NNG - latest on Craig Mtn. Lumber #3

We've been concentrating on getting the boiler ready for its external FRA inspection. This has included descaling the boiler barrel, Doing the boiler survey and making dozens of drawings to be submitted for the Form 4 calulations. Then we found a couple of suprises.

The regulations require that all staybolts have thier telltale holes opened up the a 3/32" drill. No big deal, only a couple of bolts don't have holes. These get drilled out to a depth of 1 1/2". The bigger deal is the staybolts that are located behind the brickwork in the firebox must be drilled all the way through A few bolts are drilled through, most require drilling all the way through. 4 days with a air drill and a dozen drill bits later, ans the job is done. The big bummer is the bottom row of bolts are drilled on the outside, but not inside. The bolts are behind the frame, to we attempt to drill them from the inside with no success. The bolts are installed crooked, and our drilling pokes out the top of the bolt in the water space. So, out comes the torch and the bottom row bites the dust. New hollow drilled ones will replace them.

To access the firebox sides, the steel side plates must be removed from the frame, the front wall of the cab removed, along with EVERYTHING that is in the way. The plates ahead of the cab had been slotted to access the staybolts, but not those inside the cab. Here the outside plate has been removed, and the inner plate is marked for cutting.


Here the plates are cut out, the side sheet measured and drilling is underway.


Over on the right side. Note everything is removed - air brake piping, injectors - in fact the only thing left is the Johnson Bar.


Here the bottom row of staybolts have been cut on the outside sheet, next Steve will cut them out on the inside.


In the firebox, Steve cuts one of the bottom row staybolts out.


Outside view of some operation.


Front flue sheet, showing UT test numbers.


This is scary.... On the right is a normal water glass valve. The one on the left is one Steve got from someone's collection. As we have to add a second water glass, he found these two valves and tossed them in a box for Globe. Note how the one on the left is almost completely plugged with hard scale....and was in use in someone's engine. A soak in muriatic acid dissolved the scale and it is good as new now.


We are forced to take a break from our work on #3. The FRA inspector wants to see the boiler stripped before we start installing tubes, which is the next step. The inspector cannot see it before Feb. 9. In addition, we are awaiting the delivery of the staybolt stock to replace the bottom row staybolts. Steve and the gang are back in Alamosa, moving #18 into the new shop building and preparing to jack it up for driver wheel removal.