I snapped a few quick photos this morning. I felt like I should be doing a Holiday Express photo shoot!
Monday, March 30, 2009
No, It's not Christmas
The snow is flying outside, but believe it or not, it's March and not December. This marks the second blizzard in a little over a week. We went through a moment of déjà vu this morning. Last Monday was also in blizzard conditions. This snow storm doesn't look like it's going to be quite as big in the central part of the Hills, but we've received a couple inches so far. I'm ready for the end of South Dakota's annual Spring snow storms, but hopefully all this moisture means no forest fires in the Black Hills this summer! Regardless of my Spring fever, I couldn't resist putting a hot chocolate packet in my lunch this morning.
I snapped a few quick photos this morning. I felt like I should be doing a Holiday Express photo shoot!
I snapped a few quick photos this morning. I felt like I should be doing a Holiday Express photo shoot!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Shop updates for Friday, March 6, 2009
Work continues on all are big projects for this year. With the winter season coming to an end, the 1880 train crew is in high gear to finish all major projects. We are ambitious to start other projects in the weeks to come as well. Time goes by faster when March comes around, so updates might be more spread out. So much to do and so little time before the start of the season! Looking forward to seeing our passengers soon! Enjoy!
Joe Belczak (Staff and crew of Black Hills Central Railroad)
Engine #110
-Work continues on the final touches to the boiler side sheets. All staybolt heads are rounded over on engineer's side, and weep holes cleaned out. Mounting studs for air cylinders, pipe hangers, and power reverser are installed. Once fireman's side sheet is finished, the crew can concentrate on putting rest of furniture together on boiler, and perform annual hydro. test.
Both draw bars are finished, and were installed back into their pockets. Due to a very rotted out front bumper, the crew replaced the old bumper with a sturdy metal one. The talented crew fabricated a new bumper and installed it into position using all existing holes. More stairs and rails will be added to front pilot of engine to make servicing the large compound compressors more efficient during noon servicing and start-up. An improved pin lifter has been fabricated to make uncoupling the locomotive from the cars easier.
-All valve packing has been installed to cylinders, and now new brasses are being milled for 110's side rods. Once brasses are complete, all rods and cranks will be installed back on wheels, and locomotive will be ready for its test run.
Engine #104
-New water glasses were installed and await a final fitting. Lights will have to be made for glasses, so they can be seen on the evening trips much easier.
New Car #65
-A lot of progress has been made to car frame in the past weeks. All channel timber is in place, and cross timber is presently being installed. Steel vertical posts in baggage compartment have been repaired and installed. Next items awaiting installation are rest of flooring timber supports, horizontal steel rods, truss rods, and various other pieces of hardware.
-The project of rebuilding the car's trucks is under way, and 50% of the North truck is completed. What we consider the "A" truck needed new channel iron and a rebuild of the braking components. Currently the A truck awaits new leaf springs and a new bolster pocket. Once truck is overhauled, the B truck will receive the same treatment.
Work continues on all are big projects for this year. With the winter season coming to an end, the 1880 train crew is in high gear to finish all major projects. We are ambitious to start other projects in the weeks to come as well. Time goes by faster when March comes around, so updates might be more spread out. So much to do and so little time before the start of the season! Looking forward to seeing our passengers soon! Enjoy!
Joe Belczak (Staff and crew of Black Hills Central Railroad)
Engine #110
-Work continues on the final touches to the boiler side sheets. All staybolt heads are rounded over on engineer's side, and weep holes cleaned out. Mounting studs for air cylinders, pipe hangers, and power reverser are installed. Once fireman's side sheet is finished, the crew can concentrate on putting rest of furniture together on boiler, and perform annual hydro. test.
Both draw bars are finished, and were installed back into their pockets. Due to a very rotted out front bumper, the crew replaced the old bumper with a sturdy metal one. The talented crew fabricated a new bumper and installed it into position using all existing holes. More stairs and rails will be added to front pilot of engine to make servicing the large compound compressors more efficient during noon servicing and start-up. An improved pin lifter has been fabricated to make uncoupling the locomotive from the cars easier.
-All valve packing has been installed to cylinders, and now new brasses are being milled for 110's side rods. Once brasses are complete, all rods and cranks will be installed back on wheels, and locomotive will be ready for its test run.
Engine #104
-New water glasses were installed and await a final fitting. Lights will have to be made for glasses, so they can be seen on the evening trips much easier.
New Car #65
-A lot of progress has been made to car frame in the past weeks. All channel timber is in place, and cross timber is presently being installed. Steel vertical posts in baggage compartment have been repaired and installed. Next items awaiting installation are rest of flooring timber supports, horizontal steel rods, truss rods, and various other pieces of hardware.
