#choochoo — Public Fediverse posts

@fj I hope future revisions will increase the requirements until at some point, there's no other option left than to use steel on steel instead of rubber...

#ChooChoo

@fj I hope future revisions will increase the requirements until at some point, there's no other option left than to use steel on steel instead of rubber...

#ChooChoo

The high point of the tour group I hosted at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum this weekend was the fact that we offer a rental program, so after showing everyone around all day, they got to get up in a locomotive and with an instructor learn how to drive a train! #trains #locomotive #choochoo

The high point of the tour group I hosted at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum this weekend was the fact that we offer a rental program, so after showing everyone around all day, they got to get up in a locomotive and with an instructor learn how to drive a train! #trains #locomotive #choochoo

Back at the shop today! Lots of misc. small work done on Franklin’s rebuild. Got the running boards turned from raw boards to completed pieces first: cut to the right length and profile, routed the edges round, sanded, and drilled all the required holes. After that we dug the old fuel tank out of storage (a stainless version is being made now to the same dimension, but it isn’t here yet), cut the right opening for it in the back panel, then took the hardware that holds the starting crank in place when you’re cranking it, cleaned it up in the sandblaster and painted it. Also found another rotten board that wasn’t obvious until the running boards came off, so made up a replacement for that too.

Next time will be doing the epoxy coating for the new cut in the back and the new board, and starting to paint all the wood! I expect that will take a couple weeks to get through. #choochoo

Back at the shop today! Lots of misc. small work done on Franklin’s rebuild. Got the running boards turned from raw boards to completed pieces first: cut to the right length and profile, routed the edges round, sanded, and drilled all the required holes. After that we dug the old fuel tank out of storage (a stainless version is being made now to the same dimension, but it isn’t here yet), cut the right opening for it in the back panel, then took the hardware that holds the starting crank in place when you’re cranking it, cleaned it up in the sandblaster and painted it. Also found another rotten board that wasn’t obvious until the running boards came off, so made up a replacement for that too.

Next time will be doing the epoxy coating for the new cut in the back and the new board, and starting to paint all the wood! I expect that will take a couple weeks to get through. #choochoo

On the #ChooChoo

Haven’t posted as much speeder work the last couple weeks since most of it has been final fitup, which is mostly planing 5mm off here and there to make everything line up well and not that interesting to see photos of.

The new wood is pretty much ready now, so I spent the last couple days cleaning up the frame and got three coats on it today! Previously they did assembly _then_ painted it, so all the hidden surfaces rusted over time. I’m painting the whole thing before assembly this time to prevent that.

Next time will be sealing the edges of the wood with some resin to keep it from delaminating with moisture later on. That’ll probably take a couple days to get through, then can paint all the wood, then install it all. #choochoo

Haven’t posted as much speeder work the last couple weeks since most of it has been final fitup, which is mostly planing 5mm off here and there to make everything line up well and not that interesting to see photos of.

The new wood is pretty much ready now, so I spent the last couple days cleaning up the frame and got three coats on it today! Previously they did assembly _then_ painted it, so all the hidden surfaces rusted over time. I’m painting the whole thing before assembly this time to prevent that.

Next time will be sealing the edges of the wood with some resin to keep it from delaminating with moisture later on. That’ll probably take a couple days to get through, then can paint all the wood, then install it all. #choochoo

The Flying Scotsman is in our village this weekend. #ChooChoo

The Flying Scotsman is in our village this weekend. #ChooChoo

My dad and 5yo, driving a tiny train at the weekend. #ChooChoo

My dad and 5yo, driving a tiny train at the weekend. #ChooChoo

It's never a good sign when the train conductor comes on the loudspeaker and says, "Okay, here's the situation...."
#train #commuting #ChooChoo #MBTA #CommuterRail

It's never a good sign when the train conductor comes on the loudspeaker and says, "Okay, here's the situation...."
#train #commuting #ChooChoo #MBTA #CommuterRail

The plywood for Franklin’s new shell came in while I was travelling for work, so started working on cutting it all to size today! Got two replacement roof panels, a replacement rear panel, and four window frames/mounts all traced and cut out. I don’t often do much woodworking at the shop, it’s fun once in awhile.

