Paint/no paint at HVRM on May 10, 2014

 

Greetings!

The complete story on the numbering an painting for the Illinois Central caboose

is on RYPN, intechange, Caboose Identification - A long shot.

 

Give good details on its progress and completion.

 

Arrived at the museum about 8:00 a.m. just after the Board of Director meeting had started.  I mentioned

that Richard Vetter of RISX had delivered two new bridge plates for TTX 475037, but otherwise I remained

quiet.  Doug Kosloske mentioned that both GE #11 and Alco #310 were available for passenger runs.

EL 310 was the motive power for the days train operations.

Tom Travis advised me earlier in the week of the big news that IC display caboose #9914 was moved

out of the Shop and over to the display track across from the depot.  The floor of the car still has to be

sanded down and treated and the interior displays still have to then be placed into the car, but this was

certainly a move in the right direction.  The car certainly looks great (see photo) and the museum members

who worked on it, should feel very proud of their efforts.

My plan for the day was to get the bridge plates for the TTX flatcar cleaned with lacquer thinner and

then painted.  I wasn't sure if I could get the top bridge plate off of the bottom one due to the weight, but

after I scrounged around the Shop and managed to find a couple of additional pallets, I was able to just

slide the top bridge plate over to the other pallets.  They cleaned up and I found some primer and painted

both of them.  My plan was to come back in the afternoon and try to get the two plates turned over if possible

and then clean and put primer on the other sides.  Never got to that point as the primer didn't completely

dry, probably due to the humidity.  The temp was in the mid-70's all day with sun most of the time.  Anyway,

that part of my plan will have to wait until the next day at the museum.

My other planned project for the day was to get a finish coat of light green paint on the lid of the coal bin

located next to the watchman's crossing shanty, and also on some spots of peeling paint on the shanty

itself.  Unfortunately, when I opened the can of paint, I found it looked like cottage cheese.  Apparently it

had froze over our tough winter.  One more plan scratched until Steve Newland can get a new can of the

paint from Sherwin-Williams.

Speaking of Steve, he had the brackets made for the re-installation of the cast iron radiators in Grasselli

Tower and was giving them a coating of primer.   

Other jobs going on at Hoosier Valley today included some work on the far end, although I never made

it down there to see exactly what was going on.  I know that Cory Bennett had the Backhoe pulled out and

was using it down there in the morning and that after lunch, they fired up the U.P. tamper in the afternoon

and it appeared to be over near the State Route 39 crossing.  Odds are that some kind of trackwork was

being done.

Passenger train had John LaOrange as engineer with Bob Albert, John Kimsey and Steve Henrichs as the

crew.  Randall Downs and Bill Dauber were the car hosts in the Katy open car and the LIRR coach.  The last

run of the day was to La Crosse, which normally has the diesel locomotive on the front end out of North Judson

and then turned on the wye at La Crosse to get to the other end of the train so that it is again on the front end

for the return trip.  Strange to see the Alco S-1 pushing the train from the museum, which is what is normally

only done for the shorter runs to English Lake.  Turns out that the C&I had some type of a problem with the wye

and therefore it was not available to the HVRM train crew to use.  Thus the push all the way to La Crosse!

In the afternoon, with my planned painting projects not available, I found a long piece of 3/4" outside diameter

pipe to see if it would go through the holes on the deck of TTX 475037 where the bridge plates will eventually

by installed.  Quickly found out that it wouldn't due to some rough material on the inside of these holes.  Did

some work on them, and finally got all four of these cleaned out enough on both ends so that I managed to

work the pipe through.  I've included a photo of these holes on one end of the flat car to exhibit what I am

talking about.

Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 #765 was running on Norfolk Southern's old NKP line through Knox on Saturday

and a few HVRM museum members "snuck out" to go over to see it.  We also had a few visitors who stopped

by after they had photographed the Employees Special as it went through northern Indiana.  Memories of

the Berks visits to HVRM in 2009 and 2011!

