Frigid start at HVRM on 1/10/15, but let's not that bit of Pain stop us!

 

Greetings!

These are the days that try men's souls!  Or at least their dedication!

Below zero this morning but I managed to roll out of bed, and head to the museum to try to

attend the Board meeting scheduled for 8:00 a.m.  On the days of these early meetings, I don't

bother with eating at home, but stop and pick up a breakfast sandwich and coffee in Hebron

at the Burger King there.  Surprise...the BK has been closed!  So...welcome to the New Year!

Arrived just after the meeting began.  Lots of procedural stuff, including discussion of the schedules

for the passenger train and guest engineer programs for 2015.

Wandered down to the Shop, where I found Cory Bennett welding on the interior of C&EI kitchen

car # A-1054.  John DeGan was working on a patch on one end of this car.  John stated he was

going to use some carriage bolts as "faux" rivets by removing the 4 edges on the head of the

bolts so that they would fit flush against the new piece he was going to weld in place.  I asked

him if he wanted me to grind off those edges and he said "sure!"  So, started in on that job.

Next to the A-1054, Joe Kingsbury and Rich Warner were trying to run down the wiring in the

ND&W Porter diesel.  Apparently, mice had done a job on the wiring and it is a horrendous puzzle

right now. Lots of tedious work.

Bob Albert was filling the newly arrived dumpster with items from our scrap pile.  The morning's

single digits and stiff breezes made this job not a lot of fun!  Steve Newland later helped with  Bob

with this effort.  

Lunch for todays "light" crew was pizza from the Wooden Nickel.  Great pizza! 

After lunch, Joe and Rich continued their work on the Porter while John cut the patch he was going

to weld into the C&EI car and then drilled holes for the rivets (photo attached).   After some effort,

we finally managed to get the carriage bolts through the holes in the patch and the corresponding

ones in the car body and I crawled under the car and tightened up the nuts.  Steve Newland cleaned

the end step and it was attached and then John welded on the patch (photo).

Although the temp climbed from the 3 below reading of the morning on up to the teens, it was still

cold.  Fortunately, the wood stove in the West Annex got the temp up to 60 degrees.  I've attached

a third photo of the thermometer that's in the original section of the shop and its reading at about

3 o'clock in the afternoon.  A bit of a difference, eh?

Cory and John LaOrange checked out the newly installed brakes on the Payloader.  They work!

Bob Barcus was in the gift shop while Doug and Loretta Kosloske worked in the depot on passenger

train matters.

Others at the museum on this frigid day included Mark Knebel and Bob Jachim.

Well, we are now into the new year.  Come see us when you get the chance.  Members are always

invited to participate.  We'll do our best to keep you active!  Have a great week!

Les      

. 

Last Saturday at HVRM for 2014.....12-27-2014

Greetings to all,

 

Well the end of the year is near, with 2015 looming on the horizon, HVRM is set for

another year with lots of projects planned. Hopefully it will be a successful one.

Today was mild, so a good turnout of members showed up. With soft ground,

track work was a priority with 10 or more ties inserted  between the C&I switch an

the shop lead switch. 7 more ties need to be replaced an this project will be done.

Ties were spiked with the air compressor spike machine. These ties are the last

bunch available till spring time. Cory, Dave, John, Mark, Bob J an myself made out the

crew.

 

Inside the heated shop, with the new wood stove going, work on the ND&W 5332 was

being done. Joe, John Degan, Richard, Steve were replacing wiring destroyed by mice.

The wood stove has had some improvements made, thermostat control for the blower,

some improved electrical connections an spilt wood brought inside an stacked.

 

An outside electrical lamp had died during the week an repairs were needed, so the

manlift was brought around to the east end shop. Cory braved the ascent an taking

the light apart found it full of bugs an a loose electrical connection. Everything cleaned,

connection fixed, a test showed the light worked. So reassembled, manlift was brought

down an parked near the fuel tank.

 

Doug worked on the ERIE 310. Bob Barcus was in the depot. Some brave railfans were

observed walking around the grounds today taking pictures.

 

Have a safe an Happy New Year. I'm ready to go back to work already after getting some

garage an car projects done this past week due to the nice warm temps outside. Wish

the days were longer, but that won't happen for some time yet.

 

Tom 

Light turnout but not light results at HVRM 12/20/14

Seasons Greetings!

Managed to make it down to Hoosier Valley just after the Board meeting started.  Interesting meeting with various discussions including

train shows, next years passenger train schedules, antique bottles, and a number of other things.

Light member turnout, understandable with it being the Saturday before Christmas.  Still, interesting things got done.

