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String Lining

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NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 5:12 PM

 

Protection.
 
Quite often when talking about Protection in the Telephone Service, it often pertains to Protecting lines and equipments from Electric overloads or lightning.
 
Some times the Protectors and called Lightning Arresters.
 
Old Lightning Arrester.
 
 
Line in at top.  House wiring sides, bottom. Ground to ground rod in soil or to water pipe centre bottom.
 
 
The red tubes are fuses which had slots cut in. When fuses Blew, a flaming arc came out the slots and would char wall behind. An Asbestos Sheet was mounted behind for this reason and Linesmen were cautioned to face slots away from room.
 
Under round dome are carbon blocks of high resistance which would channel high currents to ground, the carbons getting pitted over time and would have to be replaced.
 
 
 
Further Protection, Telephone.
 
In following view there are two 2 telephone cables, lead, suspended from their strands in rings at right angles to street and streetcar tracks.
 
 
Where the cables cross the streetcar tracks, they are surrounded in square wooden tubes which are to protect the cables' exteriors from physical damage if the trolley wheel at the upper end of the trolley pole on a passing streetcar dewired and the spring tension at the base pulled the pole vertical at great velocity and could damage the cable sheath affecting pairs within.
 
On many Lead-Sheathed telephone cables the wire pairs within were wrapped with paper and had to be kept dry.
 
Many trunk cables were pressurized in the Central Office in the Cable Vault under The Frame where the cables entered the building from Conduits under the streets.
 
Gas Meters were piped to each cable and amount of compressed air to keep water out of cable flowing thru meter + leakage out in Field. Records were kept.
 
When leakage became excessive, men were sent out with wands that had sensitive microphones and headsets to listen for the leaks.
 
Squirrels would nibble cables, and, often a sticky goo would be applied, or plastic vee-shaped tents installed above the strand and cable.
 
Later, rather than copper bar rings hooked over strand, cables were suspended below the strand by wire-wrapping around by a wrapper pulled on a rope by a truck.
 
If a Cable had to be opened, a Gas Cylinder w Regulators similar to those used in Gas Welding was cut in beyond the opening to maintain pressure beyond the cut.
 
At cable junctions, small lead pipes would carry pressure to other cables not routed directly to exchange.
 
At B Boxes ( One Type ) Underground pairs from the Central Office would be Cross-connected to ' Aerial ' pairs to Subscribers' Residences. The Aerial Cables not pressurized.
 
B Box Cross Connection Pole to left. Later versions had hinged folding seat
 
 
Underground Cable from Central Office in Conduit on pole. CN 2-8-0 and it's pumps at end of street.
 
There was always a ground hum on telephone pairs, which would increase markedly when it rained.
 
Amps drawn in Power Room would climb.
 
Blah, Blah, Blah.
 
Thank You.
 
P S Car 153 is Preserved.
 

https://assets.vancouverisawesome.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/01132254/vintage-streetcar-bcer-north-vancouver-02-min.jpg

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, April 6, 2019 3:28 PM

 

And while it's been a week since this happened, it wouldn't be right not to post this to String Lining, 4-6-2 CN 5080 has hit the road to restoration, and is now at the Aspen Crossing tourist railway in Mossleigh, AB.

5080 was overhauled 6 months prior to being put on display in Prince Albert, and only ran around 2500 miles during that time.  An excellent candidate for restoration.  Her tires in particular look brand new.

 

FYI.
 
For Mr. SD70Dude.
 
CN  5080. Doesn't look that bad.
 
 
Stiill has Steam Line on Tender.
 
Prairie climate not so bad.
 
Great!
 
Thank You.
 

539 as a Bonus.

 

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, April 6, 2019 4:51 PM

 

Question for MR. SD70Dude.
 
 
CN Memorial, Melville, SK.
 
Would you know the History behind this CNR Memorial behind the CN Station @ Melville?? SVP? 
 
 
 
 
This film brings a smile. Just before it all changed.  And was a reason many boys Hired On.
 
 
Poor BLF&E.
 
 
At some point CNR applied Emergency Brake Valves above the right hand cab door on steam locomotives, their Operating Handle on the OUTSIDE..
 
 
Sometimes Stenciled, and painted RED. 
 
Emergency Valve above door. Stenciled.
 
 
More.
 
 
 
Has SWINGING Bell.
 
 
 
C. 1949 CN Applied RAISED Cast Iron Numbers to cab sides.
 
 
Some Diesels got them.
 
 
 
Boston Bar.
 
 
Check out Caboose!
 
 
 
Variety of Crests, here.
 
At time 19:52 is a ' Canada's Largest Railway ' Crest.  Never common.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, April 6, 2019 7:10 PM

The memorial says " In memory of fellow employees who lost their lives..xxxx... cannot make out the last word/date. 

I would call the station at Melville and ask someone for specifics.

Yeah ' Canada's Largest Railway' in French for the ' other side' of the car is " plus grand chemin de fer Canadien" which maybe is a bit much

Besides maybe it's too much boasting and the CPR could make mockery of it.

