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 »

It's the stand for the positive train control (PTC) display. The screen is a non-functional mock-up being used to get the location right and reserve space for the PTC equipment.) FRA rules and the Alaska Railroad's implantation of them make PTC required if we are to ever get onto the main line. In addition to the electronic equipment, becoming PTC compliant the brake control system is being replaced and upgraded at a cost of several tens of thousands or dollars.
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Odyknuck
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Odyknuck »

Awesome stuff.
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LVRR2095
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by LVRR2095 »

No 6ET brake? The 26L looks out of place to my ancient eyes……

Keith
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

We overhauled the 6ET with every intent on using it. If it wasn't for PTC that's what we would have used.
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LVRR2095
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by LVRR2095 »

Dick, when I started on the Lehigh Valley RR many years ago…..the diesel version of the number 6 brake was still common.
It is what I learned on and it was a very good brake. No pressure maintaining with a No.6 brake. To get the same effect we would crank back the feed valve and let the train line leakage make the brake pipe reduction. Running an ore train was a lot of fun back then!
Keith
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

November's status report has been posted. https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html

I really like this aerial photo taken by Bill's drone, Sancho.
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

December's status report has been posted to https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html.

Doing a trial fit of the valve crosshead.
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

The most recent status report is posted at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html.

Big news - the contractors will be on site in early March to start the installation of the tubes and flues. In the photo one of our volunteer crew is preparing the rear tube sheet ready for their installation.
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NP317
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by NP317 »

Dick:
Were the firebox sheets replaced with thicker material sheets than originally built?
Thanks.
RussN
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Dick_Morris
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Dick_Morris »

From memory, yes, slightly.
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by Greg_Lewis »

I am always surprised that the thickness of those sheets is the same or perhaps not significantly more than what we use. Somehow part of me thinks they should be proportionally more, even though my other brain cell knows that they are OK.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
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NP317
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Re: Steam railroading to return to Alaska!

Post by NP317 »

I read ( true?) that those war-time locomotives used 3/8" thick steel for the firebox sheets, due to Government limitations on materials.
Normal would be closer to 1/2" thickness, which is my personal experience rebuilding steam locomotives.
RussN
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