CTRC - The California Trolley and Railroad Corporation. Preserving the historical heritage of railroading and trolleys in the Santa Clara Valley of California.
The weekday crew completed relocating the remaining "small" materials
that had been located in the north east corner of the locomotive restoration
site.
This morning the crew was split into two groups. One group gather tools
and moved to History San Jose to push back SP1215. Those that remained at the
fairgrounds continued preparations to lift 2479.
After lunch the lift began. Things progressed rather well until about 4PM
when the right front corner jack began to malfunction. The jack would rise
about 1 to 2 inches and stop. Several things were attempted to correct
the problem without success. We turned to a 20 ton hydraulic bottle
jack to assist the 35 ton air jack and continued the lift.
The only other incident occurred when we had completed jacking at the front of
the loco. As crib materials were being stuffed under the front end main beam, the
loco showed a very small amount of movement and it seemed to have come from
the back end. Investigation revealed one of the temporary crib timbers had
split, but our crib design is such that there are multiple load bearing points.
If and in this case when one fails there are several other points that can
bear the load.
With the locomotive at 70 inches above rail head and the time approaching
5PM, we decided to call it a day. We will start again tomorrow, Sunday,
at 8AM. With some luck, the wheels should be under the loco by
quitting time.
The image shows the locomotive at 5PM Saturday Oct 25.
We had a very big crew today. I don't think any one walked away with
out some sore muscles.
2479 To Get Its Wheels Back
Tomorrow (Saturday Oct 25) will be the start of the 2479
re-wheeling process at the fairgrounds and the push back of SP1215 at History San Jose.
There are several tasks
that must be completed on the 2479 before the physical lift can begin: install lead truck bowl,
drop binders, inspect equalizer system etc.
Positioning of the wheels may take place tomorrow afternoon.
Leaving the locomotive
at an elevation of 75 to 80 inches off the ground for a week is not a comfortable feeling.
Therefore a rare Sunday work session (and possibly Monday) is going to be necessary.
It may also be necessary to work up until dusk, thus be prepared.
It's going to be a busy weekend!
2479 Update - Progress October 6 - 10
Installation of the locomotive's suspension system was completed today.
Springs for number 1 driver were hoisted into place, the transverse equalizer beam was connected and the rods that connect the transverse equalizer to trailing truck
equalizer levers were attached.
There are a few details remaining but they cannot be completed
until the suspension system is inspected upon return of Art.
Progress was made in bolting the boiler's number 2 waist angle
to its support.
This task should be finished next week.
Completion of the above tasks puts us on schedule for rewheeling of the locomotive
the week of Oct. 27.
This is assuming there are no issues with the suspension system.
Work continues on the Clark forklift's exhaust system.
John Z. and Bill J. managed to install a new flex pipe at the
output of the exhaust manifold.
Brazing is needed to complete the task.
The weekday crew continued the move to the new site.
With all round house brick relocated, the crew turned to the stacks of timbers.
Better then 50% of this material has been relocated.
Clean up of the vacated area was also completed.
2479 Update - Sept 15-20, 2008
After several weeks of hard work, each ending in disappointment,
we finally successfully bored the upper pin hole on the locomotive's
front coupler.
It turned out that the boring bar was not sufficiently supported.
A brace was constructed and welded into position on to the bottom
of the new lower pin hole plate.
Boring took most of the day and is now complete.
All that remains of this task is to
turn out a bushing and installing that bushing into the newly bored hole.
This task will not impact re-wheeling of the locomotive.
Also during the week one of two shim plates for the lead truck bowl was trimmed
down on the South Bend lathe.
This plate was fitted into the lead truck bowl.
Crews continue consolidation of CTRC material into the west end of the
area presently occupied.
Hopefully the remaining ties will be sorted and moved
this coming week.
2479 Update - Sept 13, 2008
From John Ezovski
Lack of electrical power did not inhibit today's progress.
The Clark forklift was in need of maintenance.
A number of items were
addressed and the forklift made available for service.