Showed up in the West Annex of the Shop, warm from the new wood stove.  Found Fred Boyer applying additional Bondo to the car sides

of our ex-United States Army kitchen car # 325.  This car has an interesting history being sold to the Chicago & Eastern Illinois where it

was first numbered A-1054 and then later renumbered as 88125. The C&EI assigned it as the tool car for the wreck train stationed at Yard

Center in Dolton, Illinois.  After the C&EI was merged into the MP (line to St. Louis and the L&N (line to Evansville), the car ended up as

Missouri Pacific number X15096 before the MoPac decided to break up the work train and the car was sold to a company that performed

wreck train cleanups for the railroad.  Eventually that company donated the car to HVRM.  After a stint as the Diesel Locomotive Department

work car, the museum eventually decided to use the car in conjunction with our Nickel Plate Road lunch car, but a fire in the car has set this

project back as the interior has been destroyed.  There are still plans to use this car as intended, but the interior needs to be completely rebuilt

including a new floor.  I helped Fred today ratcheting the nuts off of old bolts, or on the tougher ones  Fred cut them with his grinder.  The

photo accompanying this report is of Fred working on one end of the car cutting a bolt.  Just before we quit for the day, Fred sanded down

the now dry Bondo he had applied in the morning.  So progress has been made, but there's still a heck of a lot to do!

Progress also made on ND&W #5332, our Porter center cab diesel.  Joe Kingsbury and Rich Warner worked on the Cummins diesels and

tried to get them fired up this afternoon for the first time since Notre Dame donated the unit to the museum.  Well, believe it or not, the one

diesel fired right up!  And eventually the diesel in the other hood, started too!  The unit sounded great!  The confirms the museums opinion

that, although the Porter looks very rough on the outside, it is in very good shape mechanically.

A number of folks dropped by the museum today including Bill Dauber, Chuck Ness, Elmer Mannen and Randall Downs.  Others on hand all

day included Bob Barcus, Dave Cook, Margrett Cook, Mark Knebel, Cory Bennett, Judy Boyer and John LaOrange. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, or whatever you might be celebrating.

Les         

12-13-14, Santa Claus Trains at HVRM

Greetings to All,
 
A nice day for being 12-13-14, mid 40's a nice day for ole Santa to ride the train. Many riders
gathered for the three Santa trains at HVRM today. 336 passengers for the day count, not
bad for only the LIRR coach. Everything ran well, plenty of heat inside, ALCO ERIE 310 performed
well, with GE INTERSTATE STEEL #11 as standby power.
 
Pictures provide by Les Beckman of some projects for the day. First is C&O 2789 sand dome
being brought into the shop building for refurbishing during the wintertime. Cory got the
payloader out of the shed an immediately got the sand dome down to the shop. Set on a couple
of 55 gallon drums, shored up with blocks of wood for easy access. The dome has been outside
for almost 25 years sitting on old ties. The dome will be sanded down, primed an repainted
an eventually lettered for CHESAPEAKE & OHIO 2789. A start to cosmetically restoring 2789,
replacing parts taken off years ago.
 
Yes the new wood burner has been fired an tested with great results. Large amounts of wood
can be put in an with blower system, provide good heat for the building. Brackets were made
an installed on smoke stack to hold it in place, with the manlift. Brackets built & welded
by Cory, Sparky, Dave, myself who burnt his finger tips on the hot steel.
 
Two buckets of ballast were shoveled along the north wall of the shop building to prevent snow
an wind blowing into the heated shop this winter. A 5 man crew made quick work of that job.
 
The old house is now HVRM's north of Bing's. Cory managed to pull trees out of the backyard
lawn an put them in a pile.  A hot water heater was removed for salvage for further use.
Entrance to the basement was uncovered an the gas furnace will be salvaged later. Not much
in the house is useable, but for some kitchen cabinets. NIPSCO has to remove electric line from
pole an remove gas line before demolition begins. No decision made as how the house will
be removed yet. Bing removed bags of moldy clothes from garage an put them in  the dumpster.
No decision on status of garage either if it will be saved.
 
Les Beckman an Fred Boyer worked on the tool car removing some more burnt wood. Judy Boyer
removed more things from the GTW caboose.
 
Next Saturday at 8am is monthly board meeting in the depot waiting room.
 
Be safe driving in the evenings, dark early now.

Tom Travis

A bit of a respite from the weather at Hoosier Valley 11/29/14

Greetings!

Weather for this weekend actually predicted to be slightly above normal!  Actually had sun in the morning with

temps in the low 50's.  Clouded up in the afternoon and had gusty winds all day.

Steve Henrichs had Grasselli Tower open so I went up to check on what was going on.  Found Chris Zahrt and

his family getting the "nickel tour".  Chris and his dad Fred, have been long time members of the museum and

have helped on many projects through the years.  Chris used to come as a young man and has since gone on

to Purdue and been involved in a number of steam locomotive projects.  Currently studying for his Masters.  He

came to visit and also to accept the 2014 David P. Morgan best authored article award given out by the Railroad

& Locomotive Historical Society which was given to him in a small ceremony by a representative of the R&LHS.

Congrats to Chris!

Decided to take advantage of the decent late Fall weather by doing some additional painting on coach 899.  Had

to run over to Norwayne and purchase another gallon of Pullman Green paint.  While doing the painting, I could

hear Cory Bennett and Mark Knebel cutting some of the previously felled wood from the old Erie Railroad wye area,

into furnace size chunks.  These will be used for the new wood furnace being built for the West Annex of the Shop.

I managed to get over to the Shop before I went home and got the attached photo of the furnace.  Not sure who

was doing the work on the furnace today but I saw John De Gan walking down that way so he may have had a hand

in it.

