Cats in the dirt... To dig more effectively, the Cat 627B scraper is pushed by the museum's Cat D7E dozer.
Up close... The front portion of the 627B scraper is seen on the fill area south of the restoration building. With over six foot tall tires, the 627B was a force to behold.
From scraper to dozer... With the fill area quickly being covered in new earth at around 25 cubic yards per pass of the 627B, John McDonald changes machines to the museum's D7E dozer to level off the fill area.
Another blade full... The D7E has a full blade at this shot looking north across the fill area at the south end of the R&GVRRM's restoration building. Eventually this fill area will carry railroad tracks coming south out of the building's two railroad equipment bays giving the museum addition equipment storage and work areas.
Back to the cut... The 627B starts another pass at the cut area with the museum's FM H12-44 #1843 locomotive parked in the back. Also shown in the museum's Cat D8 tractor pan. While serviceable, the D8 pan simply can not match the performance of the newer 627B scraper although the museum has used the D8 tractor pan extensively to move A LOT of dirt! It won't be long before it sees service again.
Off to the fill... The 627B heads past the north end of the restoration building to dump another load of earth at the south end of the building.
Prepping for the next pass... Museum volunteer Scott Gleason has the controls of the Cat D7E as he works the cut area after the 627B makes a pass. To make the scraper work most effectively, it needs a level cut area. The dozer has its work cut out to make that happen before the scraper returns.
Lining up... John McDonald has the 627B lining up for another pass. The cutting blade for the scraper can be seen under the machine.
Making a pass... Working alone, the 627B digs its way through the cut area. The 627B is equipped with two engines. One up front that pulls and another at the rear wheels that pushes.
Cats at work...With the 627B finishing a pass, the R&GVRRM's Cat 12 grader backs to make a pass at the cut to level it off for the 627B's next pass. The Cat 12 was recently turned to operational condition by the museum's volunteers.
In the dirt... The Cat 12 strains its way through the cut area with museum volunteer Joe Scanlon at the controls.
Up close... A close-up view of the Cat 12 at work with a full blade of dirt.
Turning around... The Cat 627B makes a turn at the north end of the cut area. The 627B is remarkably nimble and able to turn very sharply in a very small area for its massive size.
Not much left... After two days of digging with the 627B, there is not much dirt left to move. It would be all gone by the end of this work day. Thanks to the R&GVRRM's excavation crew to another job well done! Soon this area will hold tracks leading to the museum's restoration building.
Installed... Our Plymouth BL took a big step with the installation of its custom-built radiator which was recently assembled and leak tested. This is the last major piece of the mechanical restoration required before the Buda engine can be started.
Installed... A little wider angle showing the Buda 4-cylinder gas engine with the radiator behind it.
Another job completed... The BL's transmission has also been completed. The drive wheel mechanism is shown here. The wheel takes power from the flywheel of the engine and directs it to the chain drive. The direction of the locomotive is determined by which side this wheel is placed in contact with the flywheel. Torque and speed are then adjusted by moving the drive wheel across the flywheel. The BL casting mark can be seen in the spoke of the drive wheel.
Time to work a little on steam... Showing its coal bunker, ex-Brooklyn Navy Yard Vulcan #12 was receiving some cosmetic restoration work in the museum's restoration building. The museum's Motive Power Department works on steam projects on the first Saturday of each month. Interested in helping us bring steam back to Rochester? Learn how you can volunteer.
Ready for excavation... With one of the rainiest Septembers on record, the north end of the restoration building awaits a few dry days so more excavation work can be done to remove more dirt which from the right side of the image.
The Pennsy lives... Two former Pennsylvania Railroad pieces await their turn at restoration. The museum's PRR class B-70nb Railway Post Office Car and PRR N-5C caboose 477822 sit north of the museum's restoration building. The museum plans to restore both of these pieces to their PRR livery.
