Nice and warm, then hot stuff at HVRM 4-27-13

Greetings!   Started out this morning at 61 degrees and moved up to 74 mid-afternoon.  A very nice, warm, spring day in North Judson!   Tom Travis had reported last week that 50 tank cars had been delivered or were on the way for storage at the museum.  But no sign of them today!  Turns out the 50 cars were pulled back out of storage after just 7 days.  A short time, but HVRM still welcomes the income.   After signing in at 9:00 a.m., I remarked to Margrett Cook in the NKP kitchen car, that the plastic should be taken off the windows to allow a breeze to enter the car.  I then noticed that the end door was open, but still covered with the plastic I put on last fall.  So went over to the Erie building for a ladder and dug out a crowbar and large screwdriver and tackled the removal.  Finally managed to get the wood strips and nails off.  Surprising that it held up all winter considering that it was yours truly that put it up.   Steve Henrichs came over for a cup of Joe, and Steve explained his plan to move the "Octopus" furnace in the first floor of Grasselli Tower over to one side so that future visitors have access to the back 2/3rds of the building.  I told Steve I'd come over later and see what his idea was all about.   After the coffee break, I walked back behind the Shop to take a look at TTX flat car # 475037.  The car is currently acting as the boom car to our Purdue crane, but the future plan was to repaint this car into its original Pennsy paint scheme and put our REA trailer up on it as an example of early piggyback service.  I have had some second thoughts on this lately, and I wanted to check the car out.   Then walked back to Grasselli and Steve Henrichs was painting a couple of electrical boxes on the second floor.  This whole area is really looking good in its tan paint trimmed in dark brown.  We then went downstairs and he explained his plan for the old furnace.  I told him I liked the idea.   Tom Travis came over and we talked about Tom's plan to have a special ham radio event up in the second floor of Grasselli during the Mint Fest.  Steve said that by then, he should have all the walls repainted and the floor too!   Ed Keeler and Bjarne Henderson continued with their work on the Pullman Troop Sleeper.   There were 3 guest engineers for the day.  Crew included Andy Hershmann, Bob Albert and Fred Boyer.  Train made up of EL Alco # 310, NKP bay window caboose # 471 and B&LE cupola caboose # 1989.   Steve Newland worked on the windows in  the tower.   The tree that had fallen last week, had taken down some wires on the old C&O telephone/telegraph poles, and a crew worked all morning, cutting up wire into short segments for scrap and disposal.   I worked on the watchman's crossing shanty roof, nailing the flashing back in place, including a piece that had come completely loose.    Homemade bratwurst for lunch, bean soup, salad, various other goodies with pie and ice cream for desert.   In the afternoon, I cleared one of the flower areas around one of our wood power poles on dried weeds.  These areas are made of old wood ties with the idea that they prevent visitors who park in the area from running into the poles, which was a rather common occurence before the flower areas were put in some years ago.  Unfortunately, these areas are not usually taken care of, and thus can get "scraggly" during the summer, which is what happened to this particular one.  I put the old dried weed debris into a nice pile and set the pile on fire as I stood by with a shovel for control as it burned itself out.   Just then the North Judson police car drove up and we started talking about the tree that had fallen last week.  When I turned around a minute later, the flower area itself was burning!  So much for control!  I monitored it closely while all of the remaining dried weeds burned and then I went and got some buckets of water to make sure that the wood pole itself, did not catch fire.   The "wire crew" moved over to the old Erie wye area in the afternoon, and started removing debris there.  These guys worked hard at this all day.  Crew at times included  Mark Knebel, Bob Jachim, Dave Cook, John LaOrange, Bing Risley, Cory Bennett and Tom Travis.   Had a number of visitors during the day, besides the guest engineer family and friends.  Bob Barcus and Loretta Kosloske were busy in the gift shop all day.   Headed for home at 4:00 p.m.  Enjoy the Spring weather everyone!     Les

Tank Cars, Keep those Doggies Rolling, Rawhide

Greetings to all,
 
Well after a week of wind, rain, snow, 70 degrees, today was not a bad day considering
the temp was only 34 on the way to Judson. Surprise, surprise when I drove across the
Erie crossing on IN 10, TANK CARS.....I stopped to talk to a friend before heading down
to the museum. I soon heard the horn of not the Erie 310, but #11 crossing Main street.
I knew the switching had begun of the tank cars. If switching was going on, no switch
work was being done, so I didn't hurry down.
 
By the time I arrived, #11 had pushed 6 tank cars down to the park on IN 10 and made a run back to get over to the C&I  main to pick up another cut of tank cars. The cars were pulled down to the HVRM switch and pushed down toward IN 10. I was the
crossing guard for the back up move. A couple of North Judsons finest were held
up at the Main street crossing till all of the cars were pushed thru. Only 2 cars did a
U turn. # 11 returned to the crossing an I thought that they were going back down
the C&I to pick up the bulk of tank cars left on the interchange track, not so after I saw
the engine stop an pull into the shop building area. Listening on the radio, they were
done, leaving the remaining cars on the interchange. I thought the crew was going
for beans and that they did for sure. The word came in last week 50 tank cars were
on the way and the contract signed for storage. Rumor has it 50 rotary dump cars
are also on the way to HVRM to be stored soon.
 