Skip Benge of Deedsville, Indiana stopped by the museum this afternoon.  Skip donated the locomotive number

plate off of Chesapeake & Ohio K2 class 2-8-2 #1165.  I was able to secure a photo of this engine leading a double

header out of Peru, Indiana back in 1942 from Malcolm D. McCarter.  Mac made an 8 x 10 and an 11 x 14 print

of a photo originally take by Bill Swartz.  Skip's Dad worked as a fireman for the C&O and when the C&O of Indiana

was dieselized, he was able to get the number plate off of the 1165 as it sat in the "boneyard" in Peru and just before

it was shipped out to be scrapped.  We gave one of the two prints to Skip and the other one will be displayed with the

number plate off of the C&O Mike.  It was good to hear that Mac is still making prints from his extensive railroad

subject collection.  He tells me that he recently turned 91 years young!

As I was applying paint to the 899, John La Orange walked past me with a large bucket and a long narrow wood board

of about 10 feet in length.  Curious, I watched him walk down to Nickel Plate Road baggage car #344.  He stood next to

the car and placed the bucket upside down on the end of board and then lifted it up onto the roof of NKP 344, attempting

to get it onto a white stack on the baggage cars roof.  After a few attempts, he was successful!  Well done John!   On the

way back, he told me that he had been in the 344 earlier in the day and the inside was still dry, EXCEPT for the open

stack where a stove had probably once sat, and for a little bit of leakage around one of the baggage cars doors.  He was

surprised that the interior was basically dry.  That's good to know as the outside of the car is starting to show deterioration

which eventually will need to be addressed.  There are many parts for the 2789 in that car.

Others at the museum today included Bob Albert, Bob Jachim, Steve Newland, Tom Royce and probably some others

I missed.   Bob Barcus worked in the gift shop in the depot.  Next Saturday will be the first of our Santa trains!  Help would

certainly be appreciated.  Contact Loretta Kosloske.

Have a good week everyone!

Les

     

End of Season at HVRM 11-15-2014

Greetings to all,
 
End of a successful train season, with Christmas trains in December still gaining
riders, it has been a long season. Many thanks to all involved in making this happen.
From traincrews to depot workers, all deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
 
Saturday dawned cold an dreary, perfect time  for some track work, but more on that
later. Board meeting started at 8 am in the depot with a wide range of topics, but
nothing really to report on. Immediately after the meeting the Erie 310 was started
for some final switching of the season. The 2789 tender was uncoupled an pulled outdoors
to spend the duration of winter, needed to make room for the tie tamper. GE 11 was pulled
outside an the tie tamper was started to move over to the 2789 track. With that completed,
the 310 pushed #11 back inside an pushed the tool car past the winter curtain to the
backshop. GE 11 was spotted over the pit an 310 was uncoupled an pulled forward
a couple of feet, shut down an the water drained from the coolant system.
 
A number of leftover new ties were brought down to the connector track to the C&I
switch. These ties were not used in crossing replacement an Cory had marked some
ties needed for replacement. 10 ties were inserted into the line an spiked. 3 ties were
straightened, not needing replacing. It seems only like yesterday when these ties
were put down, 132 pound rail put for car storage. Time goes fast when you
get older. New clean ballast was brought down an dumped for tamping later.
 
Joe Baker did some electrical work for outside lighting. Cameras will be purchased
to view the storage areas for theft of steel soon. Scrap metal will soon be put into
dumpster for recycling. Joe Kingsbury returned the welder from getting it fixed, an
started on welding in  the tool car's floor. Les & Betty Beckman during the
past week did painting on his passenger  car. Les is in New Orleans this week working
on  Habitat for Humanity housing. Rode the City of New Orleans down an will return
the same way next weekend. Have a good trip. Steve Newland put up the bathroom
walls in Grasselli tower, an put a non-working toilet in for display. Bob Jacqim took
items out of the china cabinet for transfer to the new cabinet.
 
I left early, was getting cold outside. Not much else new around HVRM. Membership
meeting next Saturday at 1pm Central time in the depot.
 
Tom Travis
 
 
 

Slow Day at North Judson 11-1-2014

 Well fall has arrived with a vengeance to NW Indiana Friday, snow, wind, cold, brutal
weather, just making it a horrid day. Saturday woke up to ice on the deck an a temp
of only 23 degrees. Slow going getting started.
 
Arrived at HVRM to see the Erie 310 an 2 cabooses on the main line in front of the
depot waiting for the next guest engineer. Had a total of 6 drivers today. This is the
final day of the year for this program. The 310 will be drained till its needed again.
 
Crossing Mulberry Street, I saw the crossing was replaced with asphalt. Thursday
it was tore out an North Judson donated asphalt to fix the crossing. Much better than
it was.
 
The work crew was in side the shop building working on the soon to be wood burner
stove. It was up righted an legs were being welded on the bottom, with more to
be done later on.
 
Steve Newland worked on downspouts on Grasselli tower.
 
Not much else to report. Board meeting next Saturday  morning at 8am in the depot.
 
Tom Travis