Probably missed a few things going on today.  Sorry about that!  Hope everyone has a great week.

Les  

 

47 Ties Inserted on Erie Main Line 5-3-2014

Greetings,
 
First day of tourist operation at HVRM North Judson for the season. A nice
day in the low 60's but a very strong wind out of the west, which made it very
cool.
 
I arrived early down in North Judson, stopped at Fingerhut for breakfast with
the locals. Not a big crowd today, maybe getting an early start on yard work.
 
Arriving at 8am at the depot, a group was headed out to the Erie main
line with the payloader, 22 ties, back hoe and Marks truck with a load of tools for
track work. Cory, David, John, Mark and myself got started taking out bad ties
an inserting new ties. Before noon 22 ties were inserted before lunch, after lunch
25 more ties were put in before 4 pm, for a total of 47 ties. Spiking will come after
the rest of the ties are replaced, then the tie tamper can be brought down to
tamp and level the track. Rotten ties were picked up and put in a pile, so to
keep the trail neat an clean.
 
The tourist train took most of the remaining people to run. John DeGan, Doug,
Joe Kingsbury, trainee Bjarne Henderson, Jim an a couple others I didn't know
ran the train. Things seem to go well, no major problems. Not record crowds,
but is early in the season. Everyone who rode seemed pleased.
 
Steve Hendrics moved some furniture from the shop back to Grasselli tower,
after painting it. Some items required help by Les Beckman an others to take
it up the stairs. The tower is really beginning to look really great. Floor is painted,
walls are painted, fixtures are being replaced an painted. Slowly replacing
windows by Steve Newland on a not to interfer basis working. Steve took an
old door over to get repainted also.
 
Now for the big news, the plates for the TTX car were brought over by Rich Vetter
from Joliet IL yesterday. Rich owns RISX, Railway, Industrial Services, a rail
equipment repair facility. Jim Panza notified Les earlier in the week that the drive
over plates were done and needed to be transported to North Judson, A note
was received Friday that the plates were to be brought to HVRM Saturday. The
two plates weight almost 400 pounds an Bing Ringsley with his skid loader
got the plates off the pickup and put in the west shop. Many thanks to Jim Panza
and Richard Vetter for this great donation. I'm hoping that Les will write up an
article to post about the making of these plates an what it took to get it done.
Priming the steel is needed to be done to prevent rusting, as it may take
a while to get them installed. Some modification will have to be done to the mounts
on the TTX car for it be connected. Missing is a spring that makes it easy to put into
the upright positon, but beind a display only, it wil be in the upright position. 200
pounds is a lot to lift by one person.
 
Next Saturday is National Train Day, I will be going to Chicago, Union Station
to see the displays. I went last year an really enjoyed myself an plan on riding
the South Shore. My yearly pilgramage to Chicago, not too hot, nor too cold.
Cept for the Blue Fest, which this year is on Fathers day weekend is going to
be a challenge to get to with so much scheduled for that weekend.
 
Amazing how the trees are changing so fast, only 2 weeks ago you could clearly
see thru the wood an spot interesting things, but now is slowly being covered
up. Some brush trimming needs to be done, earlier in the week the rail lines
were sprayed for weeds an grass in the right of the way. So the mainline
will look nice for the summer season. Now we have to look forward to the bees
and yellow jackets nesting anywhere in the rail equipment.
 
Next week is board meeting at 8am, with the membership meeting on May 17th
at 8AM, due to tourist train operations. Expect for short meetings.
 
The wye continues to be be cleaned up with brush piled high. A couple more truck
load of wood was picked up and brought to the west end of the shop for spliting
and stacking done by Mark Kniebel. A very big pile is now at the west end.
 
Les painted the IC symbol on the platform diesel with 1 Spot paint. Its now
a completed project.
 
