Are We There Yet, Are We There Yet, 30 March

Yes I heard this statement today many times. The Easter egg train was a complete success. Well not exactly true. But over 600 plus paying passengers rode the Easter
Express today. The day started out clear an cold, with frost on the ground and an almost a full moon still hanging in the western sky. Temps did not rise very fast as the first train to English Lake on the open air car was chilly. The depot was well staffed and ready for the crush of people that would pass thru the doors. It did not take long for the riders to board the train and the LIRR coach was toasty warm, in fact by the 2nd run the doors on each end of the car were opened to permit a breeze to blow thru to cool everyone down. 
 
After a quick lunch in the kitchen car, at 12:30 everyone was ready to go again. The
EL310 performed as normal to English Lake. After crossing the bridge, the train stopped, reversed direction with a jolt and stopped. After some investigation it was
determine that the Interlaken Steel #11, that was on standby at the shop area, was called for duty. John LaOrange an Fred Boyer got it fired up and with the helpers
on the ground the derail was thrown clear an the switches lined for the C&I mainline.
After what seemed like an eternity with many anxious children waiting to get to the
egg hunt an the Wabbit at the park along IN 10, a headlight was seen in the distance.
The #11 arrived, coupled up, had the air cut in and off to the races we went, approx
45 minutes behind schedule. The #11 performed quite well and was working hard
pulling the train with 310 in the consist.
 
Much to the amazement of riders waiting on the platform at the depot, we blew by
with little time wasted to the park. A quick unload of the train and line up for the
"Wabbit"s" goody bag, we loaded and arrived back at the depot at almost 2:30.
Departure for the 3rd run occured just 20 minutes late. The 310 was cut off the
train and put on the caboose track. #11 returned to the train, coupled up, built up
air and we were off again. The GE sounded good and actually dug down an put
some strain on the engine. The 3rd run had no problems, only a later return.
 
The Alco had some issues last weekend and thought that they were cleared up by
Wednesday. But a relay had gone bad again and after some contact cleaner, all
seemed well again. More work to be performed in the coming month before startup.
 
In summary, things went as well. Everyone had a good time, an not one complaint
about the wait at English Lake. Gift shop sales I would say was good, more from Bob
Barcus when the total is added up.
 
Everyone worked hard and some pre-planning prevented a real crisis.
 
The troop car crew was working hard inside the shop, I never got that far, but did
know they were there.
 
So "Are we there yet" yes,we did get there eventually.
 
Have a good week and Happy Easter wishes to everyone.
 
Tom Travis

Bug day at HVRM 3/23/13, and other activity

Howdy!   Well, it's spring in name only here in northwestern Indiana this March.  Temps continue to be below normal.  Temp at 10:00 a.m. today was 37 degrees and although we had sun all day, temps never got out of the 40's.  AND, a winter (early Spring?) storm is due in the area tomorrow with snowfall forcast to be between 3 and 6 inches.  Bah humbug!   Matt Lasayko, Fred Boyer, Ryan Schultz, Zack Gillihan, Mitch Gillihan and yours truly, spent this past Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Indiana Harbor Belt's Calumet Tower in East Chicago, Indiana.  You may recall that when the IHB donated Grasselli to us, there were certain things missing, including timers and a number of the levers.  Calumet Tower was taken out of service earlier this month, and before it is torn down, the IHB was gracious and let us get in there to pull out those items missing from Grasselli.  Calumet is (was) a 96 lever tower (Grasselli is 68) but even then some of those 96 levers were missing.  Over the 3 days (I missed Tuesday), we managed to pull out all of the remaining levers, rocker plates, lever electric boxes, relays, relay panel doors, window locks and other hardware.  Good to know that some of Calumet will live on at Grasselli.   It was a day for "bugs" at HVRM today.  The plan was to fire up EL Alco #310 and pull out the recently worked on Long Island commuter coach and do some switching so that the Easter Bunny trains for next Saturday, would be all set to go.  Unfortunately, the S-1 never quite got LIRR #2937 completely out of the Shop.  The first thought was sticking brakes and then corroded cotacts.  Turns out after a thorough inspection, that the voltage regulator suffered some damage.  Matt pulled it out and will take it home for repairs.   Matt showed up with the tower parts from Calumet mid-morning.  There is a door panel missing on Grasselli's first floor electrical cabinets and one thing I did when at Calumet was to remove a left and right side panel door even though I wasn't sure that they were the same size, but hoping they were since the towers were probably originally built at about the same time.  I grabbed my tape measure this morning and checked them out.  Turns out the widths were exactly the same, but with Calumet being a bigger tower, the cabinets were taller along with the doors (112" vs. 96").  Steve Newland thought that he could modify them to look the same so I put the two panels inside Grasselli's lower floor.   Speaking of Steve N., he was working in the depot on the G gauge extension.  Rich Warner had the new 8' long through truss bridge on display.  This bridge will be in the depots operators bay.   Louise Kingsbury and Loretta Kosloske were in the depot stuffing gift bags for the kids on next Saturdays Easter trains.   Bob Jachim continued working on putting new handles on some of those sledge hammers and spike mauls that were broken over the winter.   Bjarne Henderson and his son Lars, continued working on our Pullman Troop Sleeper.      At Bob Barcus's request, I ran some shipping boxes up to the North Judson post office for mailing.  The museum is doing a good business selling items on line.   Lunch was furnished by Diane Bennett with fresh lettuce/tomato/mushroom salad, hot potato soup, pulled pork sandwiches, home made potato salad and a number of other "goodies".  Chocolate Swirl ice cream and various cookies for desert.   After lunch, I walked down and started helping Matt Downs, John LaOrange, Bob Albert, Tom Travis, Steve Newland and Matt Lasayko with unloading the Calumet Tower items into a museum boxcar for inside storage.     With the Alco down, attention turned to GE #11.  Attempts were made to "warm up" the oil in the unit, but after working all afternoon, the operating crew threw in the towel.  Bugs!  The Payloader was fired up and managed to push S-1 # 310 and LIRR 2937 back into the Shop.  Efforts to do the necessary switching will be made during this upcoming week.   Bob Albert continued working on the rehab of the ex-IC yellow display caboose.   Dave Cook, Bing Risley, Cory Bennett and Mark Knebel spent the day putting in a new wire fence on the steel fence posts that they had pounded in last winter before the cold weather shut the project down.  This fence line separates the museum property around the old, now torn down, Erie milk station from neighbors in that area.  The east fence and new gate were nearly finished when Tom Travis and I went over to see their progress.  They finished that east side fenceline and moved over to the north side.  The fence was laid out and Cory hitched up his truck to pull the fence tight before attaching it to the posts.  But that "bug" struck again and Cory couldn't get his truck to fire up.   When I left for the day, they were still working on the truck.   Have a good week everyone.  Keep those shovels handy!     Les

Mother Nature givith and she taketh away at HVRM 3/16/13

Greetings!   Last year at this time, we were going through an unseasonably warm period, including 5 consecutive days of temps in the 80's!  Not so this year, as Ma Nature is in cahoots with Old Man Winter to keep him around.  Temp in the mid-30's today with a bitter northwest wind.  More of the same forecast for this week.  Still, things continued to move forward at the museum.   Bob Jachim, John LaOrange, Steve Henrichs and Mark Knebel removed old dirt from the museums right of way between the Mulberry Street crossing and the museums depot, with 10 new ties now in place.   Later in the morning, Steve and John put the newly rebuilt ABD in place on B&LE caboose # 1989.   Ed Keeler joined Bjarney Henderson in continuing the rebuild of the interior of the Pullman Troop Sleeper.   Fred Boyer and I went up and made a list of the missing levers in Grasselli Tower.   After lunch, the bi-monthly membership meeting commenced.  Approved was Tom Travis's request to have the SCARC hold a special ham radio event for the museums 25th Anniversary June 15th and 16th up in Grasselli Tower.  Other items of interest will be in the upcoming museums Newsletter.   Rich Warner and Steve Newland continued their work on the G-gauge layout expansion in the depot building.   Bob Barcus and Diane Bennett worked in the museums gift shop.     John LaOrange and Bob Albert spent the afternoon taking the scrap metal located next to C&EI #A-1054 back to the scrap pile in the museums material yard.   Tired and cold, I rolled out of the museum about 4:30 p.m.  Keep warm everyone.  Spring arrives this week whether Mother Nature thinks so or not.     Les

Saturday March 9th, Spring Not Yet!!!!! Additonal Info

This was reported by Les Beckman

Thanks for report.  Not much to add.  John, Fred and Doug put various valves back in EL # 310 after receiving them from Pittsburgh Air Brake Company.  The Alco is now good to go.  Museum also got the valves back for GE # 11 but not going to do those right away.  Bob Albert working on the yellow display caboose and I did a bit of work in there too.  Bjarney Henderson, John DeGan and Steve Henricks continued their work on the Pullman Troop Sleeper.  Bob Barcus picked up a new shelf at Bailey's for behind the counter in the depot's gift shop in an effort to try to make that area neat.  It has been a real mess back there.   Steve Newland continued work on the G gauge layout in the depots waiting room.      Today started out about 32 degrees, cloudy sunrise, but at 6am, tomorrow it will rise at 7am, back to the dark ages. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonite 1 hour for the DST. Had breakfast with the locals at Fingerhut Cafe this morning, good start to the day, good conversation.   8am at the depot, board meeting in progress. Standard reports read and approved. Model 40 diesel, our billboard on IN 10 is in disrepair. Needs paint job, broken windows replaced, new boards for train rides need replacing, rotted wood. Billboard on south side of engine to be erected with TRAIN RIDES and arrow pointing down the tracks towards museum. Over the years poor little critter has been neglected and seems local residents have found it to paint words on it and break windows. This will be taken care of when warmer weather returns. Not sure if engine will be pulled back to shops for paint job, will have to wait till it happens.   Big talk about the Notre Dame Porter diesel engine. Todd Flanigan inspected the engine and gave it an approval okay. Cost of transporting engine is in the 15,000 dollar range, and that is if  ND wants to give it to HVRM with out the crane and hopper car that they want given a good home also. A group of volunteers are going to contact ND officals and request a visit plus possible start up of the 2 cummins engines. It originally built for Navy use in 1946, but ND bought it for the coal operation of the steam plant on campus to power the hopper cars filled by the crane and then pushed up to the dumping area and coal filled a large area to be fed to to the boilerbuilding. Some say the engine has not run in 20 years or more, due to ND using trucks to bring in coal for the power plant. ND has to give HVRM the notice if we are to acquire this diesel unit, then at a member ship meeting put it to a vote with the general membership if we want it or not, spending 15000 to transport it. Speed of the engine was also a factor as the top speed is only 13.5 MPH, but that is to be checked out by the committee going up to look it over next week.   Some other items discussed, but can't remember what they were.   Meeting was adjourned and a work party with air compressor was dispatched to the IN 10 highway crossing for asphalt patching and blow out the crud from the winter leftovers between the rails. Flaggers were needed and a large crew of 5-6 men made quick work of the pot holes in the crossing. Work was completed in less than an hour. Now the crossing at the crossing gate shanty needs new ties, as the old ones are now rotted to the point of pot holes. Some one needs to be told of this problems, or may of been noted already.   I called it a day, due to the cold wind and nothing I could do in the cold shop buildings, warmer weather is on the way north.   Saw 50 or more Sand Hill cranes in a small water hole in a bean field on IN 39 south of the Kankakee River on drive home. Have seen 3 robins in the back yard this week with more in various spots around La Porte.   Tomorrow is annual HVRM dinner at Monon Connection in Monon IN.   Next Saturday, March 16th is the membership meeting in the depot at 1pm, be there for discussion on ND Porter diesel.   OH AMTRAK has cancelled there exhibit for the 25th Anniversary HVRM mint fest weekend. NS has not committed for exhibit car either. US 30 rail crossing in Hanna will be replaced in June for a couple of weeks.   Have a safe week everyone.   Tom Travis

Saturday March 9th, Spring Not Yet!!!!!

Today started out about 32 degrees, cloudy sunrise, but at 6am, tomorrow it will
rise at 7am, back to the dark ages. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonite
1 hour for the DST. Had breakfast with the locals at Fingerhut Cafe this morning,
good start to the day, good conversation.
 
8am at the depot, board meeting in progress. Standard reports read and approved.
Model 40 diesel, our billboard on IN 10 is in disrepair. Needs paint job, broken
windows replaced, new boards for train rides need replacing, rotted wood. Billboard
on south side of engine to be erected with TRAIN RIDES and arrow pointing down
the tracks towards museum. Over the years poor little critter has been neglected
and seems local residents have found it to paint words on it and break windows.
This will be taken care of when warmer weather returns. Not sure if engine will
be pulled back to shops for paint job, will have to wait till it happens.
 
Big talk about the Notre Dame Porter diesel engine. Todd Flanigan inspected
the engine and gave it an approval okay. Cost of transporting engine is in the
15,000 dollar range, and that is if  ND wants to give it to HVRM with out the crane
and hopper car that they want given a good home also. A group of volunteers
are going to contact ND officals and request a visit plus possible start up of
the 2 cummins engines. It originally built for Navy use in 1946, but ND bought it for
the coal operation of the steam plant on campus to power the hopper cars filled
by the crane and then pushed up to the dumping area and coal filled a large
area to be fed to to the boilerbuilding. Some say the engine has not run in 20
years or more, due to ND using trucks to bring in coal for the power plant.
ND has to give HVRM the notice if we are to acquire this diesel unit, then at a member
ship meeting put it to a vote with the general membership if we want it or not, spending 15000 to transport it. Speed of the engine was also a factor as the top speed is only 13.5 MPH, but that is to be checked out by the committee going up to look it over next week.
 
