Railway & Locomotive Historical Society - Southern California Chapter

Current Projects:

NEW!
The exposed portions of the boiler, from the cab to the smokebox, were needle-scaled and/or sandblasted and a protective coat of primer applied to the steel in August. Although we had hoped that a finish coat of gloss black, two-part epoxy paint would have been applied to the same area before the 2006 County Fair opened, scheduling difficulties prevented that. The paint, however, was applied just after the fair closed and the 9000 now glistens in her new coat of paint.
We continue testing the weather resistance of several clear coat paint products on the rods (for the future plan of removing the silver paint and primer from the rods, links, levers and pistons, leaving exposed, but protected, bare steel).

Recently Completed Projects:

The two oldest air tanks, removed for asbestos abatement, were hydro tested up to 175# and found to be solid. (These tanks are constructed with a longitudinal seam secured with rivets and the end plates are crimped. The third tank is a newer tank with welded seams.)
The boiler jacket was removed and the asbestos lagging abated earlier this year. (The pieces of the original jacket that are salvageable will be cleaned, painted and re-used. The remaining pieces will be retained as patterns for the creation of new jacket sections.)
Removed "silver" paint from smokebox, primed and applied graphite paint;
Built functioning firedoor air valve foot pedal;
Touched up silver lettering on tender.

Continuing Projects:

Patching the gloss black finish coat when it peels. (In some areas, especially on the tender, the Imron finish coat did not adhere to the Imron primer after it was sprayed on. Exposure to weather and microscopic holes in the subsequent finish coasts results in the paint peeling off after 2-3 years.)

Future Projects:

Abrade epoxy paint on firebox and re-paint with graphite;
Re-pipe bell and sander air lines with copper (currently using rubber pneumatic tubing);
Replace the cab windows;
Rebuild the tender icebox;
Rebuild train number boxes;
Rebuild brakeman's seat;
Rebuild tender reverse headlamp;
Rebuild tender marker light;
Replicate cab and tender gangway curtains;
Replenish reflective coating on headlamp;
Replicate missing classification light;
Rebuild tender water deck;
Replace leaking packing on reverse gear piston;
Obtain original or replicate UP firedoor manual lever;
Obtain original or replicate UP firedoor air valve foot pedal.

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