Foreign Orders...

Yep, that's right.... Our next workday will involve a foreign order and even better a trip across the border.

Lindsay has asked for some help with some track work in Queenbeyan, so we are going to take CPH 37, our rail motor and some willing volunteers for a short train trip like we did in the old days.

edit 26/10/2011.. I have just been advised that 3016 will be providing the motive power for the trip, so there is even more reason to come along for the trip....

Volunteers are welcome and we will be leaving from the Canberra Museum platform at 8.30AM, do a little track work on the turntable road in Queenbeyan and then should be back for lunch at 1pm. Come for the ride and get in a little exercise as well! It should be fun.

With the Garratt undercover, the team continued to work around the cab. First priority was the erection of a decent work platform and steps to help with getting in and out of the cab. Once this was up and in place, the refitting of the cab gauges and pipework continued. As you can see, a most of the gauges and valves are now in place, with some pipework to be completed in some areas. The cab was also bolted down to the frames, so this is where it will stay now for several years.



While the cab was being worked on, the motion was also getting some attention, with Mal starting to polish the rods in readiness for crack testing and refitting. There are a lot of them, so this work will continue for some weeks.

Saturday 1 October 2011

After five years of open air work, 6029 now resides undercover for what we are now calling the fit out stage. The cab has been lowered into position and as a result, we can now start the fit out the countless small bore pipes that make up the loco's control systems. This includes the power reverser, the brake system and the support systems for electrical power and even steam to brew the tea. The timber floor for the cab has been made and fitted by Paul Nowland, Jack Barker and Alan Gardener and the crew took great delight in actually standing at the correct footplate height for once. The fit out of the seats and the injector control valves that protrude through the floor will be next.



At the opposite end of the boiler, the smoke box is stating to fill up with the pipes that connect to the air compressor and the blower. Both of these components are fed with steam from the superheater header which itself is also receiving some final attention with throttle cam and valves soon to be refitted. Once that is done, the control linkage that runs from the header back to the drivers cab will be fitted.

6029 is fitted with what is called a front end throttle. Put simply the control of steam from the boiler takes place at the front in the smoke box and is controlled by the driver back at the cab end via a system of levers and rods. It was a much more efficient system when compared to the more traditional system inside the boilers dome.

For a few years now we have been completing the rebuild of many smaller components only to put them into storage awaiting final fitment. Now that the locomotive is under cover, theses components can be fitted. Ian delivered the first of the four mechanical lubricators (right hand leading) and with the help of a few strong arms it was lifted into place. The lubrication feed pipes are now being cleaned out one by one and with some head scratching, the stamped identification acronyms are actually starting to make sense.

The move into the shed however, does not come without some pain, as the team headed by John and Kyle started moving over the many tools, benches and storage cupboards. Having said that, Saturdays weather was very wet and generally unpleasant but being indoors at long last meant a happy and dry team could continue to work in comfort.

Alan Gardner

Sunday 18th September

With the Garratt having been moved into the shed during the week, today was mostly spent collecting parts that we need in the next few months and moving them closer to the new work area. As such, not a lot of progress is visible in the photos, but its all work that needs to be done. Welcome also to a few new volunteers, Duncan and Rory.



Jobs that are high on the list include refitting the stokers elevator tube and firing table in the cab, followed by a new floor. The ashpan is receiving attention in Goulburn, and should be ready to fit shortly, along with the grate assembly.



You can see from the photos that our regular steam hauled trains with 3016 are looking great, they are a great way to pass a day if your in the area. It wont be long and we will be able to put 6029 to work at the front of the train... Now that will be nice!

A Riveting Day!

For those that are interested in the almost lost art of hot riveting, here is a video of the work we did.... Its noisy, hot and requires a team of people to make it possible, but it is very satisfying work when you look at the end result. Thanks so much to our old mates from Goodwin Alco, Steve, Creagh and Dave... Without their invaluable help, the cab would not be finished and already back on the loco.



Video by Steve Preston and Creagh Maywald... Thanks Guys!

What A Day!

It was a big day for everyone today.... Not only did Malcolm drive the cab to Canberra after it was loaded, Alan managed to get the Garratt out of the siding where we were parked in by 4468 and some other rolling stock... He even got the cab back on the loco as the sun went down and the Garratt shunted into the shed in the dark.



Also delivered from Eveleigh on the truck today were a lovely set of new crew seats for the Garratt and 2 repaired and recovered seats for one of our CPH Railmotors. The work was done by master trimmer Matt Fasan, and kindly financed our old mates at Goodwin Alco. Thanks Matt... Awesome job!

Mike

BIG News!

Yes....thats right!



