News from the Mt. Graham and Arizona Eastern Boiler Shop
Finally got around to installing the liquid smoke unit in the 2025, however it was a somewhat entertaining project. Here is the blow by blow account for your enjoyment:
1) Disassembled locomotive. Not too much of a problem there. Whoah...now I see why they say you should not add too much smoke fluid, fortunately it cleans up easily.
2) Remove old smoke unit top w/ original element.
3) Remove the covering on the new element per JimT's advice.
4) Figure out how best to wire in this thing. Finally decided inline is the way to go to avoid covering the air pump hole (see below).
5) Fiddle fuss around w/ the high temp insulation that came w/ the unit. Half was already frayed out already. Pull it out of the hole in the cap in the process. Trim off frayed area to try and get it back in. Succeed, but in the end this stuff is so flimsy I ended up taking it off anyway.
6) Solder in unit and heat shrink connection.
7) Reassemble, or attempt to. OK, the wire w/ new insullation will not fit on top, fine, but heat shrink is too thick to get past the smoke unit and the frame. Blast.
8) Remove unit and swap the unit top end for end so the power wire is toward the rear so I don't have to try and snake it around everything.
9) Reassemble. Smoke unit mounts to pilot casting. But hey this thing doesn't line up real well. What's the deal? Meanwhile dislodge, retrieve. and realine the smoke unit gasket about 3 dozen times.
10) Realize that I am trying to install the smoke unit backwards as I'm trying to line up the smoke unit, pilot casting, valve gear on both sides, smoke plunger, and that blasted gasket.
11) Remove unit and resolder so the bracket is now in the front like it should be. (If I hadn't left the book at home, prob would have figured this out earlier. Part of the fun of having all your stuff on 3 different floors of a building on a 10K ft mountain 3 hours away from where the rest of your stuff is) Oh, and resolder the connection to the light socket that just fell off due to all the fiddling.
12) Reassemble. Break down and remove the valve gear first so I don't have to line it up with the smoke unit, pilot casting, smoke plunger, etc.
Upon final reassembly. It works great!!!!!!!
Lessons learned:
1) The fuzzy insulation the the unit comes w/ is crap. Use better insulation.
2) Use an appropriately sized piece of heat shrink tubing to line up the gasket in the stack.
3) Keep the book handy.
4) Definitely send all the N-gauge stuff to my brother. Imagine trying something like this on one of those. No, wait a minute...maybe I should get into Z-gauge and just go bat $#!t crazy....
5) Continue to admire the folks that designed and built these things all those years ago. They are built well and made to last.
Note to JimT. I think the original unit would probably have been ok. I think when I had to lengthen the power wire originally I ended up installing the unit in backwards and covering the air hole. Whoops... And the Anormal smoke fluid is the best!
Of course the funny part about this is that I consider myself pretty good at this kind of stuff. This is probably what happens as a result of making fun of the Chief yesterday...
Anybody relate?
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
Hi bGUYZ,
Had a retirement workshop this morning. Got some good info there along with 200 other people.
BUCKEYE AWESOME accounts of your RAID. Well Done!
SUB BOB graet photos of ther RR caper.
KEV and JEFF nice pics.
Stay frosty,
laz57
Well I'm back
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
rtraincollector Well I'm back
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Well got my putor back but it was still broke they said they needed to replace the main board ( mother board) but when it got there they replaced the power supply ( to which I and my 2 brothers who are computor guys ( they repair and build networks for businesses) so now the company is sending me a lable to return it to them so they can fix it right. So I went out and bought a laptop as I really wanted one any way. So it will help me in the long run.
Got some things back up and running that I needed to have ( ie check book lol)
Hope all been having a good couple of weeks. It going to be 2 weeks until I have my big putor back so I had to get something as been 3 weeks with out a putor already lol
Yeah, internet withdrawal symptoms are rough.
rtraincollector So I went out and bought a laptop as I really wanted one any way. So it will help me in the long run. Hope all been having a good couple of weeks.
So I went out and bought a laptop as I really wanted one any way. So it will help me in the long run.
Hope all been having a good couple of weeks.
Humm, RT how has it been the last couple weeks, lets see. Peaceful, Quiet, Relaxing, Tranquil, Calm, Placid, Serene, Even-Keeled, Steady, to name a few. Glad you back, Kev.
Humm, RT how has it been the last couple weeks, lets see. Peaceful, Quiet, Relaxing, Tranquil, Calm, Placid, Serene, Even-Keeled, Steady, to name a few.
Glad you back,
Kev.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Welcome back RT.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Good early evening. I am wiped! Woke at 0500, so after my reading and prayers, did a bunch of work on some buildings for the layout. Had to cut up some trees from the storm. My back doesn't like hauling logs anymore. Then, had to plant some trees. I still have five to plant, but they will have to wait.
Making some good progress on the layout. I still have to glue some supports for the elevated rail and another bridge, but it is progress. My wife is loving the fact that we can get rid of the boxes of buildings as they are completed. I found plenty of items I didn't remember having, so I will be holding off any purchases for the time being.
