Perfect Weather for Easter Trains 26 March 2016

Greetings to all.

 

Saturday dawn was nice, but cold, it did finally warmed up after the first run. I was assigned

as car host an enjoyed riding the EJ&E 184. Equipment for the train has been gone over for

any defects, an everything came up runnable. The KATY open air car was still out of service,

but mounted on the trucks once again. With over 450 eager riders on three trains was awaiting.

 

Engineers for the Easter train were John LaOrange, John DeGan, Conductor was Steve Hendricks

Many car hosts helped out with the cabooses an LIRR coach. Joe Kingsbury, Bud Tibble were in

full conductors uniforms an it made a nice touch to the visitors riding the coach. Randall was on

the open air car, Bob Albert was on a caboose,

 

The LIRR couch took some coaxing to get it started, but finally right before departure on the first

run it sprang to life. The heat was turned on an the coach warmed nicely for the folks inside.

On the cabooses the first run was on the chilly side, but the rest of the runs were nice an sunny

an warm.

 

Bob Barcus, Loretta Kosloske, Beth Lasayko all helped with ticketing an gift shop sales.

 

Helping at the park on IN 10, where the egg hunt was held, Louise Kingsbury with daughter an grandkids

helped with passing out Easter treats an grandkids as the Easter rabbit. Loretta Kosloske came out to

make sure all went as planned.

 

Lots of folks enjoyed the ride an had a great time. Over 450 adults/kids were booked on 3 trains

an the pictures show. Final picture was the Easter rabbit waving to the departing train back

to the depot. 

 

May 7th will be the beginning of the regular tourist season. Many projects continue over in the

shop building. Joe an Bud are working on the tool car putting up walls. Go check it out

sometime. The GE 11 is most likely put back together an running after taking out the oil

cooler, having it repaired. It was no easy job, but Sparky, Tom, Richard worked very hard

unbolting the oil cooler, taking it out with a winch up thru a side panel. It was taken down

to Seymour IN, south of INDY to drop it at a repair shop, Richard also went down to pick

it up. I did not see it replaced, but went back in the same way it came out an must

of been successful. Hopefully nothing else will come up with GE 11 in the coming season.

Matt Lasayko also worked on the signal system during the day, fixing multiple problems

with semaphore an light signals. Thanks Matt

 

Many thanks to all who helped out behind the scenes for the success of the Easter train.

 

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter

 

Tom