Shadow the Cats ownerHow many steam engines these days get new parts like Piston rods pistons he is also wanting to if possible have new drivers and axles made for all of them if he can find someone to do it.
All this stuff is arranged for the T1 Trust -- see their Web site for a description of the pattern preparation and casting of the 72" center. The work goes beyond replication of existing components; the metallurgy and fabrication of new Timken roller-bearing rods (including the staged dies for forming the eyes) are known, and at least one forge has provided cost estimates (and was preparing a test piece). So if NS and VMT want to rebuild 1218 for minimum augment (after the example of the last 5 As) it can be done, and not at unobtanium prices with perpetually deferred lead time...
I vaguely remember the slope of the cab being mentioned in TRAINS about 20 years ago but don't remember the details. I think it was something done during a major overhaul.
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Makes sense. Thanks so much!
kgbw49 This is a really minor technical question that I am hoping that someone with some expertise might be able to answer. Does the floor of the cab of UP 844 have a slightly backward slope for water drainage, or are my eyes tricking me that there is a slight slant on the cab running board? I have noticed in several pictures of the 2016 Frontier Days Special that there appears to be a slight slope to the white-painted running board alongside the cab, and I am assumng that is at floor level, although that may not be correct either. Thanks for any notes.
This is a really minor technical question that I am hoping that someone with some expertise might be able to answer.
Does the floor of the cab of UP 844 have a slightly backward slope for water drainage, or are my eyes tricking me that there is a slight slant on the cab running board?
I have noticed in several pictures of the 2016 Frontier Days Special that there appears to be a slight slope to the white-painted running board alongside the cab, and I am assumng that is at floor level, although that may not be correct either.
Thanks for any notes.
While a bit off topic, since this is a current thread:
844 has twin multiple jet stacks.
There is a photo of 835 in two tone grey described as being on Truman's campaign train in Denver CO (so in 1948?) in the Classic Trains Photo of the Day collection (up a couple of weeks ago).
It clearly has a narrower and longer stack than 844, and it appears to have triple conventional stacks. I recall a passing reference to this in the British published Loco Profile on "American 4-8-4s" (which had a lot to cover).
I assume this was an experiment not continued.
M636C
(as one of the resident Australians here, Vegemite should be spread on hot buttered toast, and don't blame us, it is a product of Kraft, a USA organisation. It tastes better than Marmite, from personal experience. The word "marmite" is a French word for a cooking pot, I understand.)
If you watched this all the way thru like I did along with my husband you hear a few things that make you go holy smoke in a way. He has ordered New Piston rods and Pistons for both 4014 and 844 so I called my friend he also confirmed that the 3985 when it is her turn is going to get the same level of care in her next overhaul that these 2 are getting if not better. How many steam engines these days get new parts like Piston rods pistons he is also wanting to if possible have new drivers and axles made for all of them if he can find someone to do it. He wants these engines to be around for another 100 years if not more.
This was shared in another discussion forum regarding 844. It's a presentation by Ed Dickens the day before the CFDT explaining the detail level of the current rebuild.
There were comments about multiple lock-outs during servicing. This has become a standard practice in almost all industries, and is in fact the law or OSHA requirement in many. Yes, I know that OSHA can't require it for railroads in this case, but if anyone gets hurt, an attorney will be asking why it wasn't done. The process has each employee who will be impacting the machinery, or placing themselves into danger should the machine operate, place a lock with ID on the controls or some other location to prevent it from being operated. This also allows managers and workers to keep track of each other, possibly aiding rescue should something happen. I've seen it save lives in several factories and construction sites.
Changes like this are often hard to start as there are often people saying that the old way worked. This is probably true, but the extra step doesn't take much time and is certainly becoming a practice elsewhere.
They always stated their goal was to get her back up and running in time for this years Frontier Days and they made it with a few days to spare. Yes she was out of service for 3 years but the way and this is from a friend that is in the Steam program at Cheyenne they took her down to the Frame and started over with her. She basically had what in the 40's and 50's would have been a class 1 Overhaul done to her. He also says that is the plan on 4014 and 3985 and the goal is all 3 by 2021.
I didn't see this elsewhere - here is the latest public appearance schedule published by UP:
http://www.up.com/media/releases/160720-steam-returns.htm
Pretty short notice unless you live in Colorado .....
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kgbw49 Short video on the break in run - topped out at 60 MPH. Thumbs up on that! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPPaF4DxQz8
Short video on the break in run - topped out at 60 MPH. Thumbs up on that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPPaF4DxQz8
kgbw49 Short video on the break in run - topped out at 60 MPH. Thumbs up on that! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPPaF4DxQz8 What a brilliant restoration,3 years! fantastic job. Just watched on youtube UP's Ed Dickens presentation on 844's rebuild,excellent! Some real craftsmanship and love gone in to that locomotive.
What a brilliant restoration,3 years! fantastic job.
Just watched on youtube UP's Ed Dickens presentation on 844's rebuild,excellent!
Some real craftsmanship and love gone in to that locomotive.
OvermodIt's those individual 'keychain' photo-ID "tags" that I'm talking about, not the blue-flag system (which, both in common sense and for the reasons you point out, is necessary).
