Greetings to all railroad enthusiasts,
Today started out on the cool side, spitting rain, overcast, just plain damp conditions
at the museum. Again another superb turnout of HVRM members today to work a
number of jobs around the grounds
I arrived closer to 10am an saw some activity at the west shop area outside.
The track crew had begun prepping the ground for new ties to be laid down.
Cory Bennitt, John LaOrange, Tom Rainford, David Cook an Kevin Kenneddy
were getting things together for a days work. Inside the west shed, Joe Kingsbury
an David Cook were busy working on the International mowing tractor. Seems a
shaft from the engine to a pump was making funny sounds an they were in the
process removing the shaft to get to the pump for fixing. John brought around the
payloader to remove a set of trucks from an old boxcar, moving them by the reefer
shed building. Next was removing ties an debris from the ROW that the new track
would be placed. That took a while of do, as first the frog had to be removed from
section of rail it was attached to, allowing ties be picked up. After that task, Cory
used the backhoe to break up the ground so it could be scraped up by the bucket
an dumped. David took over an remove remaining soil. After some grading an good
old shoveling of dirt, ties were ready to be set under the rail. John went down and
got a bundle of the new plastic ties. Break for lunch.
Charlene Gyurko had an excellent lunch for the working force. Pork steaks, potatoes with gravy,
green beans, apple sauce, an cottage cheese with green jello mix. For desert, cake.
Excellent lunch again prepared by Charlene.
After lunch, I volunteered to be car host in the open air car. A group of school students
an adults from I think Warsaw IN, a private school on a field trip. Very well behaved kids, I enjoyed
talking to everyone. Still the weather had not improved much, still sort of drizzly an cool,
but everyone had a great time. The second trip weather had improved somewhat,
but a smaller group on the open air car. The handicap lift was used for 2 ladies who
would of had trouble getting up the coach steps, all went well.
A couple of guest engineers ran the #11 to English Lake an back in the morning.
It was recertification day for a number of engineers, Doug Koslovske, John DeGan were
in the cab. Steve Hendric was conductor for the first run, Bob Barcus the second run.
Joe Kingsbury manned the LIRR coach an the narrative for the trip. Tom Travis manned
the open air car. Bob Gyurko was in the B&LE caboose with the conductor getting time
on the job for conductor qualification.
Bob Barcus an Loretta Koslovske manned the depot for the day. Bob Albert worked around
the orange caboose. Richard Warner showed up, I saw Bing riding in his truck with Corky.
Mark Kniebel, had a day off from postal work, conducted the track inspection in the
speeder. Mark also provided crossing guard to English Lake. Mike ? from North Judson
was also in the depot. Sorry if I missed any one who was there today.
As the train returned from the 2nd trip to English Lake, I noted ties an tie plates were under
the rail an ready for spiking next week. Some other track work needs to be completed
first so the frog an be placed an the switch installed, many long weekends remain till the
switch is completed. Long wood ties need to be installed also under the switch.
By 3:30pm activities had wound down, mostly everyone departed soon after.
Loretta is setting up a table down at Bailey's next Saturday for memberships an brochures
on activities at the museum. Please volunteer your time next weekend to man the table.
Everyone have a good week. School has started, so watch out for kids loading an unloading
be observant of distance between your auto an the rear of school busses, La Porte has already
had one car rear end a school bus, luck had it no kids were on the bus at the time.
Tom Travis
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