Greetings!
A wicked wind and blowing snow made for a not-particularly-pleasant day at HVRM today although the Board still managed to have an early morning meeting. Despite the weather, we managed to run all 3 Santa trains without a hitch. The miserable conditions (especially north and east of the museum) found a few folks unable to make it to North Judson and ticket agent Loretta Kosloske will try to accommodate those folks with future ride compensation, where possible. John DeGan was engineer on the Alco for all 3 runs and the conductor and car host jobs were rotated amongst Steve Henrichs, Joe Kingsbury, Bud Tibbie, Bob Barcus, Stephen Bulla and Bob Albert. Others involved with operations included Tom Rainford, Mark Knebel, Bob Jachim, Doug Kosloske, Bjarne Henderson and yours truly.
The first photo shows Tom Rainford at left, doing some snow shoveling at the depot while Bob Jachim (at right) had just finished clearing the station platform. The snow plastered against the stations train order board gives you an idea as to the wicked, blowing snow that museum members put up with most of the day.
Although Mark Knebel was out providing crossing protection for all three trains today, he still had time in between runs to continue work on C&NW boxcar # 284 as can be seen in the second shot.
Bob Albert framed some additional photos of Grasselli Tower, and Tom Rainford and I managed to get them put up in the tower today.
Long time member Dan Siple stopped by today. Good to see Dan.
Kevin Kennedy had painted the hood on Notre Dame & Western diesel # 5332 in the morning, and proudly posed next to his work in photo number 3 in the West Annex of the Shop.
Margrett Cook provided a lunch of mostaccioli and garlic bread with a side of chili, along with chocolate chip cookies for desert.
In the fourth photo, John LaOrange, Cory Bennett and Tom Rainford (left to right) are show after lunch drilling one of the eight holes needed in the new cow catcher (people pusher) plate necessary for the earlier mentioned ND&W diesel. After the holes were completed, John, Kevin and Cory are shown in the 5th photo as they prepare to transport the plate over to the 5332. In the 6th shot, the plate is show being lifted into place.
Finally, in the 7th photo taken through the depots ticket window bars, Loretta is shown at her computer after the last train of the day had departed for its appointment with Santa!
Enjoy the week everyone. Winter is surely here!
Les
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