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. |
 "(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 "Douglass 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! |
| The WNYRHS greatly appreiciates all the generous donations to this project to date. However, we could still use your help! All Donations to the WNYRHS are Tax-Deductable! If you would like to mail in a donation, send it to WNYRHS Inc., PO Box 416, Buffalo, New York 14231-0416 |
| 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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