Monon DS-50 Restoration Work Update 1-29-2022

Update by Les Beckman
Jan 29, 2022

All the old batteries were removed from the unit and the battery box given a thorough cleaning.

As some are probably aware, all of the steps on DS-50 had to be torched off so that the unit could be moved by truck.
Those steps now all have to be straightened and fit into place and then welded back on.
This photo shows Todd Flanigan torching off a small section of the steps for a better fit.

Ben Harleman is shown in the doing some further work on the steps.

Eventually the steps on the rear platform on the fireman's side, were tweaked into position and welded into place.
Only three more sets of steps to go!

All of the items on the cab deck have to be removed before the replacement cab can be put into place.
In this photo Mark Belmonte is shown working on some of the piping.

Finally, Todd is shown in the last photo, marking the line where the cuts will be made to put the replacement cab into position.

Monon DS-50 Restoration Work Update 2-12-2022

Update by Les Beckman
Feb 12, 2022

A very cold day in North Judson today but the wood stove in the West Annex of the shop building, kept things comfortable.

HVRM member Tom Rainford pounding out a slight bow in a metal step from the stepwell leading in to the SW1's cab.

The engineers side of the cab after the complete removal of the wood floor. Note the round hole where the control stand sat.

This shows the center portion of the cab looking toward the electrical cabinet.

Here we see Mark Belmonte (at left) and David Miller, starting their effort to remove the steel electrical cabinet.

The work to remove the cabinet, was successful.

Here is the electrical cabinet and the control stand, sitting on the floor of the museum's Shop.

Monon DS-50 Restoration Work Update 2-19-2022

Update by Les Beckman
Feb 19, 2022

Made a VERY short visit to the Shop at HVRM today accompanied by my two sons, Doug and Glenn and grandson Graeme. Found Todd Flanigan, Mark Belmonte and Tom Rainford hard at work in the cab of Monon SW1 diesel # DS-50, working on the removal of the electrical board. This evening, Tom was kind enough to send me a couple of photos and let me know that their efforts to remove the board from the unit, were ultimately successful.

Matt Lasayko assisting Mark in swinging the electrical board from the cab after its removal. Tom Rainford photo.

Travis Hunt assisting Matt and Mark in lowering the board down to the floor of the Shop. Tom Rainford photo.

Monon DS-50 Restoration Work Update 2-26-2022

Update by Les Beckman
Feb 26, 2022

The square fuel tank for DS-50 along with the air tanks, were moved inside the Shop as can be seen in the 1st photo.

After the air tanks were taken off the fuel tank, Mark Belmonte, Kevin Kennedy and Jason Jordan (left to right),
are shown in the second photo, starting to scrape off the old dried oil. This is a job that was worked on all day, with
Kevin also using a needle scaler and also a grinding wheel at times, in an effort to get this dried mess removed.
The tank looks much better now, but there still is more "'gook" to go!

A lot more material was cut off from the destroyed cab today. In the 3rd photo (taken from above),
Todd Flanigan is shown making a cut in the area next to the step leading into the cab of the DS-50.

In the 4th shot, John Melnik uses a shop vac to clean up rust and other debris from the steel floor of the unit.

As the museum gets closer to removing the last of the destroyed cab of the DS-50, the
lines where the cut will be made can be seen in the final photo.

Monon DS-50 Restoration Work Update 3-12-2022

Update by Les Beckman
Mar 12, 2022

Les Beckman photos except photo 6, which was by Tom Rainford.

The removal of the smashed cab of Monon DS-50 is nearing the end.Last week, the bottom side portions of the
cab were removed as can be seen in this photo of one of the sides laying on the shop floor of the museum.

Kevin Kennedy is shown cleaning up one of the parts from the unit.

Mark Belmonte is cleaning up another part from the DS-50.

Removal of the last section of cab wall where it connected to the hood of the EMD was undertaken and the heavy piece of angle
did not give up easily. John Wotkun is shown using a Sawzall in tight quarters in an effort to cut through the last piece of steel.

With the steel finally cut, the crane lifted the last piece of wall up and out of the cab where it was finally lowered
by David Miller and set up against the other piece of the smashed cab leaning against the body of the SW-1.

With the wall removed, work moved to another piece to be taken off as John is shown holding
the torch (left) while David checks for bolts to be removed while Les Beckman looks on.

Here is the appearance of the rear end of DS-50 at the end of the day. There are still a few parts of wiring that need to be removed,
but soon the project will switch to putting the replacement cab, and all the miscellaneous parts that have been removed, back on the unit.

Finally, what is it? You may recall the cleanup of the unit's fuel tank shown in an earlier report.
Well, the tank was set up on its side so that dried oil on the bottom, can also be removed.

Monon DS-50 Restoration Work Update 3-19-2022

Update by Les Beckman
Mar 19, 2022

Tom Rainford (left) and David Miller, try to get number plate holders removed from rear headlight
casing from the replacement cab. Note that the glass number plate is painted over in this view.

After finally getting the holders removed and the glass plate separated, Dave is shown cleaning up one of the holders.

Jason Jordan is shown needle scaling old paint from one end of the DS-50.

The doors in the sloped section located between the cab and the hood of DS-50 are shown removed in this photo. For orientation,
the removed cab would have been to the left in this photo, while the hood over the diesel power plant would have been to the right.
This sloped section also suffered damage in the accident that happened when Monon DS-50 was being moved by truck from
Noblesville to Logansport, which was not immediately apparent. When the replacement cab was located and purchased, the
damage to the sloped section was discovered at HVRM and a call to the company from which the location was located, said that
this sloped section had already been put into a dumpster. Fortunately, the call came in time and it was removed.

In the last report, we mentioned that the EMD's fuel tank had been set on its side and this shot
shows Mark Belmonte removing old, dried oil along with rust, from the bottom of the tank.

The Monon projects continue ongoing at Hoosier Valley!

Much more still to do, but we're getting there!

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