Another busy day at the Museum, and we have reports on only a part of it.
First, I needed to get exact results for CA&E headlight circuit resistors, since some of them on the 319 burned out, and they need to be replaced before the car can operate at night. I examined the box on the 308 in detail, since it was easier to get at and still in very good condition. It looks like this.
I then hooked up a headlight and measured the voltages and currents, as a check on the resistor values. I'll post this as a separate item, since it may be useful in the future to anyone who needs to repair a CA&E headlight circuit. Since the same headlights were used on all cars, I believe the headlight circuits were all essentially identical.
The 409 was holding down revenue service today. Ron Seavers, motorman.
And the track and B&G crews were digging a hole for a new foundation. BNSF has donated a Santa Fe semaphore recently removed from service, and overhauled it for us in their shops. It will be mounted as a display next to the giant Santa Fe sign. We really appreciate all the help that BNSF has given us over the years. This semaphore will be another dramatic improvement to the campus.
Speaking of the campus, it's time for some more education. Today's topic: monkey links!
(Since somebody asked....)
Closed and open.
Rope is looped through one end of the link, then the link is closed. This particular rope is tied and taped the way the CA&E did it.
And here it is mounted on the 453. Any questions? This will be on the semester final.
Meanwhile, next door Pete Galayda continues to make good progress on the 160's interior. Here we see some of the newly-repainted baggage racks being installed.
Fritz and Pete can be proud of their work.
And in other news, I managed to find a pile of parts which we believe are what's left of the original roof mats ("lobster traps") on the 714. It's possible they can be reused, but if not, they will probably make good patterns for new ones. So the exact location of this bonanza is a company secret.
6 comments:
Thanks Randy. I would never have imagined what the monkey link looks like from the earlier written description. Out of curiosity, what type of rope is used for the trolley retriever? Are the monkey links still available as new thingys?
C Kronenwetter
Joel reports that we have not found a way to procure new “monkey links” so if anyone had a source let us know! And we use a form of sash cord for trolley rope.
Frank- The trade name for these things is "figure 8 swing links" or "sister links." It appears McMaster-Carr carries them under the name "twist-close connecting links" in four sizes. Their price is far cheaper than the other company that advertises making them, Condux, which sells through several telephone and hoisting cable suppliers. Even so, these things are not cheap; the smallest sizes are $8 from McMaster and upwards of $25 for Condux's product.
R. W. Schauer
Out of curiosity Randy, I was watching the 749 running this morning on the webcam. I noticed that it doesn't seem to have roof ventilators. Why did some of the NS cars have them while others didn't?
C Kronenwetter
That is a result of the "Skokie Valley modernization", I believe. The ceiling was lowered and forced ventilation was provided through the space above the ceiling, starting at a louvered panel on the side at each end. So roof ventilators were no longer needed. Some cars got this treatment while others didn't, and it would take a better North Shore expert than myself to tell you which ones.
In any case, you may notice that the CA&E 450's came from the builder with this arrangement.
Correction: there's just one louver on one side, not one at each end.
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