Sunday 18 April 2010 Workday

Sunday 18 April saw more works continue on 4468.

Paul, Milton and Barry continued on with the awful task of degreasing the electrical componentry in the engine room, and the A Team (Pat and Gav) started on checking the lift jacks to prepare for lifting the engine, as well as checking on the transistion electrical pickup on the right side of the No.1 end bogie.

Here we see Paul lying on his side scraping the gunk from under the main generator.


















... and Paul showing the scrapings of what comes out from 40 years of no cleaning under the generator.


















Here is a shot of the filth under the generator that needed removing.

Yuk, and no suprise there weren't too many volunteers to help out.














... and another sump shot.














A rare sight of a garratt photographer inside a diesel!














Milton once again helping out with the unglamourous jobs on 4468 - quiet achiever.














Paul's tribute to "Wilfred" the TV show.














Here is Barry cleaning between the Aux Gen and the Exciter - fiddly work getting around all gaps and bolts holding in the grease.














Paul and Barry at work in the engine room.














The engine componentry looking a little bit cleaner again.














Although the sump is still quite greasy, it is significantly better than what it started at the beginning of the day.














Clean under the main generator.














Here is a shot of the new jumper leads made by the A-Team - thanks guys.














Yes indeed, sweet jumper trolley.














Some of the loco guys have a sense of humour - all yours for a low low price...















Keep on ALCOing until next time!

Back into the swing of things...

With the Project Manager away overseas and commitments that had arisen for the other 4468 volunteers (such as easter trips), hands on progress during the last few weeks had not advanced as much as hoped.

Notwithstanding the above, Saturday 10 April was a 'hands back on deck' unofficial workday.

The A-Team (Gav and Pat) have very kindly manufactured a set of jumper leads mounted on a portable trolley. The importance of this is that the ARHS is now able to jump start various locomotives from one to another when required. For example, 4468 has a poor quality set of batteries at the moment and whilst the intention is to procure a new set, this will not occur for sometime - therefore when required to start the engine it will be necessary to jump off 4807, which can now be done easily.

Also, the worst job to be commenced on the restoration of this engine began in earnest. Donned in coveralls, two pairs of gloves, a scraper in hand and an empty 20 litre drum, the project manager commenced the removal of the built up grease scum in the sump under the main generator. This job requires the cleaner to basically lie on their side to reach under the generator scraping out a thick greasy, dirt and scum composite (and dumping into the 20 litre bin) before applying degreaser to restore the surface condition back to 'as built'. Its not fun and not particularly pleasant, but a compulsory job in the restoration nonetheless.

As I forgot my camera, there are no photos to post just yet, but more will be posted shortly.

In closing, followers will be pleased to know the ARHS has now placed an order for the purchase of 12 new discs to replace the condemned wheelsets under the engine. Thanks must go out to the support from our friends at United Group Ltd and Southern Shorthaul Railroad to 'make this so'.

Saturday 6 March 2010 - Grease Monkeys

On the first workday for the month, Saturday 6 March, saw a 'light-on' volunteer effort with some of the regulars off looking after a certain steam loco at another location, and others just taking the opportunity of a long weekend to have a little break away. (No A-Team present!)

Inspite of this, loco branch regulars Milton and Paul took the opportunity to do a couple of small jobs and start the mammoth cleaning effort to make the engine room 'nice'.

To start the day off, the opportunity was taken to remove the 'half-gas-axed' buffer studs out of the No. 1 end.

Here is a couple of pictures of the broken studs before removal.




























Here are Paul and Milton with drift and heavy mallet used for belting out the broken studs after some 'persuasion' with the gas axe.














All studs removed.














Having removed the studs, a vist to Fyshwick saw some industrial strength degreaser procured with necessary PPE to start cleaning out the engine room (under instructions from Pat)

Here is the main generator, the exciter and auxillary generator very greasy and dirty.




























With a bit of elbow grease, lots of rags, and a few ml of degreaser, we can see paint and builders plates on the engine auxillary components.














Here is Milton getting stuck into cleaning the top end electricals in the engine room.














Apparently this unit was overhauled by Goninans in 2002.














... and it was made by AEI - we even have its serial number.














Another shot of Milton dilligently working away.














Paul with a dirty face.














... and cleaning the exciter on the No. 1 end of the engine ...



















... and still cleaning!














Who'd have thought the generator covers have a coat of paint on them under all that grease. The blue kind of makes it looks like its a part of Thunderbird No. 5.





























