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Post by Jim on Jan 3, 2015 11:28:07 GMT
Hi Jim, You are correct in that giving it a name gives it some personality. I am still thinking about that one. It will be in at least the second batch of numbers and maybe the third. I just don't like the names that were given, and since there were very few differences between them all, I started off with a "generic one" if you see what I mean. Perhaps a couple of "Soothing Ales" over New Years will help. Cheers Tom Hi Tom, Welcome to 70025 'Western Star' Those soothing ales over Christmas did the trick then. Magic stuff isn't it? Jim
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 11:44:04 GMT
Not much going on at the moment. I have injured myself clearing the snow and it is quite hard to move about. I am using the time to make some needed fasteners since I can sit at the Sherline and don't have to move much.
I am also going to make an apparatus to check the alignment of the cylinders to driving wheels. I will post a pic of that when it is done.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Roger on Jan 6, 2015 12:26:02 GMT
What a nuisance, I hope it's not serious. I read recently that a lot of heart attacks happen when snow clearing, I can't remember the reason but it's something to do with exertion in the cold. Do be careful, we want to see that locomotive in steam!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 12:44:51 GMT
Thanks Roger
Yes, there are a lot of heart attacks while clearing snow. The light fluffy stuff isn't too bad, but the wet, heavy, stick to the shovel stuff will get your heart going quickly. The main problem is that old pharts like me don't know enough to take it easy, and don't want to admit that they have slowed down with age. I do a bit and then go in for a while, then I do a bit more, until it is done.
We had an inch or so of freezing rain on top of a couple of inches of snow, and that made a big mess. My problem was slipping and trying to keep from falling, and the resulting gymnastics (Russian Judge gave me a 9) did me in.
It's all part of where I live so I put up with it.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Roger on Jan 6, 2015 13:26:50 GMT
Oh well, it sounds like you have the measure of it. I don't know that part of Canada, I've only been in and around the Canadian Rockies as far North as Barkerville and a little beyond. It's a fabulous country in the summer....
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Post by sparticusrye on Jan 6, 2015 18:34:38 GMT
Tom,
Sorry to hear you injured yourself shovelling. I scraped my driveway while it was still raining a little and ended up with a curling sheet. Which made getting my little guy to school an interesting walk. Some salt has helped but still not perfect. The drop in temperature here in Kingston has made salt nearly useless. Though the warm up today might prove some use, -6 now, and let the salt work.
James
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 20:17:48 GMT
James, it is too cold for salt here as well and it is going to be -33c tomorrow with the wind.
I hope to get down your way this summer ... really like the Kingston area.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 20:22:44 GMT
Roger, I spent 32 years in Vancouver. One of the jobs I had there was a cook/deckhand on a tugboat and we traveled the West Coast from Portland to Alaska. You did see pretty much the best that the country has to offer as far as scenery goes. Did you find any gold in Barkerville? There are some places that are a close second, but the Rockies are #1 as far as I am concerned, and I have been all over North America.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 23:28:35 GMT
Hi Tom........ it must have been the "Wrong kind of snow" for you..( A lame excuse the Railways here came up with a few years ago when traction motors became shorted out during a Winter period.)........Are any of you near to BATUS ( British Army Training Unit, Suffield) ??....... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_Training_Unit_Suffield ..........
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Post by Roger on Jan 7, 2015 8:02:24 GMT
Roger, I spent 32 years in Vancouver. One of the jobs I had there was a cook/deckhand on a tugboat and we traveled the West Coast from Portland to Alaska. You did see pretty much the best that the country has to offer as far as scenery goes. Did you find any gold in Barkerville? There are some places that are a close second, but the Rockies are #1 as far as I am concerned, and I have been all over North America. Cheers Tom Last time we flew into Vancouver, crossed to Vancouver Island, then toured as much of the area as we had time for, taking in the Railway Museum near Whistler and the Pow Wow which was fascinating. Yes, my wife struck gold at Barkerville and I became a theatrical sensation on stage. I think the highlight was floating down the river near Mount Robson, that's a truly beautiful place. We put in a lot of miles and visited the copper mine at Logan as well as the obligatory glacier bus. It's an awesome country, second only to the UK. The Rockies are superb, but if I had to choose just one more overseas visit, it would be to stay in the log hotel at Yellowstone and spend a few days exploring that amazing moonscape again. After that, the 'going to the Sun' road takes some beating.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 11:50:55 GMT
Alan, I lived in Calgary for a few years and that is only 150 or so miles from Suffield. Some of the Lads from there used to come into the shop (importer of British food) were my wife worked so they could get their goodies from over 'ome.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 18:51:10 GMT
Thought I would do an update since it has been a while.
