Fred et al:
I have been traveling driving from Felton CA to Austin TX taking my son to start graduate school and just discovered this thread. I do not have time to respond in full to all the posts concerning rotary operation in general or the operation of the OY in particular. However I will say that we knew exactly what we were doing when we ran it and we made repairs to the equipment as necessary. When the half axle broke it was not the original nor even the second one that had been put on that unit. The superstructure was in poor condition before we ever ran the OY and we completely rebuilt it in the winter of 95/96 when we installed the new half axles and cylinder heads. It is clear from the photos and looking at the machine that it has undergone numerous repairs and rebuildings since it was new. I dont know how it is now but in the years that I was in Chama the stuff that got used got worked on and improved. The stuff that didn't get used didn't get worked on.
I do not recognize the names of any of the posters in this thread as people who have worked on the rotary in Chama or elsewhere. What little expertise I have in this area comes from working rotaries on both the C&TS and the WP&YR. I am always amazed when the people who know most about it are the ones who havent worked on them at all.
Sorry for the rant but in the fall of 1989 (when I arrived) C&TS had three functioning locomotives. in the spring of 1996 (when I left) it had 6 functional steam locos, 2 functional diesels, and a rebuilt and serviceable rotary. I think we knew what we were doing.
Im sure I will feel better when I get a beer and a good nights sleep.
Again sorry for the rant
John Bush