The day is not over yet and there are more photos to come, but the cab is on its way from Sydney, and by tonight, will be reunited with the loco. While the cab was being loaded. Al has done a shunt in Canberra to get the Garratt out from behind 4468 where we have been working and is now ready move it into the shed so that we can work in comfort, and relative cleanliness as we progress the reassembly.



Word has it that the loco was very easy to move and shows no signs of the binding that caused it to derail last time it was moved.... Awesome news.... Well done to everyone!

Mike

Sunday 11th of September

The rivets are done and the cab will be on the move this week!

Finally, after a lot of work and a lot of waiting, the cab is pretty much finished. The final riveting was completed today with the invaluable assistance of Goodwin Alco.

Steve, Craig and Dave from Goodwin Alco and Mike R and Mal from the ARHS ACT got together and finalized the riveting in order to allow the cab to be removed from Eveleigh's Large Erecting Shop... And just in time too!

As you can see in the pictures, the lions share of the work is complete, and if you compare the before and after pics, it really is looking quite good.



Even better is that the Cab will go directly from the back of a truck onto the loco.... Now that will look good!

Once it is back in place on the loco, some new glazing will be sourced and fitted, along with new handrails and associated fittings. This will also allow Al to complete the brake system refit the reverser and fit the new floor in the cab.... Awesome, its all coming together!


There is definitely light at the end of this tunnel!
Mike Reynell

Saturday 3 September 2011

The plan for the day was very simple... it was to compete all outstanding tasks to ensure that 6029 could be safely shunted. So we started off in the smoke box as the forty 7/8 BSW bolts had to be fitted to secure the boiler in place. The problem is that all of theses holes had been welded up when the boiler was used in stationary service. As fast as we were trying to drill out the holes the drill bits would become blunt and useless. Solution, get a bigger drill, use plenty of cutting fluid and keep sharpening the drills. By lunch time we had roughed out about 12 holes and we had had enough, so our next workday will involve a very large air drill and maybe some colorful language.

Mark and Alan started the fit up of the air compressor's Nathan mechanical lubricator and associate pipe work. Tony continued to dot around the locomotive with black paint as it seems we had missed few spots, it is over 100 feet long!

Back at the cab end Graeme Kidgell completed the installation of the fireman’s side boiler feed lines. Andy Heys prepped the last of the cab mounting bolt holes and also had time to sneak in a few cups of tea. You just cant get good help theses days!

By days end we received news that the Eveleigh team had almost finished the cab and that one more day should do it.



All being well the cab will be back in Canberra before then end of the month and will go straight onto the locomotive. Updates will be posted as the details firm up.

Alan Gardner

Sunday 21 August 2011

The day started with the usual time honored cup of tea and a chat. The completed cross compound compressor was on site as it had been delivered during the previous week and the first job for the day was to fit it to the smoke box. Once bolted down the associated pipes were hooked up including the governor and lubrication piping.



The two main reservoirs were offered up and fixed in place with the retaining straps. Sounds easy to say in one sentence but the alignment and fitting of the pipe work was no easy task. Anyone would think that we are getting good at this type of thing. The outstanding smaller valves such as the independent release valve were fitted into place and as the main reservoirs were now fitted we are basically done with the brakes. The only outstanding task will be the fitting of the three and four control pipes that run from the drivers brake valve to the distributing valve. These pipes cannot be fitted until the cab is in place.

The trailing pivot nuts were adjusted/backed off and after the usual three man pull helped by a four foot long extension bar, the unit settled down into position. The constant contact side bearings were checked for alignment and all was well. As we had a good turnout of volunteers we were able to also have another look at the stoker trough and it was decided to remove the two leading support brackets. As originally fitted they were held in with bolts however, later in life they are welded into place. That’s OK in service but it prevents the stoker trough from being removed as designed. The use of an angle grinder and about six cutting discs later and both brackets were removed. The fork lift made easy work to slide the trough out and as suspected it will require a full rebuild.

To say that we had a significant workday would be an understatement as we completed a few milestones that are noteworthy in context to the overall project. These being the completion of the brake system, the removal of the stoker trough and the adjustment of the pivots. Having completed these tasks the locomotive can now again be shunted safely. From a strategic overview there are no more strip and assessment tasks to complete. In essence we are putting 6029 back together and we hare now planning for the steam testing and subsequent operational systems checking. To this end the hind bunker/tank has be fitted to facilitate the up coming steam tests later this year. However we have a lot to do before this can take place... for instance the ash pan and fire grates still have to be rebuilt and the smoke box fit out will be the next major tasks. We still have to fit 20 superheater elements, the blast pipe, main steam lines and the front end throttle assembly.

Alan Gardner