Steam Train Maintenance (1950)

Thanks for posting the video... Very interesting!

Mike

To answer the question, of course the same type of maintenance is being performed today! The priciples of steam locomotive maintenance haven't changed since this movie was shot, although techniques probably vary from engine to engine, and crew to crew (I do find the apparent British disdain for work gloves interesting). We have different tools today as well--although I do like some of the Brittish ideas, like that "flute" nozzle.

Last weekend, I was "lucky" enough to get the job of scrubbing out the firebox on our small oil burner in NC, just as was seen (but I had gloves on). Today, we hammer tested the stay bolts, also exactly as was shown (although we had a couple representatives of the Federal Government monitoring the procedures--we were undergoing our annual FRA inspection).

I guess for us, the difference is that it takes us many days to do the maintenance shown in the video (we're volunteers), whereas back then, it all took just a few hours. It's neat to see the turnaround time on that kind of work.

Pretty much the same way on the Pere Marquette 1225. One thing though; don't step on the rails when crossing the track. Like Steve said we also take a little longer to do a washout. Check on the Steam Railroading Institute's Facebook page to see what is being done on the 15 year mandatory rebuild. Friday is my work day and I'm always pretty sore on Saturday.

Ron

This was very educational for me.  Thanks for posting.  I guess this reinforces why the cost of running steam was so high compared to diesels.

Ron, the newbie

To say steam requires more maint. then a diesel is the worlds largest understatement.....

I noticed that some guys who went into the firebox used masks, while others didn't.  Were those asbestos bricks in there, or another material?

Jon 

Asbestos was used for insulation under the jacket. The "firebrick" is made from a material that RETAINS the heat, even though the may get pretty red in color. Firebrick is NOT made of asbestos, but when working inside the firebox, a mask is a pretty good idea due to all the fine particles of combustion, no mater whether wood, coal or oil fuel.

Agreed. That stuff is extremely fine. I wore a long-sleeve shirt when I scrubbed our firebox, but when I got home, my entire upper body was coated in black--the stuf went right through the fabric of my workshirt. Of course, I also looked like I was wearing mascara for a couple days--even soap with grit in it meets its match with oil soot.

Get a pair of panty hose, size/color doesn't matter.  Cut off a foot at the ankle.  Put a bar of soap in the foot and tie it off.  Scrub away.  It works like magic for fiberglass, should do as well with soot.  A trick I learned long ago working in a fiberglass plant.

Cheers,

Gary