Lunch was served in the kitchen car of hot dogs and chili soup. Lots of cake an
ice cream was for dessert.
 
John "Tool Man" LaOrange was hard at work tearing off the old motor car shed door
for installation of the new door he made a couple of weeks ago. I gladly assisted John in the new door installation. The old door was a mess, dry rotted wood every
where. Removing all the bolts and screws was not fun. A mix bag for sure. Things
actually went pretty quick for removal, then putting the new door on. Well thats when
the fun started. The middle hinge had to be totally removed an remounted and the bottom hinge had some modifications made with another block of wood. You have
to look at it, I can't explain it. Lets just say the hinges are all securely mounted to the
frame an door. The bottom of the door had to be cut about an inch, due to the rail
head in the way of opening the door, John sabre saw did quick work of that. Two
drills made it easy to drill holes and other drill available for whatever. A battery powered saw was handy to cut board on the spot. Johns truck is a rolling carpenter
shop. The hasp was remounted and lined up, bolts put in and the door opens an
closes now without having to put a screw in top of it. Painting will cover up all
the minor mistakes.
 
In the mean time, Mark was busy with his chain saw cleaning up a downed tree
on the C&I line, mostly on city properity, but you know how he likes those chain
saws. Cleanup was assisted by Steve Newland with the back hoe tractor. Dave
assisted till he had to leave.
 
The #11 and #310 were hooked up to figure out the cutting out of the brake stand
on the Alco, so the Alco would brake like a regular car, in case that #11 would have
to pull the Alco back from out on the mainline. 3 air lines with valves is all it took
to make it work.
 
Doug had a meeting with prospective conductor trainees today, 6 or 7 showed up.
 
Fred worked on the IC caboose and the Troop car crew was working on it, with Boy
Scouts returning tomorrow for a work session.
 
During the week, Cory has been over working on cutting trees on the wye properity.
He has made a sizeable dent in clearing it out. Having the trees gone makes the
elevated ground on the wye very visable now.
 
Everyone have a good week, see you all next Saturday.
 
Tom Travis  

NKP Getting Orders

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rothwellj/6556142851/in/photostream
 
Hooping up orders to NKP 765 at HVRM North Judson IN

Two Additonal Pictures

Actually looking for any new Wabash pictures, but ran across 2 pics taken
by Sandy Goodrick on Dec 16, 1950 at New Paris IN. Wabash Train 52, engine
GP-7 450 getting orders from the tower operator. Next photo is the combine
car at the end of the local train 52 with marker lamps no less.
 
This was the working local from Gary-Montpelier OH, that did all the local
businesses along the line. This train ran behind my boy hood home for years
on 500 South eastbound on Monday, Wedndesday, Friday, with the same train
returning on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. What I never knew, until I read
in a Wabash Banner that you could actually purchase a ticket to ride in the
combine from Gary to Montpelier, but if the train had switching to do at say
North Liberity IN grain elevator, you may of not left at the prescribed time on the
timetable for that day.
 
In addition there was one train eastbound/westbound consisting of F-7's A/B's
units with a regular Wabash caboose, either square or streamlined cupola.
In later years, U-25B's showed up along with FM trainmaster engines. Some times
a Balwin or EMD switcher would be in the consist returning from most likely
shop work, engines etc. returning to the Detroit area.
 
I do remember E-7's or 8's pulling passenger trains from Chicago to Pine IN to
South Bend IN for Notre Dame football games. Usually heading east in mid morning
an returning west later in the evening, along with domes and Observation cars.
I have never seen any pictures of these Notre Dame specials on Saturdays in
the fall. They ran for a number of years in possibly late 50's and early 60's.
 
Norfolk Western acquired control in 1964 and the final trains ran in late 80's I would
say, as I was in the Navy an don't know the exact dates.
 
Elmer Manning was the tower operator at Magee for a number of years, I think in the
50's. Magee is about 1 mile to the west of my house, where the C&O (PM) crossed
the Wabash line. If I remember right, Magee was manned days and eves, no mids,
so Elmer set the signals green for any Wabash trains, and red for all C&O trains
that might show up at night and then would have to wait till morning operator to
come on duty to proceed. Magee had a depot at one time along with a interchange track that was on the northwest corner of the properity. I still believe a hotel was
built on 500 South for railroad workers or passengers for the trains. But all passenger
traffic was gone by early 30's I think, maybe sooner. My father, who grew up in Kingsbury IN, remembered the depot and a milk station for farmers sending milk
to Chicago.
 
I can remember things 50 years ago, but can't remember what I had for lunch today,
old age..
 
