The Whiskey River Railway

Msuper3500

New Member
I had been hunting for the AHM 4-4-0 frame I said I had, but couldn't find. It was not in the scrap box that the other remains if AHM tender drive locomotives were in.

Today I was trying to clean off my work bench. The first order of business was to fix # 21, my primordial 2-4-4-2, which had lost a screw from it's valve gear. naturally it was some oddball tiny metric screw that would be difficult to match. I found one that would work kind of sort of, and got it in as a trmp repair, that while not pretty will allow operation. While looking for screws, I visited many boxes of locomotive mechanism parts, and found the 4-4-0 frame, so here is a mock up of the Whiskey river locomotive that is ( God willing) being constructed in my shops,


Tyler, does this locomotive have a number yet?

Hi Bill,

Just in case you need fastening accessories like screws, bolts, nuts washers and etc... Micro fasteners sells them. Most people who are into train hobby purchase their screws from this shop, coz they only sell high quality products and at a very reasonable price! hope this helps!
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind if I ever can't find something that works. having worked on mechanisms for over 40 years I have a big scrap drawer, and some of the guys I have fixed locomotives for have given me dead ones to part out. Part of my problem is just sorting through the junk.''' I have some new compartmentalized storage boxes, and I'm trying to organize stuff from four or five storage trays, maybe that will help later on.


Bill Nelson
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
S-3

I have worked though the pile of non or poorly operating Hon3 locomotives, and with the exception of one locomotive, which i doubt will ever be anything but a static display or a flat car load,, I have the rest ready for action. See HOn3 engine shops thread in the narrow gauge section.


I have been cleaning off my work bench, which due to simple physics (the angle of repose) was becoming a danger to be around.

Cleaning the work bench has taken forever, because I am organizing my tools as I put them away, and am sorting and organizing several boxes of mechanical parts , locomotive details, and other scrap.

I am approaching the point where I may be able to use my work bench ( a novel concept), so I started studying some of my next projects.

First in line is Tyler's S-3 , which has a broken trailing truck. My patriotic duty is to fix that before he comes home from Afghanistan; and study the locomotive for sound decoder possibilities.


I have figured out what I have to solder together on the truck, and just have to do a careful study of the locomotive to be sure that I get the wheels in the trailing truck in with the insulated wheel on the proper side.


One thing I have noticed is that due to the odd tender design, it doesn't seem to have a bottom that unscrews. we might have to cut a hatch into the bottom of the tender in order to put a speaker and or other goodies in there, what fun!

once good progress has been made on the S-3, I'm going to alke parts of an AHM "Casey Jones " 2-6-0, and an AHM 4-4-0, and attempt to build a very good running oddball 4-4-0 , using the boiler and the tender from the 2-6-0, so the Whiskey river will have another unique locomotive.


Bill Nelson
 

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gbwdude

General Manager, W.R.Ry.
Bill,
I can't wait until I get home... got a little under a month for leave and then I turn around for another month and a half and back home. Ten months without... umm... trains makes a guy a little crazy. ;)

In other news, I've been scavenging parts from radios and other electronic goodies to raid them of some of their components, mostly the smaller LED's and multi-pin connectors. I've always been thrifty and this beats paying .35 plus $3 shipping for one connector. Hopefully I'll have enough downtime back home to work on the lokies that need it, although I may have a bigger project on my plate: a 1972 Chevrolet truck to restore. I've had it stored at my grandparent's place and since they sold their farm, it's either they junk it or I take it.

Take care,
Tyler
 

Doctor G

Well-Known Member
Bill,
I can't wait until I get home... got a little under a month for leave and then I turn around for another month and a half and back home. Ten months without... umm... trains makes a guy a little crazy. ;)

In other news, I've been scavenging parts from radios and other electronic goodies to raid them of some of their components, mostly the smaller LED's and multi-pin connectors. I've always been thrifty and this beats paying .35 plus $3 shipping for one connector. Hopefully I'll have enough downtime back home to work on the lokies that need it, although I may have a bigger project on my plate: a 1972 Chevrolet truck to restore. I've had it stored at my grandparent's place and since they sold their farm, it's either they junk it or I take it.

