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This past Thursday I had the pleasure of touring the UP Cheyenne Roundhouse and Steam Shop with a group of friends from my train club.

UP Roundhouse from the Cheyenne Depot viewing area. The container car parked in front of the viewing window drew a few chuckles.

 

It was during working hours so manager Ed Dickens personally led us around while the work continued on 844.

This ones for Hotwater.

The boilermaker was working on one end below the firebox (didn't catch his name when introduced)

Another employee was actively removing flexible staybolt caps, inspecting and replacing Staybolts, seals and cups if needed followed by new caps.

Compared to photos from Depot Days several weeks ago it looks like they were making pretty good progress.

 

844's #4 wheelset in storage while boiler work is performed

A tray of new Staybolt seals. There were also many boxes of new cups and caps

 

The Boilermaker has marked of this end of the boiler/firebox for ongoing ultrasonic inspection.

Based on my visit a year ago changes to the steam shop so far it appear to be the known removal of the hung ceiling and what appears to be major repairs to the roof decking. It looks like a large percentage of the roof decking boards have been replaced. Looks like it was done right!

The windows look like broken panes have been repaired and sealed.

Crane has not arrived yet, platforms have not yet been removed and so far planned new lighting has not been installed.

Old rails for former 250 ton and 40 ton cranes.

Elsewhere in the shop 4014 is waiting for attention.

 

Replacement parts have been ordered for 4014 as shown by the many boxes of coil springs for the engine and tender.

Included are inner and outer centering springs for the front engine.

Also inside the steam shop was the Rotary which had some maintenance , repairs and updates done to it.

That was it for the Steam Shop. Roundhouse next.

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In the roundhouse not too much has changed in the past year other than some inspected, cleaned parts in storage for re-installation on 844.

844 Drawbars

844 Siderods covered from the roundhouse leaky windows or roof.

844 superheater tubes?

The observation car all polished up.

6936

Challenger 838 missing a few parts

5511

and 3985 in storage

3985 Tender

3985 Tender needing some maintenance

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by wb47:

What function do staybolts server?

I'll give it a try. Staybolts support the firebox from the boiler wall providing the water jacket around the firebox. The worker was removing flexible staybolt covers and  inspecting the bolt head, cup, seal and cover. Any worn, broken or badly rusted parts were being replaced with new parts, then a new cap was installed. The photos of the 838 staybolts in the roundhouse photos show similar cups, bolt heads and caps.

More info here

https://www.nationalboard.org/...20NB11-1804%20MC.pdf

Elsewhere on the web someone claimed that the tender shown in the roundhouse was 844's. Not so. Per Ed it's 3985's tender and the rust and sediment shown in a previous photo would have been be removed in it's normal annual maintenance cycle. Here is another shot of the 3985's tender from a different angle.

Elsewhere on the web the opinion was posted that the Staybolt cap inspection and replacement was a waste of time. Maybe, but per Ed the goal with 844 (and I guess on 4014 too) was to repair or replace whatever was worn, rusted or broken etc so that this rebuild would last at least another 30 years. I guess this goal applies to items as simple as flexible staybolt caps and seals.

Last edited by Tranz4mr
Thanks.
The only time the UP steam shop and roundhouse is open to the general public is during Cheyenne Depot Days. Occasionally they give tours to train clubs which was how we got in. Depot Days includes a Train Show  at the fair grounds and the Cheyenne Depot Museum and layout (the place where I shot the photo of the train car with radioactive material above)
 
 
Originally Posted by zoradt:

Excellent pictures and narrative to go along with it, Kent.  I appreciate the time it took to put this together. I definitely have to put the UP Cheyenne Roundhouse and Steam Shop on the list of places to visit sometime down the road.

 

Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:

Elsewhere on the web someone claimed that the tender shown in the roundhouse was 844's. Not so. Per Ed it's 3985's tender and the rust and sediment shown in a previous photo would have been be removed in it's normal annual maintenance cycle. Here is another shot of the 3985's tender from a different angle.

Elsewhere on the web the opinion was posted that the Staybolt cap inspection and replacement was a waste of time. Maybe, but per Ed the goal with 844 (and I guess on 4014 too) was to repair or replace whatever was worn, rusted or broken etc so that this rebuild would last at least another 30 years. I guess this goal applies to items as simple as flexible staybolt caps and seals.

The FRA rules require the boiler be  inspected every 1472 days of operation or 15 years which ever come first so there is no way this overhaul will last 30 year. Especially if it gets maintained the way it has been. It wasn't due its 15 year inspection until 2019. The boiler on annual inspection was found to be so clogged they had to do the overhaul 5 years early.

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