Accountability tags. Similar to firefighters. I guess it makes sense. I've seen our guys do that at times (but not as formal - two blue lights tossed on the control stand).
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Firelock76Alemite? Don't the Australians put that on sandwiches?
No. The Australian stuff is made with vegetables... of a sort, if your definition of vegetable extends to yeast. Alemite is made with fish. ;-}
I'm not sure, but didn't the Californians use yosemite?
Blue flag is only an indication that the engine is under service; the 'expanded' procedure now indicates who is responsible for functions on a blue-flagged engine, and gives quick ID at a glance 'who's who'. That is a more specific implementation.
It's those individual 'keychain' photo-ID "tags" that I'm talking about, not the blue-flag system (which, both in common sense and for the reasons you point out, is necessary).
It occurs to me that the personal-tag system might also help, to an extent, with issues when multiple crafts put out separate flags, and then one goes home forgetting to remove 'his' flag and can't be reached.
OvermodI'm interested to see how quickly this tag-out idea propagates to a couple of other well-organized 'operating' organizations: Kelly's group with the 765 in particular.
Blue flagging (the railroad form of lockout/tagout) is one of the core essential and most sacred of railroad safety rules. Even without checking, I would wager with 99.9999% certainty the 765 folks also blue flag their engine when they have to work on it.
You would be hard pressed to find any operating railroad stupid enough not to use blue flags (considering it's part of the code of federal regulations)
The safety culture of today bears no resemblence to what was considered safe, 30, 40, 50 years or more ago. Injury statistics record the differences.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Overmod Firelock76 I'm surprised they blocked a grade crossing like that, but maybe that part of Greeley doesn't get a lot of vehicular traffic. As noted, it's safer to be Mr. Alemite Man while standing on level pavement. Safety First, Last, and Always!
Firelock76 I'm surprised they blocked a grade crossing like that, but maybe that part of Greeley doesn't get a lot of vehicular traffic.
As noted, it's safer to be Mr. Alemite Man while standing on level pavement. Safety First, Last, and Always!
Makes perfect sense, and obviously the locals in Greeley didn't mind.
Alemite? Don't the Australians put that on sandwiches? Tough people! :-)
Firelock76I'm surprised they blocked a grade crossing like that, but maybe that part of Greeley doesn't get a lot of vehicular traffic.
Shadow the Cats ownerI have looked at a lot of older videos of the 844. The ones that show the servicing of her at stops -- guess what, there was no Lock out tag out process for it. Sorry but if I were going to be working on a 300 PSI 2000 degree steam pressure vessel that moves I would want someone [to know] where I am at all times.
It's not quite that bad -- nearly 422 degrees* -- but that's plenty to ruin your day. (Especially when the moving pressure vessel has been modified to shoot the blowdown out the side at roughly person height ... but I digress.)
The essential reason why this restoration has taken "three years" is intimately associated with the building of the current culture of safety and quality assurance. Whether or not you are one of the carping crew who said UP brought this upon themselves with the pool chemicals and ignorant use of the independent and so forth, it's important to recognize all the ways in which the 'new' heritage team (and it's not a euphemism to call them that, more than a crew) do things differently on a fundamental basis -- this very simple but profound method of implementing tag-out almost effortlessly but effectively being a vivid, and early-recognized, example.
I'm interested to see how quickly this tag-out idea propagates to a couple of other well-organized 'operating' organizations: Kelly's group with the 765 in particular.
* I am sure there will be someone who feels the urge to check this. Be aware when you do that there is a roughly 15-psi difference between psig and psia, before you feel the need to make any comment.
Very impressive, 844 shines like a new penny!
I'm surprised they blocked a grade crossing like that, but maybe that part of Greeley doesn't get a lot of vehicular traffic.
I did like that they named a car after Howard Fogg, nice touch.
I have looked at alot of older videos of the 844. The ones that show the servicing of her at stops guess what there was no Lock out tag out process for it. Sorry but if I was going to be working on a 300 PSI 2000 degree steam pressure vessel that moves I would want someone that knows where I am at all times.
Interesting video of the trip to Greeley on the 13th.
Note the formalized lockout/tagout procedures.
12 full time employees of the railroad complete with Boilermakers Machinists welders all based in the roundhouse. They all know what they need to do and how to do it. There are some that are mad that the old crew was replaced with the new guys they claimed 844 would never run again and such. The New boss just had to get the Materials he needed the men and told them get to work and make her new again and they did.
I know the old man and nope. Once coat was good enough. Just about anything he attempted stopped at good enough. His method of waxing a car was to do the roof, the hood and then stop and say he'll get around to the rest of it "one of these fine days" and that day never came.
But seriously, 3 years is nothing. I've known people take 25 years or more to restore an old car like an MG. I'm very impressed that they could accomplish it in such a short time. It shows that they have the knowledge, the will and the money. Just how big is the steam staff at UP? I assume they have new hires and apprentices and such. The restorers can't all be 90 year old men or volunteers like on a museum railroad.
54light15 3 years, eh? it only took my father 18 years to paint the bathroom.
3 years, eh? it only took my father 18 years to paint the bathroom.
Two coats?
3 years is a very respectable amount of time considering how much work was done on the locomotive. Congrats to the UP Steam Team on a job well done.
Now we'll have to wait and see how long the 4014 takes.
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