Here She Goes Again!

sounds to me they've got a real problem with the engine valve settings.

Dad's estimation is that they don't use the valve jacks to release pressure in the cylinders when the engineers handle the engines which torques the shaft.

Apparently, the last time she cracked her shaft a patch was welded on which is what let go this time. I wonder if the technology of thermite welding still exist, or if it's gone by the wayside? Seems to me as if Fred Way wrote about how it was used to weld cracked shafts in place years ago in a REFLECTOR. Just don't ask me which one.

I've seen pictures of thermite welding on the SPRAGUE's shaft and several other boats. They still use thermite to weld rail joints together on railroad tracks.

I seem to recall that the BETSY ANN had her shaft welded that way also, and that photos exist of the mold that was constructed around the shaft for the welding to take place.

*Just what is 'Thermite' welding?*
Morning, Frank, Jim & steamboating colleagues:
Okay, I've heard/read discussions in the past about 'Thermite' welding but am totally foggy in the techhnology having only reached the level of intro. 101 in paint brush, power mower. Sounds fascinating to the point almost of 'Star wars.' Broken/cracked wheel shafts appear quite often in accounts of steamboats in the past. Some boats more notorious for shaft problems than others. Now, would one of you step up to the microphone and give us a tutorial in 'Thermite?' Again, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Dale, if you have your REFLECTOR index handy, you can probably look it up. Fred Way had a short article (maybe it was just a long caption?) that explained thermite welding pretty well in layman's terms. It basically involves clamping a mold around the shaft and pouring in molten metal. I think the metal you pour in is the key, though; there is a reaction that is more than just thermal bonding/filling, if I recall. Maybe Frank or someone else can tell us more?

You stumped this one, Bob! Chemistry was not the high point of my nursing school education. All I can say is that the crack is prepared for the welding process, and a cast is constructed around the two pieces of metal to be fused together. Inside of the cast some sort of exothermic chemical reaction takes place, and God willing the two have become whole once again.

Word from down yonder is that the AQ's wheel is rollin' again, and she does not have a towboat along side anymore. The shaft had a "gusset" placed to hold the shaft together. One report though is that they only run the wheel on a slow bell and use the Z's.

*AQ's wheel/'Thermite' here in Cincinnati*
Morning, Frank & steamboat colleagues,
Thanks, Frank, for the update on the AQ's ailing wheel. Glad to know all running again even if on a "slow bell...use of Z's." Steamboat wheel shafts have been cracking, breaking for years going all the way back to the first. Guess it's one factor in the equation of running a steamboat.

Speaking of the 'Thermite' process as discussed above. Those of you here living in the Cincinnati/Tri-state region may have seen the TV news here the other day regarding the current construction, laying of tracks for Cincinnati's new city streetcar line. Work is progressing as they reported. THEN I was surprised seeing a crew of steel workers laying the rails using the 'Thermite' process joining the track joints. There was the "mold" around the tracks with a lot of red hot metal, thick insulated gloves on the workers. Later pictured was the crew breaking away the mold/frame. So, 'Thermite' is alive and well as we write. Again, what do I know? Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati