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 Post subject: Restoration of Reading GP35 #3640
PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:56 pm 
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Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:04 pm
Posts: 6
Location: Temple
For the last year the RCT&HS has been actively working on restoring EX RDG GP-35 #3640 it was built new in 1964 by EMD in LaGrange Ill.

Here it is shortly after its delivery to the Reading Company in 1964

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The 3640 had the distinction of being the last locomotive to be rebuilt in the Reading Company Shops and was the only RDG GP-35 to receive the "All Green" paint scheme here it is in 1974 shortly after its rebuild.

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It was no different from most of the RDG power it went into Conrail here is a view after receiving CR Markings

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It later got painted blue like everything else on Conrail.

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3640 went in an out of service till it put into storage in 1989 it was never reactivated after that. It was donated to the RCT&HS in 1994 and was returned to operation after a 13 year slumber in fall of 2002.

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In 2003 and 2004 3640 was put into service for multiple test runs an attempt to get all the bugs out of it from its lengthy storage.

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3640 performed flawlessly on all of its test runs some minor repairs were required. Typical things when returning a locomotive to service that had been stored for a long time.

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3640 turned out to be a very reliable well operating engine

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After we were happy with its mechanical status we started its complete restoration (Not just a paint job)

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There are many different projects that have been done to 3640 so this is the first I will post this is the rebuilding of the Number board Housing we decided to rebuild this area because of pit holes in the metal.

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After the Number board was removed this is what was on the inside

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After the bottom was cut out

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While the bottom was removed we took the opportunity to rebuild the front window frame

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The new frame

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New skin welded on top

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The new bottom for the housing

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Welded in place

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Another view

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The same view as the first photo

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The new inside wall fit into place

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And welded in place

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Smoothing out the welds

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A new terminal board mount had to be fabricated

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A picture of TB16

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Schematic Diagrams were made of all the wiring

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And Cross referenced with EMD Schematics unfortunately we do not have a set of schematics for 3640 so we have to make them from scratch

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TB16 test fit on its new mount

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TB H was also test fit

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After being test fit the new mount was welded into position and round stock was welded in place to tie off all the wiring

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The other side

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The entire housing was then primed

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Another view

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Head on

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The original angle again

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Then it all got finish painted

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Another view

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Another

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Head on

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Engineers side

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Original Angle

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After the finish painting everything got rewired

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We were lucky to find the original manufacture of the number board light sockets and buy brand new ones

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Another view of the rewired housing

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TB 16 again with its new wires in place

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A side view

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A view of the Engineers side

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TB H One of the things we are adding to 3640 is a 120V AC Lighting system to display the Locomotive after it restoration and to help with general maintenance

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Another view

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Before

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And After

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I hope you enjoyed these photos I will gladly post more if there is an interest in it.

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RCT&HS Mechanical Department
-Preserving the Past for the Future-


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:11 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:48 am
Posts: 70
Location: Stockton, Ca
Beautiful work, I'd love to see more as it is done.

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Erik Novoa
Miner/ Railroader


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:31 am 
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Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:33 pm
Posts: 3080
Location: Above the Sterling Hill Mine
Thanks a lot for posting these up! Very good work!

Miner Greg


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:23 am 
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Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 10:14 am
Posts: 32
Location: south eastern ohio
That wireing looks real nice. And the body works real good to


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:59 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pm
Posts: 6872
Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field
yea those are some great photos! you see alot of restoration work on steam engines but not on diesels. add some more progress photos as you go, looks real good!

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:05 pm 
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Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:32 pm
Posts: 783
On an off mining topic, but a railroad topic. Anyone hear how Doyle McCormick is making out on the restoration of ex Sante Fe, ex D&H PA's that came back from Mexico a few years ago ?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:39 pm 
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Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:04 pm
Posts: 6
Location: Temple
Thanks for the kind comments it means allot to our crew.

Here is a look at some work done to the front pilot of 3640

The front pilot was removed

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It was a little disfigured

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Starting to torch out the bad metal

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The new bottom was test fit then welded in

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Smoothing out the welds

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A new piece was added to the top of the pilot where Conrail had torched it out

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A new brace was welded in to reinforce the pilot

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A look at the new piece

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New MU hose hanging brackets were welded on the pilot where the old ones used to be

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After all the fabrication was done the inside of the pilot was painted

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After all the Mating surfaces were primed they were painted.

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A freshly painted pilot

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Another view

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Before

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After

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After its full rebuild the pilot was rehung on 3640

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RCT&HS Mechanical Department
-Preserving the Past for the Future-


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:33 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pm
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Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field
where is this work being done?

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:48 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:00 pm
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Location: From Schuylkill County, PA living in Phoenix, AZ
Chris wrote:
where is this work being done?


At the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society in Hamburg......

M.T.

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