October 13, 2015 01:31AM
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Registered: 16 years ago
Posts: 14,589
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The prelude to 844444444444444444444449 -
On October 1st, after spending three or four days in Narrow Gauge Country (see [
ngdiscussion.net]), I headed east from Colorado Springs toward Omaha, intending to intercept the westbound American Freedom Train at the state line, which was accomplished that afternoon. I missed catching a meet between the AFT and the eastbound Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily circus train by about 1/4 of a mile, but did snag a long shot of "The Whole Enchilada" a few miles farther west
:
Having no easy way to find out why ex-SP GS-4 #4449 was not pulling the train, I had no choice but to follow it back west to Colorado Springs, where I took the first two shots below sometime between October 2nd and 5th. (Yes, Virginia, it shore looks to me like those are D&RGW "Tunnel Motors" out on the flatlands of eastern Colorado haulin' coal in the second of the following four
. . . )
:
The exhibits were shut down around 10 pm on October 5, and by sunrise the train was headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she was escorted onto the fairgrounds by a mounted color guard the following day. After taking a couple of ambient-light night photos, I headed once again to Omaha - where #4449 was said to be undergoing some unplanned maintenance.
A huge yellow flag illuminated by floodlights made it easy to spot U.P.'s big locomotive shop in Omaha, where I assumed #4449 could be found. Not so, but I was given directions to Union Station, so after a couple of quick time-exposures I drove over there and spent the night in my van parked near the outdoor "workshop". The next morning the problem - and the solution - became apparent
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The engine's lead drivers were undergoing excessive wear, and the flanges were getting thin. The only fix - short of a new pair of driver tires - was to cut down the running surface of the wheels while leaving plenty of flange in place. Of course all eight drivers, not just the leading pair, had to be turned down to the same diameter - which meant about two weeks of pulling and pushing #4449 back and forth with a diseasel switcher, with cutting tools in place of the big steamer's brake shoes. Here are 1) the over-all set-up, with a chair for the operator to ride on as he monitors the cutting process and controls the brake pressure accordingly; 2) Andy Adams fabricating parts to hold the cutting tools; 3) Russ Shipman riding the pilot to relay signals from Doyle McCormack (on chair) to Andy or Al on the other side of the pilot, who in turn would relay them to the engineer of the switcher; and 4) the crew working well into the night to Get 'Er Done a.s.a.p.
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I soon became a "gopher" for the crew, and in a day or two worked my way up to "engine wiper" - which meant polishing side-rods with steel wool and cleanser. The day before #8444 and #4449 were to head west, Al Phillips - one of the three fireman/mechanics who helped restore #4449 and care for her on the road - took me along when he went over to the U.P. shops. This was a great opportunity for a couple more color photos (see #3 and #4 on third set, above), and one last shot below (which may cause one to wonder how many railroaders it takes to change a
headlight bulb number plate
...
(To be continued.)
-
Roosso
Edited 12 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2022 08:28PM by Russo Loco.
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Russo Loco |
October 12, 2015 03:15PM |
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Matt Ritchie |
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et&wnc |
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Mark Huber |
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Randall Hess |
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Steve Thompson |
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Russo Loco |
October 12, 2015 07:05PM |
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Steve Thompson |
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dougvv |
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Russo Loco |
October 13, 2015 01:31AM |
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Chris Walker |
October 13, 2015 01:38AM |
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Johnson Barr |
October 13, 2015 01:56AM |
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Chris Walker |
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Russo Loco |
October 13, 2015 11:10AM |
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Dirk Ramsey |
October 13, 2015 10:53PM |
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Russo Loco |
October 13, 2015 11:16PM |
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D&RGW 223 |
October 15, 2015 09:38PM |
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Russo Loco |
October 15, 2015 10:23PM |
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Russo Loco |
December 03, 2015 12:07AM |
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Russo Loco |
October 13, 2015 10:43PM |
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Russo Loco |
October 15, 2015 09:31AM |
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Russo Loco |
October 25, 2015 10:29PM |
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Tomstp |
October 26, 2015 03:58PM |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Greg Scholl |
October 18, 2015 06:54PM |
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philip.marshall |
October 18, 2015 08:09PM |
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Russo Loco |
October 25, 2015 10:52PM |
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Russo Loco |
October 25, 2015 03:22PM |
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John Cole |
October 25, 2015 08:17PM |
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Russo Loco |
October 25, 2015 09:47PM |
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Tomstp |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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John Cole |
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Russo Loco |
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John West |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Wayne Hoskin |
November 10, 2015 04:49PM |
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Russo Loco |
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guymonmd |
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et&wnc |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
November 10, 2015 08:09AM |
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Russo Loco |
November 18, 2015 01:26PM |
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Russo Loco |
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John Cole |
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Tomstp |
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Russo Loco |
November 23, 2015 01:22PM |
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John West |
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Russo Loco |
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Wayne Hoskin |
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Tom Moungovan |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Greg Scholl |
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Russo Loco |
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John Cole |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Fritz Klinke |
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John West |
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Russo Loco |
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John West |
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Johnson Barr |
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Tom Gildersleeve |
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Johnson Barr |
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Russo Loco |
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Fritz Klinke |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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pd3463 |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Fritz Klinke |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Charlie Mutschler |
December 16, 2015 06:28AM |
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Russo Loco |
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Charlie Mutschler |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Greg Scholl |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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GeorgeGaskill |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Earl |
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Russo Loco |
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Brian Ratliff |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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jalbers |
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Russo Loco |
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jalbers |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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DwDickey |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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AZfarmer |
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Russo Loco |
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BrianJ |
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Johnson Barr |
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Russo Loco |
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Txhighballer |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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et&wnc |
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Russo Loco |
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John Cole |
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Russo Loco |
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rod |
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Russo Loco |
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Russo Loco |
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Charlie Mutschler |
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Russo Loco |
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dougvv |
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Jim Callaway |
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Earl |
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Txhighballer |
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John Cole |
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John Cole |
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Russo Loco |
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John Cole |
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USAF_Andy |
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USAF_Andy |
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John Cole |
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Johnson Barr |
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Txhighballer |
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