08/13/11
Lynn,
Les and Chris with several of the first cut sheets of new metal ready
to have further holes and cuts made so they can be installed on the
boiler. |
08/13/11 Jeff tightening piping in the cab. A
lot of work is happening on the engineer's side. Gerald
insulating, Pam climbing back up with another bucket of mud and Henry
in the cab doing some fabrication work. |
08/13/11 Henry working on PLA's large sheet metal brake that will be used to fabricate the new jacket. Gerald still hard at work, this time on the fireman's front door. |
08/13/11 Gerald installing the last few pieces of insulation. Pam
"mudding" the belly insulation, a fun job as a good portion of the mud
falls back down on you. Pam is still smiling through it all. |
07/30/11 Gerald at work insulating the firemans side. Notice the buttstrap that will be insulated later with thinner material. Top
of the first course with insulation around the bell, dynamo bases and
the buttstrap insulated with a thin layer of calcium silicate.
The rivit heads are not insulated. |
07/16/11 Master Insulator Pam at work on the 3rd coarse - almost 3/4 of the way done with insulating. Tom
wire brushing one of the better looking pieces of material in a futile
attempt to save some of the original material. In the end, we
decided that it is only good for a pattern. |
07/16/11 Henry welding in additional cab floor supports to try to fix the "sagging cab floor" issue.
Number 999 of 1001 uses for a broom. Gerald cleaning rust off a piece of the old jacket material. |
07/16/11 Jeff
looking though the old jacket material to see if any can be saved.
The sheet metal has done its job over the last 90 years but is
severely corroded and needs to be replace.
CJ under the engine installing insulation. |
07/16/11 Alan driving the Pettibone with another piece ready to go back on the #4. This time, it's the dynamo.
Gerald positioning the dynamo to install the mounting bolts. |
07/16/11 The
Mallet outside waiting for more parts in the early morning mist which
seemed more like another day of rain. This is July, correct? Gerald, Tom and Jeff mounting the bell yoke back on the boiler. |
07/16/11 Jim doing a little painting on the sand dome.
Pam and Jeff place the sand dome back on the boiler in preparation for insulation.
|
07/09/11 Why
does it seem that Pam is always found under the locomotive?
Probably because it requires someone smaller and Charlie is out of
town. As before, Jim is busy custom cutting the blocks for Pam to
install. |
07/09/11 Alan
is busy installing wrapping around the lubricator lines. The
wrapping will keep the lines from abrading against the boiler shell. |
07/09/11 There
is always something else to work on. This time, it is the sand
dome. The base is rebuilt and ready to go back on.
Gerold is expressing is delight at lagging a boiler on this bright, sunny day. |
07/02/11 CJ working on the upper portion of coarse #2. Nearly half done! Les and Chris installing new air piping between the new air tanks. |
07/02/11
Pam insulating the belly of the beast. Pam and Jim at work. |
06/25/18
Master carpenter Henry trying his cutting skills on calcium silicate insulation instead of lumber. |
06/25/11 Dave and Gerald running wire around the boiler which will hold the block insulation during installation. Pam setting block insulation near the top of the boiler. The first coarse is almost done, 3 more to go. |
06/18/11 Henry making some "fine" adjustments in preparation for some piping repair. Gerald and Henry tightening up a leaky injector line pipe. |
06/17/11
We now have a reinstalled and properly working coupler. |
06/17/11 Johnathon at work prepping bolts for reinstallation of the rear coupler pocket. The pocket is not original to this engine. When Clover Valley installed it, they did a really poor job. Johnathon tightening the pocket mounting bolts. |
06/12/11
Always look out for flying brick when brickwork is in progress.
|
06/11/11 Jeff
Waiting with the masonry saw, ready for the next brick to cut.
The keyhole firebox on the #4 required a lot of brick cutting and
fitting. Gerald setting the flash wall brick.
|
06/04/11
Henry and Gerald working on piping in one of the many tight spaces on the #4. |
06/04/11 Not
a lot of progress on the brickwork but it looks like everything is
ready to go - just need someone to fill those gloves and start working. Dave discovers the reason for the lack of progress - Gerald has not had enough coffee yet. |
06/04/11 Gerald
and Alan take a break from bricking. It was a rainy day outside
but they missed the bad weather, spending 5 hours inside the confines of
the firebox. Mixing another bucket of firebrick mortar. |
05/14/11 A good steam test today on the Clover Valley #4. We found a few things
we need to fix such as valves that need to be relapped, some leaky
flexible caps that did not leak under a hydro and leaky piping but overall
we were all smiles after the day. Thank goodness this hurdle is over,
on to finishing the locomotive to put her back in service. |
05/14/11
Jeff's thumbs up says it all. |
04/16/11 Pam insulating the air compressor steam feed line.
