Pre-Winter Car Maintenance Day - November 16, 2013

Dear Volunteers, Friends, and Interested Parties:

As a reminder, the annual Pre-Winter Car Maintenance Day is tomorrow, November 16.  The weather looks excellent for mid-November!

This is a very important annual work session as this is our final opportunity to ensure our cars are ready for heavy operation in cold weather during the Polar Bear Express and Santa's Trolley events.  Thankfully, we have kept up with maintenance throughout the year due to our dedicated volunteers, but this last "push" is very important.

All skill sets are welcome and useful; especially new volunteers (or volunteers new to electric trolley car maintenance).

Priorities for tomorrow are as follows:

1. Service both controllers on JTC #355
2. Service "deadman" foot pedals on JTC #355
3. Service inbound brake value on JTC #355
4. Inspect bearing oil levels and add 1 pack of gear tack to each gearbox on JTC #355
5. Service governors cars 355, 163, 1875, 172, and 249
6. Service heater knife switches in cars 355 and 163
7. Install fuses and turn on heat in P&W #205
8. Lubricate brake valve bodies car 163
9. Test feel of brake valves car 1875, lubricate as needed
10. Check oil levels cars 163, 172, 249
11. Inspect shoes all cars

While this is a long list, we typically are able to get this much work done during this event.

Your help is appreciated!

- Matt Nawn

Upcoming October-November Maintenance Department Work Sessions (All skills levels needed)

Rockhill Trolley Museum Maintenance Department is scheduling work sessions for the following dates for the following projects:

Saturday, October 19

 

With most of the regular service fleet in operation this date for the annual Pumpkin Patch Trolley, the following is planned for equipment that will not be in operation on this date:

 

- SEPTA PCC #2743:  Troubleshooting and repairs to the low voltage charging system.  

 

- Liberty Liner Independence Hall: Removal of existing resistor grids and start layout of new grids under A1 section

 

All skills levels are welcome and needed.  Along with the electrical work, further interior work is planned on #2743 and the Liner could really use a good vacuuming from end to end, especially the operator's cabs.  While not glamorous tasks, these are important and make conditions for our visitors and our work and operating crews a little more tolerable.

 

 

Saturday, October 26

Saturday, November 16

 

Tasks for these dates are as follows:

 

- Winterization of the operating fleet, to include governor servicing, and turn on of car heat

- Controller work and lubrication of inbound brake valve on JTC #355

- Further electrical work on Liberty Liner Independence Hall.

 

The Liner work will likely take place on October 26 and the winterization work on November 16.  Work on JTC #355 will take place depending upon the car's availability (October 26 is still a regular operating date).

 

I look forward to seeing you in Rockhill Furnace!

 

- Matt Nawn

 



 





The Liberty Liner and Summary of Work Session from weekend of October 11-13

 

This past weekend, October 11-13, was a very busy one at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.  Besides the variety of trolleys running for the annual Fall Spectacular, much project and maintenance work was completed as well.

Here is a quick summary of the work completed:

Johnstown Traction Company #311:
- Jim Cohen spent Friday and Saturday night with paint removal in some areas, as well as needle scaling the door step areas with Joel Salomon.  Carl Salomon assisted Friday night with the roof cleats.  David Brightbill continues to make steady progress on wood refinishing.  The new floor is about 80% installed thanks to the talents of contractor Keith Bray.

 

It's hard not to be impressed with the quality and comprehensiveness of work being performed on the museum's first trolley car.

 

Frank looks over the new floor as it is installed.

 

Miscellaneous Car Maintenance:



 

 - These are the often out of sight tasks that never end and for which volunteers just don't get enough credit for. Among other projects, Budd Blair and Fred Walter checked the pole tension on Car #163 after the inbound end pole was replaced the previous weekend.  Thanks to Charlie Wootton, Ron Rabena, Courtney Brown, and Nicholas Brightbill for getting the pole replaced the week before.

 

Liberty Liner Independence Hall:

 

- As mentioned in a previous post earlier this year, new resistor grids for the Liberty Liner have been obtained to replace those under the car which are in poor condition and have finally failed, rendering the train inoperable.  On Sunday, Henry Long and Matt Nawn started the process to replace the grids under the A1 (outbound) end of the train.

 

Before going much further, let's explain how the train is configured:

 

(outbound) A1 section - C section - B section - A section (inbound)

 

The C is the all coach center section, B is the bar section, and the end coach sections are A1 and A.  Interestingly, the outbound and inbound configuration at the museum is the same when the train was operated on the Red Arrow Lines.

