Western Railroad Discussion > Update On Diesel Maintenance at SCRM 9/4/20

1) As you have seen in a previous thread we were thrilled when the Santa Fe #560 started right up and moved under its own power with that familiar "throaty" sound of an opposed piston Fairbanks. I experienced that sound up close and personal for three years in the U.S. Coast Guard on three Cutters on which I served close to 50 years ago. There is still quite a bit of mechanical work to do including a suspicious brass on the front truck which heats up rapidly. It will be attended to along with all the other thing needed to return it to its original condition! The major difference in this restoration and the SP 1006 is that this locomotive actually runs and has a body which is in reasonably good shape! Our project leader, Dave says his sources think it with take about $40.000 to prepare and paint the locomotive eventually. If you care to help you can send your funds to the OERM (see website for address) and specify the funds are for Project M56--Fairbanks Morse Restoration!
2) As you know we raised the USAF 1601 up on jacks to remove the trucks to replace one traction motor on each truck. It was necessary to lower the 1601 down on its trucks so the SF #560 could roll out of the increasing crowded carbarn. In so doing Frank and  Carl observed excessive play on one of the axles. Obviously we do not want to put that truck permanently under the locomotive until that problem is addressed!
3) SP #1006. UP #942, SF #108, USAF #7441 is operational, as is EX-Army Alco #1956 are in good shape to use when we are able to resume normal operations. A sad note--we have cancelled Thomas the Tank Engine for this year!

---

---

Doing great !

Posted from Android

Great news indeed Tom. Do they think the oil spatter will be over come using the Load Bank? 

Remember the #942 and to some degree the #108 are also potential oil sprayers. That is the reality of 2-cycle engines. The SP 3100 has a Cooper-Bessemer/GE FDL prime mover which is a 4-cycle prime mover. They tend to be cleaner burning prime movers. Any locomotive which is used in such a way that it sits and idles the majority of the day---as in a scrap yard--would tend to spray oil! As a result you to keep the exhaust manifolds drained off---as we do with the EMD's, or operate them under load, or shut the unit down between runs to mitigate the accumulation of oil! That is why we love the old 3100 with its 4-cycle engine! It was used for the Polar Express project primarily because oil spatter is minimal! We have two more locomotives that are 4 cyclers--the Harbor Alcos! The 2954 actually runs but needs to have its radiators replace----which we have!