Many thanks go to our pneumatics correspondent, Brian LaKemper, who sends along this photo essay of work he was involved in over this past weekend (in between inspecting CA&E cars!).
With S governors waiting on parts, attention is turning to beginning a batch rebuild of M23 motorman's valves. Here is a wagon load of valves hauled in from the air brake car for assessment and rebuilding.
One thing that did happen with S governors is work on converting one to be a spare for the CA&E curve siders which have spitters to actively drain water out of the air tanks when the compressor cycles. I didn't take a photo of the base, but here's what happened when I got a little too carried away with the easy out to remove the plug on it.
This S-16 (above three photos) was rebuilt by someone who chose to use RTV or "form-a-gasket" instead of the proper gasket between the base and body. Its been cleaned as time allows. I believe it can be salvaged, but its not a pleasant cleanup.
One of the M23s that was opened up displayed this substance on the rotary valve. It has been dubbed barbecue sauce and we don't recommend eating it. Add that one to your IRM vocabulary.
The end of the weekend shows quite the mess on the air brake bench, S-16s, M-23s, National Straight Air valves and feed valve pipe brackets all in various states of cleaning and repair. It looks like a mess but all of it will be rebuilt in time.
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