheelset arrived for the number two axle on the SP #3100. This wheelset had been located by the contractor who had been slated by the museum for the replacement. This is the same contractor who removed the #2 generator on the UP #942 and installed a replacement. He was out several months ago to give us an estimate on lifting the #3100's front end high enough to extract the front truck, remove the rear wheelset and traction motor, change the wheelset in that traction motor, and then reinstall the truck back under the locomotive. No actual date has been set for that venture, but now that the wheelset is on the property, the job may be soon. SP 3100 is the most used of the our large "modern era" locomotives and we are anxious to get the front truck rerpaired for the foreseeable future Photos show the lifting of the wheelset off of Carl's trailer and placing it on the track in carbarn #7.
The next two jobs involved our venerable Army Alcos. 1975 was found to have an air leak in a second brake cylinder so we wanted to pull the piston ojut of the cylinder and replace the cup. The cups used in that era of Alco are woefully obsolete. Fortunate, through our Alco contact we we able to acquire several of these new old cups. Tim, Bob, and I removed the brake piston. Bob and I replace the cup while Tim cleaned and regreased the cylinder. Then, with some difficulty, we convinced the new cup to go into the cylinder.  With Saturday's efforts, we are confident that 1975 with not have any air leaks. Next diagnostic work for 1975 will be a compression check for all cylinders!
Army Alco #1956 has had a leaky expansion tank for awhile. This expansion tank was rebuilt many years ago for the same reason. At that time, Dave literally created a large hole in the hood so the tank could be extracted without removing the whole main hood.
The photos show Carl and his crane lifting the tank out of the locomotive and  moving it into the shop so it can be rebuilt!
Later in the day Tim and Bob moved into the carbarn to complete cleaning out the block on SP #1006. it can be filled with new oil in preparation for starting the prime mover for testing. We are very close!!!
BTW--if you look closely at the third photo--you will see we have all three of our Alco coupled together for switching. That is a rare event at OERM and probably anywhere. We are trying to keep 'em running!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/19 14:44 by TomPlatten.

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More Photos from February 16.

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Interesting update and photos. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Dave

I will be out later today with 4 more steel drums and two Plastic 55's  and some lumber for Danny's pallets.  Nice work all.