Say Kelly, (and others)
Do you happen to have the widths of both the flange and blind tires? As memory doesn't always serve correctly, I don't recall if the NG blind tires were 1" wider or if they were something less as a regular practice.
As for that matter, I wonder what the C-18 etc blind tire widths were (realizing that may not be a question that you have info on).
Also, do you have any figures on the back to backs of the flanged Vs the blind tires? Was the actual back-to-back shop practice to set the blind tires the same as the flanged tires? Stuff I did not cover those many years ago.
Good pictures of existing tires, that's why I asking about the widths and the back-to-backs. It has been my understanding that blind tires normally overhung the wheel center rim equally on both sides. Or have I misunderstood that practice? Are the wheel center rims the same when measured inside to inside for both the flanged & blind drivers?
Also, looks as though the driving box lateral has not been addressed at the time of the pictures?
And yes, I agree, that the top of the (then) existing half flanges were probably the tire thickness from the previous turning as what shows up on the C&S pictures.
As for who did the turning, while they could have been done at Ridgway, I don't know if the engine was delivered to the MLC alive or dead. And no one has mentioned about the engine being hauled to Ridgway to have that work done. I would think that work may have been done a Ala. As some work may have been done as part of the cost of the sale to MLC. But all this still a guess. The Grande generally would sell the older power to outsdie firms for the cost of the last repairs including what work had been agreed to as part of the sale.
Thanks for the additonal info.
Chris