Next week my goal is to get the new front pieces cut and make a list of all the nuts/bolts/washers we need. #choochoo

The plywood for Franklin’s new shell came in while I was travelling for work, so started working on cutting it all to size today! Got two replacement roof panels, a replacement rear panel, and four window frames/mounts all traced and cut out. I don’t often do much woodworking at the shop, it’s fun once in awhile.

Next week my goal is to get the new front pieces cut and make a list of all the nuts/bolts/washers we need. #choochoo

Slightly different train than my usual ones :) Last time I was here this was significantly more diesel-y! #choochoo

Slightly different train than my usual ones :) Last time I was here this was significantly more diesel-y! #choochoo

This month makes one year since I started working on restoring Franklin the speeder! A few more months and the cosmetic work should be pretty much done. We'll have it mostly done by August, planning on tying up the loose ends after that and the project 100% closed by the end of September.

We'll start working on restoring the second speeder in October, which I expect will probably take about a year total (it's in better cosmetic condition but will need a fair amount of mechanical work, plus complete rewiring).

After that we'll see what else the speeder program holds! There's a spare engine for Franklin I want to get running on a stand and probably do a complete tear down and rebuild on, so we have it for demos and as a spare should Franklin ever need it. And then I've been told we own a third speeder that's in a shed being stored elsewhere until we need it.

Also non-speeder things as they come up, there's always lots of that too! #choochoo

This month makes one year since I started working on restoring Franklin the speeder! A few more months and the cosmetic work should be pretty much done. We'll have it mostly done by August, planning on tying up the loose ends after that and the project 100% closed by the end of September.

We'll start working on restoring the second speeder in October, which I expect will probably take about a year total (it's in better cosmetic condition but will need a fair amount of mechanical work, plus complete rewiring).

After that we'll see what else the speeder program holds! There's a spare engine for Franklin I want to get running on a stand and probably do a complete tear down and rebuild on, so we have it for demos and as a spare should Franklin ever need it. And then I've been told we own a third speeder that's in a shed being stored elsewhere until we need it.

Also non-speeder things as they come up, there's always lots of that too! #choochoo

More work disassembling Franklin’s shell today! Got the last pieces of the plywood off, then started cleaning all the loose rust off the frame. Smaller pieces can get sandblasted, larger pieces are being gone over with a polisher with a rust removal (sandpaper flap wheel plus scotchbrite) drum.

New plywood has arrived, we’ll probably start cutting pieces to size next week! Also need to order replacement hardware, we talked about it today and we’re going to stick with button head slot screws and square nuts since that’s historically appropriate.

Four months until it needs to be done for the big expo! #choochoo

More work disassembling Franklin’s shell today! Got the last pieces of the plywood off, then started cleaning all the loose rust off the frame. Smaller pieces can get sandblasted, larger pieces are being gone over with a polisher with a rust removal (sandpaper flap wheel plus scotchbrite) drum.

New plywood has arrived, we’ll probably start cutting pieces to size next week! Also need to order replacement hardware, we talked about it today and we’re going to stick with button head slot screws and square nuts since that’s historically appropriate.

Four months until it needs to be done for the big expo! #choochoo

Dsb i dag
https://youtu.be/1ZTTnAG0sSk?is=BTNbE7bu3b5jepFO
#tog #dsb #choochoo

Dsb i dag
https://youtu.be/1ZTTnAG0sSk?is=BTNbE7bu3b5jepFO
#tog #dsb #choochoo

Slow progress on the speeder body tear down, but progress nonetheless! Got the other roof panel off today as well as one of the back window frames and window. Spent the other half of the day helping the steam team start rebuilding the brake system on #9, which I didn’t get pictures of unfortunately. Distributor valve reinstalled now, after many small issues run into trying to do so. #choochoo

Slow progress on the speeder body tear down, but progress nonetheless! Got the other roof panel off today as well as one of the back window frames and window. Spent the other half of the day helping the steam team start rebuilding the brake system on #9, which I didn’t get pictures of unfortunately. Distributor valve reinstalled now, after many small issues run into trying to do so. #choochoo

2 Line timelapse from Mercer Island to South Bellevue

#Seattle #SoundTransit #ChooChoo

2 Line timelapse from Mercer Island to South Bellevue

#Seattle #SoundTransit #ChooChoo

Started working on removing the wood from Franklin the speeder’s shell today, to get ready for refurbishing. Not a glamorous job but it’ll be satisfying once it’s done! It’s a very large number of slot screws with square nuts on them, all of which are rusted in place then painted over so it’s slow going. Got the antenna counterpoise off (might reuse this depending on the new antenna as it’s in reasonable shape) and half the roof wood off by the end of the day today.

