Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

This forum is dedicated to the Live Steam Hobbyist Community.

Moderators: cbrew, Harold_V

User avatar
Dick_Morris
Posts: 2841
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:09 pm
Location: Anchorage, AK

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The Alaska Railroad can turn wheel sets with outside bearings and they assembled and machined the wheel sets on our tender trucks. However, they no longer have a capability to mount the 33" wheels and axles with inside bearings as is used on our lead truck. We contracted with Alaska Roteq to turn the journal surfaces and re-profile the wheels. They have extensive expertise on rotating equipment such as large pumps and they are only a half mile from the 557 Engine House.

There are a couple of interesting features of the set up that could be used in our size - the cardboard shield to protect the bearing surface and the layer of some kind of slippery plastic under the steady rest jaws.
Attachments
work_piece reduced.jpg
rkcarguy
Posts: 1730
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:33 am
Location: Wa State

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by rkcarguy »

Now that's a BIG lathe!
User avatar
LVRR2095
Posts: 1688
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:50 pm
Location: Maine, USA

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by LVRR2095 »

Dick,
The slippery stuff under the jaws of the rest is a common dodge. An old time machinist told me about that trick and where to get the slippery stuff. I cut strips out of old TIDE detergent bottles that my wife supplies! It works great.

Keith
User avatar
diddler
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 4:21 pm
Location: Sebring Florida

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by diddler »

I never liked a steady rest that would grind on the metal being turned, I use teflon sheet.
User avatar
Peter Crisler
Posts: 112
Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:35 pm
Location: Middletown, KY

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Peter Crisler »

diddler wrote: Sat Jun 13, 2020 10:47 am I never liked a steady rest that would grind on the metal being turned, I use teflon sheet.
I have 2 steady rests for 18" swing lathes and they have sealed ball bearings, one in the end of each support rod.
User avatar
Dick_Morris
Posts: 2841
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:09 pm
Location: Anchorage, AK

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The June status report has been posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 we are making good progress.

Among the parts that are nearly ready for installation are the side rods with new bushings. We are looking forward to the return of the driver journal boxes from a Lower 48 contractor so we can finally put the wheels back under the locomotive.
Attachments
connecting_rods reduced.jpg
User avatar
NP317
Posts: 4557
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:57 pm
Location: Northern Oregon, USA

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by NP317 »

Exciting progress!
Once you get the drivers back under the loco I expect there will some celebrating going on!!
I've experienced that.
RussN
User avatar
Dick_Morris
Posts: 2841
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:09 pm
Location: Anchorage, AK

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

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

More tools to add to the collection of what is needed to maintain a steam locomotive. Two pressure gauge dead weight testers, one an Ashcroft, the other an Ashton. Why two? The Ashcroft, original to the Alaska Railroad, lost its weights somewhere before we got it. We were able to obtain the Ashton at a reasonable price and it ls complete.
Attachments
Ashcroft_gauge_tester -reduced.jpg
Ashton_gauge_tester - reduced.jpg
Sandiapaul
Posts: 567
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 8:04 am
Location: Princeton, NJ

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Sandiapaul »

Dead weight tester weights show up on ebay pretty regularly, the sellers have no idea what they are however!
User avatar
Dick_Morris
Posts: 2841
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:09 pm
Location: Anchorage, AK

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

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

I missed announcing the posting of last month's report. It is at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

It takes a lot of parts to make up the suspension. Every hole has been bored oversized and fitted with a case hardened bushing, per the original plans. Almost every other part required some type of attention, up to fabricating a replacement.

We have kicked off our 2020 fund raising campaign. Five supporters have established a $50,000 matching challenge (including yours truly being on the hook for $5,000). We would welcome your contribution and I would welcome you making some of my $5,000 available to the restoration. Information on contributing by check or on-line can be found at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/support/donate.html.
Attachments
spring_hangers reduced.jpg
User avatar
Dick_Morris
Posts: 2841
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:09 pm
Location: Anchorage, AK

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

A special December status report on the overhaul of Alaska Railroad #557 is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html

A view looking down on the turret shows another place where one of Anthony's U-joints can be used, the main stop valve used to cut off steam to all the accessories piped from the turret.
Attachments
from-top-down reduced.jpg
User avatar
Harold_V
Posts: 20231
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 11:02 pm
Location: Onalaska, WA USA

Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Harold_V »

rkcarguy wrote: Fri Jun 12, 2020 6:36 pm Now that's a BIG lathe!
Indeed! Looks like a LeBlond.

Dick, do you know if it is?

H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
Post Reply