No seriously, no pictures!!
We were so immersed in what we were doing that I forgot to take any photos.
Arriving at 8am to a cold morning, Rich & I set up the compressor and air lines in order to continue the needlescaling of #35's frame.
It night sound tiring to you all, but, this is a long drawn out process. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel and no, it wasn't a train coming.
Except for 1/2 of 1 side of a boiler mounting plate.... wait for it......
#35's frame has been needlescaled to as far as we need to go!!!
Hopefully, Tuesdays weather will cooperate and allow me to put in the time to complete the task.
Many hands showed up to not only needlescale, but to prime as well.
I still have not been able to get the drawbar pin to pop and
of course(!) I forgot to bring up the new jack. I hope to remember to do it Tuesday.
When we resume our endeavors on Saturday, We will focus on 2 things-
1-finish priming of #35's frame
2-needlescaling all 3 sets of drive wheels.We have made great strides on this project but need to push the days work into finishing up all 3 sets, outside and backside.
Since we may have to give back the air compresssor that we have rented for the past month, we will work on the tender truck frames with our small air compressor until they are done, primed and covered with tarps.
I hope to be able to accomplish this goal before we get any snow or bitter cold. It would be a shame not to complete this final task.
Rich, Doug, Jeff, Ronnie, Evan, Paul and even Steve R showed up to assist me in our days work.
Unfortunately, we had no docent on site to give tours as our docent at the visitors center came down with laryngitis and had to take off which moved our yard docent into the visitors center to keep it open. That meant that when we had visitors, I had to stop working in order to show them around.
Keep your fingers crossed!!!
Gary
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, in the yard, it felt just like the 4th of September!
Paraphrasing an ould Chicago song.....
A small but hearty band, Gary, Rich, Leon (who despite being ill, showed up anyway!), Jeff, Ricky and Ronnie, toiled in the early chill. Thankfully the sun warmed up the air and we were able to continue our needlescaling session in the warm sunshine.
We were able to remove all of the paint and rust inside the frame at the rear, where the firebox would be, the area from the #3 driver to the area where the #2 driver would be and from the area where the #2 would be all the way to the area where the #1 driver would be.
That is a huge accomplishment!
Thankfully George started removed the pant and crud from the area where the brake cylinders would normally be just behind the steam cylinder casting, so we won't have as much to do next week in that spot.
At the same time, we were able to blast the frame on the firemans (left) side from the #2 driver all the way forwards to the valve gear slide.
I pumped up the jack under the draw bar pin again and realized that it is losing air, so next week I will install a new jack under the pin. I had hoped that the pin would have popped out by now. Oh well!
We started a bit after 8am and finished up at 4pm. Since there was so much road grime built up on the areas we were needlesclaing, we all wore the "black badge of courage" when we finished up.
Ronnie & I took scrapers to the crud on the back of the steam cylinder casting so that there wouldnt be as much dirt flying around next week.
Until the ties and the controller for the turntable are delivered on site, we are on sabbatical from any turntable work. Lets pray that these items show up by November 9th.
Ricky working on the firemans side. Notice the condition of the paint on the frame.
Ronnie taking the paint off the boilers rear mounting plate.
Rich disassembling the ceiling fans that we removed from the Boonton Ping Pong coaches before they were scrapped.
Jeff working on the INSIDE of #35's frame. If you look closely, you can see that he has already worked on the framerail behind him and over his left shoulder, you can see that he has not yet begun on the vertical hanger for the spring equalizer bar, as it still has the black paint on it.
Keep your fingers crossed for more sunshine and fairly warm weather as we only have two more weeks rental on the rented air compressor and we still have to finish up the frame, drive wheels (3) and 2 tender truck frames.
Gary
A small but hearty band, Gary, Rich, Leon (who despite being ill, showed up anyway!), Jeff, Ricky and Ronnie, toiled in the early chill. Thankfully the sun warmed up the air and we were able to continue our needlescaling session in the warm sunshine.
We were able to remove all of the paint and rust inside the frame at the rear, where the firebox would be, the area from the #3 driver to the area where the #2 driver would be and from the area where the #2 would be all the way to the area where the #1 driver would be.
That is a huge accomplishment!
Thankfully George started removed the pant and crud from the area where the brake cylinders would normally be just behind the steam cylinder casting, so we won't have as much to do next week in that spot.
At the same time, we were able to blast the frame on the firemans (left) side from the #2 driver all the way forwards to the valve gear slide.
I pumped up the jack under the draw bar pin again and realized that it is losing air, so next week I will install a new jack under the pin. I had hoped that the pin would have popped out by now. Oh well!
We started a bit after 8am and finished up at 4pm. Since there was so much road grime built up on the areas we were needlesclaing, we all wore the "black badge of courage" when we finished up.
