BUFFALO CREEK #43
ALCO HH660
Updates 2022
by WNYRHS
March 2022
| Buffalo Creek ALCO HH660 #43 entered service on March 18, 1940 and worked the waterfront industries of the City of Buffalo for over 26 years. This 82 year old operating locomotive is a testimony to the skill of hundreds of men and women that built it in the Schenectady, New York shops at the American Locomotive Company. The WNYRHS is proud to own and care for this piece of American history and plans to do so for many years to come. This takes volunteer effort to keep this locomotive running. If you have some spare time and a desire to help maintain this and other historic pieces the Society owns, send Scott an eMail at  to get started. No special skills are needed but you could get your hands dirty and have some fun at the same time. |
April 2022
 "(c)2022 WNYRHS - Flexible joint at the back of the Hamburg Depot. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
Society member and "Section Foreman," Rick Burns, was in Hamburg on April 25th to knock the cobwebs off of #43. As was always done, we would plug our underground extension cord into the Hamburg Depot to get 120 volt power down to the locomotive. However, down at the engine, there was no power. Years of moving the flexible coupling back and forth had taken its toll on the wire inside. Rick removed the flexible coupling and 50 feet of bad wire and added a new end to the cable. Using an above ground 12 gauge extension cord he was back in business. |
 "(c)2022 RJ Burns - Douglass Battery float charger. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
With power available at the locomotive, Rick was able to connect our "Douglas Battery" float charger that he brought, to the battery switch inside the electrical cabinet. The 14 batteries read 112.4 volts on the meter. Since they were recharged over the winter, this was no surprise. Rick set the charger to "equalize" the battery bank for two hours. At the end of the day, the total voltage was up to 115.2 volts. |  "(c)2022 RJ Burns - Battery bank is now up to 115 volts DC. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2022 RJ Burns - Prime Mover pre-lube pump. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
While the batteries were being charged, Rick connected our "Pre-lube" pump to the "Prime Mover." After sitting all winter, bearings and moving parts loose their lubrication. Within 15 minutes, oil could be seen dripping from the back of the oil galley near the flywheel. This process only has to be done when the locomotive has not run for over a month. |  "(c)2022 RJ Burns - Oil is sucked from the crankcase and forced through the lubrication system. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2022 WNYRHS - Rick \"bars\" the engine over. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
After the pre-lube pump had run for almost a half an hour, Rick got out the 5 foot "barring bar" and stuck it into one of 16 holes in the flywheel. With fresh oil in all the bearings, his body weight is able to spin the crankshaft to move all the parts into another position. This also prevents flat spot from forming on the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings. Within 180 degrees of rotation the cylinders begin to build up compression and it takes two guys to continue the process. |
| At our next work session, the weather covers on the radiators will need to be removed and 205 gallons of water, "borrowed" from ArtCraft Toy Trains (Hamburg Depot), will be added to the cooling system. Fresh diesel fuel with "Diesel Kleen" additive will be added to the fuel tank and the locomotive will be ready to start. It would be great if you could become a Society Member and join in the fun! |
May 2022
 "(c)2022 RJ Burns - 150 feet of garden hose from the ArtCraft Hamburg Depot fills the 205 gallon cooling system. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
On May 6th, Rick Burns was back in Hamburg with 150 feet of garden hose. As is, the ongoing joke is that we "borrow" 205 gallon of water from ArtCraft Toy Trains. Rick Fisher, store owner, has always been a generous supporter of our efforts and we sincerely thank him for his help. While the engine block was being filled, Rick removed the weather covers from the radiator banks on both sides of the locomotive. |
| As the cooling system filled, Rick "barred" the engine over to release trapped air in the water passageways. In less than an hour, the water gauge in the cab showed 3/4's full in the expansion tank, and the water was turned off. With the engine being barred over and five gallons of fresh diesel fuel, the engine was ready to start. |
| He unlocked the control stand, closed the battery switch, and started the fuel pump. When 35psi showed on the fuel pump gauge, he hit the started button. "Ca-chunk, ca-chunk, ca-chunk, ca-chunk, the engine coughed a few times, revved up and died. After a few tries with the same result, he knew he needed someone to "stick a screwdriver in the carburetor," Ha! This phrase goes way back to the days when you stuck a screwdriver into your 2 or 4 barrel carburetor car to keep the choke open. |
