Today started out with switching, with the intent of having two different two-car trains available for Labor Day weekend: the 309 and 36 (L) and the 319 and 308 (R).
However, on the way back into the barn, I started to hear a hissing sound from under the 36 when power was applied, and sure enough, yet another grid has opened up. We should still be able to use it as part of a four-car train once or twice for the convention, but until then, it will be out of service. The 308 and 319 can handle this weekend. Over the winter I intend to replace the remaining three grid boxes under the 36, as we now have plenty of all needed parts. I just can't take this any longer.
Most of the rest of the day was occupied with miscellaneous tasks. Gregg Wolfersheim was helping again today; he did a lot of scraping and wire-brushing on 319 underbody parts, and touched up the blue paint on the 36 and 308. He also loaned me a pile of old photos you'll want to see. I was washing windows, storing parts, and so on. Nothing too strenuous in this hot and muggy weather.
But now it's time for barn progress photos!
Barn 13 is nearly complete, except the ends.
Barn 13 from the east.
Barn 14 from the east. The framing is complete, and the big crane has packed up and left. By the end of the day, most of the roof panels were in place, with rapid progress being made.
Barn 14 from the west.
And as a maintenance project, Barn 9 is getting new siding. The basic frame is still in good shape. I wandered over and asked Dave and the guys what was happening. In usual IRM fashion, they first said it was storm damage. What?!? "Sure, a big wind storm blew through here about 10 this morning and blew the whole side of the building off!" Moral: Don't believe everything you're told at IRM. In fact, most of the time maybe you shouldn't believe anything...
Maybe those parts on the 36 are failing due to a higher than average voltage potential for interurbans?
ReplyDeleteOr is it just deep pitting in bare steel parts, creating weak points in the resistance field?
Excess voltage is not the problem, although operation for a few days at 750V at Cleveland probably didn't help. However, we probably tend to run on resistance points more than they would in service. In any case, the cast iron grids tend to rust, and they are old and failing. Once we have replaced all the grids on this car, however, the problem should go away. None of our rebuilt grid boxes have failed, so far.
ReplyDeleteThat was probably the first time the CE 0-6-0 #5 have seen daylight in a while.
ReplyDelete