Ronnie & I took scrapers to the crud on the back of the steam cylinder casting so that there wouldnt be as much dirt flying around next week.
Until the ties and the controller for the turntable are delivered on site, we are on sabbatical from any turntable work. Lets pray that these items show up by November 9th.
Ricky working on the firemans side. Notice the condition of the paint on the frame.
Ronnie taking the paint off the boilers rear mounting plate.
Rich disassembling the ceiling fans that we removed from the Boonton Ping Pong coaches before they were scrapped.
Jeff working on the INSIDE of #35's frame. If you look closely, you can see that he has already worked on the framerail behind him and over his left shoulder, you can see that he has not yet begun on the vertical hanger for the spring equalizer bar, as it still has the black paint on it.
Keep your fingers crossed for more sunshine and fairly warm weather as we only have two more weeks rental on the rented air compressor and we still have to finish up the frame, drive wheels (3) and 2 tender truck frames.
Gary
Sunday, October 10, 2010
We are just that good!
Uh huh!!!
Yesterday was another banner day in the life of us volunteers. I mean, who's better than us, right?
It feels good to pat ourselves on the back once in a while and why not!
We accomplished a huge museum goal, the reinstallation of the turntables motor frame assembly back onto the turntables bridge. We also were able to install and attach the turntables motor and resistor bank onto the frame. After that we re-attached the beautifully fabricated platform deck back onto the top of the frame and tied a tarp over the the entire structure to keep out the weather.
We could NOT have accomplished this great undertaking without the very generous donation of time & machine by Bob & his son Chris Hotine of CD Crane in Oyster Bay.
Bob has been a friend of OBRM for some time and has always offerred his assistance. He was a quick phone call away last week and graciously stepped up to assist us. A big thank you go to you two men !
This photo below shows just how close the clearances are from the motor to the deck.
Try and remember that last week Mike, Leon & Doug built the deck without having the motor in place to give them an idea where to place the floor joists, so BRAVO GUYS!
The next photos are of the completed assembly with the deck installed and tarped over for weather protection:
When all of this was done, we received a portable highway air compressor from Baldwin Tool Rental.
They backed down the entire site and left it for us behind the frame of #35. They removed our old broken compressor and have generously offered to take a free look at it to see if it can be repaired for a reasonable sum or if it is junk. We have used their equipment before & I rent stuff from them all the time when I need to do certain jobs around my home. They always take good care of us and we appreciate their assistance.
Having this BIG unit on site will allow us to really move ahead on the needlescaling of #35's frame, tender trucks (2) and the 3 sets of drive wheels which need to have the scale, rust and paint removed so they can be primed and ready to ship out for restoration.
We had a full crew out (Me, Leon, Wayne, Mike E, Ronnie, Rich, George, Doug, Ricky, Ronnie & Paul) and put 3 men to needlescaling while 2 men worked on the drivers and we finished up a couple of things on the turntable.
This photo shows where the turntables motor frame assembly once stood for the last couple of years while it was undergoing its restoration. Now it will be utilized to give us an unobstructed area to lay out the new ties for the turntable deck. We need 70 feet of open and straight land. This job will be interesting as we will have to bring the handrails out from behind the walkways which are stacked up in front of #35's boiler as you can see in the above photo. The reason is that when we lay out the ties, there are regular length and very long bridge ties which give a base to bolt the safety railings, collector arch and the walkways onto. after all of the ties are laid out properly, they will be bolted together into 2 parts (easier for installation) then they will be lifted onto the bridge top and bolted down and together!
After this, the walkways will be bolted on and then the collector arch will be attached. We have still not received the most important piece back from the rebuilder and that is the actual control stand. This unit will also be bolted on top of the walkway right next to the newly installed platform so the operator can safely and easily operate the controls AND the brakes at the same time.
We finished up around 5pm and left until the next work session on Saturday October 23rd.
The reason we are skipping a day is because next weekend is the 26th annual Oyster Bay Oyster Festival and we will be opn at the yard and the visitors center for visitors. As always, we will will be selling some of the best food at the food court in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Parks food court.
Come on up for the weekend, eat till you burst, visit us at our visitors center on Audrey Ave.
While you are at our center stop by our new neighbor across the street to see many classic & custom motorcycles at "20th Century Cycles" across the street from us. Believe me, I have taken more than a few peeks inside the front window and I am sure that they had to clean the windows many times.
I am not a motorcycle rider, but I do enjoy the mechanical and historical aspect of these machines.
Welcome to Oyster Bay neighbor!
ALSO this invitation for the re-dedication of the NY Pennsylvania sttaion eagle came in from OBRM FRIEND and LIRR Historitan David Morrison: Thursday October 28 @ 11am at the Hicksville LIRR parking lot.
GARY
Yesterday was another banner day in the life of us volunteers. I mean, who's better than us, right?