Richard Warner is headed west to Wyoming this week for the arrival of UP 4014
in Cheyenne and chasing it the last couple of miles into town. Have a good time
Richard. I wonder what Richard will do for the museum on this trip, maybe a
hopper ballast car?
 
Everyone have a good week, days are longer now, more to get done outside
but don't over do it. I did yesterday and feeling the pain this morning. Five more
weeks of school, with extended school days again starting the 12th for 6 days to
make up for a snow day..
 
Tom
 

Enjoy the sun while you can; Hoosier Valley 4/26

The repainted toy platform engine in Illinois Central orange paint back
on the depot platform. Repainted by Les Beckman over a couple of weeks.
 
Looks Great...Thanks Les

 

Tie-Tamper Training Day 4-26-2014

Satuday dawned bright an sunny with a nice temperature. Next week will
be cold an rainy again for the entire week. Lots of activity at the museum
today.
 
Friday Cory and Richard fixed the tailgate on the dump truck. Put a steel
angle iron on the top to keep it from bending any more. New chains welded
to prevent it from going down too far. The tail gate kept falling off also, but should
work quiite well. Cory and Dave went down with the truck and back hoe to load
wood. Mark had stacked an split the wood behind the west shop and needed
some more to keep him busy next week. He just works too hard during the week.
 
Les continued painting the platform toy diesel in IC orange for the kiddy picture.
He finished up and had Steve Newland transport it to the platform for opening
tourist trains next week. Certainly brightens up platform.
 
Guest engineer program was in full swing. Six guest engineers had a great time
running the Erie 310 and GE 11 during the day. The most distant participant was
from California. He said if he lived near by would be spending more time down
at North Judson.
 
Around noon a technican from Americantrack showed up to give Cory instruction
on how to run the tie tamper. The tamper was moved from the turntable track down
to the run around track for set up and operation. Everything was working fine
so operating began. During the afternoon the entire passing track was tamped
and leveled perfectly. The main line is in need of tamping an leveling, but ties need
replacement soon. So no need to use the tie tamper  on it just yet. the tourist
train can use the run around track for its operation.
 
The Alco had sprung a water leak in the water pump, a drain valve that had been
modified. So various things were tried to stop the leak, but would not work. At noon
it was decided to switch to the GE and take the water pump off to fix right. Richard
and John worked to take the water pump off an to fix it at Richards shop during the
week. The Alco will be down till the problem is fixed. A drain cock will be put on for
draining the pump for the winter.
 
Lunch was Wooden Nickel pizzas and a cake from Fingerhut Bakery for Les & Betty
Beckman 50th Wedding Anniversary, Cory's birthday last week, still only 39.
 
Next week is start of regular season for the trains, a new schedule is being
introduced to help the La Crosse runs from running so late in the afternoon.
Bob Barcus had a new paper bag made up last week with a design on it from the
20's. I saw one item my mother use to have, a circular cake pan with a metal
bar that could be turned completely around to free the cake from the bottom of the
pan, so getting it out was easy an did not tear the cake up, for all of 25 cents.
Now days you buy a can of PAM spray it on the pan, Nothing like progress in
the world.

 
Tom Travis

Easter Train Rides a Glorious Day, 4-19-2014

A glorious Saturday here in IN. Cool in the morning, but by late afternoon a perfect

day for an Easter egg hunt. Over 500 people showed up to partake in a fun

train ride an the kids to hunt for eggs an a talk to the Easter Rabbit.

 

Early morning started out with assembling the consist, all seven cars were put

to good use also. Joe Kingsbury, during the week, completed repairs to the

NKP open air car replacing bad boards. The LIRR passenger car was well used,

but by late afternoon, the end doors had to opened to cool the car down, as

it got quite warm. Freon for the car has yet to be installed, due to the cool weather.

