SVRy #100 *PIC*

Some have asked recently for an update of progress on the restoration of SVRy #100. Here is a brief report, along with a couple of pictures that may be of interest to technophiles.
Engine and cab work are nearly complete, with wheels to go back under the unit in a few weeks. The engine has occupied most of our time recently. It is a Climax RI-6 with a rated horsepower of 127 and a top speed of 650 RPM. It was NOT built by the Climax Locomotive Co. (I get asked that question a lot). Climax engines were the only ones I'm aware of that were built with a dual ignition system. Two plugs per cylinder, one fires on a generator, the other on a magneto. Both systems must be working and in proper time in order for the engine to run well. Ours does not yet run well.
In planning to reinstall the wheels and axles, we made two startling discoveries. The folks who built the new journals forgot to include grease channels and fittings. These may need to be disassembled and drilled. Also, no detailed notes were taken when the axles and journals were removed. After the fact, we discovered that one end of each spring set has been shimmed higher than the others. No one has any idea which end goes where any more, so reinstalling the wheels is likely to be a troublesome process of trial and error until the correct fit is acheived.
Still remaing to do are brake rigging, painting & lettering, and 1001 little things. Still and all, the work is progressing and we enjoy the fact that we're doing something a little different from the run-of-the-mill steam engine restoration. Critters definately have their own set of challenges.
Pictured below, the rebuilt (and problematic) Climax engine