| Of course there is no "carb" on a diesel engine but it does have a "speed governor" on the prime mover that needs to be controlled with a long screwdriver when there is limited fuel in the injector system. Rick called his brother in law, Tony, who lives 10 minutes away to help out. Now Tony, with screwdriver in hand, could lift the governor control arm when Rick hit the started button. In one try, the engine came to life with classic gray smoke coming out of the exhaust. |  "(c)2022 RJ Burns - BC #43 idles quietly on the BSOR siding. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| With the locomotive running again, we need to continue the repainting project started last year. Sander pipes, hangers and nozzles need to be fabricated. There is plenty of work for anyone, no matter what your skills are. We have all the tools and supplies, all we need is a little of your time. Please contact us at the eMail address below if you want to become part of the team and become a WNYRHS member. |
| Rick was back by himself, at the Hamburg work site on May 9th. #43 started right up and was run for almost an hour and half. While the engine idled, Rick topped of the cooling system one more time and sprayed "Round-Up" on all the vegetation around the engine. |
| Rick returned on May 23rd, checked the oil and water fluid levels and started the engine again. After running the air compressor for ten minutes, he was ready to make the first moves in 2022. With a little brake shoe squeal, #43 was off and moving again. For an hour and fifteen minutes, he made the 80 foot move up and down the siding. |
| Below is a brief summary of the work Rick Burns completed on #43 over the summer and fall by himself. |
June 2022
| 6/6/22 - Ran for 1.2 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Found a small leak at on the water pump shaft. After tightening the packing ring, the leak stopped. 6/14/2022 - Ran for 1.3 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Aux. hour meter was not working in electrical cabinet. Moved lever on fuel pump strainer. 6/23/2022 - Ran for 1.2 hrs. Made a few forward and reverse moves. Repositioned Aux. meter from inside electrical cabinet to under main meter on cab control stand. |
July 2022
| 7/1/2022 - Ran for 1.1 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Installed Aux meter using news wires. (#60 and #65). Added one 64 ounce bottle of "Diesel Kleen" to fuel tank. 7/13/2022 - Ran for .7 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Installed Aux meter using news wires. (#60 and #65). Added one 64 ounce bottle of "Diesel Kleen" to fuel tank. 7/13/2022 - Ran .7 hrs. Made a few forward and reverse moves. Looked for possible damage from vandals reported on 7/10/22, nothing was damaged. Cleaned one fuel strainer basket for fuel pump. 7/22/2022 - Ran 1.3 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. 7/26/2022 - Ran 1 hr. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. |
August 2022
| 8/19/2022 - Ran 0.4 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. 8/24/2022 - Ran 1 hr. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Weed wacked along track and around locomotive. 8/31/2022 - Ran 1.1 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. |
September 2022
| 9/9/2022 - Ran 1.1 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Added another 64ozs of "Diesel Clean" to fuel tank. 9/23/2022 - Ran 1.3 hrs. Made multiple forward and reverse moves. Forward headlight not operating. Removed and cleaned fuse, headlight now working. |
October 2022
| 10/11/2022 - Ran 1.3 hrs. Drained cooling system and reinstalled weather covers. Below 32' temperatures expected this weekend. Voltage check on batteries showing 118.1 volts. 10/27/2022 - Cranked engine to remove all residual water. (engine started and was quickly shut down) |
| At the end of the season, #43 was run for 60.35 hours, used 76.37 gallons of diesel fuel for a total cost of $434.10. Thank you Rick for taking care of this historic piece of equipment! |
| The WNYRHS greatly appreiciates all the generous donations to this project to date. However, we could still use your help! All Donations are Tax-Deductable! If you would like to mail a donation, send it to: |
| or Click the PayPal Button to make a Secure Electronic Donation. THANK YOU! |
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The WNYRHS, Inc., 100 Lee Street, Buffalo, NY. 14210 is an independent organization and has no affiliation with any other local or national group.
The Society is a fully qualified organization under 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and all donations to the Society are tax deductible.
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