Tom 

April 13th, Not A Spring Day At HVRM

Today was not what to expect for April 13th, rain, mist, wind, snow, clouds.
It made for outside work to be tough an just plain cold. Never made it above 40
degrees, not exactly golf weather.
 
Board meeting started at 8am sharp in the depot. Reports given and everything
is fine. Some items brought up were, putting screen doors on the B&LE 1989
was approved, using the South Shore reel car for the crane operations, changes
on the tourist train consist for the upcoming season.
 
After the board meeting, me an Les went to breakfast down at Fingerhut Bakery,
as neither of us had  eaten breakfast. Les had to return home to change cars,
his older van was making funny noises, so he was late arriving at HVRM.
 
Returning to the museum, the track crew, Cory, John, Dave, Mark were all working
on a switch putting down ballast an tamping same. I changed clothes and went
down to help. Felt good to get back into doing some track work again. Some ties
had been changed out last week an ballast needed to be added. Broke for lunch,
and returned. Worked till about 2pm and that was it for the day, too cold, windy and
sore muscles.
 
Bob was manning the gift shop. Richard and Steve were working on the G guage
depot railway, finishing up small details. Impressive sound and seeing the trains
on the trestle  in the operators bay is something else.
 
The car restoration crews were busy working on the troop  car and IC caboose in
the west shop. Making good progress on both cars.
 
A welcome visitor today from Lafayette, Harold showed up. He was in good shape
and had a couple of stories from olden days were told. Elmer looking good today
also. Diane an Margret put on a good lunch for the troops today.
 
After track work stopped, I stayed down at the depot trying to warm up some. Mark,
Cory, Dave all went down to the wye area looking for boundry stakes, which they did
find some that were buried beneath the leaves.
 
While waiting in the depot, I decided to look in the photo books, found a picture
shot at Wellsboro IN, Oct 29th 1966 by Harry Zillmer with the depot, and B&O
eastbound train #10. Two people in the picture, one I believe is station agent
Alvin Bishop and yours truley standing in the doorway. This would of been my
senior year in high school, a Sunday waiting for GTW 5629 4-6-2 passenger train
to either South Bend or Kalamazoo MI. Its only been 40 years ago, but with a magnifying glass, I look somewhat younger and thinner. I spent considerable time
down at Wellsboro in my younger day. Even with knowing morse code from my
amateur radio hobby, I could never grasp the morse sent by Bish for OS of trains
passing either on the B&O or GTW.
 
Everyone have a good week, warmer weather is on the way....
 
Tom Travis 
 
 

Spring springs in at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum 4-6-13

Greetings!   Short day today due to early departure for another event.  Arrived at 8:45 a.m. and left at 2:15 p.m.  Also arriving today was Spring; from a cool night, a brisk south wind brought temps quickly into the upper 50's upon arrival and touched 70 by the time I left for the day.   Started out talking to Bob Barcus in the gift shop and making a purchase, getting my members discount, which is always nice.   I noticed that the museums signals were on and operating.  Always good to see.   A crew had been at the museum on Friday, April 5th, to put in the rest of the new ties between Mulberry Street and the walkway leading from the parking lot over to the depot building.  John LaOrange, Bob Jachim, Cory Bennett, Steve Henrichs, Dave Cook and Mark Knebel had the museums dump truck and payloader out and were moving ballast over to the site and had two air hammers working to drive the stone under the ties.  This area really looked nice when the boys were finished.   I went over to Bessemer & Lake Erie caboose #1989 to take some door dimensions for a possible future project.  Time will tell if this one gets approved.   Rich Warner and Steve Newland continued their work on the G gauge layout extension in the depot.  The new through truss bridge in the stations operators bay area looks cool.   Steve Henrichs purchased a roll of metal flashing as a possible answer to the holes that are along the bottom edge of the yellow IC caboose.  Fred Boyer and Doug Kosloske both liked the idea of using this method to repair the many holes in the cars lower body.  Meanwhile, Bob Albert continued working on the cabooses interior.   Doug Kosloske was spray painting clearance points on various switches on the property.   I spent some time trying to figure out the crossing control box that is in the IC caboose.  This was donated to us and was supposedly from the Pennsy's West Pullman Tower where the old Panhandle crossed the Illinois Central's electrified branch line that ran out to Blue Island, Illinois.  This past week, I was able to pull up a schematic of the trackwork at West Pullman, showing that the tower originally had an 18 lever interlocking maching.  I could not figure out whether the crossing gate control box could have been in the West Pullman tower itself, or if there was a separate structure for that gate control box.   Diane Bennett and Margrett Cook made a very tasty lunch and after the meal, the gandy dancer track crew from this morning, went down to tackle some bad ties on the crossover switches east of the depot.  I gave them a hand for about an hour and a half, before I had to leave.   With spring weather now appearing to finally be here, it looks as if we are going to get a number of days with rain this coming week.  Stay dry everyone!  And have a great week.     Les