Should have new wood in the next week or two, we’ll use the old as a template to make new pieces, clean up the frame, reinstall it all, and it’ll get a new coat of paint.

Also pictured: my view out the door from today’s workspace.#choochoo

Started working on removing the wood from Franklin the speeder’s shell today, to get ready for refurbishing. Not a glamorous job but it’ll be satisfying once it’s done! It’s a very large number of slot screws with square nuts on them, all of which are rusted in place then painted over so it’s slow going. Got the antenna counterpoise off (might reuse this depending on the new antenna as it’s in reasonable shape) and half the roof wood off by the end of the day today.

Should have new wood in the next week or two, we’ll use the old as a template to make new pieces, clean up the frame, reinstall it all, and it’ll get a new coat of paint.

Also pictured: my view out the door from today’s workspace.#choochoo

Fairly quiet day today at the shop. Replaced the bulbs in Franklin’s marker lights, then measured up every wooden piece to start making a rebuilding plan for all of it. Also realized the “floor” was just held down by gravity, pulled that up and it turns out someone made it to cover up the degrading subfloor, so that got cleaned up a bit and measured to replace. Lots of fresh plywood (and a bit of other lumber) to order and cut soon! I brought the measurements home so that’ll get put into Excel and sketched out to figure out how many 4x8 sheets we’ll need, and of what.

There won’t be any choo-choo updates for the next few weeks, as I’m going to Steam School to start the journey to get my TSSA steam ticket! After the class it’s a bunch of studying, an exam, then 60 boiler operating hours plus 60 maintenance hours in my logbook, then another exam. #choochoo

Fairly quiet day today at the shop. Replaced the bulbs in Franklin’s marker lights, then measured up every wooden piece to start making a rebuilding plan for all of it. Also realized the “floor” was just held down by gravity, pulled that up and it turns out someone made it to cover up the degrading subfloor, so that got cleaned up a bit and measured to replace. Lots of fresh plywood (and a bit of other lumber) to order and cut soon! I brought the measurements home so that’ll get put into Excel and sketched out to figure out how many 4x8 sheets we’ll need, and of what.

There won’t be any choo-choo updates for the next few weeks, as I’m going to Steam School to start the journey to get my TSSA steam ticket! After the class it’s a bunch of studying, an exam, then 60 boiler operating hours plus 60 maintenance hours in my logbook, then another exam. #choochoo

@vga256 6135 (another Budd RDC) came inside today to start making a todo list of what needs to get done to use it again :) It needs some electrical and mechanical work (and a lot of new windows obviously) but the interior is in fairly good shape. #choochoo

@vga256 6135 (another Budd RDC) came inside today to start making a todo list of what needs to get done to use it again :) It needs some electrical and mechanical work (and a lot of new windows obviously) but the interior is in fairly good shape. #choochoo

Also also, the cab got put back on #9 this week and the tender got re-attached, starting to look like a real locomotive again! Should be out running again in a few months, a lot of brake work and other reassembly still to do. #choochoo

Also also, the cab got put back on #9 this week and the tender got re-attached, starting to look like a real locomotive again! Should be out running again in a few months, a lot of brake work and other reassembly still to do. #choochoo

Also, there’s a reason these are sometimes called “putt putts” #choochoo

Also, there’s a reason these are sometimes called “putt putts” #choochoo

Not the nicest day out today, but a successful shakedown test completed! Mostly couldn’t record as I was driving, but got a few seconds as we headed back to the shop. Lots of little things and cosmetic things still need sorting out, there’s still months of work ahead for that, but it’s finally a reliable vehicle at this point 😄 #choochoo

Not the nicest day out today, but a successful shakedown test completed! Mostly couldn’t record as I was driving, but got a few seconds as we headed back to the shop. Lots of little things and cosmetic things still need sorting out, there’s still months of work ahead for that, but it’s finally a reliable vehicle at this point 😄 #choochoo

There we go, old alternator had failed and I’d just been putting the battery on to charge once a month for the last 6 months, but now it’s got a good alternator that’s charging the battery again.

