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Climax Restoration Project
 
Summary of the February 2-3, 2008 Work Session



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Painted coal bunker in the inverted position, with temporary protective roof  attached for long-term, outside storage.
Lathe parts
Assembling the cleaned and repaired carriage apron of the recently donated 20-inch Lodge and Shipley engine lathe.
Lathe parts
Apron partly assembled after cleaning and lubricating all the individual parts. This is as far as assembly could proceed  due to the fact that replacement bearings could not be immediately acquired.

Lathe parts
An amazing amount of parts make up the workings of a relatively modern industrial-sized lathe of the 1950's vintage.  Luckily nothing that would need to be  purchased from Monarch Machine Tool at outrageous prices was fount to be broken or worn out.  All the needed replacement bearings are still current items  and simply needed to be ordered from firms specializing in the sale of such items to end users.
Lathe
This is the Lodge and Shipley that we are currently in the process of cleaning and repairing.  Note that the apron that we are working on is missing from underneath the front of the carriage.

Shop view
General shop view showing lots of locomotive pieces scattered about.  In the foreground at the right is a pinion gear that has been separated from its old shaft.  Immediately above the gear is an array of four worn out swivel plates plus one of the new replacement plates being machined from the solid plates shown stacked on a pallet at the foot of the lathe on the left.  In the background is the inverted coal bunker with its attached temporary roof.  Viewers should have fun identifying other bits and pieces of the locomotive that are visible.
Shop view
Same shop, viewed from the opposite end.  The fork-lift on the right is graciously loaned to the project every work session by the Park from the Cass Shop.  Without its use it would be very near impossible to handle the various locomotive components.

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Here are two tank sides with the curved corners formed on their ends Along the bottoms of each are steel angles with fabricated corner angles welded to each end.  Flat plates, not shown,  will connect these two "U" shaped plates to form all four sides of the tank.  The tank bottom, shown flat on the floor in this shot, will be welded to the reinforcing angle that will be along all four sides of the tank.  Baffle plates, to control excessive water sloshing, will rivet to the sides of the tank at the three vertical rows of widely spaced holes seen on the sheet in the foreground. Initial fitting up of the tank components will be by bolting, but eventually every hole in the tank will be filled by a round head rivet.

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The four old bolster swivel plates, which allow the trucks to turn to adjust to the curvature of the track, are junk and will be replaced by ones newly machined from solid plates.   All four of the old plates are supposed to have a raised circular portion, like the old upper left plate.  This raised area allowed the heads of the opposing mounting bolts to bypass without interference.  When the locomotive was taken apart it was noted that the heads of some of the mounting bolts were well worn away.  Note the differing styles of depressions at the ends of the plates.  The octagonal portion of the new plate will be turned circular as soon as the big lathe is back together, and freed from the job of removing the remains of old drive-shafts from the pinion gears.  Building up with weld and salvaging the old plates was not considered for a second, as welding on one face would have warped them tremendously.

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Tank sides, bottom, and painted coal bunker.  The bunker is ready to go out the door for long-term outside storage.


Getting Involved

Volunteers are always welcome to help with the project.  There are normally work session about every two or three weekends.  Dormitory-style housing is supplied in Cass at no cost  and meals are provided by the Association.  Workers typically arrive on Friday evening, work a long day on Saturday and Sunday morning with an early afternoon departure for home.  Due to insurance regulations all volunteers must be current MSR&LHA members and everyone must sign a liability waiver for the Park.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Grady Smith, the Climax Restoration Project Manager, at loco@msrlha.org or 740-373-2895 to get the latest work schedule and discuss your interests and skills.

Check the Schedule of Upcoming Climax Project Work Sessions for upcoming work dates.


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Page last updated or validated on November 28, 2008