For the last year the RCT&HS has been actively working on restoring EX RDG GP-35 #3640 it was built new in 1964 by EMD in LaGrange Ill.
Here it is shortly after its delivery to the Reading Company in 1964
The 3640 had the distinction of being the last locomotive to be rebuilt in the Reading Company Shops and was the only RDG GP-35 to receive the "All Green" paint scheme here it is in 1974 shortly after its rebuild.
It was no different from most of the RDG power it went into Conrail here is a view after receiving CR Markings
It later got painted blue like everything else on Conrail.
3640 went in an out of service till it put into storage in 1989 it was never reactivated after that. It was donated to the RCT&HS in 1994 and was returned to operation after a 13 year slumber in fall of 2002.
In 2003 and 2004 3640 was put into service for multiple test runs an attempt to get all the bugs out of it from its lengthy storage.
3640 performed flawlessly on all of its test runs some minor repairs were required. Typical things when returning a locomotive to service that had been stored for a long time.
3640 turned out to be a very reliable well operating engine
After we were happy with its mechanical status we started its complete restoration (Not just a paint job)
There are many different projects that have been done to 3640 so this is the first I will post this is the rebuilding of the Number board Housing we decided to rebuild this area because of pit holes in the metal.
After the Number board was removed this is what was on the inside
After the bottom was cut out
While the bottom was removed we took the opportunity to rebuild the front window frame
The new frame
New skin welded on top
The new bottom for the housing
Welded in place
Another view
The same view as the first photo
The new inside wall fit into place
And welded in place
Smoothing out the welds
A new terminal board mount had to be fabricated
A picture of TB16
Schematic Diagrams were made of all the wiring
And Cross referenced with EMD Schematics unfortunately we do not have a set of schematics for 3640 so we have to make them from scratch
TB16 test fit on its new mount
TB H was also test fit
After being test fit the new mount was welded into position and round stock was welded in place to tie off all the wiring
The other side
The entire housing was then primed
Another view
Head on
The original angle again
Then it all got finish painted
Another view
Another
Head on
Engineers side
Original Angle
After the finish painting everything got rewired
We were lucky to find the original manufacture of the number board light sockets and buy brand new ones
Another view of the rewired housing
TB 16 again with its new wires in place
A side view
A view of the Engineers side
TB H One of the things we are adding to 3640 is a 120V AC Lighting system to display the Locomotive after it restoration and to help with general maintenance
Another view
Before
And After
I hope you enjoyed these photos I will gladly post more if there is an interest in it.
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