Remnants and Cool arrive at HVRM 9-1-12

Greetings!   Arrived at Hoosier Valley at 9:00 a.m.  The remnants of Hurricane Isaac were already in evidence.  The rain was light, slowly got heavier around mid-day and finally tappered off to nothing by 3:30 p.m.  After this hot summer, it was nice to have temps in the high 70's and no one seem to mind the rain that much.   Joe Baker was already working on Grasselli Tower when I arrived, and Steve Newland arrrived later to join in.   Bob Barcus manned the gift shop while Loretta Kosloske sold train tickets.   John DeGan and Doug Kosloske were in the cab of Interlake Steel GE # 11.  Bob Albert was conductor, while Joe Kingsbury, Bill Dauber  and Randall Downs were car hosts.  The rain did not keep passengers away.  The last train of the day departed at 3:30 and was a picnic train.  After this last train left for LaCrosse, I noticed in the parking lot, cars with license plates from Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois, in addition to the expected cars from Indiana.   I managed to get the third arch window replacement installed in passenger car # 899.   Fred Boyer was working on emptying items out of C&EI work car # A-1054, a job that is apparently nearing completion.   I noticed that the storage tank cars had been moved over to the interchange track so that the C&I can pick them up thus ending that income source for the museum.  There are a number of covered grain hoppers on the C&I runaround track, but apparently that storage agreement is not with HVRM.   I see where Ryan Kertis dropped off his EJ&E push cart, numbered G1.  This will be a welcome addition to the museums roster of these valuable little 4 wheel cars.  Speaking of push carts, Joe Kingsbury continues to work on our motor car.   Harold Lambirth visited the museum and he and I talked for a few minutes.  Harold remined me that our Purdue University crane was originally built in 1945 and that Harold joined the university in 1946 and operated the crane for many years.  It was eventually retired and was donated to HVRM in 1992.  This Orton crane continues to be a major asset of the museum.  Good to see Harold again.     Cory Bennett, John LaOrange and Rich Warner were working on an air leak in the braking system of EL Alco # 310.  Fred came over later in the day and gave them a hand.  Supposedly the leak is now fixed.   Left for home at 4:00.  Hope you all enjoy the long 3 day Labor Day weekend.     Les