Test fitting the new builders plates donated by George Lavacot. They will look great once we permanently mount them.
|
04/16/11
Jeff showing Gerald how to lap the throttle.
One scary group of volunteers! |
04/09/11 Errol taking it easy on a "comfortable" folding chair while supervising. It is good to have him back , we have missed him. Jeff (who volunteers at the Orange Empire Railway Museum) spending a few hours of his northern California visit. |
04/09/11 A bunch of help involved in mounting the air tank on the engineer's side. Pam, Henry (on the lift), Scott and Chris.
A group volunteer photo for April 9th. Henry, Jeff, Scott, Chris, Alan and Pam behind the camera. |
04/09/11
Front end work with Scott and Jeff.
Pam painting the piping in the cab. |
04/09/11 Final picture of the newly repaired smokebox, new petticoat and blower ring before the smokebox front is installed. Pam and Scott preparing the front end for the smokebox front to be installed. |
04/09/11
Pam and Scott guide the front end into place.
Jeff watches while Chris and Scott muscle the front end. |
04/09/11 Henry
tightening his new air tank bracket built for the fireman's side air
tank. The new bracket is mounted off of a cab support rather than
from the cab floor which cause it to sag. Completed and painted front end. |
03/26/11
Charlie was caught dressing up the superheater plate. |
03/26/11
Finally, the new blower ring and petticoat were installed. |
03/26/11
While Alan was busy getting his hand stuck in the #4's throttle, Henry fabricates a new air tank bracket. |
02/26/11 Charlie,
Gerald and CJ reinstalling the power reverse. Considering the
difficulty we had taking it off the #4, this was a welcome easy job and
the bolts almost slid into place.
|
02/26/11
Number 4 basking in the February sun. |
02/26/11
Dave doing some final cleanup on the power revers guides. Scott, Gerald and Charlie rigging up the power reverse. |
02/26/11 A couple wees work by Henry, Jeff, Joe, Jim and others resulted in a rebuilt petticoat and new adjusting brackets. Jim and Henry mounting the petticoat in the smokebox.
|
02/19/11 Our
blacksmith Joe Mann made new adjusting brackets for the petticoat.
The old ones were welded into the smokebox and adjustment was
impossible. |
02/12/11
There
is no better way to force work to be completed than locking Alan in the
firebox until he finishes the Form 4 Documentation. |
02/12/11
C.J. and Johnathon making a new air gauge support. Charlie changing the brake valve on our SP boxcar in preparation for the March 13th Photographers Special. |
02/12/11
Scott cleans and paints the air pump bracket. Charlie
and Jim finish painting the power reverse. In the
background, Henry and Jeff work on making new brackets for the
petticoat.
|
02/05/11
Another project completed - the superheaters all reinstalled and tightened. |
02/05/11
Gerald and Pam work on cleaning all the caked grease and grime off the power reverse. Chris and Les working on piping in the cab. |
01/29/11
We
removed the old air pump plumbing from th top of the smokebox and were
able to get the last row of superheater elements installed.
|
01/29/11
The backhead shelf was painted and then installed in addition to finishing the piping for the whistle.
|
01/22/11
Jim, Pam and Henry working on the superheater units. Dave Loyola inside the smokebox installing additional sealer around the branch pipe packing. |
01/22/11
Henry carefully applies a new superheater clamp to the tube bundle to replace one of the old burned and rested clamps. A newly installed clamp ready for welding. |
01/22/11
Henry welds the clamp together. Alan and Errol tightening up the first row of superheater units. |
01/15/11 Pam
lapping the superheater ball joints which fit into the header. A
tight lapped metal to metal joint is necessary on all 36 joints to
prevent steam from leaking into the smokebox. C.J., Scott and Charlie in the smokebox muscle a 15' superheater unit into the smokebox. |
01/15/11
Jeff "The Inspector" is on site in the smokebox to check Charlie's work. Charlie Lapping the superheater header in preparation for superheater installation. |
01/15/11
Henry and Jeff installing the flexible exhaust joint from the low pressure cylinders to the nozzle in the smokebox., Pam, Jeff and Henry (hidden in the background) finishing the nozzle installation.
|
01/08/11
Henry
with the reassembled spring and snap ring positioned in the press.
Johnathon thinks he can provide help with that dinkey sledge when
we are using a 50 ton press. Maybe he should get a bigger hammer!!
|
01/08/11 Gerald working rebuilding the injector for the engineer's side of the locomotive.