Positions in the designated area for the locomotive, containers, double
wide trailer and outdoor shop were identified and marked.
Machining of the lead truck bowl was completed at the trolley barn and
the part returned to the fairgrounds.
The only work that remains to complete
the lead truck is machining of two rings that sit inside the lead truck bowl.
During this past week, the weekday crew continued to consolidate rail and
ties, that were located at the east end of the big rail and tie stack, to the
new area.
This task continued today. Hopefully cleanup of this section
will be completed by Wednesday of this coming week.
2479 Update - Sept 6, 2008
From John Ezovski
A major step forward occurred during this past week.
On Tuesday Mr.Tom Johnston, Bay City Boiler, and Don Micheletti, SP2472,
visited the site to view SP2479's boiler.
This visit was in preparation of welding areas of 2479's boiler.
On Wednesday and Thursday, ten areas on course 2 and 3 of the
boiler and firebox wrapper sheet were welded.
With this work complete, various components can be installed on the
locomotive's frame and re-wheeling can take place.
Re-wheeling will probably take place the last week in October.
This is rather ironic as it was 15 years from this date that the wheels were removed!
The lead truck's bowl is now sitting upon the big turret lathe at the trolley barn.
The ring that was welded into place last week has been turned
to allow the lead truck pedestal to fit within the bowl.
Work continues on the upper coupler pin hole.
Boring of this hole has been difficult.
Hopefully this task will be completed this coming Saturday.
Consolidation of materials at the site continues.
Ties that have been scattered about the site were collected, bundled, banded and stacked.
A crew has begun to move rail located at the east end of the "pile" to
an area in the new site.
2479 Boiler Welding
Today (September 3, 2008) Bay City Boiler completed the welding of the
unstayed areas on the SP2479's boiler.
The thickness of each welded area was verified with
the electronic thickness guage.
All that remains to this task is the
filling of forms with the Federal RR Administration within 30 days.
Work Progresses
Caboose and Tender Move
On Saturday August 30, John Zielinski led a crew (listed below) to complete the move of the
caboose and tender.
The cars are now nicely positioned along side the two passenger cars.
All that remains is cleanup of some material laying about the grounds.
To all that participated, thank you for the help.
Jockeying around 7000 pound, 39 foot long panels of track and rolling a
125,000 pound tender and 35,000 pound caboose with a forklift are
no easy tasks.
Hundreds of person hours work consumed by this task, and it was
accomplished safely with no more then a whole lot of sore muscles!
And thanks to A-Tool shed for the loan of the compressor.
The crew:
Art Randal
Tom Anderson
Phil Rule
Ken Middlebrook
Denis Murchison
Larry Murchison
John Zielinski
John Ezovski
Bill Jump
Jack Young
Lead truck Bowl Ring
Art Randall prepared the bowl and ring for welding.
The ring was welded into place
and is now ready for transport to the trolley barn for final machining.
Front Coupler Upper Pin Hole
Art and Tom Anderson began the day by reorienting the magnetic base drill
and boring bar.
Boring of the upper pin hole was then restarted.
There is still much work to be performed with this task.
Colorful 109 year old steam locomotive added to San Jose Railroad Museum’s growing roster.
Date:
March 25, 2008
Subject:
Colorful 109 year old steam locomotive added to San Jose Railroad Museum’s growing roster.
From:
Rod Diridon, Chairman/President California Trolley and Railroad Corporation
Contact:
Meg Fitts Phone: 408-924-7560 Fax: 408-924-7565 http://www.ctrc.org/
On Wednesday, April 2, a 109 year old steam locomotive will be unloaded in
Kelley Park for eventual inclusion in a railroad museum proposed near downtown San Jose.
Update: There was some difficulty loading the
locomotive onto the truck in Sacramento.
The locomotive is now expected to arrive in San Jose
on Thursday April 3rd between 10:30am and 11am.
Built in 1899 and on permanent loan to the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (CTRC),
the locomotive is nicknamed "Little Buttercup".
