1326 Brake Rigging Work

 After operating last week, 1326 was brought back into the shop to continue the work on the brake rigging. 

As a part of the work, Gio removed one of the brake rigging arms that attaches the brake shoes on one of the trucks to the piston arm to be repainted

sanded and repainted brake rigging arm

After the reinstallation, new bolts and cotter pins were installed to replace the old ones.

Brake rigging bolted to the arm of the Brake Piston

Other end of the rigging bolted to the brake shoe mechanism

As the final part of putting the brake rigging back together, the slack adjuster needed to be adjusted to keep the appropriate amount of tension on the system. 

Gio working on reassembling the Slack Adjuster

Continuing Work on 1326

 This past weekend, once the crossmember was replaced on 1326, the shop crew completed a test run of the car and it passed inspections. The installation of the crossmember also reduced the lean of the car body. The car was temporarily put back into service to help with the large crowds for that weekend. 

On Saturday 1326 was brought back into the shop to continue work on the brake system on the car. In an effort to begin overhauling brake components that are beginning to show age, Gio worked on replacing piping that runs from the air tank into the brake system. 

This work will be continuing into the upcoming weekend. 

A New Crossmember

 During the off season and a regular inspection of the car, it was discovered that Connecticut Company Car 1326 had some major wear and deterioration of one of its crossmembers. This particular crossmember was on the west end of 1326 and had components of the cars brake rigging running through it. 

The crossmember after removal

Mike L. removing the truss rod holders

Gio and Jayden drilling holes in the new crossmember for brake rigging to run through

Mike cutting slats in the crossmember for the handbrake cables

Final photo of the crossmember before getting installed under 1326