Greetings,
It has been one HOT week for the entire Midwest, close to upper 90's temp wise, but
heat index 110 or so. I know some of you have been hotter, I just hope everyone
survived. Starting out NKP 765 made it out of North Judson, thru La Crosse and up
to Thomaston without mishaps. I heard they took a roundabout way to get to Train
Festival, but did arrive safely and on time. It certainly make the grounds look
bare, no tool car, tank car, passenger cars etc. I'm sure the operational people will
do a lot of switching shortly. Last Saturday on the 16th, Dean Levin had told Les that
his NYC dinner, along with 4 other private varnish were on the Capitol Limited to
Washington DC. Sure enough after crossing over from main to main, it was going
slow for lots of pictures. Weather was clear and bright, so made good pictures.
Then on Thursday morning this past week, the cars returned on #29 westbound
Capitol Limited again with a medium clear, I was able to get lots of good pictures.
I still have not got over film cameras, yes its still available, I just have not got into
the SLR digital camera yet. I do have a hand me down very slow digital camera from
my daughter, who is into the bigger and better cameras, along with IPOD's, ITunes,
and whatever else starts with I. But on with the news, Les and myself headed up to
Coldwater MI for the Little River RR steam festival on Friday 15 July. We arrived with
20 minutes to spare for the first train to Quincy. So got the tickets and got on the
first train out of Coldwater. Upon arrival at Quincy, it was photo time. Lots of people
milling about, but after some subtle comments, they did move out of the picture.
Next was the LRRR 110 to Hillsdale, a sold out train. We stayed on to ride the 3rd train out
and back to Coldwater. Lots of good pictures back at the depot of all the engines either
taking on water or just waiting on the siding. The 2 afternoon trains some problems arose,
Lehigh Valley 126 could not get full pressure of steam, poor draft thru the firepan box.
Francis Parker, waited all day to ride the first time 126 pulled passengers and was struck
out on both counts, once the subbed engine arrived at Quincy it was determined that
it had warm bearings, so the next train, little engine #1 LRRR pulled the entire consist
back to Coldwater. About 4pm, a birthday party of all 5 engines were lined up for LRRR 110
100 year birthday. Cake was presented to all the crews. BTW LV 126 steamed fine the
next day, John and Barney Gramling took care of the low pressure problem that evening
back at the shop area. Flagg 75 is a real brute of a switcher, a real proven steamer. Viscose
#6 did an excellent job also out of New York state. Everyone was just great, Terry and Jerri
Bloom are to be commended for the excellent program for the weekend. I did not attend
the Sundays 5 engine lashup, but imagine it was spectacular.
Now on to more mundane news. Today was just hot and humid. Started out with
track work at La Crosse at 6am. Mark K, John L, Dave C all toiled in the sun to put in
8 ties and tamp. This makes a total of 218 installed, 25 ties were in place for more
work later. The final stretch is in sight. By 10am, they stopped.
Back at the museum, a good crowd for the 11am train to English lake. The 1:30 train
has all of 3 riders. I did not stay for the La Crosse train, which most likely was annulled.
No work going on in the shop. Bob Jachim was busy digging in the main flower bed,
clearing out weeds, some of the plants that have taken over and just some clean up.
The freight train was still down on the interchange track, maybe it got moved if the
LC train was annulled. The NKP bay window is scheduled to go into the shop for a
repaint. The MDT 13... is supposed to go on the caboose track near the kitchen car
for scrubbing. LIRR coach A/C is on the fritz. Been recharged twice and did not cool
down at all today. Diesel was shut down and car closed up, too hot. Fred Boyer showed
a group of kids in the upper area of Grasseli tower. They asked some very interesting
questions about the levers, track plan, radiators, sink, and were just very inquisitive.
Smart bunch of kids.
Train crew, Elmer M, Doug k, Bob A, conductor, Bill D and Randall, Joe B,car hosts. Loretta K,
Judy B, Bob B were in the depot. Fred B was working in Grasseli Tower. Steve N, Joe K
were working also.
Have a good week, stay out of the heat. Les was down in Gatlinburg TN for the week,
maybe he will have some stories to tell next week.