Joe, Doug, thanks for the thoughts about the movie. It is amazing the lives impacted and the stories told. I am blessed to be a part of it.
Hope each of you have a blessed week ahead
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Good afternoon all,
Went to Local TCA meet today and chatted with old friends. Saw a Flyer water tank for $45. Thought about it but passed. I already have two Lionel tanks on the layout anyway. There was an auction after the meeting with lots of MPC era freight cars going on the block. All were like new in original boxes but were only bringing between $7 and $10 each. One or two went for $13 and $16. There were so many that it was taking up all the auction time. I finally left about 1:15 PM. Couldn't take it anymore and didn't need any cars.
Had a late lunch at home and now am falling asleep over the computer. Wife was watching a rerun of the Republican debate on TV and that really put me to sleep. I already had seen it.
Hope the Chief and Buckeye have a good get together in Roseyville today and bury the hatchet for a while and not in each other.
Dog across the street is putting out a warning bark. Must be the mailman coming.
Beautiful weather again today but a little windy at times. Blew hard last night.
later,
Ray
SPMan
Good job RT on getting a lap top! Once you have a lap top you won't go back. All I've ever had was a desk top (which I still have but rarely use) but since I've had my MacBook Pro it's all we use. Just being able to sit any where in our home and use the computer is a very nice perk
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
32 degrees now, lite snow today nothing on the ground.
Busy day tomorrow, setup and operate the module layout at a show..S.J.
Not sure jon as I like my bigger screen with the dessk top but this will come in handy as I do plan to put all my military records on it.
Well will try this again I clicked the torn paper but still didn't get it to post so may be having to switch to firefox myself.
RT, you may be able to hook you laptop to your tv. One of our Dell laptops has a bad screen so we do that.
Doug, I got the magazine at Books A Million, this is the first time I have seen it there. If you have a BAM near you, may be worth the trip to check it out.
Well, heading to bed.
God bless,
RT -- just you wait and give it a chance, I NEVER thought I would like this lap top this much, it's the bomb!!
HE ESCAPES!!! Funny, lady PD who did the DWI video and I had a plan. After dinner, she was coming to the house and catch Buckeye before the drove off. She was to handcuff him for a photo or two. Just before leaving the restaurant, she got a call along with the other officer and the Sgt. Earlier, I was going to get the other lady officer to do the same. While she was talking to us at the PD, they had to rush off with the Sgt. to apprehend someone [I think one of the Jones boys who has an outstanding warrant].
Great time we have had. Everyone at Miss Edna's loved him.
Now for a plop plop fizz fizz as ate too much.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Hello all,
A great time was had by all as we played and watched the trains at the http://www.altoonatrain.com/ Spent about 2 hours there. We usually get there a couple of times a year. The rest of the day was spent on miscellaneous stuff.
Sounds like the great raid was a success.
The christmas tree will be removed tomorrow .
Now off to bed
Prayers for those in need
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.
THE GREAT RAID and THE GREAT ESCAPE
Several days ago, Chuck said, “Buckeye you need to be careful when you head out on the Great Raid. No one has ever attempted a mission to Roseyville.
Buckeye, “Don’t worry Chuck. This is just like the Bo and Luke Duke dealing with Boss Hog”
A worried Chuck then said, “Now Buckeye that was a long time ago and the Mayor of Roseyville and his police force are a whole lot smarter than Boss Hog and Rosco P. Coltrane. You need to be prepared for a very sophisticated trap. You need to hook up with someone like Cooter.”
January 28, 2012
As I drove north today towards Roseyville, Chuck’s sage advice raced through my head. I was now within the town limits and decided I should scout out the Mayor’s mansion. Fortunately, I did not see vicious dogs or armed guards on the grounds. The BOX appeared quiet as I pulled into the drive. I was warmly greeted by the Chief and was introduced to Mrs. Chief. Mrs. Chief appeared delighted with her box of Chocolate Buckeyes and the Chief was somewhat amazed at seeing the I LOVE North Carolina boxcar in one piece along with a beautiful Ohio flag for his desk at city hall. The Chief took me on a tour of the box explaining the new layout plan.
The always scheming Chief had planned for us to visit Miss Edna at Todd’s Trains. Needless to say the trip to Miss Edna’s was great and I found something that definitely needed to be taken north of the Ohio. (More later.) We arrived back at the Mayor’s mansion after a drive past city hall and the police station. After a brief discussion with one of the officers a urgent radio call was received and they took off after one of the Jones boys. Chuck’s warning was starting to ring true. Next stop on the Roseyville tour was the famous beaver pond. As the Chief stepped out of the car to unlock the security gates, I secretly called the Jones boys and told them of my concerns and my speculation that the sting was coming down quickly. In the great tradition of Cooter, they told me they knew exactly what to do. Back at the mansion, the beautiful Mrs. Chief joined us and we headed to supper. After noticing that the Chief was secretly on his cell phone texting messages, it became apparent I better scoot out of town or I would be spending a night in the Roseyville jail. As I sped out of town, there was Roseyville’s finest with the Jones boys on the side of the road where they had created a superb diversion in order for my fast exit back to the same confines of my southern safe house.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Congrats to Buckeye on the successful Southern Raid!
