Northern Alberta Flanger Restoration

Trains Magazine Steam & Preservation
1

I posted this on RYPN, should probably put it up over here as well.

I meant to post these a few months ago after seeing Ken Jones’ update on the Niagara Railway Museum’s CN Flanger project, at the Alberta Railway Museum we recently finished restoring our wood flanger, Northern Alberta 16601.

Niagara Railway Museum CN Flanger thread:

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43561

We also make our own tongue-and-groove out of standard 1x4 lumber, and have had good success treating it with Copper Naphthenate before painting.

We had to perform some fairly major structural repairs to the wood side frame of NAR 16601, as shown in my photos. I was not able to get any usable shots of the work that was done to shore up the rafters, the outside ends had rotted and disintegrated on most of them. One of our skilled carpenters came up with a splice design to replace the rotted section and bolt the new piece onto what remained of the original rafter. The car also received a new rolled rubber (EPDM) roof.

Our Flanger’s blade and air system was found to be in good condition, a few minor piping repairs and some grease were all that was needed to make it operational.

Here is the finished result on display outside:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rc0e4 … Et9pwfb_tZ

The worst rotted section of the side frame:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=11wWm8 … FOrPrUdAt-

The same section after being repaired:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MVlI

2

Your photos are just fine 'Dude, and thanks for posting them!

If there’s an upside to all that heavy restoration work I’d say it’s the removal of the “skin” of the car so everyone can see just how it was put together. Later rot notwithstanding that was one ruggedly built piece of equipment.

Great job on the restoration! Good thing everything still works, you never know, you might need it one day!

3

That’s quite a bit of work! Congratulations! [:D]

4

More photos.

Flanger roof:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4N3Bh7PjQD8PB7Xj9

Flanger interior:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2DAvxdJo1EGDnch39

5

I’m rather fond of snowfighting equipment, especially Russell snowplowe and modified Jordan spreaders. A flanger goes quite nicely with either of these.

6

We have one of each of those as well. The snowplow was fully operational when it was last used about 10 years ago. The spreader is complete, but requires a lot of work (at least one of its air cylinders is seized).

7

The first class accomoditations of railroad work equipment.

8

At least they upgraded to oil stoves instead of coal!

The “air conditioning” (screens for the windows) is stored in the shelf built into the ceiling above the bed and desk.