Green diamond and fixes at Hoosier Valley 5/28/16

Greetings!

Had some computer problems this week but my computer guru (my son), worked on it today, so hopefully things are now fixed.  May have missed some stuff this past week.  Computers are great, aren't they?

Nice day at North Judson today.  Some very light sprinkles at times, but temps in the 80's and sun most of the time.

There is apparently a problem with GE number 11, with oil getting into the water system.  First photo shows John La Orange and Cory Bennett working on the problem in the East Annex of the Shop but John told me at the end of the day that they haven't yet found the problem.  More work to be done!

Bud Tibbie secured a metal Illinois Central herald for display.  At about 64 inches wide and 41 inches tall, it was a bit overwhelming to put in the IC display caboose, so it was decided to add it to the wall display in the Shop.  Tom Travis and I managed to push the lift from the West Annex of the Shop, over to the East Annex.  The second photo shows Tom working on one of the screws with which we attached the herald.   The third photo shows it in place above the metal Rock Island and New York Central heralds.  The IC and NYC heralds were apparently on piggyback trailers, but the Rock herald is believed to have come off of a  steam locomotive tender.  We think that this display looks pretty good and appreciate Bud Tibbie's donation.

Lunch today came from the Wooden Nickel; chicken, biscuits, cole slaw and also a donated pasta salad.  Good stuff!

There was a problem when EL Alco # 310 tried to couple to Long Island coach #2937 in preparation for the first passenger run of the day, and the front coupler of S-1 had to be replaced using parts from the EMD Model 40.  The 4th photo show Cory Bennett (at left) and Doug Kosloske working on the coupler as Tom Rainford watches at right.  The repair was made and the 12:30 train left on time.

Good to see Randall Downs on the train today, as the car host on the Katy open air car.  Randall had hip surgery earlier this month and is making remarkable progress.

Doug Kosloske was engineer today with Steve Henrichs the conductor.

Recently, a window in the first floor of Grasselli Tower was broken, with all of the broken glass ending up outside of the tower.  Could have been wind from the inside or possibly a bird getting trapped inside an hitting the window with enough force to break it.  Whatever happened, Steve Newland is shown in the 5th photo, putting some plastic over the now open upper sash as a temporary measure until the window can be replaced.  Bob Albert came up with some photos of Grasselli when it was still back in East Chicago, including one from the 1920's showing a steam engine passing the tower.  These shots will eventually be displayed in the tower itself.

Enjoy the holiday weekend and have a great week.  Remember to fly the flag this upcoming Memorial Day and remember all those who have served.  God Bless America!

Les  

  

      

 

 

Great Day at HVRM Weather Wise 5-21-2016

Greetings to all,
 
Well it finally had to get nice today after some gloomy weather for the past three Saturdays.
Temps made it into the mid 70's under blue skies. Perfect weather for a couple of train rides.
Les took some photos of members around the museum today.
 
Photo 1 is Bob Barcus shooting a short video of HVRM operations
Photo 2 is guest engineer getting ready to couple GE # 11 up to B&LE caboose. Bjarne  Henderson
is on the platform as conductor for the day.
Photo 3 is of three long time members working on the EJ&E 184 caboose brake problems.
Kyle Flanigan at left, Todd Flanigan kneeling down near rail, John LaOrange on the ground
under the caboose.
 
I arrived early as it was membership meeting day, but due to lack of members to make a quorum
it was postponed till later. Everyone was scattered about the museum getting jobs started.
Mark Kniebel was out on the HVRM motorcar inspecting track from North Judson to English
Lake over the bridge up to the derail an then back to IN 10 an back on the passing track,
completing it just in time to do duty as road crossing guard for guest engineers.
Doug Koslovske an Bjarne Henderson were assembling the guest engineer train cutting
the open air car an Long Island coach out of the consist. John LaOrange an Cory Bennett
were working on the EJ&E caboose sticking brakes. Loretta Koslovske an Bob Barcus
were in the depot getting things ready for the day. Joe Kingsbury was in the shop doing
some touch up prime painting around the windows. Joe Baker got the electric manlift
out an moved it to a new LED he had installed too high up an lowered it some. Les
Beckman went over to Grasselli tower to work on the throw levers numbers.
I was standing by the depot platform an Bjarne asked if I wanted to ride out to English
Lake in the B&LE caboose on a guest engineer train. It was nice sitting up in the cupola
watching the scenery pass by an the rolling track on the short stretch of track.
I got back an had not really decided what to do, but lunch was ready about 11am.
So had hotdogs an Taco salad plate. During lunch I was asked if I wanted to do car host
duties, so I agreed. Was in the coach for both runs, had a total of 50 passengers on both
trips, better than the count from last week. Bob Jachim was out an about early at the
museum, making coffee, putting the flag up an opening up the depot an buildings.
Bing Ringsley an Corky were out an around the museum ground early also. John LaOrange
had worked on the Erie 310 an fixed the air problems from last week, forgot what the
fix was. Filled the radiator up to the top with water, as I don't think it will freeze again
for some time. Ross Robinson from  Ottawa Ontario, stopped by for a couple three days after
attending a conference in Fayette Ohio for a couple of days. Having checked out his trailer prior
to leaving, some unfortunate things happened, water lines began to leak an possibly
causing a fan motor on the space heater to go bad. So Ross was not able to take showers or
have heat at night. First night out temps were around 30 degrees an did not much warm up
for the entire trip. He did have plenty of blankets an jackets. Monday evening Ross
treated my family an Les & Betty Beckman to dinner at the Broadway Café in Valpo.
Tuesday Ross came down to North Judson to visit Toto an Baileys. Also gave him keys
to get into Grasselli tower an see the progress that has be done since his last visit. Also
went into the shop building to see ongoing projects an new concrete floors in the shop.
Ross left early Wednesday morning. I did not have much time spend with him, as driving
school bus kept me busy all day.
 