The
cleaned underside of the nozzle. The spring pack fits against the
inner flat surface and the exhaust pipe seals into the center hole that
leads to the nozzle. |
01/08/11 The spring pack after about 4 hours of Henry cleaning the nozzle casting to get the pack out. Pam making new gaskets. It sure would be easier if we could just purchase them.
|
01/08/11 Scott
Martel removing the brake cylinder lids in preparation for installing
new brake cups. Another one of the locations that are difficult
to get to on compact locomotives. Chris and Les working on the brake stand plumbing in the cab. |
01/08/11
Henry starts cleaning the interior of the exhaust nozzle / flexible steam pipe joint. Pam cleaning the exhaust pipe between the smokebox and front cylinders. Not a great place to work at all. |
01/08/11
Henry starts cleaning the interior of the exhaust nozzle / flexible steam pipe joint.
|
12/28/10
Johnathon was found under the engine working on the blowdown valve. Henry working in the smokebox. The liner is almost welded in place. Next will come the nozzle. |
12/28/10
Jeff happily cutting fire brick for Alan. Alan installing fire brick in the pan. Completed brickwork at the end of the night.
|
12/11/10
Henry welding a bracket for the air brake system. |
12/11/10 Chris
working on making a new steam supply pipe for the engineer's side
injector. All the steam piping in the cab will be replaced by the
time we finish. Pam wrapping a steam pipe with insulation. |
12/11/10 Pam, Jim, Chris and Henry taking a break while installing the smokebox liner. There are only a few more feet to go. Jim,
Henry and Chris admire the installed liner. Now comes a bunch of
welding and bolting to tie the plate down in the smokebox. |
11/27/10 Jim painting running gear.
Henry grinding on a new bracket. |
11/20/10
The beginning of the brick work in the fire pan. The great mason reaching out of the job site. |
10/30/2010
Backhead looking better every workday with piping and appurtances being added. |
10/30/2010 Wait, wait! Not quite ready yet. This is never a good sight when inside the firebox caulking stays.
Henry Chandler finishing up on smokebox repairs. |
10/30/2010
240 pounds of hydrostatic pressure on the gauge!!
Kruger looking for leaks with the hydro pump in the foreground. |
10/30/2010 The mad plumber has moved from the Pettibone to the cab of the number 4. Wild West at Brightside. Gerald holding Jim up with an injector mock up made to arrange brackets and piping.
|
10/30/3010 Les running running new piping in the tight confines under the engine.
Chris working on piping under the cab floor.
|
10/30/2010 Johnathon working on the pettibone brakes.
You can never have enough vice grips! Jim showing off his paint brush extender tool. |
10/23/2010
Some of the new firing piping running under the new firepan floor.
|
10/23/2010
Jeff and Charlie hydro testing more superheater units.
|
10/23/2010 Johnathon firing the water heater. Using the #2 to heat water in the #4 in preparation for the hydro test. Gerald and Jim working on the fireman's side injector. |
10/23/2010 Jeff and Charlie hydro testing superheater units. Henry
burning some more rod.. The amount of welding done during the smokebox
repair is amazing. We should have bought welding rod by the case. |
10/02/2010 Backhead
piping in progress, with most of the new firing manifold piping
complete. It is amazing how much time has been spent laying out
and installing this piping. Some of those involved include Les
Fisher, Johnathon Kruger, Chris Holombo, Pam Cravens and Alan Siegwarth.
|
10/02/2010 Always time to answer the phone, despite the dirt.
Gerald and Jim cutting metal to be used in repainting the cab. |
10/02/2010 Henry Chandler working on smokebox repairs.
Scott Martel doing a little metal cleaning on the running gear. |
09/18/2010
Replacement of the bottom smokebox sheet is almost complete. The outer shell is installed and welded into place. |
04/26/2010 Jeff grinding the rear tube sheet preparing for tube installation. Henry is on the right, removing a stay. Closeup of Henry burning out an old staybolt. |
04/26/2010 New Member Jim wire brushing one of the many tank support brackets. Les working removing plumbing from the blowdown valve. One more replacement stay to go in the boiler blackhead. |
04/17/2010 Pam and Gerald threading staybolt on the engineers side of the cab. John tirelessly wiring brushing the frame and running gear to
remove all the rust, caked grease and dirt built up over many years of
service. Not a glamorous job, but thanks to John the engine will look
much better when it returns to service. |
04/17/2010 Another not so glamorous job, Jim is wire brushing the tank support brackets in preparation for painting.
Tapping another staybolt hole. |
04/17/2010 Gerald and Pam continue working on staybolts on the engineers side of the cab.