Largest in what way? Government handouts? Patronage? Screw-ups? Accidents? It would never end. 

 

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, April 7, 2019 5:09 PM

 

FYI.
 
Bridge Hit by Barge. Brazil.
 
 
 

Thank You

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, April 7, 2019 6:04 PM

NDG
FYI.
 
Bridge Hit by Barge. Brazil.
 
 

Thank You

Bridge columns didn't look to be in very good condition - 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, April 7, 2019 6:32 PM

To me it looks like "in memory of fellow employees who lost their lives to war".  CP erected similar memorials too.  My guess is that it is a list of WWII casulties.

But I have never been to Melville, so cannot confirm anything. 

More photos and info on CN 5080:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43226

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, April 7, 2019 7:18 PM

NDG

1392 has raised numbers on her cab as well, but they are not cast iron.  Instead they are BRASS, original to the engine from 1913.  Unfortunately they were painted yellow in error around 10 years ago, but we hope to remove the paint one day, very carefully. 

Our NW2 unfortunately lost her raised, cast numerals before being donated, but may be the last CN example left.  Still runs, despite suffering severe engine damage from at least two separate freezing incidents over the years:

https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-cn-sw900-7944-at-the-cn-engine-facilities-in-winnipeg-manitoba-in-166294550.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4rkbDXvUTM

All the creaking is our rarely used 60 lb rail complaining about being woken up.

7944 originally looked like this.  Ugh:

http://img09.deviantart.net/1fb9/i/2014/005/9/0/cnr_nw2_7944_by_bwan69-d710i6v.jpg

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Sunday, April 7, 2019 9:11 PM

BaltACD
NDG
FYI.
 
Bridge Hit by Barge. Brazil.
 
 

Thank You

Damage to the bridge columns look like overload failures from the bridge collapse after the collision, not deterioration before.
"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, April 7, 2019 10:12 PM

 

FYI.
 
CN 1395, a Relative, For Comparison. ( Parts Source??? )
 
 
FWIW. The triangle-ended plates on Smoke Box Front and Door are usually Bronze and stamped with Dates of last Superheater Work.
 
There is usually a 6-inch round plate on a Stud on Boiler Backhead in cab which has Locomotive Number and Boiler Pressure stamped on it.  This plate remains with the Boiler if removed from Frames and all Appliances,,Lagging and so on stripped off. Bronze or Ferrous.
 
Often, if locomotive renumbered, esp when the Diesels came, the number on plate MAY NOT agree with NEW number on Cab Sides and elsewhere, as locomotive on borrowed time re Diesels
 

Thank You

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, April 7, 2019 10:24 PM

1392 still has both those plates in the proper locations.  The superheater plate is bronze, the boiler plate has been painted but I believe it is steel. 

As it happened, 1392 managed to keep her original number throughout her life, as CN adopted and expanded Canadian Northern's numbering and classification schemes. 

If the opportunity arose I would love to get ahold of 1395, but the transportation costs from Michigan would be prohibitive.

And for Miningman, someone still cares about northern Manitoba:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37164

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, April 7, 2019 11:11 PM

Thanks Dude. My senior students will be going to Snow Lake ( HBM&S) and Thompson (Vale) Apr 21-30. Should be able to get some good info from the locals as to how it's all going. 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, April 8, 2019 5:01 PM

 Once again, great information

Thank You.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 10:53 PM

Very tragic, amazing how easy it was (and still is, see Amtrak in South Carolina) to cause a fatal accident by leaving a switch improperly lined.  And no signals or radios back then. 

Now for some happier news, I missed this when it came out last fall, looks like the cosmetic restoration of CN 6218 is progressing well in Fort Erie:

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8955120-first-phase-of-steam-engine-restoration-nearly-complete/

https://forterieobserver.ca/2018/10/first-stage-of-cn-6218-repairs-unveiled/

Looking good!

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Miningman on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 9:50 AM

Exceptionally good news. The Queen of the rails. She always stood apart. Last time I saw her it was an awful sight. 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, April 13, 2019 4:55 PM

FYI.

Smoke box Front Perforation. CN 6218.
 
About twenty 20 ? Years ago I stopped and looked at CN 6218 on display @ Fort Erie. It looked sad. Rust, Moss, Peeling Paint, the usual on a locomotive outdoors all year round.
 
The surprise was the PERFORATION on the Smoke Box Front!!!
 
Smoke Box Front Perforation.
 
 
 
 
This is not a thin sheet of metal, but, probably 3/4 inch thick!
 
Caused by moisture working with Cinders left inside from last use under steam.
 
Wonder what Smoke box looks like inside.  The smoke box supports much of the weight of the front of boiler itself and water inside on top of Cylinder Saddle, and the bottom and the top of the Cylinder Casting are a natural SUMP for Cinders, or SAND and Soot on an Oil Burner, which hold moisture when engine cold. 
 
 
Hmmmmm.
 
