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 Post subject: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:19 pm 

Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am
Posts: 2561
Location: Strasburg, PA
News! News!!

Today we unloaded two new (to us) vintage freight cars! Both had been stored at a PATCO Maintenance Facility in Lindenwold, New Jersey. The track there was being rebuilt, and the cars were slated for scrap prior to our being made aware of them. Venezia Enterprises coordinated the move from Lindenwold to Strasburg, in cooperation with Daily Express Inc. (trucking) and R&T Mechanical Inc. (cranes).

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The first is URTX #26671 refrigerator car from 1931.

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The second is PRR #474265 cast steel flat built in 1934 by (I assume) General Steel Castings. Pretty rare in that it is all one piece, including the stake pockets. Looks like they pulled it out of the mold, added trucks, couplers, brakes, grab irons, a deck, and paint and sent it on its way.

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I’m told that the trucks are original to the car, with their odd coil spring combined with leaf spring suspension.

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We completed our work on Silver Dollar City #14’s running gear. It is now in Branson being mated to its new boiler. Here are new light weight pistons for #14. Adding 3/8” plates to each side, held in place with staybolts will complete the pistons.

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In this shot, #14’s main driver is ready for having its tires shrunk on. A new axle and crankpins have already been pressed in.

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Here are new crown brasses for #14, an odd European design.

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Here is #14 flying through the shop of its way to being loaded on the truck.

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New springs came in for FEC #148’s lead truck. Here, they are installed and the truck is complete.

That's the limit for photos on this post. More to follow.


Last edited by Kelly Anderson on Thu May 24, 2018 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:25 pm 

Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am
Posts: 2561
Location: Strasburg, PA
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The main driving wheel set for B&M #3713 needs its axle replaced due to the journals being too small. Here, are the wheel centers laying on the floor after being pressed off.

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Steamtown supplied material for a new main axle, already hollow bored.

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In this shot, the new main axle is nearing completion, and the journals are being polished.

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Here, Ron is starting on milling a mud ring for a new boiler that we are building.

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Here, the mill work is completed and the mud ring is laid out for drilling rivet holes.

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We are also making new main rods for a small locomotive. Here, Josh is milling the rough blanks (one in the mill and one on the floor).

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In this shot, Paul and Steve are pressing a new main crankpin into the main driving wheel set of a large locomotive.

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The same locomotive received a new #4 crankpin, cap, and nut.

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In this shot, Brendan is drilling the holes for a revised staybolt layout in a very small Porter 0-4-0's firebox. Large machines and small locomotives can work out well. The new barrel for this boiler is seen in the background of photo #10.

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Work is proceeding on the restoration of our 12 wheel B&O coach. Here carpenters are at work on the interior.


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:32 pm 

Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am
Posts: 2561
Location: Strasburg, PA
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Like many cars of its age, the B&O coach needs new couplers.

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Doing that required new draft gear that will fit in the car’s frame.


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:50 pm 

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:27 pm
Posts: 60
As usual beautiful work! I'm hoping you get a K4 soon.

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 2:13 pm 

Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2015 7:28 pm
Posts: 545
Location: Northern WV
You guys are really into "heavy metal".

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 4:33 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:26 am
Posts: 4642
Location: Maine
Wonderful to see organizations bringing you the type of work that needs to be done, by people who know how to do it correctly! Great snag on the two freight cars, and your association with friend, Venezia! Any idea of the heritage of those two cars?

Great to see #148 getting prime shop time as well.

Why wasn't I born rich instead of handsome?

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 6:12 pm 

Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:08 pm
Posts: 396
Location: Amherst, OH
I love these posts!


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 6:21 pm 

Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm
Posts: 2279
Any one of those projects would be remarkable in itself.


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:52 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:58 pm
Posts: 1061
beautiful craftsmanship as always..thanks for sharing


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 10:51 pm 

Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:45 am
Posts: 86
I am sure I am not the only one, but I always look so forward to your "Latest from the Strasburg" posts. These are truly magnificent work projects with a "You want us to do what?.....Ok, no problem." air to the challenges most everyone would face.

Great Work!

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 11:13 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:28 am
Posts: 2726
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Cast steel flatcars were once pretty common. There was an interesting article a few years ago in the UPHS magazine about the ones UP had. GSC supplied the body, fully machined and all relevant holes tapped. Crews atvthe shops in Omaha would finish them off.

Both will be interesting projects.

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"They love him, gentlemen, and they respect him, not only for himself, for his character, for his integrity and judgment and iron will, but they love him most of all for the enemies he has made."


Last edited by wilkinsd on Fri May 25, 2018 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2018 11:23 pm 

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:44 am
Posts: 740
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Sure looks like Big Boy drivers getting new crankpins...

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2018 12:29 am 

Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:26 pm
Posts: 236
Modern UP and AT&SF power had the pocket at the 3 o'clock position filled in with lead on the main drivers to cross counter balance the engine.


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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2018 9:55 am 

Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 2:35 pm
Posts: 406
Location: NJ
As always great photos of the work you folks perform!

How did that reefer survive that long? Was it covered? Looks to be in amazing shape.

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 Post subject: Re: The Latest from the Strasburg Rail Road Shops
PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2018 10:17 am 

Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am
Posts: 2561
Location: Strasburg, PA
cjvrr wrote:
How did that reefer survive that long? Was it covered? Looks to be in amazing shape.

Beats me! I have no reason to think that it was ever stored inside. Perhaps the quality (old growth?) or type of wood is to thank for its longevity.


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