It feels good to pat ourselves on the back once in a while and why not!
We accomplished a huge museum goal, the reinstallation of the turntables motor frame assembly back onto the turntables bridge. We also were able to install and attach the turntables motor and resistor bank onto the frame. After that we re-attached the beautifully fabricated platform deck back onto the top of the frame and tied a tarp over the the entire structure to keep out the weather.
We could NOT have accomplished this great undertaking without the very generous donation of time & machine by Bob & his son Chris Hotine of CD Crane in Oyster Bay.
Bob has been a friend of OBRM for some time and has always offerred his assistance. He was a quick phone call away last week and graciously stepped up to assist us. A big thank you go to you two men !
The above photos were taken of the days work session.
All of this was accomplished in a little over 1/2 hour!!This photo below shows just how close the clearances are from the motor to the deck.
Try and remember that last week Mike, Leon & Doug built the deck without having the motor in place to give them an idea where to place the floor joists, so BRAVO GUYS!
When all of this was done, we received a portable highway air compressor from Baldwin Tool Rental.
They backed down the entire site and left it for us behind the frame of #35. They removed our old broken compressor and have generously offered to take a free look at it to see if it can be repaired for a reasonable sum or if it is junk. We have used their equipment before & I rent stuff from them all the time when I need to do certain jobs around my home. They always take good care of us and we appreciate their assistance.
Having this BIG unit on site will allow us to really move ahead on the needlescaling of #35's frame, tender trucks (2) and the 3 sets of drive wheels which need to have the scale, rust and paint removed so they can be primed and ready to ship out for restoration.
We had a full crew out (Me, Leon, Wayne, Mike E, Ronnie, Rich, George, Doug, Ricky, Ronnie & Paul) and put 3 men to needlescaling while 2 men worked on the drivers and we finished up a couple of things on the turntable.
This photo shows where the turntables motor frame assembly once stood for the last couple of years while it was undergoing its restoration. Now it will be utilized to give us an unobstructed area to lay out the new ties for the turntable deck. We need 70 feet of open and straight land. This job will be interesting as we will have to bring the handrails out from behind the walkways which are stacked up in front of #35's boiler as you can see in the above photo. The reason is that when we lay out the ties, there are regular length and very long bridge ties which give a base to bolt the safety railings, collector arch and the walkways onto. after all of the ties are laid out properly, they will be bolted together into 2 parts (easier for installation) then they will be lifted onto the bridge top and bolted down and together!
After this, the walkways will be bolted on and then the collector arch will be attached. We have still not received the most important piece back from the rebuilder and that is the actual control stand. This unit will also be bolted on top of the walkway right next to the newly installed platform so the operator can safely and easily operate the controls AND the brakes at the same time.
We finished up around 5pm and left until the next work session on Saturday October 23rd.
The reason we are skipping a day is because next weekend is the 26th annual Oyster Bay Oyster Festival and we will be opn at the yard and the visitors center for visitors. As always, we will will be selling some of the best food at the food court in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Parks food court.
Come on up for the weekend, eat till you burst, visit us at our visitors center on Audrey Ave.
While you are at our center stop by our new neighbor across the street to see many classic & custom motorcycles at "20th Century Cycles" across the street from us. Believe me, I have taken more than a few peeks inside the front window and I am sure that they had to clean the windows many times.
I am not a motorcycle rider, but I do enjoy the mechanical and historical aspect of these machines.
Welcome to Oyster Bay neighbor!
ALSO this invitation for the re-dedication of the NY Pennsylvania sttaion eagle came in from OBRM FRIEND and LIRR Historitan David Morrison: Thursday October 28 @ 11am at the Hicksville LIRR parking lot.
GARY
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Was I missed?
It was a nice Saturday October 2nd, although I was not in Oyster Bay to enjoy it.
While I was away this past weekend, Leon, MIke & Doug were holding down the fort.
The big thing was to get the platform fabricated and installed on top of the turntables motor frame ssembly.
They did not let me down. even though I still haven't seen it yet with my own eyes, I am confident that it was built correctly. Thankfully, John Specce was kind enough to take a few photos with his cell phone and send them off to me.
Here they are.
While I was away this past weekend, Leon, MIke & Doug were holding down the fort.
The big thing was to get the platform fabricated and installed on top of the turntables motor frame ssembly.
They did not let me down. even though I still haven't seen it yet with my own eyes, I am confident that it was built correctly. Thankfully, John Specce was kind enough to take a few photos with his cell phone and send them off to me.
Here they are.
This is Mike at the beginning.
Leon & Mike continuing the frame assembly.
Doug, with Harveys help, was laying down the deck.
And finally, Doug installing an access hatch for the sand box.
This Saturday and Sunday is the 26th annual Oyster Bay Oyster Festival.
We will be open and working so stop on by to visit.
Gary
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