Snow meeting at HVRM 1/15/11

Folks -   More snow greeted us at North Judson today with temps in the mid to high 20's.   Steve Newland had been wire brushing CSS 18010 last Saturday, the 60' flatcar that the museum is in the process of remaking into an open air car for the passenger train, when he made an interesting discovery.  He noticed another number under the surface South Shore paint and thus we have found out the the car was originally a Katy flat!  The decision has thus been made that the car will be repainted as a Missouri-Kansas-Texas flat when she is put back into service later this year.   Elmer Mannen and Joe Kingsbury were in the process of bolting some of the side upright posts into the pockets of the MKT flat, so Bob Jachim and I helped out a bit. In the meantime, Fred Boyer was wire wheeling rust and old paint off of the car on the other side.     Cory Bennett, John LaOrange and David Cook continued work on the new backhoe/tractor that the museum recently purchased.   Doug Kosloske and Bill Dauber boxed up the 6 valves from Alco # 310 preparatory to sending them off to Pittsburgh Air Brake for rehabbing or replacement.   Jason Annen and Mitch Montgomery worked on firing up GE # 11.  When the unit finally started, a train crew came back with the engine and pulled LIRR coach # 2937 out of the Shop, then came back in and pulled the Katy flat out of the West Shop Annex.  Some switching was done outside and the two cars were pushed back in, exchanging places.  Mike Koehler was going to be starting the preparation to paint the Long Island coach and needs the warmer temps in the West Annex to do this priming and eventual painting.   Thanks to Mike Healy and John DeGan for their assistance in lifting the heavy canvas that separates the West Annex from the old Shop building.   We broke for lunch, and then had the Annual Meeting over at the North Judson Public Library.  Mark Knebel was re-elected as Secretary and Bob Albert as a director.  The vote for Vice-President (replacing a retiring Elmer Mannen) ended up deadlocked between Steve Newland and Doug Kosloske so a new vote had to be taken.  The re-vote resulted in Doug being elected VP.  Congrats to the winners.  Special thanks to Pat DeGan, Judy Boyer and Louise Kingsbury for running a smooth election process.  Much important business was conducted, so be sure to read your newsletter when it is mailed out.   Have a good week.  Stay warm.  And Go Bears!   Les