Some other items discussed, but can't remember what they were.
 
Meeting was adjourned and a work party with air compressor was dispatched
to the IN 10 highway crossing for asphalt patching and blow out the crud from the
winter leftovers between the rails. Flaggers were needed and a large crew of
5-6 men made quick work of the pot holes in the crossing. Work was completed
in less than an hour. Now the crossing at the crossing gate shanty needs new
ties, as the old ones are now rotted to the point of pot holes. Some one needs
to be told of this problems, or may of been noted already.
 
I called it a day, due to the cold wind and nothing I could do in the cold shop
buildings, warmer weather is on the way north.
 
Saw 50 or more Sand Hill cranes in a small water hole in a bean field on IN 39
south of the Kankakee River on drive home. Have seen 3 robins in the back yard
this week with more in various spots around La Porte.
 
Tomorrow is annual HVRM dinner at Monon Connection in Monon IN.
 
Next Saturday, March 16th is the membership meeting in the depot at 1pm, be
there for discussion on ND Porter diesel.
 
OH AMTRAK has cancelled there exhibit for the 25th Anniversary HVRM mint fest
weekend. NS has not committed for exhibit car either. US 30 rail crossing in Hanna
will be replaced in June for a couple of weeks.
 
Have a safe week everyone.
 
Tom Travis

Signs of Spring at North Judson

Hi All,
 
After a long hiatus, I'M BACK!!!!!!! Saw a Cardinal and Bluejay today, nice to see some birds again,
no robins yet. Some nice sounds from the Cardinal. Thousands of ducks in the gravel pit near IN 39 and
US 30. Saw two skinny legged birds land in a corn field also, can't remember what they are called right
now, memory brain cells not working. 
 
Not to bore anyone, I did make it to North Judson today for a couple of hours.
 
First lunch at the Wooden Nickel, fish that I did not get last night for supper, then over to Fingerhut to pick
up a cake and some Putz??????, unbelieveable real strawberry and cream cakes, that are the best anywhere
around.
 
Drove over to the HVRM shop, some activity going on, the 2 Joes were both on there stomach and feet in
the aisle, putting back on radiator covers, that were taken off in the LIRR  2937 coach. Heat does work
again in the car, with some new bearing in the engine, it is running again. Nice an warm in the coach with
a torpedo heater at west end door of the car, blowing in heat an the east door open. Floor may of been
cold though.
 
On to the IC caboose. Les has been busy on RYPN tracking down the correct number when it was in
service on the IC. No luck on any certain number. Doug and Bob both inside the warm an toasty caboose
putting in new window frames inn all the windows, replacing all the rotten window frames. A couple
of torpedo heaters warmed the west shop up considerably from a chilly 32 degree start. Two others were
working on the Army Sleeping car replacing wood panels the ceiling. Making progress in both cars.
 
Depot was manned by Loretta, Bob, and Randall. Steve was working on the G scale track in the waiting room.
Mark, Richard and John were over on the north side of American Oak looking at some ground donated to the
museum recently. Surveyor is to mark out the properity soon. Why I don't know it was donated to us, on the old
NTC ROW. Notre Dame Porter diesel is up to the membership if HVRM is to pursue its acquisition. Museum is
not interested in ND #1 hopper car, and remants of an old American crane. Scraping it on the spot is not
money wise, as whoever comes in most likey will end up owing the scrapper money, losing deal,
too expensive to move by truck to the museum. The Porter diesel will have to be moved professionaly in my
opinion. It is cut off from the mainline in South Bend the trackage has been tore up, making it a rails to
trail venture.
 
Left after a couple of hours standing around just shooting the breeze. Board meeting is next Saturday morning
8am in the depot,. March 10th is HVRM annual dinner at Monon Connection in Monon IN, slow time 2pm.
March 16th is membership meeting at most likely 1pm in the depot, for all of you interested.
 
Bing was holding down a bench in the waiting room most of the afternoon. Seemed to be having a good
time. Randall is now using 2 canes to walk with, is holding off getting hip replacement till the right time.
Take it from a guy who knows about hip pain, GET IT DONE NOW, you will not regret it later. Suggested
that he get both done at same time an recover in a timely period. Worried about no one taking care of him
and not being able to teach college classes and do car hosting this summer. Something he will have to
decide by himself.
 
Hope to see everyone next weekend at the board meeting and annual dinner.
 
I've  been back driving school bus two weeks an 3 days, 2 tylenol takes care of the pain every morning,
shoulders and other muscles hurt still, but hip pain is almost non-existent.
 
Have a safe and productive week.
 
Tom Travis