OBRM update

[MADDOG]

We're Back!!
In preparation for the start of Locomotive #35's restoration, Our contractor, Scott Lindsey has given us a list of tasks to perform before his engineering visit in May. This needed to be be accomplished in order to have  a large area to start parts cleaning and filed measurements of the bearings etc.
Last weeks (3/27/10) session involved moving around equipment on the site which also included moving our newly built "visitors center".
We  will need to move the 2 parts trailers forward about 20 feet in order for us to retrieve parts from the rear of them.

Yesterdays (4/3/10) session is one that was years in the making and may seem quite mundane to anyone NOT involved in museum life.
MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT.
And no, I do not mean our railroad cars. I mean our equipment, those day to day workhorses that you use but don't really think about until something goes awry.

Our truck had a full scheduled fluid/filter/lube job and also hydraulics, steering and brakes were checked and topped off/repaired as necessary. Basically everything, including all 5 drive belts, though we did change out the spark plugs and air filter as well.
We also checked the fuel system as we were always topping off the gas in the tank. Good thing we did as we noticed rust in the fuel line to the filter. So we changed out the fuel lines and filter and treated the gas before draining out the tank. We then added more stabilizer to the fuel and filled up the tank to prevent water intrusion.

Our forklift also needed extensive servicing and as we checked our last date, it was confirmed that the oil had not been changed in 9 years!!!
So, we changed out the oil/filter, plugs/wires/cap/points, all hydraulic fluids, added new battery cables, fixed an exhaust leak and needed to special order our air filter. Since its a  very old Hyster, parts are a bit hard to come by "off the shelf". Our local auto parts store did however manage to come up with almost everything for us.
The only thing left to maintain is the brake system which will have to wait for a very specialized piece of equipment in order to remove the axles to get at the brakes themselves.
This all may seem routine and boring to most people, but the average museum rarely spends any time on their equipment that they use day to day. We also did not neglect other important machinery as we changed out the oil & filters on our generators and welding machines and checked air pressure in all tires.
We don't want to have any of our equipment out of service.
Heck we are Railroad Museums, not equipment museums!
MADDOG

[RGlueck]

Doggy, I know this may be a dumb suggestion, but when she's rebuilt, might the museum consider adding roller bearings to her?  It would make movement much more intelligent (by rail, rather than by truck) and allow her to be leased out to other possible operators.  As built, not, but refined, perhaps a bit?

[Block Limit]

Great to hear that the back bone equipment is getting it's necessary maintenance!
Didn't that truck have a broken/missing windshield at one time?
What kind of work is on the table for the steam contractor to check up on or preform?
It is finally time to move forward and beyond the ultrasound testing?
It looks like finally both LIRR museums are making huge strides, and as I see it they are doing it at almost the same time.
Will the turntable be operational/ready for decking by the end of this work season?

[MADDOG]

Richard,  as far as I know, no plans are on the table to convert to roller bearings. Anything can change though as I concur with your thoughts.
Block, I am looking at the first round and the contractor will be going over all of the drive gear components to see what we have, their measurements againts the blueprints to see what needS to be repaired and The condition of the cylinders to determine what repairs (or not) need to be performed. Also he will be going over the drive wheels and crank pins, bearings and their boxes/shoes/wedges and the pedestal legs. This is from a select list and all measurements will be done over a 4 day work period at the OBRM display yard.

MADDOG

[MADDOG]

Block Limit- I forgot to answer your Turntable question. YES. After we get past the #35 parts week, we will be back at work on the turntable. We are just waiting for the brand new bridge ties to be delivered so we can lay them out and bolt them together to form the top of the turntable. Then they will need to be lifted into position and finally get the tie plates and rails installed. Then, like I've said before, there will be a systematic replacement of parts and electronics. The only electronic part that we do not yet have back, is the actual control stand. We should have it back by mid-June, ready to go!
Fortunately, Art Huneke has in his collection, some great views of our turntable showing the operator putting it through its paces with an RS3 on it.
MADDOG

[MADDOG]

Today was the start of parts restoration for #35 and we chose to work on the drive rods which went from 2nd driver crankpin to the third drivers crankpin. We will be performing the same sort of tasks for all of the valve gear parts and side rods. When completed we will then move on to the driver journals and crankpins.
As I've stated before, We will be performing work in order to get the drive train inspected and measured in order to check the specifications against the PRR/LIRR G5s blueprints.
Greay & dirty grunt work, but the backbone of a good restoration.
MADDOG

[MADDOG]

Today, Saturday 4/17/10, was a dreary misty day in Oyster Bay. However, with only 4 people on board for a day, we managed to move hundreds of parts around and were able to work on and compete, almost 2 dozen pieces associated with the drive train and valve gear assembly for #35.
As I have stated before, these pieces all need to be degreased and the old alemite removed from all bearing and journal surfaces so they can be "miked" up and those figures compared to the original blueprint specifications, which will allow our contractor, Steam Operations Corp. to create a master datatbase of figures for the restoration of #35's frame and running gear to begin.
If you aren't familiar with the restoration of a steam locomotive, it is the figure and detail accounting beforehand, that allows the machining to be performed correctly, the first time with no waste of time and money, which is something that we have just enough of to begin the restoration.
FYI- for those who may be interested, On Saturday May 8th the OBRM will be hosting our first open house at our museum. We will have the Museums preview center open as well as all of the equipment at the display yard and we will aslo be dedicating our recently completed Worlds Fair Alco Cab at 2 oclock.
Come on down!
MADDOG

[MADDOG]

Today Saturday April 23rd-With plenty of hands to spread the work & dirt out, we hit the site running.
All remaing bearings, wedges and brasses for #35 were cleaned and degreased and all of the over 50 year old alemite was removed and the parts covered with Cosmoline.
We also completed the same job on the pilot truck bearings.
We did not forget to clean & apply cosmoline to all 3 driver axle journals & pilot truck journals.
Next weeks-and last Pre-visit!- worksession will see the completion of our job on the frame of #35.
The pedestal boxes, crosshead guides, valve cylinders and steam cylinders will all be cleaned, degreased and coated with cosmoline.