Tom
It has been one HOT week for the entire Midwest, close to upper 90's temp wise, but
heat index 110 or so. I know some of you have been hotter, I just hope everyone
survived. Starting out NKP 765 made it out of North Judson, thru La Crosse and up
to Thomaston without mishaps. I heard they took a roundabout way to get to Train
Festival, but did arrive safely and on time. It certainly make the grounds look
bare, no tool car, tank car, passenger cars etc. I'm sure the operational people will
do a lot of switching shortly. Last Saturday on the 16th, Dean Levin had told Les that
his NYC dinner, along with 4 other private varnish were on the Capitol Limited to
Washington DC. Sure enough after crossing over from main to main, it was going
slow for lots of pictures. Weather was clear and bright, so made good pictures.
Then on Thursday morning this past week, the cars returned on #29 westbound
Capitol Limited again with a medium clear, I was able to get lots of good pictures.
I still have not got over film cameras, yes its still available, I just have not got into
the SLR digital camera yet. I do have a hand me down very slow digital camera from
my daughter, who is into the bigger and better cameras, along with IPOD's, ITunes,
and whatever else starts with I. But on with the news, Les and myself headed up to
Coldwater MI for the Little River RR steam festival on Friday 15 July. We arrived with
20 minutes to spare for the first train to Quincy. So got the tickets and got on the
first train out of Coldwater. Upon arrival at Quincy, it was photo time. Lots of people
milling about, but after some subtle comments, they did move out of the picture.
Next was the LRRR 110 to Hillsdale, a sold out train. We stayed on to ride the 3rd train out
and back to Coldwater. Lots of good pictures back at the depot of all the engines either
taking on water or just waiting on the siding. The 2 afternoon trains some problems arose,
Lehigh Valley 126 could not get full pressure of steam, poor draft thru the firepan box.
Francis Parker, waited all day to ride the first time 126 pulled passengers and was struck
out on both counts, once the subbed engine arrived at Quincy it was determined that
it had warm bearings, so the next train, little engine #1 LRRR pulled the entire consist
back to Coldwater. About 4pm, a birthday party of all 5 engines were lined up for LRRR 110
100 year birthday. Cake was presented to all the crews. BTW LV 126 steamed fine the
next day, John and Barney Gramling took care of the low pressure problem that evening
back at the shop area. Flagg 75 is a real brute of a switcher, a real proven steamer. Viscose
#6 did an excellent job also out of New York state. Everyone was just great, Terry and Jerri
Bloom are to be commended for the excellent program for the weekend. I did not attend
the Sundays 5 engine lashup, but imagine it was spectacular.
Now on to more mundane news. Today was just hot and humid. Started out with
track work at La Crosse at 6am. Mark K, John L, Dave C all toiled in the sun to put in
8 ties and tamp. This makes a total of 218 installed, 25 ties were in place for more
work later. The final stretch is in sight. By 10am, they stopped.
Back at the museum, a good crowd for the 11am train to English lake. The 1:30 train
has all of 3 riders. I did not stay for the La Crosse train, which most likely was annulled.
No work going on in the shop. Bob Jachim was busy digging in the main flower bed,
clearing out weeds, some of the plants that have taken over and just some clean up.
The freight train was still down on the interchange track, maybe it got moved if the
LC train was annulled. The NKP bay window is scheduled to go into the shop for a
repaint. The MDT 13... is supposed to go on the caboose track near the kitchen car
for scrubbing. LIRR coach A/C is on the fritz. Been recharged twice and did not cool
down at all today. Diesel was shut down and car closed up, too hot. Fred Boyer showed
a group of kids in the upper area of Grasseli tower. They asked some very interesting
questions about the levers, track plan, radiators, sink, and were just very inquisitive.
Smart bunch of kids.
Train crew, Elmer M, Doug k, Bob A, conductor, Bill D and Randall, Joe B,car hosts. Loretta K,
Judy B, Bob B were in the depot. Fred B was working in Grasseli Tower. Steve N, Joe K
were working also.
Have a good week, stay out of the heat. Les was down in Gatlinburg TN for the week,
maybe he will have some stories to tell next week.
Tom
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