Weekend Report

Although some of us were tied up over Easter weekend, the Electric Car Department never sleeps! Many thanks to our redoubtable roving reporter, Brian LaKemper, who sends us this update of activities in the shop this past weekend.

Saturday in the car shop was focused on inspection on the 309 and the latest edition of recreational switching. I neglected to get a photo of 309 on the pit, but I'm sure those curious can find photos of its previous inspections in the Hicks Archives.

The objective of this weekend's edition of recreational switching was twofold. One, the 319 was behind the line train on track 82 and needed to rejoin the other wood cars on track 84 so it can be inspected next weekend. The second objective was to move 431 and 460 back to their usual home on track 62 so the two-car CA&E steel train is available once 460's doors are reinstalled. I only managed one photo, looking down the two-car steel train at the line train while 319 was moved. Not seen is 1374 waiting patiently for us to clear up so they could come back to the barn.

Once the day's revenue operations were done, NSL 714 was split from 749, and towed over to the pit lead. The objective was to make permanent repairs to the #1 end motorman side trap's support bracket. The wood spacer and bolts holding it in place had deteriorated to the point the trap could not be opened and temporary bracing had been installed to keep the trap in place. Joel, Roland H, and I removed the trap and brace, and with a few taps of a hammer the bracket was free. 

Here is the spot the spacer sits against, fortunately the steel is still solid, the majority of the wastage was in the wood and the bolts.

Here is the bracket sitting on 714s step, you can see just how little of the bolts remained intact.

The bolts and wood screws had to be pounded out of the bracket.

The remains of the wood spacer.

After the removal of the bracket, 714 was pushed into the shop for the night. Joel made a new wood spacer in the wood shop which I unfortunately forgot to take a photo of.

On Sunday, Roland drilled out the remains of two of the bolts, then cleaned and primed the steel the spacer sits on.

With careful use of pliers washers and nuts were added to the back of the fresh bolts. Working in this area behind the steps is not easy and the hole in the frame to reach these nuts is only about the size of my hand. If I didn't use these sprung pliers, I would be working by feel alone. 

Finally, after a long day, the bracket is back in place with fresh bolts and screws. At some point we'll touch up the paint, but for now 714 is back in service with all 4 traps functioning. 

Finally, I spent about 9 hours in the air brake room sorting, organizing, and cleaning our stock of gaskets, new and used. I only took one photo of this rather filthy and generally unphotogenic task, here is one gasket that was buried in a drawer. Any guesses from readers where on the M-15 this gasket goes?