This post begins with a sound of a mystery device:
We’ve heard it here before. Now it is coming from a different place. First off, the sound must have a home.
Here, Alex Therrien of FMW Solutions is checking the setup of the magnetic base drill that on the side of 1385’s boiler. You’ll hear much more about FMW’s involvement with 1385 at the spring Members’ meeting this weekend. The drill will be making the stud holes for the noisy device in question. Now, here are some photos of the mystery device:
Have you guessed it yet? The familiar sound is the power reverse cylinder finding its permanent home on the boiler. Last time the power reverse was seen in an update was last autumn when the power reverse was undergoing repairs and was mounted to a forklift to allow testing.
A test airline was run to the cylinder, and this shot, shows Steve Roudebush and Ed Ripp checking the length of the stroke of the piston rod. Here is a short video of Ed Ripp cycling the power reverse that will be used to control the direction of and how much power our beloved 1385 will create as she goes steaming down the track.