Saturday, January 17, 2009

BHC Shop Update for January 16, 2009

Welcome to another addition of BHC shop updates. Please excuse the lack of photographs, but plan on seeing them in future Blogs. The Shop has been quite busy still with projects from last week, and we have added some more to the list. It is quite a major under taking to restore and preserve antique equipment, but it is well worth the labor involved. I especially look forward to the enjoyment on peoples faces when they take a trip with us! Hope to see more and more people ride the train every year with us, and share the experience with our future generations.

Joe Belczak (BHC Railroad Staff and Crew)

Engine #110
-Work continues on boiler side sheets. Engineer's sheets are in place and await their stay bolts. All stay bolt holes have been threaded, and lower rivets replaced on bottom of side sheet. I will have pictures next week, so stay tuned. Fireman's side sheets are currently being evaluated, and new sheet pieces will be added.

-Rear draw bar awaits new cushion springs, and coupler pocket rebuild is near completion.

-Valve rings are in the process of being manufactured and will be installed on valves in weeks to come.

Engine #104
-Minimal work has been completed this week on locomotive due to the large efforts being completed on 110. I will post current projects when work is completed.

BHC Car Department

-The Car Department is up in full swing with a couple major projects. With yearly car inspection done to all rolling stock, time is being focused on "Mystic" and our new car.

Mystic
-After reviewing car construction, Mystic will not receive any structural support rebuilding at this time. Car is in great shape and time needs to be spent on some of its mechanical factors first.

-Due to the age of car and its original brake rigging, the car department has decided to update the brake rigging. The new AB brake rigging will be more efficient to maintain, and provide a longer mechanical life to the car. Brake cylinder, air reservoir, and plumbing has been removed and new brake cylinder, air reservoir, manifold, valves, plumbing, and proper linkage will be installed in its place. New brake cylinder and manifold has been rebuilt and await installation. New air reservoir awaits sand blasting, hydro test, and painting.

New Car
-Our contractors have been working busily on removing all wood to the frame. So far, the frame of the car seems to be in good condition and will be able to be prepped soon. All brake parts have been cleaned and serviced by BHC crew, and await their installation under the car frame. Air reservoir passed its hydro test and awaits installation also. All main wooden support beams that span the entire car have been delivered. Crew awaits final clean-up of old wood on the car, so the iron can be inspected and worked on. BHC crew has also found new draft gears, couplers, and draw bars for the car.

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