Cory got the John Deere 4020 running an out of the building an hooked up the sprayer
machine an must of sprayed grass in the wye area  to keep the grass down an bugs to
a minimum in the coming months Mowing with the brushhog will be done later in the
month, as the grass in lots does not look too bad yet.
 
In the mean time, John ran the Erie 310 down to the EJ&E caboose to move it to the shop
building so the brake valve could be taken off an blown out with compressed air to attempt
to clear what ever was blocking the line. Todd took off a couple of pipes an found them to
be full of dust or dirt or scale that may of been blocking air. So things were taken off an
the air compressor blew out crud that may of settled inside. The air switch inside the caboose
was taken out an capped off, as thought was it may of been malfunctioning. The brake parts
were put back on an things slowly started working again. The caboose was taken out on the
line an run back an forth applying an releasing the brakes, all seemed to be working again.
So next week the EJ&E will be back in the consist for tourist trains.
 
Bob Albert worked on the Illinois Central display caboose by fixing another leak in the roof.
A large cabinet was moved over from the shop building an put inside the caboose.
 
The inspection of the Monon SW-1 did happen Friday, noting lots of engine work may be
required to get it running again. Will have to wait for board meeting to discuss it.
 
The buildings were closed up shortly after the 2pm train ride an members left pretty
quick after that.
 
No idea when the membership meeting will be held. Notice will most likely sent out
by e-mail to members. Have a good week, temps are going to rise into the 80's by next
weekend with some rain during the week.
 
Tom Travis
 
 
           

North Judson Extends Agreement with Railroad Operator, Challenges Remain for Museum Trains

---

---

 Greetings to all,

 

Let me start out that on Thursday evening at the North Judson town Hall had a special meeting  with HVRM on the

agreements with the Railroad CKIN. The following article explains what went on an the course of the

Town Council of North Judson. A good crowd was there for support. Did not end on a high note, as

the meeting was abruptly ended. I'm sure more will follow. 

North Judson Extends Agreement with Railroad Operator, Challenges Remain for Museum Trains
http://www.wkvi.com/2016/05/north-judson-extends-agreement-railroad-operator-challenges-remain-museum-trains/

 

Saturday was very cold an windy, but dry. Lots of rain the last couple of days has made

fields pretty muddy an stream at high water levels. During the last couple of weeks

the museum had a couple of weekday tourist trips with school children. A very good

turnout an all had a lot of fun. The Alco 310 an EJ&E caboose 184 had a brake

problem. The caboose was switched out of the train an GE #11 was substituted for power.

Saturday morning early work on the EJ&E handicap caboose, but not exactly 100%

sure if the problem is fixed. The Friday group had tours an lunch first, then went on the

train ride with no problems.

 

Board meeting at 8am brought up the items of interest. This coming Friday Les Beckman,

and a group of individuals will go an inspect a 600 horsepower SW-1 over south of Calumet

Harbor, I think. A list of things will be inspected as to determine it is worthy to accept.

A NS inspector will also be in attendance to inspect the engine an see if it is capable to

travel on its own wheels to HVRM.

 

Work continues on the new lunch car with much more done inside the car. Windows

are installed an framed in. A new air conditioner will be installed in a window with

appropriate 220 volt requirements. Joe Baker has the electrical roughed in right now

an more to do for the lighting on the ceiling.

 

A discussion of options about the closure of the English Lake-Lacrosse line were discussed.

 

A couple of guest engineers were in attendance early an the passenger train ran on time

with a low turnout of rides due to cold an windy conditions.

 

The LIRR couch engine for the heating would not start easily. Checking the battery it was

found out that the battery charger is putting out about 40 plus volts an the big battery is

only 32 volts. Checking cells an it was found out it needed distilled water in most of the

cells. The battery is in an extremely tight place under the coach an can not be pulled out

on a sliding tray, so some improvising with a turkey baster was used to fill the cells.

 

Les Beckman did some minor work in Grasselli Tower in the afternoon.

 

Not much else was done on Saturday due to nasty conditions outside. Hopefully next

Saturday will be warmer an nicer.

 

Have a good week everyone.

 

Tom Travis