This past Sunday we had a small crew, just right in size, to work on separating the engine from the tender. We did run into a small problem but small problems are expected.
The planned move was to pull the locomotive from the compound onto the turntable, release the car mover and run around to the front of the locomotive and then push the locomotive over a pit track. This is where the problem was encountered. The car mover will not couple to the front of the locomotive because of the pilot. We sat on the table for a half hour when Greg Casford came up with a solution.
The car mover was put back onto the tender and then the entire engine was pulled onto the pit track. The crew, Dave Clark, Jim Campbell and Dan Echeto pulled the two tender drawbar pins. Outside assisting was Winston, Smokey, Greg and Bob. Once we were loose a diesel unit came in and pulled the engine out, across the table and put back into the compound. The tender was then pushed onto the table, spun around and pushed back onto the far end of the pit track. Job done.
The drawbar pins were looked over and it was decided that the main pins on the drawbar will be replaced. These of course are separate from the safety drawbar. The pins on the safety drawbar are in good condition.
This next Saturday the tender box will be jacked up to take the weight from the trucks. Once this is done the elliptical springs can be pulled and then the spring beds. The spring beds will need some heat and press time to get them back into shape. Dave Clark and myself will head up the drawbar pin project. Dan Echeto will lead the effort in truing the spring beds.
All of this Sunday fun took place in 110 degree heat.
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