Repairing Liner in Crane Cooker Used in RR Car?

I am a volunteer with the Old Colony & Newport Railway, a railroad museum that operates in Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. (http://www.ocnrr.com)

We own a Crane Cooker (model 44, I think, but I am working on memory and haven't checked recently). It is installed in an antique, wooden body railroad car that we routinely operate in tourist passenger service during winter months. It provides the sole source of heat for the main compartment in the car (the remainder of the car being unheated). The car was built in 1884 and we are trying to duplicate as closely as possible the passenger experience from that era.

In recent years the cement liner has failed and the stove is heating poorly; we would like to repair the stove, rather than replace it, due to size issues.

We are looking for advice (or actual volunteer work, if you are interested) on how to repair this stove. I see some advice on the forum about pouring a new liner, but it is unclear how to actually do that. For example, how does one disassemble the stove to get the form in place?

We are a non-profit, low-budget operation, so we are looking for the least cost way to get this stove back at full capacity.

Look forward to reading your thoughts on the situation.

sounds like free railroad rides for Dougie ... Private Messaged... click the envelope at top left of screen.

Damn Doug, that one's like you died & went to Heaven,

Doug, I got the pm from the poster, since I'm so close I'd be willing to help out if you're interested.

Rich

coalvet wrote:Doug, I got the pm from the poster, since I'm so close I'd be willing to help out if you're interested.

Rich

I can make up the firebrick easy enough, it would simply require removing the grate and doors...smashing out exsisting brick... butter the backs of brick with furnace cement and smoosh them in place with the seams over the "V" shaped pieces that hold the grate up (caulk up the seams with some more cement and done).

I asked him to check the grate condition and the baffle condition as well since this stove has clearly been in service for many decades (the grate could be for pea or nut coal?). Im not sure if they have people comfortable to get it back "up to snuff", if they don't than I will send everything to you and you can go over at your leisure for a train ride

Hey Doug, great meeting you today. We got the 44 removed and the Chubby Jr. installed. I think I heard the Crane weeping as we pulled her out of service. I know Charlie and the railroad museum are pleased with the install, plus the lunch was pretty good to. It's always a good feeling when you donate your labor to something like this. Here's a couple of pics!

Rich

Nice job guys, lunch too? Outstanding

I am proud to say That IS MY CHUBBY JR sitting there in those awesome pics.. or was... Sniff sniff..... Sorry to see her go but at least I know that she will be in good hands at the RR...... Good bye Jr. You served us well. Now your BIG BROTHER is the house.. WOO HOO!!

It was a pleasure working with Doug and Rich and Gary on this project. Shouldn't forget to mention Larry; even though I didn't get to meet him, he did the refurb on the Chubby Jr.

We are looking forward to keeping our First Class passengers warm this winter the old fashioned way with the new Chubby Jr.

Just in case you have not been following this thread, Old Colony & Newport Railway is a museum/tourist railroad operating in Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. We are a nearly 100% volunteer outfit, trying to preserve railroading the way it was around the turn of the 20th century. That includes heating our cars the way they used to do it. The Chubby Jr. will heat our Parlor Car, which was built in 1884 and is thought to be the oldest standard gauge railroad car in regular service in North America (Alaska RR has some that are a year or two older, but they are narrow gauge). The Chubby Jr. joins its older brother, a full size Chubby that heats our Coach car, built in 1904.

The Old Colony provides historical tours in all 12 months of the year, so it is important to heat the way they did when the cars were built...with coal stoves. Come visit us and take a ride. We operate most Sundays, year-round with special weekday service during major holidays, like between Christmas and New Year's Day coming up. See (and feel) the important role coal stoves (and anthracite coal) played in early North American railroading.

Take a look at our website (http://www.ocnrr.com) or our Facebook page for more info on the Old Colony & Newport Railway.

The Jr's name is BERTA. Please take GOOD care of her!

Nice work gent's...hey ONEDOLLAR! Saugus Iron Works!

YEE HAW the ole Saugus Iron Works! Since the Hilltop closed it is just about the only reason to visit this Town!! Seriously though it is a awesome place and anyone interested in the history of iron work in America should visit it. The US Parks Service does an fantastic job running the place.

Berta is being missed tonight. I feel lonely since she is gone. The hearth is bare without her churning out the heat. I am glad my beloved Jr has found a new home and she will serve the RR well. I am sure of that. But sitting across from me is her new 2014 Chubby Prototype replacement that I have named "BOB". Bob is a MONSTER of a stove and he will be burning his first load of coal tomorrow. Many thanks to my good friend Larry Trainer at http://www.chubbystove.com for giving me next years Chubby model to play with.(shameless plug I know) Somehow I have a feeling the Crawford is burning one of her last batches of coal. At least until the temps are in the teens and the windchill cuts you to the bone.