Tim Voss > Air Valve, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

A lot of time and a lot of hands have passed over this old air brake valve.
Tim Voss > Cab, Northern Pacific 328, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

NP 328 was completed in 1907. She is a Ten Wheeler that saw service on branch lines in east-central Minnesota where heavier locomotives were unusable. The locomotive managed to escape the cutting torch and wound up with the Minnesota Transportation Museum. The Museum had her back in running order by 1981 and she headed the Museum's Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway from 1992 to 1999. (I remember hearing the whistle, but somehow never went for a ride...) Now she's back at the Jackson Street Roundhouse for a rebuild. Quite a lot has been removed, including the sand dome. Sadly, money and labor to complete the restoration are both lacking. For more information: http://www.mtmuseum.org/jsr/roster/np328.php
Tim Voss > Drive Wheels and Coupling Rod, Northern Pacific 328, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

The connecting rod has been removed from the locomotive. Connecting rods transferred power from the cylinders to the drive wheels via the cross-head axle. The connecting rod would have run from the cross-head on the far left to the middle drive wheel on the far right.

NP 328 was completed in 1907. She is a Ten Wheeler and saw service on branch lines in eastern Minnesota where heavier locomotives were unusable. The locomotive managed to escape the cutting torch and wound up with the Minnesota Transportation Museum. The Museum had her back in running order by 1981 and she headed the Museum's Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway from 1992 to 1999. (I remember hearing the whistle, but somehow never went for a ride...) Now she's back at the Jackson Street Roundhouse for a rebuild. Sadly, money and labor are both lacking. For more information: http://www.mtmuseum.org/jsr/roster/np328.php
Tim Voss > Cross-Head and Cross-Head Guides; Northern Pacific 328, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

The cross-head is the part with the two rings. It attaches the piston rod to the connecting rod by the cross-head axle. The connecting rod attaches to the coupling rod which powers the drive wheels. The cross-head slides along two guides: one on the top and one on the bottom. If this all sounds complicated, have a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotive_components Or you can click here for a good basic article on steam locomotives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotive

NP 328 was completed in 1907. She is a Ten Wheeler and saw service on branch lines in eastern Minnesota where heavier locomotives were unusable. The locomotive managed to escape the cutting torch and wound up with the Minnesota Transportation Museum. The Museum had her back in running order by 1981 and she headed the Museum's Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway from 1992 to 1999. (I remember hearing the whistle, but somehow never went for a ride...) Now she's back at the Jackson Street Roundhouse for a rebuild. Sadly, money and labor are both lacking. For more information: http://www.mtmuseum.org/jsr/roster/np328.php
Tim Voss > Diesel Locomotive Truck with Traction Motors & Chicago, Burlington & Quincy "Doodle Bug," Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

The foreground shows a diesel locomotive truck with the electric traction motors. Cables can be seen leading to the forward traction motor. The Burlington and Quincy Doodle Bug is behind the truck. 

Doodle Bugs were gasoline powered rail coaches that combined luggage and passenger compartments in one unit. They served routes that were too unprofitable for steam locomotives and standard passenger coaches. The gasoline engine drove  a generator that powered the traction motors. This unit was built in 1929 for the CB&Q and remained in service to 1967. For more information: http://www.mtmuseum.org/jsr/roster/cbq9735.php
Tim Voss > Coupler, Chassis & Truck, Great Northern Coach 1084, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota
Tim Voss > Journal Box, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

Journal boxes hold the oil that lubricates the journal bearings. The journal bearings support the axle.
Tim Voss > Coil Spring, Jackson Street Roundhouse
Tim Voss > Chain, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

I found this chain hanging from a steam locomotive tender. It's old and rusty, but it still gives a feeling of strength.
Air Valve, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

A lot of time and a lot of hands have passed over this old air brake valve.
Tim Voss > Air Valve, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

A lot of time and a lot of hands have passed over this old air brake valve.
Air Valve, Jackson Street Roundhouse; Saint Paul, Minnesota

A lot of time and a lot of hands have passed over this old air brake valve.
See photo in gallery

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