The locomotive originally operated in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Little Buttercup had a prominent role for the Santa Fe Railroad in the
1948 Chicago Rail Fair and has been in storage since that time,
most recently in Sacramento at the California State Railroad Museum.
Because of its colorful appearance and small size, this engine should become
a favorite for children and adults familiar with the Thomas the Tank stories.
The locomotive will be displayed within CTRC's trolley barn at the
San Jose Historical Museum.
This location will enable CTRC to begin a cosmetic restoration of this historic artifact.
CTRC volunteers are currently restoring for operation a larger Southern Pacific
steam locomotive at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.
These locomotives and other equipment will be relocated in the future to the
proposed San Jose Railroad Museum Park.
Proposed for a vacant parcel near downtown alongside the Guadalupe River Park trail,
the San Jose Railroad Museum Park will feature restored railroad equipment,
relocated city designated landmarks and replicated historic buildings
from our community.
Supplemented by educational exhibits, the facility will celebrate the railroad's
roles in San Jose's agricultural and food processing heritage.
With fifteen community endorsement letters already received, CTRC is actively
enlisting the fiscal and political support to protect the property and
eventually fund the project.
Formed in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, the
California Trolley and Railroad Corporation has a mission of preserving
and reflecting the rich legacy of rail transportation in the
Santa Clara Valley for the educational and recreational benefit of present and
future generations. The organization has restored nine historic trolley cars,
four of which operate for the Valley Transportation Agency's transit mall
in downtown San Jose. The remaining trolleys operate for
History San Jose's school aged educational programming at the historical museum
in Kelley Park.
San Jose City Parks and Recreation Commission endorses museum project
By a unanimous vote the San Jose City
"The Parks and Recreation Commission enthusiastically
endorse the concept of a San Jose Steam
Railroad Museum on the site of the 1863 San Francisco and San Jose
Steam Railroad’s historical southern terminus."
CTRC will be presenting the
railroad museum
plans to the San Jose Parks & Recreation Commission,
the Santa Clara County Water District board of directors,
and the San Jose City council.
We will be presenting several
letters of endorsement for the project, models, and architectural renderings.
It is important that we make a strong showing; your presence at meeting will be invaluable; please plan to attend.
Times and Locations:
San Jose Parks & Recreation Commission
Wednesday February 20 (Note date and time change.)
5:30pm
Upper Watson Community Center
Annex Building
550 North 22nd Street
(Between E. Empire & Jackson Streets)
San Jose, California 95112 (Click here for map)
Santa Clara County Water District
Tuesday February 26
10:30am
SCCWD
5750 Alamaden Blvd
San Jose
J Ezovski
Despite the many rainy days during the month, there has been progress
on both locomotives and improvements at the fairgrounds restoration site.
An evaluation of 2479's valve linkage is complete. Several of the system's
bronze bushings must be replaced, several pins require trui...
On January 19 the area in and around History San Jose
took a number of lightning strikes that include the Power Substation.
PG&E repaired their damage quickly and confirmed that we have 480 VAC to the substation.
After two visits from Cupertino Electric (pro bono), we have identified and re...
J Ezovski
There has been some progress on 2479 the past several months. All components of the
valve gear have been removed from the locomotive and a close inspection of these
components is under way. A bushing was removed from the front coupler. Measurements
indicated that the...
On Monday January 25, 2010, CTRC leadership met with San Jose District 7 Councilwoman Madison Nguyen
to discuss a potential museum location near Kelley Park.
Click here for more information about the museum location.
Situated between two city owned parcels, Municipal Stadium and the main c...
CTRC meetings are open to members and non-members. You are welcome even if you are not a member.
We usually have a short (30 minute) discussion of status of the various projects followed by a program.
We meet inside the Santa Clara railroad station itself (you may have to slide one of the sliding doors open to find us.) In the winter be sure to bring a coat - it can be a bit cool inside the station.
Date: First Monday of each month.
Time: 7pm
Location:
Santa Clara Railroad Station
1005 Railroad Avenue
Santa Clara, California
