Jeff, When I got this casting from Jason, several years ago now, he said "looking for something special out of this project". So. I thought I would add these, to be different> be well, Carl
Here are 2 images from today that shows I was able to take a tad of material from inside the shell and got the boiler sitting lower. However, in handling the chassis many times I guess that I squeezed the crossheads and popped them off of their slides. I had been warned about that (cheap B'man) issue but didn't listen I guess. So, my numb fingers and hands don't allow me to fix the problem. I can see a very flimsy disk on the back of the crosshead that forms very weak guide for the slide. Oh well, I should have known better and dropped steamers a long time ago and just run diesels. I am about ready to throw the towel in. Be well, Carl
Carl, you've come too far to walk away completely from that project. Maybe take a breather for a week or two (it works for me at times). It's a unique subject and I was looking forward to the final product so don't give up.
Update for today - I was able to reattach the crossheads to both the upper and lower guides without breaking something. Yipee! ! The union link came off of the crosshead, so I shall attempt to reattach it. I am going to drive myself crazier trying to come up with a "fix" to keep the crossheads in proper place all the time. Any ideas would be appreciated. Be well, Carl
This project is "dead on the vine" as of today. I had reattached the crossheads and while working on them I lost a small circular "keeper" that holds the rod to the back of the crosshead. I mucked up both sides. Of course, B'mann is "out of stock" for the cylinder assembly that I want. So until, if or when they get them in I shall put away "for a rainy day". However, this will be a new bash job. I will start new tread for it. I did one of these EM-1/AC-9 bashes 6 or 7 years ago, so I should be able to avoid my boo boos from that build. Be well, Carl
No George, I don't smell diesel. I got enough of that while driving for Chevron, delivering diesel, nasty stuff even today. I have a fairly large # of diesels but they are all of the modern era, electric ! Carl
SP steam burns oil as well (ok, bunker C, but its still 'diesel-like' and only SOME of the earlier steam...and the original 'as delivered' AC-9)
Jeff, the AC-9's were ordered for service between El Paso and Tucumcari, N.M. and were originally coal fired. For tax purpose the SP took delivery from builder in El Paso. SP had a deal with the mine in Dawson, N.M. to purchase coal if they got the mainline haul of coal from the mine. In approx. 1952 -'53 the SP converted them to oil burners and moved them to the West Coast where they eventually were scrapped in '55 - '56. Bunker C is almost like crude oil and nasty. Love the SP1 carl
I heard that they had to run steam pipes through the oil bunker in the tender to "melt" the oil enough to be able to efficiently pump it up to the atomizer sprayers in the fire box.
I had to tend some number 6 fired hot water boilers many years ago. When one of the boilers went down you had to start it if it was cold by firing with a light oil to get heat to some side arm heaters. Those side arm heaters had the number 6 flow through them and back to the tank to keep the number 6 warm so it would flow.
Carl: I guess I wasn't very clear when I said "...and only SOME of the earlier steam...and the original 'as delivered' AC-9". Early SP burned mostly wood (they experimented with coal in Calif from Mt Diablo but the coal was way too low of a quality) and the as delivered AC-9s which were originally used to haul coal so they burned coal. Got to love the skyline casing on the AC-9s.
