We have been working mostly on 488 and 487 since the Christmas break although 489 has had a little attention as well.
We have begun replacing the tank valve operating rods in all the tenders with new stainless steel ones. The old, plain steel ones are pretty well rotted away.
Here is the new set for 489.
Tube installation began in 488 a couple of weeks ago and they are now all in, rolled, and beaded. The boiler was filled with water today and the process of chasing down leaks is moving along. We plan to get a hydro test on it later this week.
The #3 driver has been disassembled and the new axle is being made. Counter weight and wheel center bores will be trued up before reassembly.
Tom is turning the new axle in the big lathe.
Boring a counter weight. Someone asked me if we clamped the counter weight to the mill or the mill to the counter weight.
The valve motion rebuild on the 487 is complete and reassembled and we are working on valve setting. The Johnson bar latch mechanism was rebuilt. The old latch dog was pretty tired so I made a new one.