October 5, 2011
Friday September 30 Bob worked on "corking" the new tube sheet. "Corking" is filling the gap between the new tube sheet and
the top sheet with a fine bead of weld. This not only ensures a seal between the boiler and the firebox, but it also fills
the gap so that cinders and ash can not collect and erode the top sheet.
Saturday and Sunday Bob worked on fitting the fireman's and engineer's knuckles. The fireman's side knuckle was trimmed from
the raw size and shape. The holes for the new mud ring rivets were located. The engineer's side knuckle was a little further
along. New mud ring rivet holes were also located.
ITM volunteers and Bob Gold worked 189.5 hours during the month of September! Outstanding!
Photo- Engineers side knuckle with one bolt through the mud ring. The bar welded half way up is a temporary weld to hold the
corner in place. The bar also keeps the corner from dipping into the fire box wall--keeping the interior wall flush for
final fit.
October 9, 2011
Sunday Bob Gold and volunteer Jon Payne re-heated the engineer's side corner and beat it into shape a little bit more. It
now has a better shape. Bob and Jon bolted it into place as it cooled to help keep it's shape. We marked the locations of
the new rivet holes for the mud ring.
After lunch, we worked on the fireman's side corner in much the same way. Again, the corner has a much better fit and a
little trimming was needed. The new holes for the mud ring were marked.
After lunch, Matt joined us and both new corners got the mud ring holes drilled and tapped. Finally, they are off to the
heat treat in Dayton. They will be back later this week.
October 17, 2011
Thursday and Friday Bob fine tuned the two new corners for the fire box (photo 1). By the end of the day on Friday Francis Parker had ground the sixty degree weld bevel on both pieces.
On Saturday, volunteer Justin Fowler helped Bob Gold "bump" the fire box wall to help the new fireman's side corner fit better. Sometime down the line, the fire box was replaced (by the Nickel Plate) and the front face and the side walls are not quite at right angles. This last little bump helps the corner match better. By quitting time on Saturday, the Engineer's side corner was installed (photo 2) and the Fireman's side was well on it's way.
The Fireman's side corner was finished Sunday afternoon. While Bob worked on the welding, several of us, including
Jeff Kehler and Greg Hatcher, worked on scraping grease. First steps toward paint.
October 23, 2011
This past weekend Greg worked on rebuilding the fireman's side platform over the pit. He also started removing stay bolt
caps on the combustion chamber area. There are twenty-four stay bolts in the area. They appear to be as old as the 1950's.
Sunday, volunteers Jeff Kehler and Les McConnell worked with Bob Gold to drill out the rivet holes on the engineer's side
front corner mud ring. It is slow work, but it must be done prior to riveting.
The over-all goal is to get the riveting done in the next three to four weeks. Earlier if things move along well. We are in a race against the weather and eventually, the weather is going to win. All of the above work can be considered "rivet prep".
October 28-30
Volunteers Frances Parker, Jeff Kehler, Michelle Yerkeson and contractor Bob Gold worked on finishing the corners. The mud ring holes are reamed and ready for rivets. The have also have had the counter sink holes drilled in the inside mud ring holes. The new stay bolt holes have also been located and tapped and are ready to have the larger hole drilled.
Bob gold cut out a section of the combustion chamber that needs to be replaced. It showed signs of fatigue and did not measure up well on the ultra-sonic testing. (photo 2) Bob worked on forming the exterior throat sheet at his shop. Frances Parker and Bob Gold removed one stay bolt above the fireman's side knuckle. A new stay bolt sleeve will have to be installed.
November 4-6
Friday. Volunteer Mike Ebert worked on
prepping the new exterior throat sheet for installation. The cut edge must be ground to a forty-five degree angle to accept the new weld. While Mike was working on the throat sheet, Michelle Yerkeson ground the edge of the combustion chamber cut inside the fire box. Mike finished the job.
Saturday. Bob Gold worked on fine tuning the new throat sheet and locating the center points for new stay bolt holes and sleeves. He took the sheet back to his shop for one final trim and to drill the mud ring holes. Because this sheet is flat for the most part, it can be drilled off site. Curved pieces, like the knuckles, must be drilled in place so that the holes line up in the curve.
Sunday. Volunteer Jeff Kehler helped out as Bob Gold installed new stay bolt sleeves on the exterior throat sheet area. In total, volunteers and Bob Gold worked 186.75 hours in October. I would like to welcome back Mike Ebert. Mike has been a long time volunteer at the ITM and with the steam program.
Coming up in the next few weeks: finish work on the throat sheet, riveting on both corners and throat sheet, move the wheel set back in place to move 587 back inside....race against the weather
November 7, 2011
Please find a progress update for the work on NKP 587. We have made lots of progress in the past couple of weeks. We need to be ready to shift gears as it gets colder. I hope to rig up some heat in the shop, so that we can work into the winter.
November 29, 2011
Hello every one! Did everyone survive the turkey coma and the resulting mound of dirty dishes?
Here is where we stand with NKP 587.
On November 26, Bob Gold and volunteers got the shoes, wedges and binders back in to place on both sides of the engine, the
wheel set up and the track replaced.
The problem is it took twelve hours to get it that far and it still isn't quite finished. We still have to finish the leaf springs. Last time it took half as long and we got the leaf springs in too. The weather went to pot on Sunday and our
fearless leader was too stiff and sore and sick to continue on Sunday. I understand why. Bob spent the entire day
Saturday crouched under the boiler.
Why did it take so long? There isn't one thing to point to. The cold, wet weather played a part, the wheel set had drifted a little out of square with the engine and that made it harder to line up.
A special THANKS to those who stuck it out and came in late to help finish.
So, what is next?
In short , leaf springs and move the engine inside. I don't have a definite time or day yet, but I'm tentatively saying SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 for the leaf springs. This is dependent on several things that must fall into place:
1) PEOPLE- we must have five to seven volunteers
2) We must get the Deere from 249th street -Ed has this covered, but it would be good to give him some help.
3) The yard must be empty enough to move equipment.
4) We need an engineer and
brakeman in addition to those working on Polar Bear Express.
So, in short, stay tuned and we will get 587 back into the barn before we have snow to contend with--what we got today doesn't count!
You, too, could help at I T M
- if not directly in a project such as this then in one of many other tasks.
Visit our "Volunteer" page for
information on how to get involved.
Prior
updates have been archived.
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