Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

I don't, but here is a photo that shows a bit more of the headstock. I copied the tag from a higher resolution copy of the same photo. It almost illegible, but there is a squared off "S" in the upper left and it looks like entries for model number and serial number are below it.
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SZuiderveen
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by SZuiderveen »

A Standard Modern, tHe folks who presently own LeBlond?

Steve
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The latest status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

installing the fulcrum for the equalizer to the lead truck? Or just playing hide and go seek under the cylinder block?

The position of the eccentric repair bushing shows how much had to be bored and bushed to correct the out-of-round condition due to wear.
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NP317
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by NP317 »

Wow! Nice repair and attention to correct configuration.
Getting closer.
RussN
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The latest status report is available at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/index.html

The photo shows the historic Alaska Railroad Anchorage depot a couple of days ago. During a normal year, we would have just finished staffing a 557 booth in the depot during the nine-day-long Fur Rendezvous winter carnival. This year we missed visiting several thousand people during the annual "Great Alaskan Train Show" this year.

Where but Alaska can you find a mixed train?
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The latest status report has been posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html

The trial fitting of the driver journal boxes means that the re-wheeling of 557 is coming soon!
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Patio
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Patio »

I was raised in Fairbanks, and hope to be coming in 2022 for a long visit, depending on the state of travel through Canada, at the time. I have been following your post with keen interest. :)
Live for the moment!
Prepare for tomorrow!
Forgive the past!
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The latest status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html

Lacking universal joints needed to add additional valves to the turret on 557 for an additional generator, I created a prototype sized replica Nathan #1 universal joint and 3" diameter Nathan #1 valve handle in silicon bronze last week. The U-joint is 3" long.

Prototype drawings were courtesy of the Steamtown National Historic Site archives. Within hours of my request they were able to supply both the parts identification drawing used in a catalog and the shop drawing with detailed design and machining dimensions.

Since I had already done the work to create the 1:1 digital 3D model, I decided to see if I could reduce them in size for use in a model. I printed the parts at 1/4 and 1/8 scale. The printed parts at 1/8 scale are probably too small to machine (and almost too small to see for my tired old eyes), but 1/4 scale looks practical and I'll give them a go next time I do some casting.
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The May status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

A photo from a few days ago and one taken in 2014 when 557 was near it's most complete state of disassembly.

After a lot of measuring, re-measuring, and re-re-measuring, and a lot of sweat before any metal was cut, the overhauled journal boxes have been fitted. Everything is just exactly where it should be. A lot of wear and abuse had to be corrected. It's very likely that the alignment of the frame, driver journal boxes, and front truck are closer to the drawing specs then they have been in 75 years.
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datman
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by datman »

Great pictures. Anymore? I would love to see more detailed pictures. Thanks!
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

Great pictures. Anymore? I would love to see more detailed pictures. Thanks!
There are a couple of thousand in the last nine years of status reports at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/index.html and on our Facebook page at "557 Restoration Company."
datman
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by datman »

Dick_Morris wrote: Tue Jun 08, 2021 2:44 am
Great pictures. Anymore? I would love to see more detailed pictures. Thanks!
There are a couple of thousand in the last nine years of status reports at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/index.html and on our Facebook page at "557 Restoration Company."
Thanks!
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