Pam threading in a new flexible staybolt. |
04/17/2010 Henry threading blackhead stays. The second tap sticking out of the sheet is being driven by Pam in the firebox.
Gerald cleaning up stay threads with a die.
Tapping stays two at a time. |
04/10/2010 Chris rethreading the side tank support bracket mounting holes on the boiler.
Henry
tapping the holes in one of the new flush patches installed in the
firebox in preparation for installing new staybolts. |
04/10/2010 C.J. painting one of the many tank support brackets. Gerald
is cleaning the threads on PLA's stock of staybolts. Many of
these stays will be used in the $4 but those that are not will be
checked for size, cleaned, cosmolined and stored properly for use in
the future. |
04/10/2010 Alan threading in a new flexible staybolt. (David Loyola photo)
Two new flexible staybolts installed, two more to go in this area of the firebox. |
04/10/2010 Henry in the firebox working on tapping staybolt holes. Jim
(or at least his hands) threading a new rigid staybolt into place on
the engineer's side sheet from outside the cab. Great place to
work - right next to the cab floor and wall. The power reverse
and other linkage had to be removed for this work. |
1/23/2010 Completed tube sheet installation after riveting and welding.
One of the completed firebox flush patches in the firebox. |
1/23/2010 Blake backing rivets with Johnathon Kruger providing added force by pushing on Blake's arms. John with Dave adding weight riveting another one. Doug stands by to tell the backing crew how the process is going. |
1/23/2010 Blake
backing a hot rivet underneath the boiler. Down below, Johnathon
Kruger is helping by pushing on Blake's arms to back the riveting. Using
tongs to handle the hot rivet, Henry Chandler puts a rivet in the hole
while Blake waits to start backing with a 90 pound gun. |
1/23/2010 Rivet being heated until white hot in the rivet oven. Dave
Loyola and Doug Vanderlee listen as John Rimmasch explains the top side
riveting procedure. Dave will help John by adding weight on
John's shoulder to keep the air gun down. Doug will communicate
with the rivet heating crew. |
1/23/2010 The lower portion of the front tube sheet had to be removed had reduced the thickness of the knuckle below safe levels. Wasatch Railroad Contractors welder Blake welding up cab wear on the rear door sheet. |
12/12/09
The
new section of cab wall formed and fitted but yet receive the holes
necessary for the appurtenances that have to pass through it. |
12/12/09
Henry drilling holes in stay bolts that will be removed from the blackhead. The
new Mallet house. The number 4 sitting inside the completed tent
which was finished just in time as it as been raining continuously here
in the Bay Area. |
12/12/09
Les cleaning the plate cut out to replace the engineers lower cab wall. Chris drill mounting holes for the new fire pan. |
11/19/09 Not a common sight when you look through the firebox door - the
ground! The bar across the opening is actually the axle on the rear
driver. The fireman is in the process of being cut out and replaced as
it has been modified beyond believe over the years of service on the
Clover Valley. Actually, we are in the process of cutting out TWO
firebox pans as the lumber company just added another floor over the
old one (with an one inch area in between filled with Bunker C!)
when it was time to repair the firepan. |
11/19/09 Gerald DeWitt and Dan Dornbrach installing cable stays to tighten up and square the tent support structure. End of the day, the Mallet is backed down into the new structure for
the night. Hopefully just one more day to finish the tent installation
so the engine will inside protected from the weather all winter. |
11/19/09 When all else fails - READ THE DIRECTIONS. Dan, Jim, Henry and Gerald demonstrate this long lost art.
There is sure a lot of this reading directions stuff today. Johnathon and Charlie in action. |
11/19/09 Henry, Pam and Gerald lay out one of the tent support hoops.
Pam, Dave Loyola, Henry Chandler and Gerald DeWitt raise up one of the tent supports after assembly. |
10/31/09 No better way to move material than shovels. Alan Siegwarth spreading asphalt chips.
Nice picture of the new improved walkway/work area with asphalt
chips spread out and compacted alongside the track. Once the tent is
complete, it will almost be as nice as working inside the shop. |
10/31/09 Dumping asphalt chips to use as a raised walkway inside the tent using
one of the PLA's recently acquired Central California Traction ballast
cars. Henry Chandler, Johnathon Kruger, Jim Adams and Dan Dornbrach take a break from shoveling. |
09/26/09 Jeff and Gerald DeWitt reinstalling the firemans side cab step.
The bolts holding the steps on were rusted and corroded to the point
that the step was no longer safe for use. A simple job right? No, of
course not. The repair required removing the step/welds, fixing and
straightening the bent step, cutting and repairing the cab floor,
building a doubler plate to support the step and finally - shown here -
reinstalling the step. |