Engineer duties were accomplished by John DeGan an Fred Boyer. Sparky

Byers rode in the cab to check on any problems with Erie 310. On the last

run, Sparky had to replace fuel filters at the park, but was accomplished

in a very timely manner. Years of accumulated diesel fuel has to be burnt

out of the exhaust system till it is smoke free. Sparky spent the winter

replacing the fuel injectors with new one. The old injectors were not spraying

fuel as suppose to be, but just shooting unused  fuel into the cylinders,

no actually being burned. Many more people behind the scenes to make

the ride go that much easire. Bob Barcus, Loretta, Randall  Downs, Joe

Kingsbury, Louise Kingsbury, Doug K, Bob Albert, Mark Kniebel did crossing

duty along with Bob Jacquim. Steve Hendrics worked in Grasselli tower

painting. Cory Bennett used the payloader to push over shallow rooted

trees down in the wye area an pile them up for burning later on. 

 

Richard Warner made it an official Union Pacific day at HVRM, wearing his

new reflective jacket with a big UP emblem on the back. Flying high on the

flag pole was a yellow UP flag. Rumor has it Richard is going to paint his

house UP yellow with red stripes soon. Sparky spent a good part of the

day attempting to relieve Richard of his new jacket, but Richard locked it

up in his truck, so it would not disappear during the day.

 

Speaking of Richard, the UP tie tamper was deliever Thursday afternoon to

the museum. Les took a picture Friday an sent it to me that I used on the

report today. A couple of new batteries were required, as the others were

severely corroded. The engine started up on 3 turnovers an got it to move

up an down the track for a short distance.  It is going to take a lot of learning

to be able to use it correctly. Already some help is on the way by a couple

of retired employes of NS who ran the tie tamper in years past. It is very

complete with new parts everywhere on the machine.For now it will sit

on the turn table track, until some room comes avail in the shop building.

 

The IC caboose has taken a couple of changes, no rubber flooring is available

anymore, so the floor is to be sanded down an revarnished till another

alternative is found to protect the floor.

 

Newsletters were in the kitchen car for members present, the rest will be mailed.

 

Stop by the kitchen car next weekend for coffee an cake for Cory's birthday this

coming week, and Les & Betty Beckmans 50th wedding anniversary.

 

Looking around the equipment revealed its pealing paint on a lot of freight

equipment. The years of cold winters an hot summers do a number on the

paint. Some cars need just wire brushing an more paint rolled on. Mike Koheler

was over working on his LIRR diesel this weekend replacing a few parts.

The GE diesel is still being worked on with part on order for the air line.

 

The dry weather has sparked a number of grass fires along the right of

way of the C&I. North of the Kankakee bridge, a grass fire managed to catch

8 ties on fire and will require them replaced before going to La Crosse

for the tourist train. A ever ongoing job that is never over, tie replacement.

The backhoe tractor is out of service till a couple of hydralic lines are replaced

from bursting last week down at the wye. Inspection of the payloader shed

need to be addressed soon, some structural damage is occuring due to

old age.

 

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter day. Drive safe, be safe an watch those

Amtrak trains while talking about safety on railroads.

 

Ross Robinson had knee surgery last week an should be recovering for a

couple of weeks at a care center, then home with a helper for a week or so,

then finally free of pain and able to walk again. He is anxious to start traveling

again this summer.

 

Tom Travis HVRM  North Judson IN

 

 

 

 

Spring sweeps in at Hoosier Valley 4-12-14

Greetings!

A windy day brought in a great Spring day with temps in the mid to upper 70's.  Supposed to be storms tomorrow,

so really happy with todays great weather!

Board meeting this morning but I arrived late.  One thing decided was to put a full train in place (three cabooses,

handicap caboose, two open cars and LIRR passenger car) for the Easter Egg operation next Saturday.  New gaskets

were put on the heads of EL Alco #310 and then the cars were switched around so that the consist was in the correct

order for next week.  Fred Boyer was engineer of 310 with other members of the operating crew participating.

Joe Baker put new electrical boxes in the Shop this past week, which should make it easier to control the various

banks of light.  Thumbs up Joe!