Next workday is Sunday 21 March 2010 - be there or be square!

ARHS Loco Branch - Kandos Fundraising Trip - 20 February 2010 - Trip Report and Pics

If you weren't there for this fundraising trip, you missed out on a great day.

Full details and story at this link:-

http://carriageprivateers.blogspot.com/2010/02/arhs-locomotive-branch-kandos.html

Hopefully we will see you next time.

Happy ALCOing until then!

Saturday 6th February - Inaugural Workday

On Saturday 6 February, the inaugural workday on 4468 commenced.

Although a small group were present, good progress was made on preparation of a number of issues to be dealt with in the restoration of the engine.

The No. 2 end was vacuumed out, rubbish removed and 'sugar soaped' clean in preparation of it being painted out. (At the same time, we also discovered that mobile phones and sugar soap cleaning water do not mix, after it fell out of the shirt pocket of a certain oldmate when he reached over to wash his rag clean...)

Here we see some pictures of the No. 2 end cleaned up and although it looks much better, it still needs a good painting out to make it nice for the crews.


















Progress was also made, like the No. 2 end a couple of weeks back, to clean out the interior of the No. 1 Control stand. These stands get clogged up with diesel fumes and dust from years of operation, and good practice is to clean them out as advised by our electrician old mate.

Here is a couple of pictures prior to cleaning, and we can see Karl hard at work cleaning between the various contactors and other electrical components.



















When the engine was prepared for moving from Lithgow in November last year, the original speedo pick up was found to had been permanently borrowed by some other organisation, and the exposed axle box interior needed protection. Even the speedo 'stud' has been taken too!

To solve the issue short term, the preparation team took up a knacked speedo to fit over the hole, which sufficed until the engine came down to Canberra, but now the time has come to fit the proper speedo.

Here we see the missing stud, the old stop gap speedo, and Gav fitting the new 'overhauled' speedo to the axlebox.





















Another problem with the 44 class is the propensity for running board drain channels to accumulate lots of mud, dust, rust and other gunk. Here we see Keith starting to remove krud out of the channel, and what was removed from a length of about four feet - unfortunately, it seems there is lots more to go before we're on top of it ...!!!
















... and of course looking on we see Duffman up-top, Lindsay and Kerry with 'other' along side of 3016 adding the final touches to it before it heads up to Sydney next week for a wheel turn and a small holiday to RTM for the annual steam festival. (see www.nswrtm.org for further details)

















Next workday is on Sunday 21 February - the more assistance, the quicker we get 4468 back on the road!

P.S. Dont forget to book your ticket to our fundraising trip to Kandos on Saturday, 20 February 2010. Contact the ARHS front office on (02) 6284 2790 or email trains@trains.org.au to reserve a spot!

Quality Electricians = Success

During Thursday (28/1) and Friday (29/1), upon recommendation from our Goodmates at Team Goodwin Alco in Sydney, we had a visit from the highly experience railway electrican Col (who has an excellent reputation for being able to solve Alco electrical problems).

Detailed inspections show the electrical control and traction systems on 4468 to be in very good condition. The problem of the engine not revving up was also solved.

As some problems were solved as a result of Col's visit, the opportunity was taken on Saturday 30 January to give 4468 more testing on the ARHS leased "North Shunt" (which is still in the ARHS yard limit) in respect to braking and other control bits and pieces.

The photographer today would like to offer apologies for the lack of quality in the shots as he didnt have his usual camera on hand, so was forced to take photos with his mobile phone - which not as good as they could be, are better than none at all!

The first shot we see 4468 sitting near loco awaiting to head out the back gate.














Gav (one half of the A-Team) has set up the No. 1 control stand and prepped the controls in anticipation of moving - the zero amps measure is a good indication of no power to the traction systems!














Part and parcel of restoring the engine also includes lots of cleaning - even in the insides of the control stands. After a thorough effort, Pat the Electrican (the second half of the A-Team) efforts with much degreaser has really cleaned up the electrical control stand in the No. 2 very nicely indeed.
















Here we see some pictures of the engine sitting under the Ipswich Street bridge in Fyshwick.






















Happy Alco following until next update!

P.S. Dont forget to book for your spot on the trip to Kandos from Central on 20 February 2010 with the ARHS group as a fundraiser for locomotive projects of the ARHS. (contact phone 02 6284 2790 or email trains@trains.org.au to book your ticket)