Work on 346 at the CRRM began, in earnest, in mid December. The start of any significant effort was delayed after its October 1st return from Strassburg, PA by preparing for and the arrival of equipment from the Georgetown Loop.
D&RGW 346
* Casting patterns for firebox grates and grate bearers are being made.
* Various studs in the boiler shell (for mounting appliances) are being replaced as needed.
* Weld repair is being made on some worn (scoured by cinders) parts of the interior of the smoke box.
* The turbogenerator has been overhauled.
* The steel floor of the cab is being removed for replacement (due to extreme corrosion).
* New lapping rings for the steam connection from the wish-bone pipes to the cylinder saddle are being made--which means getting the correct alloy cast to rough shape, machining to finished shape and lapping (grinding in) the joints.
D&RGW 318
Although 318 has been put on the back burner again in favor of concentrating on 346, since the frame was moved to the roundhouse about four years ago, the driving axels have been installed into rebuilt driving boxes and these installed into the frame. It is stored inside. Much, much work remains to be done but it has been promised that 318 will be the next priority after 346 is operational.
RGS Goose 7
Work is continuing on the cab restoration. This is a slow, meticulous process as no two pieces are alike and require custom manufacture and fitting of each one. Many of the original pieces are too far gone for use, even as patterns. New wheels have been cast and are awaiting machining prior to installation on axels. Wheels for the power truck of RGS Goose 2 are being made at the same time.
D&RGW Diesel 50
The rebuilt engine is installed. The rumor from the St. Louis machine shop that is working on overhauling the transmission is that it is complete (requiring the manufacture of many internal gears and perhaps some custom made ball bearings). The last remaining item is to manufacture a new gear for mounting onto the axel. There is still much work to do on the locomotive but completing power train will mark a major milestone.
D&IM 902
This is a Denver & Intermountain Railway "side door" caboose. The D&IM was a standard gauge electrified line around metropolitan Denver. The caboose is undergoing restoration work (windows, doors, siding, roof, etc.) and will eventually be displayed in a new location at the museum, different from its previous.
UTLX "Gramps" Tank Car
This car was acquired from the Sundown & Southern auction of 2002. This railroad received the car as a large culvert pipe (no dome, no ends, no trucks, no couplers, no brake rigging, etc.). They received original trucks from CRRM (many, many years ago) and procured a dome and ends from another tank car. The dome was the correct size but the ends were from a larger diameter standard gauge car. The ends were cut down to the proper diameter and welded in place, making it a functional tank but an ugly and incorrect joint between the tank shell and end.
The dome is being welded in place, one coupler has been installed and much of the brake rigging has been remanufactured and installed. New heads (ends) of the correct shape were manufactured and one has been installed. Currently, preparations are being made to install the second end.
The above is not a comprehensive list of all details for any project by any means but an update on some of the recent activities. It's time for a cheese break!
