We are less then 1 week away from opening day and things have certainly been happening at the museum. This past weekend, I was happy to see so many of our regular motormen back for spring certification, and a few new faces this weekend.
The shop has been making wonderful progress this year dispite the weather. So much cleaning and coordinating of the materials in the shop has really helped allow work to now progress. 2600 is now out of the shop and in service. We still have some minor air leaks and other items to address, but these can be taken care of once some other projects are completed. We have got the compressor armature for 355 back, and I heard that John has already installed and tested the compressor. Once he finished buttoning up the compressor, we can service 355 and put her back in service.
The other big news is that 836 has been moved into the shop. I think we have a consensus on doing the wheel work on her in-house. In order to do this, we have a couple of big projects. First up is getting the wheel lathe back into service. The motor in the wheel lathe was used in 5645, so now we need to pull a spare motor we have in the chessie box car out and install in the lathe. Once the wheel lathe is operational, we will jack the west end of 836 and pull the truck out with the worst wheel flange, disassemble the truck and put the wheels in the lathe for turning.
I hope to have the lathe in operation and the wheels in the lathe by the end of April. Anyone who wants to help, please let me know. I had the pleasure of working with a new volunteer (Russ) this past Saturday, and one extra set of hands helping was a real help. This coming Saturday we will have some heavy lifting and moving of materials inside the Chessie to get the motor out, and then some work to get the motor installed in the lathe.
We will also need help in oiling, greasing etc. on 355 this coming Saturday.
For those who don't want to get that dirty, there is still some light work to do around the visitor center. We also need to move the Halloween materials out of the Northern into storage. This had to wait for all the winterfest materials to be put away since we need to get to the Halloween materials first.
I am looking forward to another great year at the museum. I think we will be seeing alot of progress this year. Come on down and get involved. It is a lot of fun and very rewarding.
Galen
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
March 20,2011
Hello Everyone
We have made some good progress in the last few weeks, though we still have much to do before opening day on April 2.
2600 is now back on its truck with the 4th motor installed. We have not switched it out of the shop yet to do a test run, though it seemed to run fine within the shop.
This coming Saturday (3/26/11), the plan is to switch 2600 out and 836 into the shop early in the day before operator certification starts. 2600 will then be checked out and hopefully released for operations.
The plan is for work to commence immediately on 836. The car will be jacked up and one truck removed and dis-assembled. The wheels with the sharp flanges will be turned down on the lathe in the shop, misc. bearing and other work completed, and then the truck reassembled and reinstalled. Once both trucks are completed, the car should be ready to reenter operations some time this year. As part of the process, we need to reinstall the motor on the big lathe in the shop.
Work will need to continue inside the visitor center to make one last push to finish cleaning up, putting everything from Winterfest away, and putting the visitor center into shape for the start of operations.
Other work needs to be done around the property including putting up the fencing, greasing the track for the beginning of operations, cleaning cars etc.
We will need to get a lot accomplished on 3/26/11, so anyone who can come down and help, it would be appreciated. See you then
Galen
We have made some good progress in the last few weeks, though we still have much to do before opening day on April 2.
2600 is now back on its truck with the 4th motor installed. We have not switched it out of the shop yet to do a test run, though it seemed to run fine within the shop.
This coming Saturday (3/26/11), the plan is to switch 2600 out and 836 into the shop early in the day before operator certification starts. 2600 will then be checked out and hopefully released for operations.
The plan is for work to commence immediately on 836. The car will be jacked up and one truck removed and dis-assembled. The wheels with the sharp flanges will be turned down on the lathe in the shop, misc. bearing and other work completed, and then the truck reassembled and reinstalled. Once both trucks are completed, the car should be ready to reenter operations some time this year. As part of the process, we need to reinstall the motor on the big lathe in the shop.
Work will need to continue inside the visitor center to make one last push to finish cleaning up, putting everything from Winterfest away, and putting the visitor center into shape for the start of operations.
Other work needs to be done around the property including putting up the fencing, greasing the track for the beginning of operations, cleaning cars etc.
We will need to get a lot accomplished on 3/26/11, so anyone who can come down and help, it would be appreciated. See you then
Galen
Monday, March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Hello Everyone
Well this spring is shaping up to be an unusually busy spring.
Work is progressing inside the visitor center, though there is still much to do before opening day in less then 3 weeks. The last of the winterfest materials need to be put away, cars cleaned, floors swept, displays cleaned and set up etc. Tim is planning on working again next Saturday, so if you have some time, please come down and help.
Work on 2600 will be progressing next Saturday as well. The car this past Saturday has been jacked up, the truck disconnected and rolled out. The motor was re-assembled, and installed in the truck. Other work on the truck included replacing two brake shoes, greasing the brake rigging, and repacking one motor's armature and motor support bearings.
Work remaining before the truck can be re-installed includes completing the mounting of the motor support bearings, repacking the second motor's bearings, and installing the gear cases. The plan is to complete this work and re-install the truck next Saturday (3/19/11). After final winter maintenance is completed, 2600 will be ready for opening day.
Thanks to Roger P. and Brian S. who helped jack the car up. Their help allowed John to work on the motor while the jacking was being done, so much progress was made.
For those who haven't been in the shop lately, I encourage you to come out to see the great job of cleaning up the shop that has occured. While we still have some work to do, it is almost a joy to work in the shop now.
Coming up this spring, we will be having a flea market on May 21, with a rain date of June 4. Anyone who is interested in helping out that day, please let either myself or Carol know. We hopefully will have big crowds that day.
