C & S 1008 Update: The Brake Cylinder/Reservoir - 1

Well NGDF, we are still making progress on 1008. Sorry for the length of time between updates!

First - we want to let folks know that Richard and I are giving a Clinic on the 1008 project at the upcoming Narrow Gauge Convention in Sacramento (Sept 4 - Sept 7). On the current schedule we're on Wed night at 9:00, and Friday morning at 9:30. We'll present the story (and it's quite a story) about the rescue of 1008, a review of it's history, and a summary of the project so far with an update on current progress. Randy Hees of the Nevada St. RR Museum in Henderson will also present the supporting historical and physical research for the color to be used on the bobber. Since we can drive to this one, we'll have with us a few parts, pieces, and relics to show.

On to the pictures and progress over the past several months. The biggest milestone recently has been completion of the brake cylinder/reservoir unit. It's a fabricated replica of a Westinghouse, 8 x 8 unit, which is an unusual size (the numbers give the nominal diameter and length of the cylinder). Typical NG equipment, such as survivors on the tourist RRs, use 8 x 10 or even 8 x 12. So an 8 x 8 is a rarity. We're aware of only 2, on caboose 1006 in Silver Plume, and on stock car 7064 at the CRRM. Chris deWitt at the Nevada St. RR Museum in Carson City first gave us the idea that a fabricated unit could be made, and would work well. As told below, preparing this major piece was a long team effort.


This shows the fabricated cylinder, consisting of two machined flanges welded onto the ends of a piece of drawn-over-mandrel (DOM) seamless pipe. We have Paul Bouchon (sp?) to thank for the workmanship on this piece.


Here is the top mounting plate welded to the cylinder, and the matching spring cone. We were fortunate to obtain that little rare piece in the boneyard at the D&S, thanks to Randy Babcock and Sean Jackson.


The reservoir ends seemed the most daunting. But Paul told us that a "weld cap", a relatively common pipe termination in the industrial world, would work. Here is an 8" cap, with the machined flange for attaching the triple valve.


Here's Dan Bangma of the Bangma Machine Works in Bell Gardens, CA machining one of the flanges between the reservoir and cylinder. His shop did the superb work to machine and weld up the reservoir parts.


The reservoir is a weld cap - DOM tube - weld cap assembly, pressure vessel welded. The cylinder flange is shown also welded on one end. Note that the weld cap and DOM outer diameters don't match. So that leads to the next step.

Continued . . . .

Bob of AZ