Bob Albert took some cracked boards off of a couple of the benches that sit in and around the depot and put in new

slats and Loretta Kosloske painted the repaired benches later in the afternoon.

Steve Henrichs reported that he finished the last of the painting on the cast iron steam radiators that will go back up

in Grasselli Tower.  Good news to say the least!

Tom Travis and yours truly worked on the lettering on the Purdue crane in the morning and then we put black paint

on certain parts of the little diesel that sits on the depot platform.  Getting close to finishing that project.

Big news was that Bjarne Henderson, assisted by Joe Kingsbury, started in on the lettering for the Illinois Central

caboose (see photo).  They finished up just around lunch and the caboose really looks good. 

Track crew put four new ties in place out near Main Street in the afternoon.

Tom and I tried to put a couple of new boards on the lid of the coal bin that sits next to the Mulberry Street crossing

shanty.  A temporary fix at best.

Matt Lasayko worked on the museum signals. 

Forgot to mention that Jon Oram recently put a couple of new structures on the North Judson N gauge display layout

that is located in the Pullman Troop Sleeper.  When photos of the structures were noted in a couple of photos of Erie

Railroad 2-8-4's that the museum has on display in the depot, it was decided that the two little buildings needed to go

on the 1952-themed layout.  Jon did a lot of research and a fantastic job of scratch building the two C&O structures.

Take a look at them, and the display layout itself, the next time you are at the museum.  

Have a good week folks!

Les

 

HVRM Saturday & Sunday Events 4-8 (9)-2014

Greetings to Everyone,
 
Was quite a weekend for everyone. Fairly decent outside, slight wind out of
the north, made it tolerable without a coat.
 
During the week, Mark Kniebel and Cory Bennett spent a lot of time cutting
trees down at the wye properity. Richard Warner might of joined in also.
Lots of wood piles everywhere. Dave Cook was driving the back hoe with
the bucket filling it up with wood an dumping it into the dump truck. A couple
of good sized truck loads were dumped back by the shop buildings. Bing
Ringsley came down with his skid loader an pushed up brush into the
burn pile. A lot of brushed was burned on the wye also.
 
Down at the shop, Les Beckman painted the small toy engine in the warm
shop building. Doug, John LaOrange, Sparky, worked on the Erie 310 Alco
engine. Next weekend engines will be started for testing and moving
equipment around in preparation for the Easter train rides.
 
Steve Hendrics and Joe Baker may have worked on Grasselli tower inside. I just
saw some vehicles over by the tower.
 
Bob Barcus and Loretta were in the depot building getting ready for the train
rides for Easter.
 
Sunday was the HVRM's annual dinner at the Industrial Revolution in Valpo.
A good turnout of members that have come out of hibernation of winter.
Bob drew a few tickets for prizes for the dinner. A great meal was eaten
by all.
 
Les & Betty Beckman had a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary
in Crown Point Saturday evening. Lots of grandkids and friends attended
the event. I made Les an poster of pictures that I have taken over the past
couple of years an had lots of HVRM members sign it on Saturday an Sunday.
Les & Betty departed monday on Amtrak for Denver for a couple of days of
baseball with the Chicago White Sox playing, won Tuesday 15-3, tour of
Coors Brewery and Golden CO. Leaving Thursday evening, so Les should
be back at the museum on Saturday. Maybe he caught a foul ball, who knows.
One thing I did learn Saturday night, was Les actually had a head of hair when
he got married, but lost it soon after, wonder why? hahaha. Dan Siple came
on down Saturday to visit an sign the poster. Looks good, still into military
restoration of vehicles.
 
Have a good week, temps are rising nicely, but stil had frost both yesterday
an this morning on the ground. Notre Dame girls lost the Championship
basketball game last night to UCONN. I did not hear of any rioting at Notre
Dame after the game, wonder if UCONN celebrated again by burning dozens
of couches in the streets?
 
Regards
 
Tom Travis