Also planned this Summer are Farmers markets to be held at the museum. Todd Chichoine is organizing these events.
Watch soon for more breaking news.
Galen
Well this spring is shaping up to be an unusually busy spring.
Work is progressing inside the visitor center, though there is still much to do before opening day in less then 3 weeks. The last of the winterfest materials need to be put away, cars cleaned, floors swept, displays cleaned and set up etc. Tim is planning on working again next Saturday, so if you have some time, please come down and help.
Work on 2600 will be progressing next Saturday as well. The car this past Saturday has been jacked up, the truck disconnected and rolled out. The motor was re-assembled, and installed in the truck. Other work on the truck included replacing two brake shoes, greasing the brake rigging, and repacking one motor's armature and motor support bearings.
Work remaining before the truck can be re-installed includes completing the mounting of the motor support bearings, repacking the second motor's bearings, and installing the gear cases. The plan is to complete this work and re-install the truck next Saturday (3/19/11). After final winter maintenance is completed, 2600 will be ready for opening day.
Thanks to Roger P. and Brian S. who helped jack the car up. Their help allowed John to work on the motor while the jacking was being done, so much progress was made.
For those who haven't been in the shop lately, I encourage you to come out to see the great job of cleaning up the shop that has occured. While we still have some work to do, it is almost a joy to work in the shop now.
Coming up this spring, we will be having a flea market on May 21, with a rain date of June 4. Anyone who is interested in helping out that day, please let either myself or Carol know. We hopefully will have big crowds that day.
Also planned this Summer are Farmers markets to be held at the museum. Todd Chichoine is organizing these events.
Watch soon for more breaking news.
Galen
Monday, March 7, 2011
March 7, 2011
Hi All
It was another busy day at the museum this last Saturday.
There is still some Christmas decorations to take down inside the visitor center, though most of the materials including much of the train displays were packed up this last weekend and put in the trailers. Work is weather dependent, but hopefully we can work to finish up packing up winterfest this coming Saturday and start arranging the visitor center.
Pat worked on the machining of the motor bearing for 2600, so we are on target to jack 2600 this coming Saturday. Anyone interested in helping out, let me know. I need 3-4 able bodied people to help with the disconnecting of the brake rigging and motors, jacking, handling blocking etc. We will also need help re-assembling the motor to reinstall. Work should be underway by 9:00 A.M.
For anyone interested, the monthly Directors meeting is this coming Wednesday (3/9/11) at 6:30 in the library at the visitor center. Everyone is welcome to come.
Galen
It was another busy day at the museum this last Saturday.
There is still some Christmas decorations to take down inside the visitor center, though most of the materials including much of the train displays were packed up this last weekend and put in the trailers. Work is weather dependent, but hopefully we can work to finish up packing up winterfest this coming Saturday and start arranging the visitor center.
Pat worked on the machining of the motor bearing for 2600, so we are on target to jack 2600 this coming Saturday. Anyone interested in helping out, let me know. I need 3-4 able bodied people to help with the disconnecting of the brake rigging and motors, jacking, handling blocking etc. We will also need help re-assembling the motor to reinstall. Work should be underway by 9:00 A.M.
For anyone interested, the monthly Directors meeting is this coming Wednesday (3/9/11) at 6:30 in the library at the visitor center. Everyone is welcome to come.
Galen
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
March 2, 2011
Hi All
Well things are starting to pick up at the museum, with a few things going on this weekend.
First, the hope is to be moving some of the Winterfest material into the trailers this Saturday. Tim and George are going to be coordinating this work. Not sure if they will be at the museum early, so figure on help being needed later morning and afternoon.
We are just about ready to jack 2600 and pull the truck. The motor is not back togeather, so we will play it by ear this weekend whether we will proceed or wait one more week.
On another note, nominations to the board of directors need to be in within the next two weeks or so. If you think you would be interested in serving on the board, we need directors who can help the museum move forward and see the big picture. On typical boards, the directors main objective is to help the museum raise money. Here at the trolley museum, due to the high level of involvement that is required by the members to keep the museum running, we need directors that can not only help the museum raise money, but have the knowledge to help steer the museum in the right direction.
If you think you have the ability to help the museum move forward, I encourage you to run for the board of directors.
Other on-going work includes cleaning and straightening up the shop which has taken tremendous strides forward in the last few months despite the cold.
There is a lot going on this year. Hope you all can get involved and help out, and have some fun.
Galen
Well things are starting to pick up at the museum, with a few things going on this weekend.
First, the hope is to be moving some of the Winterfest material into the trailers this Saturday. Tim and George are going to be coordinating this work. Not sure if they will be at the museum early, so figure on help being needed later morning and afternoon.
We are just about ready to jack 2600 and pull the truck. The motor is not back togeather, so we will play it by ear this weekend whether we will proceed or wait one more week.
On another note, nominations to the board of directors need to be in within the next two weeks or so. If you think you would be interested in serving on the board, we need directors who can help the museum move forward and see the big picture. On typical boards, the directors main objective is to help the museum raise money. Here at the trolley museum, due to the high level of involvement that is required by the members to keep the museum running, we need directors that can not only help the museum raise money, but have the knowledge to help steer the museum in the right direction.
If you think you have the ability to help the museum move forward, I encourage you to run for the board of directors.
Other on-going work includes cleaning and straightening up the shop which has taken tremendous strides forward in the last few months despite the cold.
There is a lot going on this year. Hope you all can get involved and help out, and have some fun.
Galen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)