Greetings,
Saturday started with a HVRM board meeting in the depot waiting room with
the hint of rain in the west sky. Items were discussed, painting of the HVRM
depot, building conditions, an scrap metal disposal. The rain started shortly,
an most of members shut windows on vehicles. Mark Kniebel has started
repaint the HVRM depot this past week. Lots of problems painting due
to all the overhangs, decks and ramps around the depot, making it a time
consuming job setting up ladders an planks. Gutters and downspouts are
taken off to get to those areas of the depot outwer walls. Lots of small
details to work around. The scrap metal pile is getting bigger all the time,
but roll on-off dumpsters are not avail at this time from Richard, busy trash
hauling season. Buildings problems run from lighting issues to bad roofs,
payloader shed needing repainting and wood repairs. Joe Baker has come
up with the idea to replace all outside lighting with LED lighting to drop the
electric cost of almost 60 dollars a year on each bulb. LED programs and
grants thru electric companies will be looked into by Joe. Which the solar
panel project needs to get running, as the meter reading down on IN 10
keeps increasing every month. Elimination of electric meters and alternate
sources of engery need to get going to save on electric bills. The payloader
shed needs to be repainted with wood repair done to rotted areas of siding.
Over the years, the shed has only been painted maybe once since moving
it years ago and is beginning to show its age again. The wood batten is just
about wore out from the elements. Replacement is necessary. The motor car
shed roof needs a metal roof put on, as the shingles are just not lasting.
Ties have been ordered (250) with the city paying for approx 70 ties for crossing
replacement on county road north of the museum. Approx 55 ties are needed
for the IN 10 city park area. The ties are just at the point where running passenger
trains over the rail is in a grey area. Lots of tie work is needed on the museum
grounds, the main line thru the museum, and on sidings.
The manlift developed a problem last week when Mark was using it to fix outside
lighting, it would not move backwards. John LaOrange, Sparky, Richard Warner
worked on it, finding a valve was not working properly to move hydralic fluid.
Replacement parts are on order. John and Mark have been working on removing
the final burnt word inside the burnt out tool car. It is clear of all wood and now
some metal work around the floor area is needed to install a new deck. Maybe it
will get moved inside the building area soon for starting work on it. Lots of wood
needs to be installed to build up the floor, with tongue and grove put on for the
final layer.
The train crew consisted of John DeGan, engineer, Bob Albert Conductor, Joe
Kingsbury as car host and passenger car maintainer. The crew could not get
the diesel engine started for a/c. The train was ready for departure and Richard
Warner came to the rescue and got it started for the crew. Randall was the
carhost for the open air car. Doug Kosloske was doing conductor classes inside
the kitchen car, with 3 trainees. Bob Barcus an Loretta Kosloske were depot
workers for the day. Close to 60 riders on all 3 trains today. Sunday is guest
enginneer program in the afternoon for 3 or 4 persons.
Grasselli tower workers, Fred Boyer, Steve Newland, Steve Hendrics were all busy
working on different areas of the tower. Radiators brackets are being installed and
the heavy radiators are being mounted along the walls. Fred worked on window
sills filling in cracks in the wood. Norwayne Lumber sent a paint rep down to look
at the peeling paint on the outside. Many ideas were banter about, but nothing
for a fix situation. Most likely leaking windows from rain is causing the problems
from the inside. Until all windows are replaced, repainting the outside will be
on hold. The upper level is progressing along nicely.
Les Beckman did some painting on the truck trailer plates, including the pins. Later
on I started on scraping paint off the payloader shed. Working from ground level,
reaching as high up as I could, tried to get the paint off. It came of fairly easy. Les
joined with paint removal, until we heard the Alco' bell from the shop area.
Until the rain finally stopped after lunch, outside work was pretty much curtailed.
The GE #11 has worked well for the last couple of weeks as standin for Alco 310,
as it work was done on it, changed oil, engine work, brake work and was expected
to be operational for the upcoming special tourist trains this coming week.
The Alco would see a startup and testing as to how things were running. But
an emergency call from the tourist train arrived to Doug. The Alco was needed
to rescue the GE at La Crosse IN. The train had arrived at La Crosse, unloaded
passengers, then pulled to the west to have the engine run around the now open
wye. The #11 was at the first switch on the wye, and refused to reverse direction.
