While watching another coat of paint dry on the cow catcher. It was time to start construction of the actual mounting hardware.
The front of 315 was fitted with a 1/2" x 3" steel bar welded up and fitted to clear the existing hardware and knuckle mounting. This was attached to the front pilot using the existing mounting bolts. Our intent was to keep the mounting as simple as possible, and yet be secure, all the while keeping the placement and removal quick and easy, so if in an emergency situation it could be quickly removed in the field, so another engine could couple to our front knuckle. The length of the two "Plows" not to interfere with coupling. This wasn't such an issue in 1918, as the knuckles extended further from the pilots at the time, because the knuckle mount was a different casting then what was used latter, and is what is currently on most D&RGW engines.
The design called for the cow catcher part to hook over the attached bar, and then be pinned thru to secure, And the bottom to rest against the existing cow catcher.
The plan.
Using the new CC to fit, measure and align. Steel was cut.
And so the welder could align, marks for placement were lined out.
And mounting holes were drilled to fit the special "Bolts" to be made.
And so today, off to fellow 315 team member Mike Heuser's for welding up.. I can weld, but just OK, His are a lot better.
And I'll Finnish making the " Bolts" to hold it all together.
5 days to go till installation, Stay tuned.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2018 11:15AM by dave2-8-0.