Take care,
Tyler

Hi Tyler,

It will be good to have you back here in the USA. Hope you get plenty of train time and that truck rehab comes along nicely.

Doc Tom
 

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Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
Sone progress

When I got home this morning, I dug out your big locomotive, and, through the miracle of resistance soldering, repaired the broken solder joint on the trailing truck. there are some detail pieces on the body of the locomotive that need to be replaced as well, but I am unfamiliar with locomotives this big, and will want confirmation that my guesses as to location and orentation are close before I solder anything else in position.

also there is a broken piece of valve gear that will be tricky. i have a plan, but I will need consultation and consent before I proceed.


Bill Nelson
 

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gbwdude

General Manager, W.R.Ry.
Doc Tom and Bill,

Great to hear from you both, it'll be nice to see you both when I come back. I love your pics of progress on the backyard and saw a G scale set on eBay that tempted me, but I can hear my wife go off on me buying BIGGER trains.

Bill, shoot me your idea on the valve gear. And as for the pieces that fell off... I'd have to look at it to tell ya where they go. It's good to see that part of the beast is fixed, and once again I thank you.

Until next time,
Tyler
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
The link to one of the crossheads is broken off right next to the attaching rivet. a but joint , soldered at that spot would be very tricky, and would have no strength. what will need to happen, its to remove the rivet, and manufacture a copy of 1/2 of the link, and solder it behind the remaining current link, so there is a lap joint, that will have some strength . this would result in a piece that is too thick, but strong enough to last. replacing the whole part is not a good option, as I don't have a way to plate it to get the silvered finish of the original


Bill
 

Doctor G

Well-Known Member
Doc Tom and Bill,

Great to hear from you both, it'll be nice to see you both when I come back. I love your pics of progress on the backyard and saw a G scale set on eBay that tempted me, but I can hear my wife go off on me buying BIGGER trains.

Bill, shoot me your idea on the valve gear. And as for the pieces that fell off... I'd have to look at it to tell ya where they go. It's good to see that part of the beast is fixed, and once again I thank you.

Until next time,
Tyler

Hey Tyler,

Good to catch up with you again. When do you get back in the good ole USA???

Glad you like the photos of the Garden RR. I lucked up with a very generous donation of "large scale" LGB track from Bill. The track is the biggest expense. Even used track can go for $1.50 to $2.00 a foot. Do you hear your wife talking about ex$pen$ive??? I am scratch building every thing I can and putting the bucks toward battery and R/C systems.

HO is still the most economical way to enjoy our hobby. But I get a big kick out watching the gears whirl on that big shay.

Doc Tom
 

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Z

Zathros

If these parts are aluminum, or "pt" metal, there is a product called Alum-alloy that would allow for an easy fix. As the parts are small, and heat quickly, the would bond instantly. I have repaired cylinder heads with this stuff, and nacelles off of "real" antique flying aircraft. This has been in my tool kit for 10 years and has saved so many things. it is also fully machinable. I have milled (on my Milling machine) many parts. Drilled and tapped them too. You can make bosses for cylinder head mounting bolts with this stuff. One more thing, alum-alloy will not stick to steel. Forms can be made out of sheet metal and you can make new parts this way. You can also fill small holes, leaving in the steel bolt, and un-thread it when done (cools off), and have perfect threads without having to tap them.

http://www.alumaloy.net/


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALUMALOY-Aluminum-REPAIR-Welding-BRAZING-Rods-1-2-LB-/110673354223 has small amounts.

They also have a similar product for steel and brass.
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
The broken valve gear part in question is a thin piece of nickel plated brass. I think the trick will be to fabricate a piece so that I can get a lap joint, and solder it with silver solder. this will result in a thicker part, but one that is sturdy.


I will have to look into the alumalloy, that may come in handy for fabricating parts.
 

gbwdude

General Manager, W.R.Ry.
Hello all,

Well I'm currently in Kuwait about halfway done with my journey back to the states. Timing and theory says I should be in on Monday sometime, but the military loves to make things complicated so we'll see. I'll let it be known on here or email if I'll be at the choo choo club on next Monday or not.

