E-paw's Orphan challenge part 1.

[e-paw]

This orphan challenge is all finished. I'll start with the modifications to DL&W F-3a #664. This unit is fully owned buy the ARHS, and was the easier of the two to work on. On the fireman's side of the loco near the rear door is the location of the outlet that powers the pre-lube pump, It is placed just under the switch for the engine room lights. This is common for both units. On 664 at some time during the past, a plastic(PVC) box was mounted there where a regular 120v 15 amp receptacle was mounted, the same type that you have in your home. This is very incorrect and has to go.. and it did.    
I removed the old outlet and wired the new twist lock one in it's place. This is a DC system so the negative side is connected to the neutral and the positive is wired to the hot side of the outlet. The ground is hooked up to the body ground of the diesel. Unlike your car, the body and frame of a locomotive is electrically neutral, it carries no current. With the plastic box that was used here I needed to run an extra wire to the switch box above it in order to bond to the body, It's the wire covered in green tape.
Here it is all closed up with a hinged weather proof cover over it to protect it when not in use.
   

   

:? 663 was another story :? ...     Here a 3 inch round box with the outlet integrated into the back of it was used. as you can see it is unpolarised. as both sides of the outlet are the same leading to problems trying to get the pump to run in the right direction. This had to change also. I tried over and over to remove the box and replace it with a more modern one, but these units are around 70 years old and tend to have there own opinions about such things. I was able to loosen up the mounting enough to get a 3/4 to 1/2 inch reducing bushing and 1/2 in offset nipple in there. That enabled me to mount a standard bell box under it to house the new twist lock receptacle. like so.     The old box will now become just a splice box as I have removed the outlet and epoxied the cover closed.