Re: Durango & Silverton Locomotive Work 5-1-2020

We do all the wheel work in house. The process is more time consuming and labor intensive due to the fact that we do not own a proper locomotive wheel lathe but the end result is the same. First, all the counterweights are pressed off of the axles. Then the drivers are mounted in a large lathe and the tire profiles are turned with a tracer attachment. The counterweights are then pressed back on, the the drivers mounted in our quartering machine, and crank pins checked for quarter and machined to correct any errors.

Hopefully, someday we can acquire a wheel lath and simplify the process.