Next up I need to sort out a replacement fuel tank, it’s got a little plastic snowblower tank in it temporarily but it needs a bigger tank, and one that doesn’t require taking the “hood”/seat off to fill up. #choochoo

There we go, old alternator had failed and I’d just been putting the battery on to charge once a month for the last 6 months, but now it’s got a good alternator that’s charging the battery again.

Next up I need to sort out a replacement fuel tank, it’s got a little plastic snowblower tank in it temporarily but it needs a bigger tank, and one that doesn’t require taking the “hood”/seat off to fill up. #choochoo

I haven’t posted in ages given the broken ankle that kept me from the shop for the last few months, so as extra context: This is one of my projects at a heritage railway, restoring a Fairmont M14 speeder to good running condition so we can both use it as a maintenance vehicle, and also give the public rides and stuff on it. His name is Franklin, and he turns 73 years old this year. He runs on a 5 horsepower 2-stroke engine that the company making the vehicle made themself. It’s more or less the simplest possible two-stroke engine you could make, everything including mixture and timing are fully manual. #choochoo

I haven’t posted in ages given the broken ankle that kept me from the shop for the last few months, so as extra context: This is one of my projects at a heritage railway, restoring a Fairmont M14 speeder to good running condition so we can both use it as a maintenance vehicle, and also give the public rides and stuff on it. His name is Franklin, and he turns 73 years old this year. He runs on a 5 horsepower 2-stroke engine that the company making the vehicle made themself. It’s more or less the simplest possible two-stroke engine you could make, everything including mixture and timing are fully manual. #choochoo

Back at the shop today, trying to sort out why the speeder still won’t start. After extensive testing it looked like there was a severe exhaust restriction somewhere, so we started disassembling the exhaust system and found one! Sorted that out, replaced a fouled spark plug while we were at it, and it fired right up despite having been sitting outside at around 0°C all day! So happy to hear the putt putt sound again after all this time.

Now it’s on to all the smaller stuff. Sort out the rusty fuel tank, alternator issue, some lights, replacing some wood, and a bunch more. #choochoo

Back at the shop today, trying to sort out why the speeder still won’t start. After extensive testing it looked like there was a severe exhaust restriction somewhere, so we started disassembling the exhaust system and found one! Sorted that out, replaced a fouled spark plug while we were at it, and it fired right up despite having been sitting outside at around 0°C all day! So happy to hear the putt putt sound again after all this time.

Now it’s on to all the smaller stuff. Sort out the rusty fuel tank, alternator issue, some lights, replacing some wood, and a bunch more. #choochoo

Occasionally YouTube shoves something humorous in front of me, like this takedown of a corporate pitch for investment.

#IfItsNotBroken #ChooChoo
https://youtu.be/YUpST_cQ1hM

Occasionally YouTube shoves something humorous in front of me, like this takedown of a corporate pitch for investment.

#IfItsNotBroken #ChooChoo
https://youtu.be/YUpST_cQ1hM

Want to go to Pound town? Go to Paington instead this Valentine's Day! Bear with me on the slant rhyme...

📸: Dartmouth Steam Railway, July 2025

#valentinesday #choochoo #steamtrain #trains

Back at the shop for the first time since breaking my ankle! Short day today since I’m still limited in how much I can do, but it was good to be back. Finished the rewiring job on the Fairmont speeder but it still won’t start, so we troubleshot that a bunch. Looking like maybe a plugged exhaust port, so we’ll be checking that more next time I’m around.

#9 is coming along too, passed the hydro test in December and now all getting put back together with new sightglasses and some new/refreshed gauges and everything. First steam test should be this month if all goes well! #choochoo

@lemgandi @crowgirl

Ohhh there is much more type sl

Or sudo apt install -y sl
Or yes | sudo apt install sl && sl

e@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@""""""""""
@" ___ ___________
II__[w] | [i] [z] |
{======|_|~~~~~~~~~|
/oO--000'"`-OO---OO-'

#choochoo xD #asciiart