6/6/2020 Work Session

Present for at least part of the day were Bill Alexander, Liam Jannsen, James Noblini, Dick Glueck, and Roger Bennatti.  Leverett, Ron, Al, and others spent a great deal of the day working on DESR chores, including track work and prepping a repaint on the MEC coach.

Liam and Dick spent the day needle scaling at the open door.  Bill worked on the removal of grease and dust from the #2 truck bolster, as well as some priming.  Roger primed a great deal of truck steel, as did Liam. James worked on loosening nuts from the boiler exterior. 

Of course, the big show was removal of the superheater tubes.  Ron Jenkins and Leverett removed two sets of superheater tubes, thanks in no small part to Myron and Collie Moody's efforts last weekend. These appear to the eye and hammer tap to be solid; however, a hydrostatic test will tell more.  Each tube is tagged with a code for the row and set. "1-2" translates to "first row, second set".  Steel tags on the sets are dated for February of 1940, so these were probably installed either then or in the last major shopping of 1947.

Dailey Grant Received!

The Tom E. Dailey Foundation announced 7 grants totaling $17,750 that were awarded at their May 9, 2020 quarterly board meeting. Since 2013, the Foundation has awarded 332 grants totaling $974,161. Their next board meeting is planned for August 8, 2020.

New England Steam Corporation received a $1,000 grant for its Tender Body and Cab Rivet Project. As part of this active project, volunteers are working concurrently towards rebuilding locomotive #470’s tender and cab in an effort to maximize the time, materials, and labor necessary.

5/30/2020 Work Session

A great deal accomplished at the shop today.  Roger (Rust Fears His Name) Bennatti scaled the truck bolster and leaf springs from #2 truck. Bill Alexander and Dick Glueck applied the gloss enamel to the journal boxes, spring cups, and truck frame. Bob DeWachter was able to make some critical cuts on the engineer's side of the cab, with assistance from Paul Van Steenberghe.

Of special note, Myron and Collie Moody went to work on the superheater tubes.  Using magical powers known only to Myron, they systematically heated the nuts holding the "T" bolts in place and using an air hammer, got off all 32 nuts!  This is no modest feat, considering how many of us spent days over several months trying to get the darn things free!

Overall, a very productive day with necessary work "ticked off" the list.

Downeast Scenic crews worked on moving equipment, making brake checks, and setting up trains for a possible return to tourist runs this season.

5/22/2020 Tender Body Delivered

The new body of Maine Central 470’s tender, constructed by Millinocket Fabrication & Machine, was delivered to NESCo today at Washington Junction yard by Cianbro. Photos below!

Tender Body Completed!

As of today (5/20/20), the new tender body has been completed and primed by Millinocket Fabrication & Machine. It will be delivered to New England Steam at the Washington Junction Yard this Friday (May 22nd).

Please view our press release regarding the tender body completion and delivery on Friday!

5/7/2020 Sandblasting Update

Copia finished sandblasting the tender frame today and wanted to paint and get completed.  Dick inspected the frame and took pictures prior to painting.  What you're seeing in this set is the frame completed, but still coveted in iron oxide dust and grit.  The area which had the creosote or tar took them a long time to get clean, but clean it came. The deep pockets of sand, grease, rocks and all that jazz are gone, as are the areas of scaled iron oxide. The primer could have been any color, but we choose a charcoal gray. The primer is a quality covering , and the last pictures are of the primer being sprayed onto the frame.  Tomorrow the tent and scaffolding comes down and goes back to the shop.

Tender Frame Sandblasting

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Copia Specialty Contractors began sandblasting the 470's tender frame on Tuesday, May 5th.  During an interlude in work, NESCo president Dick Glueck was permitted to inspect what had been accomplished.  What you are seeing here is the coupler end completed, including the organic accumulation, glass, stones, inside frame pockets removed.

The metal that has been completed, including the underside, is gray, and only has a reddish tinge because of the particulates that have settled.  The blasting has revealed a few tiny bubbles in the original steel casting, but nothing larger than a pencil point.  As you can see, the blast tent is enclosed, including the floor.  Tomorrow the technician is going to clean and tape over the truck pins and supports, then blast around them.  Thursday should see the drawbar end completely cleaned.  As soon as the dust is gone, they will be priming the whole frame.

4/18/2020 Tender Update

On Saturday, April 18th, President Dick Glueck and CMO Leverett Fernald took a trip up to Millinocket Fabrication & Machine to meet with President Ed Lewis and review the progress on the tender while the shop was closed for the weekend. Proper social distancing measures were taken to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Mr. Lewis thinks the tender may be completed in a month. The plan is to lift it onto a flatbed and keep it inside until delivery.  NESCo will have things ready in that period of time so as to unload it onto a manageable platform and get it indoors. Dick and Leverett were very impressed by the workmanship and the manner in which the tank is being finished.  Decking may go on next week, possibly week after.

