As of the last update, Car 16’s roof has been completed. This has been an absolute race to the finish line, with the cold fighting us all the way, but the car now sports a brilliant new white roof, with roof vents and running boards picked out in satin black. The car made its first revenue runs with the new roof on March 2nd. More work is planned for the car in the future, including a complete repaint below the roof, replacement of undercar wiring, and at least one motor needing to be rebuilt. While this motor work will keep her in limited service for the time being, expect to see 16 out and about this summer and fall.
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| 16 in the Shop |
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| 16's first test run with new the roof |
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| 16's first test run with the new roof |
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| 16's first trip to the end of the line with the new roof |
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| New canvas along the side of the car |
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| New Canvas before getting tacked into place |
With 16 done, we can now turn our attention to going through the service fleet and give them a full annual inspection and service to keep them in as good as possible condition for the upcoming season.
836 is the first up into the shop, and work is ongoing. All main journal bearings have been re-packed with new wool wasting, and the brake rigging has been gone through and thoroughly lubricated. Controllers are also being overhauled, with some new pieces being machined from raw stock to replace burned-up contact elements. Before the car could be brought into the shop, the Air Governor was replaced after a series of successive failures over Winterfest. Signs are currently positive that this has broken her "bad air governor curse".
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| Old and worn 836 controller finger on the left. Newly manufactured finger on the right |
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Old and worn 836 controller finger on the left. Newly manufactured finger on the right
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Over the Winter, it was discovered that Diesel 1 had a water pump leak. This is causing the majority of the radiator fluid to leak out during normal operation. This repair is coming along nicely. The water pump assembly was removed, and we discovered the sealing surface had been painted and not properly cleaned the last time it was installed. This surface has since been cleaned. Finding a replacement pump gasket also proved to be somewhat of a challenge; however, one was sourced and installed. During this process, the shop has also manufactured two new gaskets for the radiator into the engine block.
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| The crew removing the hood from the carbody of the diesel |
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| Setting the hood on the ground |
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| Just prior to removing the radiator |
In other news, if anyone has a Metal Cutting Bandsaw Blade they would be willing to part with, we are in need of one! Reach out to us at wgambardella@ct-trolley.org
