The Home Machinist!

Just wanted to share with everyone that I called LocoParts on Monday (5/11) to see if they had a replacement part I needed. Jeff answered the phone. As I understand, he is the new owner. I am posting this because you never know how things might go when a business changes hands. I needed to do more r...

GS14403 wrote: At one time a PRR Q2 was in progress and I believe somewhere in the shop parts for it exist as well.

Donald

I think the frame is in the shop, I know the lead truck is in the office, as are many other parts and plans. That thing would be a monster on rails...

Chris

It is amazing how many projects your dad has going at the same time! This shot has 8 locomotive projects in it, I believe. The second shot is one of the lubricator boxes on the 0-6-0 project. An impressive detail that I have never seen on a live steam locomotive before. The last shot is of a boiler ...

Don, Your dad was nice enough to have me over to the shop to quarter my drivers. Twice, actually. The first time everything worked perfectly, but when I got home, I realized one of my driver bearings had frozen. It was time to replace them after 30+ years of service! After I pressed the wheels off a...

For those interested, here is where I got it:

http://www.purewaterproducts.com/garden-hose-filters

Chris

I now carry in my fuel car an on-board water filtration and softening system. The cylinder on the left filters sediment and particulates, and the right side is the softener. I have only used it a few times. One side benefit is during shut-down, I use steam to clean my engine. In the past, that pract...

I was at Ed's on Sunday, as he helped with a project I am working on. Got a chance to look over your work, and see the Challenger's trailing truck first hand. Absolutely beautiful! The bolt-together frame for your locomotive is impressive. Keep up the good work!

Chris Donhost
Vacaville, CA

Be careful about the current Mountain Car couplers. The old MC couplers were a nice casting. The last time I ordered MC couplers, they appeared to be copies of the MC coupler. It is almost as if they lost the pattern, and had a foundry make a copy of one of their couplers. They DON'T work well with ...

6013 for both. Chris Wow! Not good. To my knowledge, there are no acceptable procedures for welding a boiler with 6013 rod (by code). It isn't known for good penetration, and boilers are required to have 100% welds. A root pass with 6010/6011, then a cap pass (or more) with 7018 would have been a w...

6013 for both.

Chris

Evan,

I can't speak to the boiler construction, as it was built over 30 years ago. When the boiler barrel was reattached to the firebox, it was given two passes.

Chris

Hydro good - boiler ready to go back on.

Chris Donhost
Vacaville, CA