Each photo is labeled accordingly.

3/21/2020 Updates

1) Leverett is turning fitted bolts to replace those truck bolts which were beyond repair.  He also refinished the worn and cracked pedestal side.

2) Ed Girsa from Millinocket Fabrication & Machine has sent more photos of further construction on 470's tender. Ed says the rolled corners will be installed this coming week.

3/18/2020 Tender Update

The COVID-19 pandemic has Mainers taking precautions as recommended by medical officials. Part of this includes temporarily closing work sessions and visitation at the New England Steam Corp. shops, as well as our co-operative partners at Downeast Scenic Railroad. What hasn't stopped, although closed to outside visitors for the time being, is work on the 470's new tender tank. Millinocket Fabrication & Machine is continuing work while protecting their employees. Here are three images of the tender as of March 18th. MF&M President Ed Girsa tells us the major components are just about finished, although the corners of the tank are to be rolled next. From that point forward, it's a matter of assembly. We are very appreciative of this high standard of work ethic and customer satisfaction during this upheaval in our nation's scheduled plans. 

2/22/2020 Tender Update

What you see in the two images is the sandblasted floor of the new tender, along with some welding, done at Millinocket Fabrication. The inner baffles are completed. Oversize steel plates have been delivered and next week they begin to fabricated the tender sides. They work on it every day, but next week, they begin in earnest.

2/22/2020 Work Session

Small crew at the shop today;  Bob, Paul, Al, Ron, Alex, and Dick.  Ron retrieved some of the newly primed valve gear and also worked on more of parts.  A picture of a few of the parts is included.  Primer is working beautifully.

Alex and Dick did some re-arranging in the center red container, so the second work bench is now against the wall. More work needs to be done to set up the electric shop tool.  Bob and Paul installed ceiling LED lights in the container, with a temporary, but effective power system.

Bob, Alex, Paul, and Dick worked on cutting a representative slice out of 470's cab. This will allow a metal shop in Newport to cut a pair of new sides, and curl the sides to match the old, damaged, steel, presently in place.

Paul oiled the nuts which hold the superheater tubes in place, as they've been problematic the last few times we've attacked them.

2/15/2020 Valve Gear Update

Ron and Dick picked up the valve gear from Copia Specialty Contractors of Bango, at 10AM on Friday, February 14th and brought it to the yard. The part numbers have been revealed quite nicely, and everything remaining on the surfaces has been eliminated.  Parts will be inspected and marked with tags, then once the weather gets warmer, primed, sanded, primed again, and painted.  It appears that everything remains in remarkable, serviceable condition.

2/14/2020 Tender Update

Millinocket Fabrication & Machine in Millinocket, Maine is constructing a new tender tank for 470. The first pictures of 470's new tender have just been received. These are the internal baffles to reduce the movement of water during acceleration.

The tank will have a welded interior and riveted exterior. Millinocket Fabrication & Machine will complete all welding and tack the exterior sheets. Once delivered, New England Steam will begin the process of setting rivets.

1/12/2020 Stoker Update

Bob DeWachter has been hard at work on #470’s stoker!

One of the missing items was the crankcase oil dipstick. Bob made one from scratch out of brass, with tapered cap fits snug on the cover boss. The flat in the rod is the oil level mark.

Bob also painted the cylinder block and made new fittings for the oil fill with the new oil breather installed.

The engine plate was riveted originally. Bob had to remove it so it wasn't destroyed in the caustic tank that cleaned the block. He drilled and tapped holes for brass screws and remounted it.

One of the piston packing gland nut lock screws was bent and broken. Bob made a replacement from brass. Images show the roughing out of the new one, then the single point thread turning. 1/2”-13 thread to a shoulder. Bob cut off the end that the tailstock center used and machined the tip that engages the gland nut. He machined the square head with a square collet holder block that allowed easy indexing to cut the faces. The last photo from left to right shows the unbroken original, broken original, and new replacement.

12/14/2019 Work Session

Despite the heavy rain, we had an active crew on the job today. New volunteer Liam worked alongside Dave, needlescaling the  right side drivers, and Alex gave everything a good coating of oil. Humidity in the building is picking at steel and iron surfaces. Roger Bennati,  Alex Fogg, and Dick each worked on loosening the bolts which are keeping the left valve gear in place. Rog and Alex got six of the rather demanding nuts turning, while I did some cutting with a grinder. Leverett, Big Dave, and Dick each worked on loosening nuts on one tender pedestal, which my colleagues getting the most egregious one free after using a torch, hammer, and several wrenches. Bangor Daily News reporter Bill Trotter came out and did some interviews, took photos, and spent most of the day in our company.

New England Steam Corp.
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
P.O. Box 302
Winterport, ME 04496