Steam & Excursion > 844 Repairs Over Winter

I realize the 844 put in a record number of miles this season for the UP 150th. Can any of you UP steam guys tell us what the 844 will need in way of repairs this winter? Or is the main focus going to be working on the 3985?
Thanks in advance.

Brian Black
Retired SP/UP Conductor
Castle Rock, CO

I can tell you what 844 NEEDS and what they SHOULD do:

1) Remove both pistons and install NEW cylinder bushings/liners, bored to ORIGINAL UP specifications.

2) New piston packing (rings to some folks) matched to the new cylinder bores.

3) New crosshead guides.

4) Put all the rod bearings back to PROPER clearances, per UP specifications.

5) Re-pipe the Wilson Blown-down Separator system, so that it doesn't shoot out from under the cab, on the Engineer's side.

Instead of the above, they will probably waste time & effort making "new Wind Wings" (elephant ears to some folks)!

HotWater Wrote:
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> I can tell you what 844 NEEDS and what they SHOULD
> do:
>
> 1) Remove both pistons and install NEW cylinder
> bushings/liners, bored to ORIGINAL UP
> specifications.
>
> 2) New piston packing (rings to some folks)
> matched to the new cylinder bores.
>
> 3) New crosshead guides.
>
> 4) Put all the rod bearings back to PROPER
> clearances, per UP specifications.
>
> 5) Re-pipe the Wilson Blown-down Separator
> system, so that it doesn't shoot out from under
> the cab, on the Engineer's side.
>
> Instead of the above, they will probably waste
> time & effort making "new Wind Wings" (elephant
> ears to some folks)!


If that's the case, why not let them know, or with the retirement of older steam team, the new tem has their own direction?

Jack's point is that's what it needs, the prevailing opinion seems to be that
since it's running leave it alone. The line bore and new guides would go far
to prevent premature wear and downstream costs. They're good suggestions and
anyone with a sense of asking those with knowledge would consider them wisely.

They know what needs done and they certainly do have a new direction. Sadly a lot of it is South.

I guess south to some is just different to others . I believe the former director once said when he took over some said it would be the end of the steam program. The new director will have so wins and some losses but I believe the program will continue.

Posted from iPhone

The point that Hot Water and I are making is that we understand that the new man is going to do things differently and not everyone will approve, but when basic key maintenance issues are ignored that is where we take exception. As an example, to spend time building new jacketing with chrome hardware or adding that silly shield into the cab floor over completing the ongoing overhaul work started by Steve & Company is borderline negligent. One area in particular is listed by Jack above. These are very key items essential to not only 844's reliability, but also it's future. It's not elective work, it is vital. Imagine if you will, the crossheads or cylinders giving up the ghost on the main during this 15,000 mile event. What happens then ? What happens if it's a catastrophic failure of one of these components and it could have easily been prevented by properly prioritising your projects ? Simply, you have to maintain what is there as major replacement components are pretty much unobtainable. So why risk a breakdown or severe and maybe permanent damage ? Would you take off on a 15,000 mile trip in your car knowing the drivetrain should have been properly serviced and maintained ? I don't think anyone in their right mind would do that. It's not that the new guy does things differently, it's that the things that have to get done aren't, but un-necessary things do.

What Hot Water and Empire Builder are saying are things learned from EXPERIENCE, and should be given their proper weight. It also explains a couple of things...

What is a blow down separator?

Txhighballer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What Hot Water and Empire Builder are saying are
> things learned from EXPERIENCE, and should be
> given their proper weight. It also explains a
> couple of things...

I agree that they are very experienced my point is how does anyone know what work will be done and in what time trame. People can have a difference of oppinion and niether be wrong.

Posted from iPhone

thought a lot of work was done before steve retired, setting up these marathon trips, allowing the engine a long run before the next overhaul. if they are on the road, they can't get much done in chian.

A very large amount was done before Steve retired, but not everything as this is an ongoing program. What has happened is that the focus went from upgrading to non-essential stuff. Yes, can't do the work in CHY when your gone, thats why you do it before you leave.

EmpireBuilder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A very large amount was done before Steve retired,
> but not everything as this is an ongoing program.
> What has happened is that the focus went from
> upgrading to non-essential stuff. Yes, can't do
> the work in CHY when your gone, thats why you do
> it before you leave.

How does anyone other than the director know what the focus or maintance schedule for the program is ?

Posted from iPhone

hunt4004 Wrote:
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> How does anyone other than the director know what
> the focus or maintance schedule for the program is
> ?

What makes you thing he knows????

hunt4004 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> EmpireBuilder Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A very large amount was done before Steve
> retired,
> > but not everything as this is an ongoing
> program.
> > What has happened is that the focus went from
> > upgrading to non-essential stuff. Yes, can't
> do
> > the work in CHY when your gone, thats why you
> do
> > it before you leave.
>
> How does anyone other than the director know what
> the focus or maintance schedule for the program is
> ?
>
> Posted from iPhone

I think the guys who have been involved in the program probably have a pretty good idea of the locomotives' condition, and going out on a limb here, if the cylinders and crossheads were worn to the point of replacement before this trip, they certainly are past that now so why take the chance in the first place? It might have been time better spent doing those repairs than making the cosmetic improvements that could wait..."Run she may but Shine she must" only works with show cars...

Cheers, Dave

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hunt4004 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
>
> > How does anyone other than the director know
> what
> > the focus or maintance schedule for the program
> is
> > ?
>
> What makes you thing he knows????

I didn't say he did but if thats the case no one does including you.

Posted from iPhone

Wow.

hunt4004 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------


> I didn't say he did but if thats the case no one
> does including you.
>
> Posted from iPhone

After working for Steve Lee as a Contract Fireman (about 17 years worth), I feel I have a pretty good handle on what 844 requires!

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hunt4004 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
>
> > I didn't say he did but if thats the case no
> one
> > does including you.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> After working for Steve Lee as a Contract Fireman
> (about 17 years worth), I feel I have a pretty
> good handle on what 844 requires!

At no point have I questioned your experimce or knowlege all I'm saying is no one knows what they will do good or bad this winter.

That's both true and not, if they devote time to the 3985 most likely they'll do
little on the 844, or vice versa. As I said in a previous post some weeks ago, don't
be surprised to see some contract work being done in the steam shop.