Greetings to All,
NKP 765 arrived Thursday afternoon about 5 PM. All went went well for the movement to HVRM. Again a large crowd
on hand Friday to get things underway. Members of HVRM and Ft Wayne group rode the mixed train from NJ to
English Lake, over the very swollen Kankakee River. Much rain during the week made streams and rivers go to almost
flood stage. Hopefully the monsoons are over and tornados will hold for the weekend. C&I SD-9 818 has been chartered
to be used as backup engine for the tourist train plus switching of passenger equipment. Train consist for Friday,
EJ&E caboose, MKT open air car, LIRR coach, NKP open air car and Erie caboose. Two passenger cars that were
on the passing track of C&I were not used. Train time departure from NJ came and went an finally got underway at
4:30pm. Servicing of the 765 plus coaling was done. Coaling operations were terminated when a chain link on the
elevator chute gave way due to a large amount of coal in the chute and tore things up pretty good. Richard got the
link off and was taking it home to be rewelded. Should be like new by today. Enough coal was in the tender to
run till Sunday at least. After the ride, a wonderful dinner was had by all, barbeque pork, potato salad, cold slaw, cookies and
plenty of drinks. Dinner was held outside, cold, only 59 degrees and mosquitoes were thick. NKP 765 simmered on the
service track. Few chasers were seen on the road next to the C&I, so no major accidents occured.
It was not a good day for the 4 passenger cars out of INDY. CSX decided to hold the passenger cars and not dispatch them
for shipment. It took a Norfolk Southern Vice President to call Jacksonville CSX to get the cars sent by special train up the
Marion branch to interchange with Claypool NS. A special NS engine/crew was called out to get the cars underway to
Thomaston IN interchange. They were to arrive at Thomaston by 9PM and be in La Crosse by midnite,
with the C&I engine 818 getting them to North Judson for operations today. When I left all was going well about 8pm.
A very special thanks to Norfolk Southern for helping out in this critical situation.
Other items noted. Lots of reserved parking spaces available, with handicap parking avail near the depot. Portapotties were about
the museum. Grasseli Tower had the concrete platform poured and dried with stairs leading up to the 2nd level. No handrails were
on yet, so no tours of Grasseli this weekend.
Many thanks to the HVRM support crew for the wonderful dinner again.
Everyone have a good safe Memorial Day weekend, drive safe, don't drink and drive, above all have fun. Remember those
who have served for the USA and gave their lives for freedom
Tom, A proud Navy Veteran
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