 

The work was done underneath the train on the ground in Carbarn #2.  Each wire was traced, marked according to the schematic, and disconnected from the resistor banks.  By the end of the day, all wires had been disconnected from the A1 end resistors and marked, a concept for mounting the new resistors was developed, and some general assessment work on the train's electrical and air systems was done.  Next step is to remove the resistor banks themselves. 

 

Helping Henry and Matt with this work were Joel Salomon who helped get the Liner in position, Nevin Byers who helped get some lighting set up and Andrew Nawn, who yelled wire numbers from the schematic to his dad so his dad didn't have to constantly crawl out from under the train. 

 

No date has yet been announced for when the train will be operable again.  Watch this column and the museum news messages for further details!

 

The existing grids have been disconnected and are ready for removal.

Andrew Nawn makes a Halloween-like appearance with the uneven lighting in the back of Carbarn #2

 

My thanks and compliments to all volunteers who make these things possible.

 

- Matt Nawn

 

Wrap Up of August 24 Work Session; Next Session is September 7

Dear Volunteers and Friends:

Our last work session on August 24 was a productive one, with both planned and unplanned work making progress.

Of our two time critical projects, the repacking of all 16 axle and motor bearings on the trucks for JTC #311 was completed.  This enables the car to be retrucked at the next work session on Saturday, September 7. 

More progress was made on NJT #10, but work remains.  Additional work sessions will be scheduled soon as this project needs to reach completion. 

NJT #10 got off to a delayed start thanks to some unplanned work.  The Carbarn #1 sump pump operation was intermittent, and remained so after the pit was mostly pumped out.  Thus, after a "dive" into the pit (actually, it was more like a fishing expedition in filthy water), the pump was removed, partially disassembled, and the malfunctioning float switch cleaned and tested.  A thick plastic bag was also intermittently getting sucked into the discharge pipe.  This was removed as well.  A check valve was added to the discharge line, and after reassembly, the pit dried out and stayed dry in a manner unseen for some time.  Hopefully this will make the conditions in which our volunteers work in a little more inviting.

Retriever rope on the outbound end of car #172 was replaced as well.

Helping with the projects of this day were Budd Blair, Rick Hoffmeister, Jerry Evans, Courtney Brown, and the Nawns (Matt, Matty, Andrew, and Megan).  Nevin Byers and Nicholas Brightbill helped with hostling #10. 

Next Work Session is Saturday, September 7

Our next work session is Saturday, September 7.  Goal for the day is to place JTC #311 on its rebuilt trucks, and possibly remount the air compressor as well.  If interested in helping with this session, please contact Joel Salomon (jdstrolley@ptd.net) as he will be leading this session.

Seems hard to believe it has been more than 5 years since we detrucked the car.

 

When completed, #311 will be greatly improved mechanically, electrically, structurally, and cosmetically.

 

Thank you for your support of Rockhill Trolley Museum!

 

- Matt Nawn



 

Maintenance Department Update - Next Work Session August 24 & Wrap Up of August 17 session

Dear Volunteer:

Rockhill Trolley Maintenance Department is having another work session this coming Saturday, August 24.  Your help is needed with the following projects:

• Continue work on the voltage regulator and low voltage system on former NJ Transit PCC Car #10 (if all goes well, the car may run under its own power since the car was retired August 24, 2001).

• Finish repacking the remaining bearings on the overhauled Brill 77E trucks from Johnstown Traction Company #311

New volunteers are always welcome to join in and learn what we do as Rockhill Trolley Museum's "pit crew".

Last Saturday, August 17, was a very busy and productive day.  Much work was accomplished then and during this past week, including:

• Repairs to the inbound brake valve on STCP #172, returning the car to service

• Continued progress on the voltage regulator repairs to NJT PCC Car #10

• Continued progress on repacking the journal bearings in the JTC #311 trucks

• Controller maintenance (heavy duty) on STCP #249

• Brake valve lubrication on CTC #1875

• Electrical investigation of IT Sweeper #3

Assisting with this work was Budd Blair (multiple days), Jerry Evans, George Rich, Courtney Brown, Bill Monaghan, Fred Walter, and Matt Nawn.

Work on NJT #10 continued into the night last Saturday.

 

 

My thanks to the volunteers and donors who make all this possible!

