10/09/2023
I am now home after spending two weeks working on the WP165. Many people have asked why the WP165 did not run this year. Our plan was to have the engine running for an event on May 18, 2023. I went up to the museum in the middle of April to begin prepping the 165 for it's annual test and inspection. The other members of the steam crew were busy this year with major projects that did not allow them to take time off to help at the museum. Since I was primarily working alone I could only complete one tasks at a time to get the engine ready. On the day scheduled for our hydro static test with the FRA present all went well until we were above 100 psi. Our turret valve was bypassing forcing all the valves in the cab to be included in the hydro test. This created leaks that put water on the boiler and made it difficult to inspect the boiler for leaks. Our throttle also leaked which is not unusual in small amounts. There were a couple of super heater elements leaking at the header which again put water in a place that made inspection difficult. We had several new studs that were leaking above the normal water line that will need to be reset. The hydro test and inspection were cancelled on the basis that the repairs would take more time to complete than was available before the event that was scheduled. While I was there I was able to overhaul the left rear axle housing and make numerous other repairs to the museums backhoe so that it is a reliable machine at the museum.
Now back to the present. We took the turret valve apart to grind the valve and found that the threads on the body and bonnet of the valve are worn out. We are in the process of making a tap for the body and a new bonnet and lead screw for the valve. Cost of material for this one repair is $1300. All of the super heating elements were taken loose from the header, lapped in and reset, so we should not have anymore leaks in the front end. We will need to purchase new tube for the elements, they are starting to fail and I had to patch a couple of them while I had them loose. I have not researched the cost of new tubes yet. I reset the studs that were leaking on the top of the boiler and I have started to install the jacket in the cab. I hope to have the jacket done in the cab by spring and if our next hydro shows that all is well I will jacket the exterior of the engine. I spent the rest of my time helping David work on the radiator project on the SP 2873, and prepping the 165 for winter. We have a need for a new hydro pump and a circulatory pump for doing our test and inspections. Total cost for the pumps is around $1500. I will be back at the museum for another week on Oct 15th. My focus will be on replacing some switch ties and getting the balloon track tamped. I may work on the jacket time permitting.
