Greetings Folks..
Here's a brief summary of what has transpired at the shop since our last DHC update..
The Pontiac Chietan Hy-Rail Car No. 26:
After several frustrating attempts to resolve airline leaks in our rear air shock assembly we have via unanimous agreement gone to plan "B". The airline receiver mounts on the shocks have been determined to have essentially proprietary bayonet mount male ends. Any thought of fabricating brass and copper replacement female fittings is beyond our current capability. We have neither the equipment nor the expertise required to manufacture a compatible female fitting. Both Mr. Ed Sr. and Ross gave it their best but we always ended up getting hissed at by the leaky shock fittings! Paul is going to dig up the original invoice so I can ascertain the make, part number etc. of the airline kit. I will then contact the air shock manufacturer directly and try to purchase the correct air line kit separately.
Always seeking to close on a positive note, significant progress is being made in the engine bay. Duncan has installed a new water pump, connected the fuel line and in line filter as well as mounting the carburetor. I removed all the old radiator hoses, heater hoses and vacuum lines (to the wiper motor). I have since been fortunate enough to source OEM replacements and have done a "dry fit install". This coming Wednesday Duncan and I hope to do a temporary mounting of the rad and thereby be able to cut all the hoses to the appropriate length. Before we can permanently install the rad however we need to source and install a replacement water pump pulley.
The OCR Woodings CBL Speeder:
We had a large and busy group of DHC folks working on the speeder's fibreglass car body on Saturday morning. I observed Ross, Dave Boyd, Charles, Jim L. and our newest volunteer (welcome) Ian, swarming the body shell. They managed to make significant headway in its refurbishment. The yellow reflective tape that was applied (liberally) to all the defining edges of the car body was scrapped off. Then some of the team sanded off the enamel armour black body paint that coated the doors, door inserts and shell. When the sections were sanded down to the base M.O.W. yellow pigment permeated fibreglass, the sections were sprayed with a light gray primer and left to dry. While all this frenetic activity was taking place, Ross was consuming "Little Grey Cells" at an alarming rate trying to design a quasi roll cage to re-enforce the fibreglass shell. This is an imperative step that needs to be taken if we hope to avoid past issues with poor alignment of the doors and engine access hatch. In the past latch operation used to consist of a push to close and lift to latch motion!
The Central Vermont Steam Crane Tender:
John B. manufactured a new mounting bracket for the airline relief valve system on the tender. Duncan and John H. then modified the pull handle rod's length and curvature. It was then ( in conjunction with the new bracket), installed on the tenders left side beneath the frame rail.
The Jordan Spreader:
Bob Hobbit, Alan Westland and my old Hogger, "Big Bill" Weiler. (under whose watchful eye I apprenticed as a fireman on the Shay), completed the installation of all the new canvass all-weather beam covers. Later Bill and Alan strung out, primed and painted the remaining hoist chains for the spreader.
Sundry Bits:
Bob "Sawdust" Moore was observed in the woodwork shop designing and fabricating out of plywood, patterns for the plasma cutter. They will be instrumental in the manufacture of rail anchor hooks for our CV wrecker crane .
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