Lots of things were tried to fix the problem, but nothing worked. It just refused
to go either direction, so the Alco came to its rescue. The Alco tied on to the
LIRR coach, and then went down to rescue the GE. Passengers heard the
whistle of the Alco and quickly arrived for loading. The passengers all were
under the picnic canopy, and had use of restrooms inside the building.
The GE was sucessfully pulled back to North Judson and returned to the shop
building for repair. A late afternoon for everyone. Hopefully the problem will
not require a lot to fix.
Hopefully I will be able to help out more until school starts again August 17th.
A week in Norfolk VA for a week on the beach was very nice and relaxing. Lots
of interesting sights around Norfolk, the battleship USS Wisconsin is downtown
along with the the Norfolk Southern Museum close by. A very nice display of
artifacts and the entire line of NS Heritage diesel in HO scale on a display track.
A very interesting boat tour of the Navy ships and the docks around Norfolk. Lamberts
Points is a very interesting coal unloading facility from train to ships, lotsof coal
trains arrive to unload. Ships of all types are constantly entering an leaving
the harbor. One loading facility is for loading train locomotives onto ships for
export to foreign countries. Nothing was there at the time but 4 massive cranes
are located there for loading. I suspect that farm tractors going thru La Porte (John
Deere, Case, International) may be loaded from from the same facility. Lots of
ship drydocks had ships of all types out of the water. Was a very nice time for
myself, Maureen and Brianne. Intermodal containers are everywhere with massive
cranes. Those ships do not spend much time in port, strictly load and unload,
and they are off to other ports.
Good to be back after 3 weeks, Brianne had emergency gall bladder surgery
on July 7th, after waking up early on the 5th with a horrible stomach pain. Emergency
room decided after lots of scans, she had a inflamed gall bladder with lots of
gall stones. She is recovering nicely an should be back to normal by time school
starts in August
Take care everyone, have a good week. Check the HVRM web for trains coming
up during the week. Help is needed in almost every position, carhosts etc.
Loretta made the announcement the Lionel convention people are coming to
ride the train also. I'm sure they will be impressed with the G guage layout in
the museum.
Bob Jacqim recently had a stint put in to help with his health issues. Les was
flag bearer for the Mulberry crossing today.
Tom Travis
Saturday started with a HVRM board meeting in the depot waiting room with
the hint of rain in the west sky. Items were discussed, painting of the HVRM
depot, building conditions, an scrap metal disposal. The rain started shortly,
an most of members shut windows on vehicles. Mark Kniebel has started
repaint the HVRM depot this past week. Lots of problems painting due
to all the overhangs, decks and ramps around the depot, making it a time
consuming job setting up ladders an planks. Gutters and downspouts are
taken off to get to those areas of the depot outwer walls. Lots of small
details to work around. The scrap metal pile is getting bigger all the time,
but roll on-off dumpsters are not avail at this time from Richard, busy trash
hauling season. Buildings problems run from lighting issues to bad roofs,
payloader shed needing repainting and wood repairs. Joe Baker has come
up with the idea to replace all outside lighting with LED lighting to drop the
electric cost of almost 60 dollars a year on each bulb. LED programs and
grants thru electric companies will be looked into by Joe. Which the solar
panel project needs to get running, as the meter reading down on IN 10
keeps increasing every month. Elimination of electric meters and alternate
sources of engery need to get going to save on electric bills. The payloader
shed needs to be repainted with wood repair done to rotted areas of siding.
Over the years, the shed has only been painted maybe once since moving
it years ago and is beginning to show its age again. The wood batten is just
about wore out from the elements. Replacement is necessary. The motor car
shed roof needs a metal roof put on, as the shingles are just not lasting.
Ties have been ordered (250) with the city paying for approx 70 ties for crossing
replacement on county road north of the museum. Approx 55 ties are needed
for the IN 10 city park area. The ties are just at the point where running passenger
trains over the rail is in a grey area. Lots of tie work is needed on the museum
grounds, the main line thru the museum, and on sidings.
The manlift developed a problem last week when Mark was using it to fix outside
lighting, it would not move backwards. John LaOrange, Sparky, Richard Warner
worked on it, finding a valve was not working properly to move hydralic fluid.
Replacement parts are on order. John and Mark have been working on removing
the final burnt word inside the burnt out tool car. It is clear of all wood and now
some metal work around the floor area is needed to install a new deck. Maybe it
will get moved inside the building area soon for starting work on it. Lots of wood
needs to be installed to build up the floor, with tongue and grove put on for the
final layer.
