RMI Prairie Step 10 - Tender Plumbing

Looking good Phil.

Well it has been over a year and a half since I have done anything on this project. So time to get going once again. 

It looks like I will have to re-do a lot of the plumbing or at least extend it. I have decided to add 18 inches to the length of the tender so that it accommodates my feet. I had tried running Jim Berryman's Sweet Creek and found that it was very uncomfortable to run for any length of time due to the fact that my legs were scrunched up against the boiler backhead.

I figured that this is the time to make the locomotive fit me while it is under construction so that I could at least fit into it comfortably. The frame will be extended 18 inches along with all the plumbing below. The bolster will be moved forward 18 inches so that the turning geometry will not change. A hinged floor pan will be built so that I have access to the extra 18 inches below my feet to get access to pumps and filters that will be located in the new space. Swing out doors will also be fabricated and hinged off the vertical edge of the tender body. This will allow me to enter the tender without having to crawl over the side of it. The doors will be held in place with either a magnetic latch or a locating pin through the floor pan. I am also planning on adding another 8 inches to the cab on the locomotive so that I have room for an air brake stand and additional leg room. I will extend the throttle if required so it is comfortable.

To get started I will need to purchase the correct size of steel channel and rectangular tubing so that I can weld the additional pieces onto the front of the tender. Then extend all of the plumbing to the front plate of the tender chassis.

Adding another 18 inches means more room for neon! I just happen to have 2 short pieces to add to the other neon that is under there.  It will be fun to watch the glow off in the distance when it is running.  You all laugh now, but wait until you see it in action. 

This weekends project will be to dig it out from under all the stuff in my storage container and get it ready to weld. Fun stuff!  Check back for more progress.

Phil