FYI-SAturday MAy 8th is our open house (10am-4pm) and we wil be dedicating our competed Worlds Fair Alco Cab display at 2pm.
MADDOG

[RGlueck]

El Woof- I don't suppose anybody took pictures of all this work?  BTW, I've seen cosmolene for long term storage, like old Jeeps, etc.  What does cosmolene do that grease does not, other than get on your pillows at night?

[MADDOG]

When used by the military for long term storage Cosmolene is mostly used with some sort of special fabric or paper covering that lets the cosmoline dry tacky. Grease stays greasy.
My dad used to have a very old german LUGER that was broken down and had the covering and cosmoline. I remember him taking it out,  cleaning it up and re-assembling it with any foul language. He knew what to expect, I guess!
MADDOG
BTW a few photos are on photo bucket at thewineguy35. I kept forgetting to bring my camera and had to use my cell camera. Not to my liking.

[rs31556]

Will you be accepting dues at the open house on Saturday?

[MADDOG]

Well, another fine day at OBRM-Starting with a visit from our friend from Maine, Richard Glueck & his lovely wife.
Spent some quality time showing them around while our volunteers set about the days tasks of polishing up a set of drive rods and needle scaling the pilot truck.
A hot sunny day, yet over half a dozen volunteers came up to Oyster Bay and toiled to complete the days tasks.
Next week-finishing up both of these tasks and beginning the paint & rust removal of the turntabel motor frame assembly.
MADDOG

[RGlueck]

Totally seredipitous trip, based on an invitation to a family gathering in Larchmont.  Carole Ann and I decided to run across the Throgs Neck Bridge, and were shocked to learn that the toll had changed from 50 cents, in 1973, to $5.50 today, and in both directions.  Jesus Marimba!  Anyway, arrived at OBRM and had the luxury of being escorted through cabooses, World's Fair cab, and P54 coach.  All of this is the root basis of the LIRR I remember, and an honest treasure trove.  All Long Island modelers and historians need to visit the collection.  Gary gave a first class tour of the yard, visitors center, and old Oyster Bay station.  I took photos, met Leon and few other guys. 

I wrote a $35 check, renewing my membership, too.  If you're reading this, have you underwritten OBRM or RMLI?  If not, why not?

Long Island railfans, you are custodians of the two PRR design steam locos, and will be the ultimate deciders of where they will operate and how they'll be presented to the public.  Unless something remarkable changes at RMPA, only 1361 will get this kind of spotlight attention.  If I can make time to get over to the Bay for a few hours on a Saturday morning, in a crowded schedule, you guys should get over and grab a greasy rag or paint brush.  Think about your talents and how you can offer them to RMLI or OBRM.  If you guys demonstrate the will, you can build these two sites, rather than sit on the sidelines and moan about what isn't being done. 

Make it happen.  Show the conviction.

[RGlueck]

A few of the photos I shot while over at OBRM, June 05, 2010.
If you have an itch to make a difference, you should go over and offer and hand.
If not, you should offer a check.

[Anthony RMLI]

Totally seredipitous trip, based on an invitation to a family gathering in Larchmont.  Carole Ann and I decided to run across the Throgs Neck Bridge, and were shocked to learn that the toll had changed from 50 cents, in 1973, to $5.50 today, and in both directions.  Jesus Marimba!  Anyway, arrived at OBRM and had the luxury of being escorted through cabooses, World's Fair cab, and P54 coach.  All of this is the root basis of the LIRR I remember, and an honest treasure trove.  All Long Island modelers and historians need to visit the collection.  Gary gave a first class tour of the yard, visitors center, and old Oyster Bay station.  I took photos, met Leon and few other guys. 

I wrote a $35 check, renewing my membership, too.  If you're reading this, have you underwritten OBRM or RMLI?  If not, why not?

Long Island railfans, you are custodians of the two PRR design steam locos, and will be the ultimate deciders of where they will operate and how they'll be presented to the public.  Unless something remarkable changes at RMPA, only 1361 will get this kind of spotlight attention.  If I can make time to get over to the Bay for a few hours on a Saturday morning, in a crowded schedule, you guys should get over and grab a greasy rag or paint brush.  Think about your talents and how you can offer them to RMLI or OBRM.  If you guys demonstrate the will, you can build these two sites, rather than sit on the sidelines and moan about what isn't being done. 

Make it happen.  Show the conviction.

Why didn't we see you in Riverhead and Greenport? You went that far, why stop there? WE would love to have your support as well. A lot going on, from the restoration of Caboose 68 and Engine 16, to the rehabilitation of out storage building for the Lionel building with operating Dinky 399

Anthony

Anthony