Back is still bad and I am awaiting some test results. In the mean time, the nasty cold weather has caused a massive flare up of the arthritis in my hands and I am unable to do any machining at the moment. I did get a test fixture made before the hands got real bad and I was able to determine that the cylinder bore is inline with the center of the drive axle at a normal ride height.
That was as far as I got.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Roger on Jan 18, 2015 19:38:29 GMT
My Mum has suffered Arthritis for years but found some real respite from the condition by taking a dose of those Cod Liver Oil Zeppelins. I started getting all sorts of niggle in various joints and decided to follow suit. Mine have all gone but there seems to be a trick to it. The Doctor said those supplements don't have much effect unless you take them on an empty stomach. I've self administered 3 x 1000mg Cod Liver oil and 1 x 1000mg glucosamine sulphate every night for the past 2 years when I inevitably wake up in the early hours and it's really done the trick. I don't know if any of this would work for you but since they're just foods, not drugs, there's no harm in trying if you're suffering. Maybe you already use them.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 20:22:14 GMT
Roger, Thank You for the suggestion ... I already take virtually the same dosage of those pills, and most times it works well, but when it is -25 or-30c out there and I have to go out in it, my hands get bad. It will pass, I just have to be patient, and use two hands on the soothing ales . Cheers Tom
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Post by Jim on Jan 18, 2015 21:13:39 GMT
Roger, Thank You for the suggestion ... I already take virtually the same dosage of those pills, and most times it works well, but when it is -25 or-30c out there and I have to go out in it, my hands get bad. It will pass, I just have to be patient, and use two hands on the soothing ales . Cheers Tom That sounds seriously bad Tom. It's not much comfort in your current situation I know but given the mild dry climate here you can hold a soothing ale in the left hand while turning the longitudinal feed with the right hand. Jim
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Post by Roger on Jan 18, 2015 21:38:07 GMT
Roger, Thank You for the suggestion ... I already take virtually the same dosage of those pills, and most times it works well, but when it is -25 or-30c out there and I have to go out in it, my hands get bad. It will pass, I just have to be patient, and use two hands on the soothing ales . Cheers Tom That's seriously cold, no wonder the joints complain. The advice about taking them on an empty stomach does seem to work though so maybe that's something you could do differently? I do feel for you. My Grandmother had dreadful arthritis, and she said it felt like broken glass in her joints. Ouch! At least you have your ales.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2015 1:21:23 GMT
Roger, I take the pills first thing on a morning so my stomach is empty. It is the worst in the extreme cold when I have to shovel snow or use the snow blower. As I said, it will pass.
Jim, I would love to move to Australia now that I don't have to work anymore. I have wanted to go since I was 10 years old, but I just never made it. Alas, the finances for that are not there.
I guess I just need Roger to teach me about cnc and then I will have both hands free for soothing ales.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 22:30:18 GMT
No progress to report at the moment. I am actually trying to figure out what to do next. I think it should be to mill and fit the guide bar brackets. Curly makes that part sound easy but I am sure there is a catch.
Cheers
Tom
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Post by Roger on Jan 28, 2015 8:03:21 GMT
Hi Tom, Curly makes everything sound easy, but seeing as you have a mill, you can get those accurate and the holes in the right place. I'm sure you will be fine.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 20:30:17 GMT
OK, so I am going to machine this casting. Both guide bar brackets are in the one piece at the moment and I think I will machine them that way and cut them apart when I am done. These seem to have all straight edges EXCEPT for the bottom part where the 3/32" dwindles to 1/32". I have never worked with a casting before, just bar stock. Other than the angle that the guide bar itself attaches to, any suggestions as to where to start? I must add that the castings almost fit the required dimensions. If I get out the metal stretcher, they will be fine. Cheers Tom
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