Crane Runway Prep Work

The two overhead crane runway girders for the enginehouse were purchased secondhand for half the cost of new steel. They both need a few gussets welded in place and holes drilled for the runway rail clips. The photo shows one of the girders in my garage at home being drilled for rail clips using an ancient Black and Decker magnetic drill press. It poked twenty 7/8" dia. holes in the cap channel and top flange of the 22" wide flanged beam without any trouble at all. However the gear whine could be heard throughout the neighborhood!

Progress Report for Sept. 7

While many Americans celebrated Labor Day today by taking the day off, your s truly was hard at work building more concrete forms for the Tod Enginehouse at the Tod Engine Heritage Park. I've set a goal of having enough of the building finished by next summer to hold a couple of public open houses at the site and try to build more interest in the project and our wonderful Youngstown landmark. 2010 will be the Tod Engine's "Coming Out Year".

Construction of the enginehouse is progressing at a good pace. There is a bit more concrete work to do before we can start erecting the building, but by the end of October I plan to have the basic building erected. We'll get there one way or another as I've never been more motivated than I am now to get this goal reached before winter.

By the way now is a rare opportunity to see the Tod Engine in the open before it is enclosed by the building. So come on out to the Park and see the engine before the building goes up, you'll be glad you did!