RT and Roy -GOOD to see you back...
Windy again tonight, it says 46, but I don't believe....
Just trying to get my paperwork in order, I have another meeting tomorrow.
Firehouse is back to normal and all the broken lights have been "recycled".
SubBob - NICE tale....totally relate!
Off to bed... more in the morning.
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Yay RT - totally agree, you will learn to love your laptop! We got rid of our desktop after a couple years of never using it.
Man - sat down to watch a movie and slept for HOURS, guess I was behind on my sleep. Now I need to watch the movie again! Sorry I missed you guys on the messenger thingie, I'll catch you tomorrow night.
Bob - I totally related to your story Glad you got it working now
Okay, I sprayed off the TARDIS and it's good to go!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Evenin' Dudes & Dudettes.
Buckeye, Hope you took your acquisition with you, never know someone might try slipping some grits in the package.
Bob, That tale of woe applies to more projects than trains.
Been dead on my butt most of the day, after a very long day at the museum it was time for the munchkin to spend the nite with Grandma & Grampa. Stayed up past his normal bedtime to watch Kung Fu Panda, actually he and I both watched it. So you know what was next, he was brite eyed & bushy tailed at 4:30 am needless to say I wasn't. I ended up rattling around the kitchen a little after 5 trying to get waffles and sausage going for breakfast. A little after 7 I crashed til 11:30, the Better Half expressed some concern because my BP & HR were a bit low but I believe I was just plain pooped from getting up early & the runnin' round.
John, Hope Kyle gets a smile out of the goodies, prayers continue for him and his family.
In my case I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks, I'll keep my desktop. The biggest benefit is there is absolutely no risk of me falling asleep and dropping it from my lap onto the floor.
Don, Great photos !
Later all !
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
[quote user="Buckeye Riveter"]
The always scheming Chief had planned for us to visit Miss Edna at Todd’s Trains. Needless to say the trip to Miss Edna’s was great and I found something that definitely needed to be taken north of the Ohio. (More later.) We arrived back at the Mayor’s mansion after a drive past city hall and the police station. After a brief discussion with one of the officers a urgent radio call was received and they took off after one of the Jones boys. Chuck’s warning was starting to ring true. Next stop on the Roseyville tour was the famous beaver pond. As the Chief stepped out of the car to unlock the security gates, I secretly called the Jones boys and told them of my concerns and my speculation that the sting was coming down quickly. In the great tradition of Cooter, they told me they knew exactly what to do. Back at the mansion, the beautiful Mrs. Chief joined us and we headed to supper. After noticing that the Chief was secretly on his cell phone texting messages, it became apparent I better scoot out of town or I would be spending a night in the Roseyville jail. As I sped out of town, there was Roseyville’s finest with the Jones boys on the side of the road where they had created a superb diversion in order for my fast exit back to the same confines of my southern safe house.[/quote]
This is terrible. This level of rambling is only caused by the consumption of GRITs when one is not properly conditioned. With luck Buckeye will recover, but it will take time.
Regards, Roy
Morning all not a lot going on here this am getting ready to make some breakfast. and then do some baking of bread type items not sure exactly what yet but will figure it out in a little.
Mornin' boys. Sunny & 36 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Had a nice dinner with friends last night, and they presented me with a handsome railroad watch (a kind of pre-retirement retirement gift).
Buckeye -James J. Andrews would be proud... I am doing all my posts in OHIO state red in honor of this successful raid. Good to know that the Carolina Crippler is back where it belongs.
Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....
It is a cold and windy 34 degrees. Going up to 38 today with a chance of snow showers.
Today is an easy day. I plan on running trains for awhile and doing some dusting. Maybe a football game later on TV.
Buckeye... Great job on the Raid. I bet they are still looking for you.
Dining car is here with an omlet for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Sunday.
Chuck
Buckeye: Congrats on the raid and the great escape. I never doubted you could pull it off.
WOO HOO!!!! BUCKEYE DID IT!!! GREAT RAID!!!! Saw it right off way to go. Watch your topknot the rest of the way home. Scallywags down there.
Hi GUYZ,
Ran trains last nite after doing my churchin and took WIFE out for dinner. Had Veal cor don blu. Good eats. Came home and took MINNIE for a walk then ran trains for 3 hrs. All ran good NO PILE UPs!!!! Ran MTH NS F7s, MTH Readin BM T1, and Lionel AC 600 Santa fe, on the 3 ovals and on my coal layout had the K-line 4-6-6 tank engine pulling a coal drag. Graet fun I needed my fix and got it.
Today going to make beff stew in crock pot let simmer all day. Eat tonite. Take my gal MINNIE for a run in the woods about 3 miles she needs to run.
BANKS nice layout. Boy you sure keep the Christmas spirit up a long time. Good for you.
RT, like your avatar.
Good morning. It's 36° and sunny. The high will be 63°.Nothing special planned for today. There's some clean-up work needing to be done on the layout so I'll probably be busy sorting things out and putting them away.
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