Bill, I have faith in you to restore her to operating condition. I've heard of AlumAlloy before but never used it, so give it a shot if the big ol beast needs something repaired. Thank you again for taking on my project.

Until next time,
Tyler
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
our prayers for a safe and timely flight

We will pray for a timely and safe flight. I am working on cleaning off my workbench


I currently have two brass locomotives in thew shops, with one mostly done, and the other will be pretty simple, needing sprung driver springs replaced (parts in stock) and a motor replaced ( part on order.


I am working on clearing my work bench (never lasts that long, but soon I will have room to open that puppy up, and address it's motor to gear tower connection, which looks to be un satisfactory. once that is done, I can proceed to the valve gear, and from there to cosmetic, and electrical pick up issues. as soon as I'm getting to work on the next steps I'll document them here


Bill Nelson
 

Doctor G

Well-Known Member
Hello all,

Well I'm currently in Kuwait about halfway done with my journey back to the states. Timing and theory says I should be in on Monday sometime, but the military loves to make things complicated so we'll see. I'll let it be known on here or email if I'll be at the choo choo club on next Monday or not.

Bill, I have faith in you to restore her to operating condition. I've heard of AlumAlloy before but never used it, so give it a shot if the big ol beast needs something repaired. Thank you again for taking on my project.

Until next time,
Tyler

Hi Tyler,

Looking forward to having you back!!!

Doc Tom:thumb:
 

gbwdude

General Manager, W.R.Ry.
Hey guys,

I'm pretty sure we're on for this Monday, assuming the wife doesn't lock me down for any... railroading ;) Hope to see you guys there!

Tyler
 

Doctor G

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

I'm pretty sure we're on for this Monday, assuming the wife doesn't lock me down for any... railroading ;) Hope to see you guys there!

Tyler

Hi Tyler,

I am glad you made it home!!!

I look forward to seeing you and hearing your stories this Monday at Choo Choo club.
Doc Tom
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
I found some drive shaft materials, and am working on doing an upgrade to this locomotives power coupling from the motor to the gear tower. these drive universals are available from Micro mark, and are , I believe re issues of old Hobbytown drive parts


I have also taken a picture of the valve gear linkage that needs repair

Bill
 

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Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
good news!

good news on the valvegear linkage issue. careful study with my reading glasses and an optivisor show the broken link is attached to the cross head with a tiny screw instead of a tiny rivet as I had originally thought. That will make dealing with it much easier.


Bill
 

Bill Nelson

Well-Known Member
I got the micro-Mark/ Hobbytown cardigan shaft installed on the big locomotive, and it seems to be very smooth, I think it will hold up a lot better than the rigged tubing that was on there previously.


Next to design and build some insulated pick ups for the locomotive drivers, and try to get brave enough to tackle the valve gear issue.

shown in the photo is one of the Big city Hobbies hon2.5 Porters. After I had studies it to see if I was brave enough to try to convert it to HOn3 (I wasn't) it had a hitch in it that I have been working on improving. It may go to work at the coke ovens and iron furnaces @ Montgomery furnace.

Testing with jumper wires shows this monster has a very smooth drive train, and that Hulking Sagami motor gives it good slow speed control.


Bill
 

gbwdude

General Manager, W.R.Ry.
Wow Bill, I can't wait to see my big ol' steamer rip down the tracks at about 60-70 scale mph with the Hiawatha behind it on it's way to Milwaukee. I know when the Fox Valley's 1935 Hiawatha was still in the pre-ordering phase Con-Cor offered the lokie with DCC and sound preinstalled with all the correct sounds. That is, instead of a steam whistle it had a horn and a air ringer bell. At that time I could have bought it with that preinstalled or the full eight car set for the same price, so I opted for the eight car set instead because sound decoders will always be around but the extra cars may not be (as it proved they went FAST!).

Also I think in the grab bag of steamer parts there's a spoked lead truck from one of the 4-6-0's, if you could grab it that would be great. That's my small project for while I'm home is to adapt that to my Bowser 4-6-2 as the original lead truck's axles were rusted together and although I freed the axles they don't roll that great.

I'll see you tomorrow!
Tyler
 
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