The train crew consisted of John DeGan, engineer, Bob Albert Conductor, Joe
Kingsbury as car host and passenger car maintainer. The crew could not get
the diesel engine started for a/c. The train was ready for departure and Richard
Warner came to the rescue and got it started for the crew. Randall was the
carhost for the open air car. Doug Kosloske was doing conductor classes inside
the kitchen car, with 3 trainees. Bob Barcus an Loretta Kosloske were depot
workers for the day. Close to 60 riders on all 3 trains today. Sunday is guest
enginneer program in the afternoon for 3 or 4 persons.
Grasselli tower workers, Fred Boyer, Steve Newland, Steve Hendrics were all busy
working on different areas of the tower. Radiators brackets are being installed and
the heavy radiators are being mounted along the walls. Fred worked on window
sills filling in cracks in the wood. Norwayne Lumber sent a paint rep down to look
at the peeling paint on the outside. Many ideas were banter about, but nothing
for a fix situation. Most likely leaking windows from rain is causing the problems
from the inside. Until all windows are replaced, repainting the outside will be
on hold. The upper level is progressing along nicely.
Les Beckman did some painting on the truck trailer plates, including the pins. Later
on I started on scraping paint off the payloader shed. Working from ground level,
reaching as high up as I could, tried to get the paint off. It came of fairly easy. Les
joined with paint removal, until we heard the Alco' bell from the shop area.
Until the rain finally stopped after lunch, outside work was pretty much curtailed.
The GE #11 has worked well for the last couple of weeks as standin for Alco 310,
as it work was done on it, changed oil, engine work, brake work and was expected
to be operational for the upcoming special tourist trains this coming week.
The Alco would see a startup and testing as to how things were running. But
an emergency call from the tourist train arrived to Doug. The Alco was needed
to rescue the GE at La Crosse IN. The train had arrived at La Crosse, unloaded
passengers, then pulled to the west to have the engine run around the now open
wye. The #11 was at the first switch on the wye, and refused to reverse direction.
Lots of things were tried to fix the problem, but nothing worked. It just refused
to go either direction, so the Alco came to its rescue. The Alco tied on to the
LIRR coach, and then went down to rescue the GE. Passengers heard the
whistle of the Alco and quickly arrived for loading. The passengers all were
under the picnic canopy, and had use of restrooms inside the building.
The GE was sucessfully pulled back to North Judson and returned to the shop
building for repair. A late afternoon for everyone. Hopefully the problem will
not require a lot to fix.
Hopefully I will be able to help out more until school starts again August 17th.
A week in Norfolk VA for a week on the beach was very nice and relaxing. Lots
of interesting sights around Norfolk, the battleship USS Wisconsin is downtown
along with the the Norfolk Southern Museum close by. A very nice display of
artifacts and the entire line of NS Heritage diesel in HO scale on a display track.
A very interesting boat tour of the Navy ships and the docks around Norfolk. Lamberts
Points is a very interesting coal unloading facility from train to ships, lotsof coal
trains arrive to unload. Ships of all types are constantly entering an leaving
the harbor. One loading facility is for loading train locomotives onto ships for
export to foreign countries. Nothing was there at the time but 4 massive cranes
are located there for loading. I suspect that farm tractors going thru La Porte (John
Deere, Case, International) may be loaded from from the same facility. Lots of
ship drydocks had ships of all types out of the water. Was a very nice time for
myself, Maureen and Brianne. Intermodal containers are everywhere with massive
cranes. Those ships do not spend much time in port, strictly load and unload,
and they are off to other ports.
Good to be back after 3 weeks, Brianne had emergency gall bladder surgery
on July 7th, after waking up early on the 5th with a horrible stomach pain. Emergency
room decided after lots of scans, she had a inflamed gall bladder with lots of
gall stones. She is recovering nicely an should be back to normal by time school
starts in August
Take care everyone, have a good week. Check the HVRM web for trains coming
up during the week. Help is needed in almost every position, carhosts etc.
Loretta made the announcement the Lionel convention people are coming to
ride the train also. I'm sure they will be impressed with the G guage layout in
the museum.
Bob Jacqim recently had a stint put in to help with his health issues. Les was
flag bearer for the Mulberry crossing today.
Tom Travis
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