Peyton Smith Wrote:
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> I'm no expert, but last I heard from a buddy at
> the C&TS a lot of work is needed on the Flanger
> gear, particularly where it mounts to the frame.
> Along with all the gauges and external appliances
> needing to be re installed on the Rotary, due to
> them being removed a few years ago because Someone
> tried to make off with the backhead gauges in the
> middle of the night, IIRC.
>
> I believe a Hydro would also be in order, along
> with most likely a entire winter worth of
> restoration work, not to mention a great deal of
> wood replacement in the shell i would assume after
> it has been rotting outside for twenty years,
> despite the efforts by the Railroad and the
> Friends to keep it from doing so.
> IIRC she also needs a new injector on one side,
> that injector now on the 463; so a new one would
> have to be sourced. As I heard it awhile ago,
> there was a plan to refit OY with a cross compound
> air pump instead of her single pump to make the
> Rotary a closed system, instead of having to rely
> on pusher locomotives to make up the difference of
> air pressure. I think work was started on this
> conversion..? But it was never finished.
>
> I'm sure John West could give you a much more
> detailed report; but TL;DR: I don't think it is in
> "Plug & Play" condition, though it could be much,
> Much worse.
Well, lets look at the above and digest it a bit. Remember, I was there the last time it ran. And it ran quite well, thank you.
The flanger is mounted to the truck frame, not the body. Dropping the flanger in effect creates a 6 wheel, 3 axle truck, which is what keep keeps all of it pointed down the track. There might be some issues with the piston rings on the flanger lift cylinder.
The air, water and steam gauges were removed after it was run last. They have never been left on the OY when it was not in use.
The OY's body was completely rebuilt with a new steel frame and new wood siding in 1995 or so. I has been run exactly once since then. The wood siding and wood framing we replaced was much older than 20 years old. If the roof has been maintained, and the exterior painted, there should be no issues.
I can't comment on the injector. The right side gun is a big #9 or #10 Simplex, useful on a 490, but not on 463. The left hand injector was a #6 or #8, which might be of use on 463. In any case installing an injector, if all the pieces were left in place is about a 2 hour job.
OY does not need a big air pump installed. The one that is there worked just fine. It provides plenty of air. The trailing locomotives do no provide any air for the OY's function. I doubt one could fit an compound pump under the roof of OY.
Indeed, OY would need a hydro test, as well as an inspection by the State of Colorado.
A general inspection of the boiler and running gear would be in order. I would estimate it would take 4 guys about 30 days to put OY on the road.
