Workday Sunday 18 July

Sunday 18 July 2010 saw another work day come and go with the main focus continuing on the restoration of the body work - lots of removal, cleaning up and priming steel!

Here is Shaun working on removing bolts.


















The engine sticking its nose out the workshop shed.


















Lindz getting stuck into the rust removal.














Good ol' A Team working on the scaffolding.














Gav removing more panelling.














Looking out the side of unit where there used to be panelling.














Relaxing at the end of the day by a nice warm fire.














Good fun ALCo times.

Needle Guns, Draft Packages and Dyno Bathtub Fun Times

On Saturday 3 July 2010 yet another beautiful Canberra winter day preceeded a productive 4468 workday.

Present today working on the 44 were Gav, Dave, Milton, Barry, Jan and Paul.

As Mrs 4468 had 'borrowed' the camera, oldmate had to take photo's with his mobile phone which not amazing are better than none at all.

The tasks today included in cleaning up and 'flaw finding' the draft gear from the No. 2 end, preparation of package for re-installing the draft gear, continued work on needle gunning the body work on the loco, and cleaning up the dynamic break 'bath tub'.

Here we see Gav shaking the flaw finder can before application to the draw gear package.


















Applying the spray to the draw gear - no faults found. Thanks to Barry for his efforts in wire-wheeling the package clean.


















Sprayed package, all good.


















Here we see Dave with his tribute to "Poida from Channel 31" in his bogan flanny needle gunning the frame of the 44. This tedious, yet important job, still has a long way to go - all assistance greatfully received.


















Today Paul and Jan got stuck into the cleaning the dynamic break 'bath tub' by degreasing the outside of the unit. There is quite a bit of work required to cleaning up this unit and working to get it back in operational condition, but the first step is to degrease the outside before pulling it to pieces so that the team dont get more dirty than necessary!


















Shiny coat of "Alco Green" on the unit ...


















... and Indian Red coat of paint on the roof.


















Here is Milton applying etch primer to the No.2 end draw gear package strapping. First coat of paint it has had on it for some time!


















No flaws in the draw gear shank either!


















Happy Alco'ing until next time.

Next workday is Sunday 18 July - Be there or be square!

Dyno's away, rust removal and dunny gone...

Sunday 20 June 2010, another 4468 workday has been ticked off with the aim to further progress the restoration of the engine.

Today, present were The A-Team (Pat and Gav), Milton, Sean (back in Canberra after an absence of three and a half years) and Paul.

The focus of today was to continue with the body work and rust removal, which Milton is performing a stirling job on. Also, the A-Team focussed on the removal of the dynamic brake 'bath tub' out of the top of the locomotive and Pat worked on cleaning out the grease and gunk out of the main generator. The dyno bath tub contains all the necessary resistors and blower fans to cool the dynamic brake grid. This unit is being removed so our Goodmate Electrican Col can come down and have a look at it with a view to the unit being re-activated.

Sean also started dismantling the toilet room, which will eventually be converted to a storage room for the radio equipment and other miscellaneous tools.

In preparation of Pat cleaning out the generator by blowing through high pressure air, there was a need to start the engine. As 4468's current batteries are NFG, it is necessary to jump start off 4807. Here we see the jumper cables hooked up between the engines.














... and 4468 firing up with blowing grey smoke.














Milton doing a cracker job of de-rusting the body work in his new clothes.














This is part of the problem in restoring this engine with so much rust and mud built up in the body work drains. Once cleaned up and properly treated though, it will be good for many years.














More rust in a compartment hidden behind a panel that has been removed off the No. 2 end.














With the donk fired up and turning over, Pat is holding the air hose hooked up to the main reservoir to blow out muck that has accumulated in the main generator.














Yep, we can see that motor turning over.














Welcome back Sean - been a few years since you were here last, what has changed in the yard?














Thanks to Sean's efforts the old loco bog has been removed. Milton having a look - dont get too close to it!














The Thinker.














In order to remove the dyno grid out of the roof, it was necessary to relocate the locomotive away from the main loco shed.














Comfy seat Pat?














4468 relocated to where the dyno bath tub can be removed.














Last bolt being removed by Pat and the dyno is ready to be lifted out!














Airborne dyno bath tub.














Bringing down the grid to where it can be placed on the ground.














Mr Reynell pointing out a message previously written by an enlightened fitter.














Gav settling down the bathtub on the ground.














Hole in the top of the locomotive where the dyno grid used to be.














First 44 class with a sky light.














Yep, definitely the hatch is missing.














Returning 4468 back to her spot next to the shed.














Pat hanging out the back ready to close the gate.














After a days work on the 44 class, time for some fun - nothing like doing a lap on the mini railway. Happy days Milton and Pat!














The 44 class in the back ground next to the mini-railway















Happy Alco'ing until next time!

Saturday 5 June 2010 - Drop the Pilot

Saturday 5 June 2010 had a simple focus ... remove the pilots ... as previously prepared last week for removal.

Thanks have to go out to Shaun, John, Barry and Milton for their efforts in lowering, removal and shifting of the pilot parts to the stock pile for restoration.

Here are some pictures of removing the last bolts, pilots sitting on the ground and what each end of the 44 looks like sans "cow-catchers".

Next 4468 work day is Sunday 20 June.