 

 

Want to help financially with a future project?  Visit the Rockhill Trolley Museum homepage (www.rockhilltrolley.org) to assist with the following:

 

Buy a desk model of PTC #2743 for yourself and help restore the real thing:

http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/node/1460

 

Help bring Rockhill Trolley Museum's first Light Rail Vehicle to the East Coast:

http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/sites/default/files/docs/U2_fundraising.pdf



Maintenance Department Work Session - Saturday, August 17

Dear Volunteer:

Rockhill Trolley Museum Maintenance Department is having a work session this Saturday, August 17.  It will be a busy day with the following projects scheduled:

- Service and repair inbound brake valve on STCP #172

- Continue electrical work on former NJT PCC Car #10

- Finish packing the journal bearings on the Brill 77E trucks for Johnstown Traction Company #311

All of these projects are priorities at present.  The repairs to #172 will enable this car to return to service with Operations Department.  The return to operation of NJT #10 will enable it to leave the museum for its new owner and start the process of delivery of a U2 Light Rail Vehicle to the museum schedule for this fall.

A work session is tentatively schedule for Saturday, August 24, with the sole purpose being the re-trucking of JTC #311.  The journal bearing packing must be completed this weekend if the car is to ride again on its original trucks (which have been completely rebuilt).

I hope you can join me this Saturday in Rockhill Furnace.  Based on commitments to date, we should have a decent shop crew size to make the work easier.  But more help is needed!

I apologize that I have not updated this site in 2 months.  It has been a busy time at the museum with the 50th Anniversary being celebrated July 6, following by the second annual PCC Car Day three weeks later.  Both events went off flawlessly and had a good turnout of members and friends (especially the 50th Anniversary Event).

Work has not stopped, however!  In the past 2 months many tasks have been completed, including the following:

- PSCT #6: readjustment of shaft brakes and installation of new batteries

- JTC #311: start of journal bearing repacking as well as extensive work on the carbody

- STCP #172: replacement of a leaking governor gasket

- JTC #355: controller maintenance

- York #163: controller maintenance

- SEPTA #2743: thorough inspection and servicing

- STCP #249: compressor inspection (electrical side)

- SEPTA #205: compressor inspection (electrical side) and rooftop wiring inspection.

- CTC#1875: brake rigging inspection

- Multiple cars: pole and harp maintenance, including carbon insert and show inspection and replacement as necessary

My thanks to all of the volunteers and specialty contractors who make this possible!

- Matt Nawn

Work Session and Projects for June 15

There will be a Maintenance Department Work Session this coming Saturday, June 15.  Help is needed as two of the museum's most popular cars are current out of service due to failures last weekend.  Work Car day last Saturday is thus followed by a Work Day this Saturday.

The projects are as follows:

York Railways #163

 

This workhorse of the fleet, and an essential member of the cars used for weekday bus trips, is out of service due to continued issues with the inbound controller not picking up power.  Budd Blair and Fred Walker spend considerable time on May 26 trying to resolve the problems, including rewiring the bonnet switch (controller disconnect/breaker), but the problems returned last weekend.  Some brief troubleshooting last Saturday indicates the ratchet switch may not be picking up but more work is needed.  Budd is planning to resume his efforts on Saturday but could really use a second set of eyes and hands to assist him.

 

This is the ratchet switch in question; inbound end of York #163, at the bottom of the K68 controller.

 

CTC Open Car #1875

 

To save wear and tear, this very popular vehicle in our collection has not been out of the barn much this year to date.  It was put into service last Saturday, but only briefly, as the brake shoe on the outbound end, left side, second axle from the front has come loose and slams against the wheel after the brakes are fully released.  Besides the noise, the shoe is at risk for grabbing the wheel, thus requiring the car to be taken out of service to avoid further damage or a possible derailment.  Troubleshooting is needed.  It could be as simple as a loose, broken, or missing pin; but a full diagnosis and repair is needed.  The car could also use a controller servicing, brake valve lubrication, lubrication of all bearings (most bearings in the car are roller and simply need a few pumps of grease), compressor oil check, and inspection of the compressor brushes.  Joel Salomon has offered to assist a willing volunteer with at least the brake shoe troubleshooting.  It would be great to have this car back in service for our 50th Anniversary on July 6!

 

JTC #311

 

As reported on the museum's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/rockhilltrolley; you do not need to be a member of Facebook to visit the site and see the photos); steady progress continues to be made on this car by our contractor, Keith, and the museum volunteers who assist him.  Another work session is scheduled for this weekend.  Projects include hot riveting and installation of the new floor.  No special skills are required.

 

Posted below are some scenes of recent progress on #311. 

 

Keith bends new window posts in specially built jig

Removal of the old floor is completed

Both new sides are hung; riveting is still in progress

The first side of the car is really taking shape now

The side bearings have been removed and new hardware will be used to remount them

 











Thank you for your continued support!

Best wishes,
Matt Nawn