Cal Jewel machinist Air Shop Denver 23rd St Roundhouse in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was with Cal that day, why because he was the air man at the shop, and it was my turn to break in with him. Calvin Jewel, he was also the Local Chairman for the Machinist union and oversaw, along with the company the training for the apprentices.

We changed out air brake equipment for the inspections, or if there was failures. Rebuilt blow down valves, and other small stuff. The major stuff…service portions, emergency portions, the brake valves themselves ( No.6, No. 24l and No. 26rl) were shipped of to the Lincoln air brake shop fro rebuilding, and reuse, We changed those and returned them to the air crate. These were shipped back to Lincoln. A switch crew would spot a box car at the storehouse, and they would load and unload the crates, then reload with the recycles for rebuilding, along with used cylinder liners and heads. Anything that was scrap was that, and then ATLAS METALS would come and pay the BN and reclaim those.

We worked the air on the Amtrak units, changed out shoes and took up brake travel. Cal’s dirge SET UP … RELEASE … SET UP RELEASE.. adjusting the travel or the automatic slack adjusters. We’d change out air brake equipment during the 3 year air if they were due .. Amtrak or BN units.

A group of ex CB&Q(bn)-GN(bn)- and BN locomotive sold to AMTRAK for passenger service. They are an E-8A - FP-7 _E-8A configration

One day on my rotation Cal called me over and said..”Take this unloader gauge and replace it on that SP unit outside, because its going out on Amtrak tonight. Get an electrician to go with you to pull the wires and reconnect when you’re done, test it and make sure the air compressor loads and unloads at the proper pressure”.

Amtrak had a lot of power failures, so the troublemakers, were rotated out, and sent to a deadline for trade in on newer power or scrapped. Well the SP ( Southern Pacific FP-7’s and 9’s) were being brought into play. They were pretty much worn out as well.

SP FP-7 passenger unit

I took the unloader gauge and magnet valve and headed out to find an electrician. Well Eddie Cohen was honing a main generator and he was out of pocket. Okay the guys working the line for the incoming freights, well they had hidden out. I knew the location. There they were Old man Hoppes, Larry Ottercrans, and Joe Lucero. “I need one of you guys to help me out” “Nah we’re hiding from the foreman”. “Jewel says I need one of you guys to take off and replace the wires”. “Screw Jewel, do it yourself”..” I don’t want to get time slipped”..”.No one will know …GO AWAY”.

Alright this 10 minute job has already taken 30 minutes looking for an electrician. I went to the F unit and cut off the air supply, to the compressor unloader magnet valve. Pulling the wires, and unbolting the offending gauge and magnet valve was started. I replaced the gasket, placed the new magnet valve and gauge on, and put the wires back on. The air supply was cut back in to magnet valves. Seeing that there were no leaks, I took a wrench and loosened the flared coupling to drain off some air. The gauge went to 120 lbs and I heard the compressor kick in. It was re tightened and the gauge shot to 140 lbs and the compressor shut off. Victory…all worked. I returned to the air shop with the old gauge and magnet valve. “Get it changed out OK?” “yes”. “Did ya get an electrician?”. ” yep all taken care of.” On to the next chore..

Since Cal worked this job, I got his days off as well, which were Saturday and Sunday. So on Fridays,as it came close to quitting time Cal was already chomping at the bit. Two different consist came in at the same time, and already were called out of another assignments on arrival. The line one boys were short handed and Cal told me to help out on the bottoms as needed. Doug Handran was the “Bottom man” inside the shop. I told him I was to help out and he said go to the other side and do what’s needed. I need to go under. If you finish up start on the other side. All was good. We had a “former” Great Northern unit in the consist a U-33-C.

Ex Great Northern U-33-C in the Big Sky paint scheme

I was looking over and taking up travel and draining the main reservoirs of any excess condensation. The number 2 main reservoir had a bad blow down, and this ran like a faucet, while I was draining it. I yelled to Dougie and he told me shut it down, drain the air, and change ‘em both. I went up top and told the guys up there not to start the unit, because we had a couple of blow downs to change out. They said let us know when you’re done. I cut the main reservoir line end cocks on each end and opened up the main reservoir drains on the U-33-C

Then went to get 2 blow downs for replacement at the air shop. Cal was there…“What are ya doing?” “Getting 2 blow downs.” ” Why ?” ” Because the ones on this unit are bad order, Dougie said to change them out”. “Well I don’t know, do you really need too ?” Huh I though what are these Gold Bullion ? ” Well one must not have seated Cal, because it is on the manual drain position and running like a faucet”. “Okay make sure you bring the old ones back” … DUH !!!??? what does he think I am gonna do with them take em home and horde em? Dougie worked the other side while I took the old blow downs off, and put new gaskets in and wrenched the new ones on .. I cleared us from below and the topside boys fired up the unit and the hostlers spotted the next bunch of motors…

Last updated February 25, 2015