Traction Motor changeout UP Burnham shop

[William Cowie]

As part of the Rocky Mountain Train Show, Uncle Pete was kind enough to show us around his Burnham Shops today. It was a normal (24/7) working day, but they managed to shuffle us through without any mishap and without any apparent interruption. One of the many operations we were able to observe was the changeout of a few traction motors on SP 196, an AC4400W.

First a few notes. The lighting is unique, because it doesn’t appear to be all that bright, but it washes out flash photography completely. Most of the shots were taken with a flash, but it’s still hard to tell. Interestingly, the lighting is complete, i.e. very few shadows. Because of restrictions on positioning, some of the pictures are awkward and need a bit of imagination to figure out what we’re seeing. I’ll explain as best I can.

SP196 has just been backed onto the Drop Pit and its rear wheels are up first (actually down, as we shall see). There’s a pit between the rails (which you’ll see later) and the yellow cage guards the drop pit.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aaa.jpg

[William Cowie]

The drop pit, seen from the side.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aab.jpg

You can see an axle has been removed. The loco is moved to a point where at least one axle of this truck is on solid ground and one is suspended over the pit. If you look between the yellow bars you’ll see what looks like a C-channel with holes in the two vertical sides of the channel. There are two (the other is out of the picture toward the camera). This tray (or whatever it’s called) is slid under the locomotive and raised so the wheels to be removed fit in those channels. The axle is then loosened and the tray (with the axle on it) is then dropped till the wheels will clear the truck frame. Then the tray is moved toward the camera with the axle on it.

[William Cowie]

The wheel/traction motor assembly is then lifted out of the tray with a crane and set on the ground.
Here we see the tail end of this operation, with the next assembly in the background.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aac.jpg

[William Cowie]

I don’t know what the housing is called on the end of the axle, but it is then removed and affixed to the new assembly. I’m sure there are several folks who are more than able to fill in the blanks here (as well as anywhere else). Feel free to add anything I’ve left out, or to correct any mistakes.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aad.jpg

[William Cowie]

Everything from the removed axle that is not being replaced is moved to the new assembly.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aae.jpg

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aaf.jpg

[William Cowie]

In the meantime, we look around the shop. Swinging our gaze to the right, we get a better view of the pit between the rails. We also see the nose of another AC4400W two pits down and further away an SD90. Heavy metal in more ways than one…

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aag.jpg

[William Cowie]

Back to the action. Here we see the crane ready to hoist the new traction motor.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aah.jpg

[William Cowie]

And away she goes! (Here you can see the flash registering only on the reflective logo of the survivor SP unit.)

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aai.jpg

[William Cowie]

And a good view of the assembly as it is swung over the guardrails of the drop pit tray…

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aaj.jpg

[William Cowie]

… and lined up to be lowered precisely into the channel of the tray

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aak.jpg

[William Cowie]

Easy does it

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aal.jpg

[William Cowie]

The crane is disconnected

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aam.jpg

[William Cowie]

It’s hard to see between the bars, but the assembly is lowered and slid underneath SP 196.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aan.jpg

[William Cowie]

After the axle is affixed properly, the locomotive reverses further till the front truck is ready for the same operation. Oh, by the way, by now it’s lunch time, hence no people. [ smile.gif ]

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aao.jpg

[William Cowie]

No people? That means we can roam into the shop area!!! As we leave the scene, this is our departing view

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aap.jpg

[William Cowie]

Here we see the pit much better.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aaq.jpg

[William Cowie]

And here we can see the adjacent pit, empty, and we can also see drop tray aligned with the front truck. Enough of this, on to other fun stuff!!

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album47/aar.jpg

[HemiAdda2d]

COOL!
I once saw a traction motor changeout, but I was ont he way to work, and fearing being late, couldn't stick around for the whole operation...
The HARD way....Look Ma, no drop table!
http://www.railimages.com/albums/BN/abb.sized.jpg
http://www.railimages.com/albums/BN/aba.sized.jpg
http://www.railimages.com/albums/BN/aaz.sized.jpg
http://www.railimages.com/albums/BN/aay.sized.jpg
http://www.railimages.com/albums/BN/aax.sized.jpg

[William Cowie]

Cool pics! But where was the traction motor?

[UP_Challenger3985]

Very nice pictures both William Cowie and Hemiadda. I like the interior shop photos as well smile.gif .

[NSCALEMIKE]

Thanks for sharing William, felt as if I was there on the tour as well..

Mike

[doofus]

Since this operation is being done "on site" I would guess that they are changing out just the wheel set. Probably because of flat spots on the wheels that exceeded federal limitations. A large flat spot will also cause fractures in the rail. Just like going down the rail and striking it with a huge sledge hammer every 44 inches or so.