This was reported by Les Beckman
| Thanks for report. Not much to add. John, Fred and Doug put various valves back in EL # 310 after receiving them from Pittsburgh Air Brake Company. The Alco is now good to go. Museum also got the valves back for GE # 11 but not going to do those right away. Bob Albert working on the yellow display caboose and I did a bit of work in there too. Bjarney Henderson, John DeGan and Steve Henricks continued their work on the Pullman Troop Sleeper. Bob Barcus picked up a new shelf at Bailey's for behind the counter in the depot's gift shop in an effort to try to make that area neat. It has been a real mess back there. Steve Newland continued work on the G gauge layout in the depots waiting room.
Today started out about 32 degrees, cloudy sunrise, but at 6am, tomorrow it will
rise at 7am, back to the dark ages. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonite
1 hour for the DST. Had breakfast with the locals at Fingerhut Cafe this morning,
good start to the day, good conversation.
8am at the depot, board meeting in progress. Standard reports read and approved.
Model 40 diesel, our billboard on IN 10 is in disrepair. Needs paint job, broken
windows replaced, new boards for train rides need replacing, rotted wood. Billboard
on south side of engine to be erected with TRAIN RIDES and arrow pointing down
the tracks towards museum. Over the years poor little critter has been neglected
and seems local residents have found it to paint words on it and break windows.
This will be taken care of when warmer weather returns. Not sure if engine will
be pulled back to shops for paint job, will have to wait till it happens.
Big talk about the Notre Dame Porter diesel engine. Todd Flanigan inspected
the engine and gave it an approval okay. Cost of transporting engine is in the
15,000 dollar range, and that is if ND wants to give it to HVRM with out the crane
and hopper car that they want given a good home also. A group of volunteers
are going to contact ND officals and request a visit plus possible start up of
the 2 cummins engines. It originally built for Navy use in 1946, but ND bought it for
the coal operation of the steam plant on campus to power the hopper cars filled
by the crane and then pushed up to the dumping area and coal filled a large
area to be fed to to the boilerbuilding. Some say the engine has not run in 20
years or more, due to ND using trucks to bring in coal for the power plant.
ND has to give HVRM the notice if we are to acquire this diesel unit, then at a member
ship meeting put it to a vote with the general membership if we want it or not, spending 15000 to transport it. Speed of the engine was also a factor as the top speed is only 13.5 MPH, but that is to be checked out by the committee going up to look it over next week.
Some other items discussed, but can't remember what they were.
Meeting was adjourned and a work party with air compressor was dispatched
to the IN 10 highway crossing for asphalt patching and blow out the crud from the
winter leftovers between the rails. Flaggers were needed and a large crew of
5-6 men made quick work of the pot holes in the crossing. Work was completed
in less than an hour. Now the crossing at the crossing gate shanty needs new
ties, as the old ones are now rotted to the point of pot holes. Some one needs
to be told of this problems, or may of been noted already.
I called it a day, due to the cold wind and nothing I could do in the cold shop
buildings, warmer weather is on the way north.
Saw 50 or more Sand Hill cranes in a small water hole in a bean field on IN 39
south of the Kankakee River on drive home. Have seen 3 robins in the back yard
this week with more in various spots around La Porte.
Tomorrow is annual HVRM dinner at Monon Connection in Monon IN.
Next Saturday, March 16th is the membership meeting in the depot at 1pm, be
there for discussion on ND Porter diesel.
OH AMTRAK has cancelled there exhibit for the 25th Anniversary HVRM mint fest
weekend. NS has not committed for exhibit car either. US 30 rail crossing in Hanna
will be replaced in June for a couple of weeks.
Have a safe week everyone.
Tom Travis |
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