-The project of rebuilding the car's trucks is under way, and 50% of the North truck is completed. What we consider the "A" truck needed new channel iron and a rebuild of the braking components. Currently the A truck awaits new leaf springs and a new bolster pocket. Once truck is overhauled, the B truck will receive the same treatment.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Shop Updates for February 13, 2009
I guess the word for the month down at the BHC Roundhouse the past few weeks is "BUSY!"
We were able to get a lot of tasks accomplished and new ones started. Our jobs that we accomplished are bringing us closer and closer to the start of another terrific season. Repairs on Engine #110 boiler are being completed, and soon we will be shopping engine #7 for its yearly inspection and repairs. The new car #65 will be seeing its new wood in the next weeks to come. Please visit the 1880 train website, and view any other information about our next up coming seasonal events. Also, you can enter this Blog from our official website.
Enjoy!
Joe Belczak (Shop Crew and Staff Black Hills Central Railway)
Engine #110
-All new boiler sheets are in position on fire man's side, and are currently be welded in place. Over 100 holes were drilled in side sheets to accommodate stay bolts and rivet holes along the mud ring. Holes will next be threaded for stay bolts, and rivet holes will be bored out to ensure proper rivet fit.
-Boiler side sheets on engineer's side require a few more flexible stay bolts, and flattening of all rigid staybolt heads. The next step will be to make sure all weep holes on rigid staybolts are free of any debris, and install caps on the flexible stay bolts. After a complete final inspection all parts will be reinstalled to boilers sides, and boiler will be ready for its yearly hydro test.
-All piston valves have new rings, and are installed in the newly bored valve cages. Crosshead guides were put into place last week, and all the valves await new packing. Valve gear will be ready to be connected in the weeks ahead.
Engine #104
-Though a lot of time is being spent on #110, the shop crew managed to rebuild rear pony leaf springs and repair the worn out spots in the rear suspension rigging. Last week entire rear suspension was reassembled, and concludes #104's suspension repairs.
Passenger Car Mystic
-Last week completed the final touches on Mystic's new brake system. After a successful air test, the passenger car was pulled out of the shop with a clean bill of health, and resides now in the yard awaiting the start of the 2009 summer season.
New Car #65
-Work on the new car is in full speed, and much was completed in the past weeks.
-Frame was sand blasted and repaired where necessary. Within the next week, entire frame will be finished, and wooden beams installed.
-#65's trucks were moved into roundhouse last week. In the weeks ahead, trucks will be disassembled and inspected. Much work needs to be done to trucks, but once complete trucks will be installed under frame and all brake rigging attached.
We were able to get a lot of tasks accomplished and new ones started. Our jobs that we accomplished are bringing us closer and closer to the start of another terrific season. Repairs on Engine #110 boiler are being completed, and soon we will be shopping engine #7 for its yearly inspection and repairs. The new car #65 will be seeing its new wood in the next weeks to come. Please visit the 1880 train website, and view any other information about our next up coming seasonal events. Also, you can enter this Blog from our official website.
Enjoy!
Joe Belczak (Shop Crew and Staff Black Hills Central Railway)
Engine #110
-All new boiler sheets are in position on fire man's side, and are currently be welded in place. Over 100 holes were drilled in side sheets to accommodate stay bolts and rivet holes along the mud ring. Holes will next be threaded for stay bolts, and rivet holes will be bored out to ensure proper rivet fit.
-Boiler side sheets on engineer's side require a few more flexible stay bolts, and flattening of all rigid staybolt heads. The next step will be to make sure all weep holes on rigid staybolts are free of any debris, and install caps on the flexible stay bolts. After a complete final inspection all parts will be reinstalled to boilers sides, and boiler will be ready for its yearly hydro test.
-All piston valves have new rings, and are installed in the newly bored valve cages. Crosshead guides were put into place last week, and all the valves await new packing. Valve gear will be ready to be connected in the weeks ahead.
Engine #104
-Though a lot of time is being spent on #110, the shop crew managed to rebuild rear pony leaf springs and repair the worn out spots in the rear suspension rigging. Last week entire rear suspension was reassembled, and concludes #104's suspension repairs.
Passenger Car Mystic
-Last week completed the final touches on Mystic's new brake system. After a successful air test, the passenger car was pulled out of the shop with a clean bill of health, and resides now in the yard awaiting the start of the 2009 summer season.
New Car #65
-Work on the new car is in full speed, and much was completed in the past weeks.
-Frame was sand blasted and repaired where necessary. Within the next week, entire frame will be finished, and wooden beams installed.
-#65's trucks were moved into roundhouse last week. In the weeks ahead, trucks will be disassembled and inspected. Much work needs to be done to trucks, but once complete trucks will be installed under frame and all brake rigging attached.
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