Strasburg's Wheel Lathe

Scott Markloff · **Joined:** Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:03 am **Posts:** 48

There is an interesting picture of Strasburg's Loco Shop at RailPictures.Net:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=327616. My question is this, right in the middle of the shop is the wheel lathe. Why is it behind a chain link fence?

nathansixchime · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 pm **Posts:** 948

From the caption of the photo:

The cage in the center serves as a safety railing around the floor pit in which the driving wheel lathe sits.

Scott Markloff · **Joined:** Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:03 am **Posts:** 48

Oops, my bad, I didn't read thoroughly. I'll just go off to bed now. Really, I do know how to read:)

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:31 am

Is that the time-out zone in the shop?

Bruce_Mowbray · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:43 am

It's the Ecto-Containment Unit where they keep the ghosts of old locomotive shop mechanics. If you look closely, there's one that escaped. He's wearing a blue coat.

Have a great day!!!

PS. Aside from falling into the pit, it probably keeps bodies out of the grasp of turning machine parts.

Bob Davis · **Joined:** Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:25 am **Posts:** 1025

I've read so much about the Straburg shop, it's good to see a picture of it. I noticed that it's mostly "old school" machine tools, but there's a newer machine in the lower left corner; presumably it facilitates repairs of "Steam Age" locomotives with "Space Age" technology.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 3:36 pm

What I found interesting was, back during my visit in February, the Strasburg guys had just finished turning U.P. 844's drivers. Imagine, a huge company like Union Pacific, turning to a tiny steam server like Strasburg. Strasburg pulled a thorn out of the lion's paw!

R L Musser · **Joined:** Fri Mar 12, 2021 8:30 pm **Posts:** 0

We actually clawed our way into the twentieth century and have acquired 2 CNC lathes and 1 CNC mill. The neatest thing of all is that none of them require an overhead belt and pully system!

Rick

ebtrr · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:57 am

R L Musser wrote:

The neatest thing of all is that none of them require an overhead belt and pully system!

Rick

Where's the fun in that?

Bruce_Mowbray · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:43 pm

Bob Davis wrote:

I've read so much about the Straburg shop, it's good to see a picture of it. I noticed that it's mostly "old school" machine tools, but there's a newer machine in the lower left corner; presumably it facilitates repairs of "Steam Age" locomotives with "Space Age" technology.

I firmly believe that space age technology has it's place in our "old school" shops. These machines can turn out large quantities of high quality parts as well as highly customized, complex, single parts without having to go through as many setups as there would be with manual machines. Making parts like staybolts, caps and sleeves, boiler studs etc. can be made in house, when needed. Jobs like these will save enough money to quickly pay for the machine, and, it will reduce the amount of time needed between ordering the parts and actually having them on hand to install. Even with large quantity jobs, test parts can be pulled from the run to check for fit.

Bruce Mowbray
Springville, PA