Restoration Journal - May 17, 2010

The project has hit a bit of a snag (literally): While we successfully freed the stoker universal joint, it was soon discovered that, while attempting to move the tender back, that there is actually a flange cast into the engine drawhead casting the depth of the bottom drawbar, which naturally fits over this flange. This flange does not affect the top drawbar. However, the bottom drawbar CANNOT be removed via the engine, therefore, the top one cannot come out either. Yes, it is a CRAZY design. The drawbar pin of course fits INSIDE this flange. We had no idea it was that deep and now makes parting the tender very difficult. The drawbar pin on the tender MUST now be removed as this is the ONLY way to separate the engine and Tender.

We began working on freeing the pin today. We were able to get the retainer plate out, which is surprising considering the severity of corrosion on the entire assembly including the drawhead casting itself. We heated all parts, and chipped and pounded all parts to knock off as much of the scale as possible- and of course copious amounts of WD-40 and diesel fuel were used to soak the pin at both levels (both compartments holding each of the drawbars). We will leave these parts to soak until the next time. The scale on the pin is very severe. Much worse than 6213 and there was no way hers would come out. Fortunately 6213's front Drawhead Casting and Drawbar arrangement was much more user friendly.

Now for the bad news. If we are unable to free the drawbar pin from the tender, the only way we could split the engine and tender is by cutting the top drawbar in half so that it can be pulled out of the engine drawhead casting, which would then allow us to split the engine and tender.

Bear in mind that we will try and do everything possible to get the Tender Drawbar Pin out before resorting to cutting the drawbar, but given our experiences with 6213, we don't hold much hope.

Also, on Friday May 14, we hired FM Wash of Brampton to come down and powerwash the tender as well as the backhead. We figure since the current site is so contaminated from with everything imaginable, we might as well do our best to do as much cleaning as possible at the old site, to minimize the mess we make at the new site. A 2-man team arrived at 11:30 AM and brought a giant 2 axle truck that carried 3,000 gallons of water, plus two gasoline heater/ pressure washers that were mounted in the truck as well as 300' of hose. They spent 5 hours cleaning the engine.

The inside of the cab (Backhead) was degreased / flushed its clean and bare ready for paint. The draw bar pin pot was flushed out, as well as where the draw bar connects at both ends. - lots of coal dust came out. All the road grit and heavy build-up is flushed off the tender trucks and under body. It looks real clean. Throughout the process we made sure that no water entered any of the journal boxes, and after the guys were done washing, we inspected the engine and sprayed parts with WD-40 as needed.

We are also in the process of sending small parts out to get sandblasted and painted.

Finally, no progress on the new site, just a pile of rebar that was dropped off back in April.

If you look at the area below the bottom Drawbar, you can see part of the flange that extends up in to the Bottom Drawbar.

The Stoker Universal Joint, after the bolt was torched out.

A photo I had taken last year showing all the scale and crap that had built up around the drawhead casting on the tender.

The same area after the Retainer Plate was removed and the whole area thoroughly cleaned out.

The Tender Draw Bar Pin from behind.

Looking up at the Tender Drawbar Pin.

Drawhead Casting Pockets.

Drawhead Casting Pockets. Tender Drawhead Casting and Drawbars (Right Side). A lot of descaling was done within the casting and we must have pulled out about 100 pounds of rust and scale and crap, etc.

Tender Drawbar Pin Retainer Plate after considerable chipping. Its hard to believe we were able to make it look like this. It's identical to 6213's.

Tender Drawbar Pin Retainer Plate.