Rods & Wagon
This was a milestone day in the re building
of #7. It was the day we fitted up the rods that Mr. Lyman the
head machinist had made. He explained to me the importance of
setting the center distance of the rods to match the axle centerlines,
so the crank pins don't beat the brasses to death. And how to
set up the brasses and cotter pins on the rod. Usually the mechanics
do this but on #7 Mr. Lyman insisted on doing it his self. Mr.
Lyman said, "When I was a young pup like you we used to
keep dozens of these little mills on the road, and keeping these
brasses in shape took constant fiddling." By this time I
had been working on #7 for months and months. After completing
my usual engine wiper duties (wiping engines, brushing out flues,
cleaning ash pans, etc.) I am allowed to work with the mechanics
and machinists. Usually doing tasks such as wire brushing rust,
scraping and cleaning parts, or removing stubborn bolts and rivets
with a cold chisel or wrench. The time of a machinist or mechanic
is too valuable for such things.
|