Our Steam Department volunteers had a very busy end of 2022 working on the restoration of Southern Pacific steam locomotive #1744 while also working on other projects around the shop including some infrastructure work, maintenance items on Skookum #7 and Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4, and continuing to move parts of SP #2479 from Santa Clara to Niles Canyon. Here are a series of photographs that highlight some of the work undertaken on the 1744 and around the shop during the fourth quarter of 2022. Please look for new updates coming soon in 2023!
While we have you… 2023 is shaping up to be a busy year with the 1744 along with SP #2479 restoration work. The 1744’s boiler work is planned to continue and hopefully accelerate. This means we will need to purchase more parts including 1400+ new staybolts that need to be machined. To help us with the cost of that work, please consider a donation today to our ongoing SP #1744 fundraiser.
Volunteer, John B., starts the process of pad welding two wear areas on the #1744’s frame where the furnace bearer has worked its way into the frame over 1744’s long life.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Welding away… You can see the wear mark on the engineer’s side has been ground clean to get ready for welding. It will need to be filled level with the frame.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Fireman’s side fill getting closer…
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Welding in process…
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Volunteer,John B. uses this very simple setup to check for fill level.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Original built to grind the pedestals of SP #2479, this rig has joined the NCRy Steam Department along with the SP #2479 crew. It has proven to be just the right thing to do the job.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
After the first grind on the fireman’s side. One more pass to complete the job was needed.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Volunteer, Charlie F., was busy in the shop on the lathe making new taper pins for a replacement beam he also machined for the 1744’s frame. Many parts have to be made as they are not available commercially.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Welding on the engineer’s side with the Train of Lights waiting departure in the background.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Teamwork really makes the difference as the frame repairs are discussed.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Volunteers, Art & Charlie, study the construction of 1744’s suspension spring packs to decide how repairs will be made.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
With 1744’s new driver tires delivered and with install planned in the first quarter of 2023, our ring of fire needed to be slightly enlarged to accommodate the new larger diameter driver tires.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Pre-heating the frame for more welding…
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
What wear mark? The finish fireman’s side pad weld has been primed and now just looks like the rest of the frame.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Put it and take it off… A part of one of the 1744’s spring packs gets some welding done to fill in some holes which will later machined back out.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Along with welder, John B., Volunteer, Emeliano, also helped with a wide variety of frame welding repairs.
Photo by Alan Siegwarth – Used with permission
Reaming of the SP #1744’s new cross-member.
Photo by Alan Siegwarth – Used with permission
The engineer’s side pad weld fully built up and waiting grinding.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Hand grinding before jig grinding the engineer’s side pad weld.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
#1744 furnace bearer frame repair complete!
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Of course, we have our running engines to worry about and need to take care of a variety of maintenance tasks as the safety valves were being worked on here.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
Our mill got a good workout by Art, who joined us from the SP #2479 crew, as he worked on machining holes in the 1744’s spring pack sides for new bushings and pins.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
SP #1744’s new tires have been delivered!