Quote.
 
When it accepted the steam engine that year, Fort Erie’s council of the day passed a motion which read in part that, “the locomotive would be kept in a clean and attractive condition at all times, that adequate protection would be provided to minimize vandalism and that a suitable roof would be erected to provide overhead protection.”
 
It was a pledge which Fort Erie has unquestionably failed to follow through on in every single regard. 
 
Unquote.
 
Thank You.
 
PS. To all In Charge of laying up a steam locomotive over winter.
 
DO NOT forget to clean all residue inside Smoke Box!!

 

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Posted by SD70Dude on Saturday, April 13, 2019 5:03 PM

NDG
PS. To all In Charge of laying up a steam locomotive over winter.
 
DO NOT forget to clean all residue inside Smoke Box!!

Great advice, we make sure to thoroughly dry and clean out 1392 for each winter layup.  She has a (washout?) plug on the bottom of the smokebox, which is removed during the winter. 

In case you haven't seen this, the 6218 news is not as rosy as I had first hoped:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41026&start=30

I stand by my statement about a black bucket, that's what we have used on Northern Alberta #73 for many years, and it works just fine. 

Also, more news and photos RE: CN 5080:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43226

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, April 13, 2019 7:53 PM

Oh geez... the politicos have likely washed their hands of it and it's done "for generations" to come as they state. 'Kick the can down the road' as they say. I suppose we should take whatever good we can from  this. Better than it was, appearance wise. 

Dude, keep us updated on the 5080 from time to time. Still smarting a bit that it's gone from Prince Albert, it was my good luck charm, but it's in good hands now. 

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, April 18, 2019 11:58 AM

There has never been a more magnificient machine than the steam engine...ever.

All those Northern Pacific steamers lined up ready to be torched. A scene repeated across all of North America. How many did we chop up? 100,000?  

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, April 19, 2019 12:38 AM

Make it so!  CPR 2-10-10-6 

Air conditioning, stereo, leather seats, quad stokers. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, April 19, 2019 7:04 AM

Miningman
Make it so!  CPR 2-10-10-6 

Air conditioning, stereo, leather seats, quad stokers. 

Does a firebox get to a size where it loses efficiency?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Overmod on Friday, April 19, 2019 10:28 AM

BaltACD
Does a firebox get to a size where it loses efficiency?

Not if proper design principles are followed.  The immediate design constraint is how you get fuel "in", at the right rate and to the right places, and how you get any 'unreacted' products (ash, soot, levitated unburned particles, etc.) out.  The secondary consideration is to balance water circulation with steam generation in that area; as with power boilers this can get very complicated at less than 'full design power' or high turndown.  Then you get considerations of thermal expansion, fabrication and weight, and removal of scale or other effects of water treatment.

Deep fireboxes (as in NDG's illustration) are relatively easier to make larger than Challenger-style (shallow, over the rear driver pairs) as there are limits to how far forward a fireman can rake out dead spots and manage the fire -- especially when the grate can't be angled so the natural movement of the engine shakes down the heel and moves the fire forward.  It can be surprising to note just how efficient deep fireboxes can be, even if relatively narrow (e.g. sized to fit between drivers on standard gauge); see the French 240P).  The Garratts (and some other types of articulated locomotive such as Meyers and the N&W TE-1) have the best of both worlds, as they combine the ability to carry a very wide firebox with the ability to drop grate level as far toward the railhead as ash-handling (or firepan) requirements allow. 

In my opinion a good Cunningham circulator setup would be preferable to arch tubes or Nicholsons 'doing the same thing' -- I am not sure that late practice with things like chamber syphons on high-nominal-pressure boilers, as was tried in the late '40s, was actually very successful.

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, April 20, 2019 4:36 PM

Miningman
Air conditioning, stereo, leather seats, quad stokers. 

Don't forget the fridge... Can probably do without the hotplate and microwave...

LarryWhistling
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My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
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There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, April 20, 2019 8:08 PM

tree68
 
Miningman
Air conditioning, stereo, leather seats, quad stokers.  

Don't forget the fridge... Can probably do without the hotplate and microwave...

Aren't hotplates and refrigerators required on Canadian locomotives?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, April 21, 2019 12:23 AM

CP gets a fridge and hotplate, on CN we get a microwave as well.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, April 21, 2019 12:59 AM

 

OT.

Tugs.
 
 

Thank You.

 

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Sunday, April 21, 2019 1:13 AM

That was good, thanks for posting it.

I wonder if there's a way to save this locally for future viewing? My usual program for such tasks, "aTube Catcher", isn't doing it.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, April 21, 2019 4:22 PM

 

FYI.
 
Centre Side Entrance.
 
Just another old streetcar photograph until one notices the SECOND car has a CENTRE Side Entrance.
 
 
as here. Pg. 86.
 
 
 

Thank You.

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, April 22, 2019 1:14 AM

Mike sent me this and I thought it worthy of String Lining 

Kettle Valley Rwy and the Crows Nest Pass

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