April 19, 2012

Hello Everyone

Well it has been a long time since I put up a post.  Between my new job and everything going on at the museum, there hasn't been much free time this past winter/spring.

Anyway, for those who don't know, we are holding a wine and beer tasting fundraising event at the museum on May 11.  Check out the website or call Carol for details.  It should be a lot of fun.

A lot has been happening at the museum.

0309 has received a much needed coat of paint, and looks like a different trolley. 

A viewing platform has been constructed in the main hall to allow viewing of the inside of the Ponemah, Caboose, and 10.  Thanks Tim.

We found the Ponemah bell and installed it on the locomotive along with painting up the inside.

 There has also been a lot accomplished in the shop over the winter, thanks to the warm winter we had.  16 recieved a lot of work on the end of the car including wood work on the roof and a new canvas on one end. 

16 is also getting golden glow headlights.

John Pelletier has been very busy in the shop doing all this nice work on 16. 

One motor is back together and installed in the type 5, and the armature for the second motor is out at the motor shop being worked on.  We should have it back in a few weeks, which will allow us to reinstall that motor.  We have one more motor to do on the other truck to get the car back on 4 motors.

Above are some pieces for the motors for the Type 5 that Pat machined up at the shop.

In the shop, we are also busy getting the shop rearranged and the wood shop set up.  The picture above shows the dust collector being installed. 

If anyone is interested in helping out in the shop, John, and or myself are active at the museum every Saturday in the shop. 
The museum is in full swing, with a lot going on this Spring.  Please consider coming down and helping out.  We have everything going on from simple painting projects, track work, operations, and of course the rollicking times in the shop.

Galen

January 29, 2012

Hello Everyone

It has been a while since I posted anything.  It certainly isn't because there aren't things happening.

I have taken a new job, and am getting back into the routine of commutting, and getting up to speed at the new job has taken a lot of time from my schedule.

We have a lot happening at the museum despite the winter period.  The visitor center is almost into shape from Winterfest.  Most of the decorations are put away, and the cars are generally moved into position.  We still have a few decorations to take down, and some minor shifting of cars to do this coming weekend.  We also need to start setting up the displays for this coming season.

A lot of members were up at the Amherst Rail show this year helping to represent the museum.  The booth was well set up and manned, and a special thanks to George, Ted and Tim for doing such a great job with the booth.  We had a lot of visitors with interest in both the disappearing train and the velocipede. 

For those interested in helping out, we will be at the museum for the next few Saturday's working in the visitor center getting things cleaned up, organized, and exhibits set up.  Please consider coming downt to help out.

Galen

January 1, 2011

Hello Everyone

Well Winterfest if now over, and we had a great year.  Business was up over $11,000 from last year, due in part to the wonderful weather we had throughout the event.  We only had to cancel one evening during the week after Christmas due to rain.

As always, the volunteers did a wonderful job of running the cars, keeping the cars running, hosting the visitors inside the visitor center, parking cars and all the other miscellaneous jobs it takes to operate Winterfest. 

The relatively mild weather has allowed work to continue in the shop.  The floor on the east end of 16 is now replaced, and will be painted when the tempreatures allow.

The second motor from the truck for the Type 5, was removed, and dis-assembled on Saturday.  We have baked the first set of field coils and will be installing new leads on them soon.  Once we complete thate, we will be setting up to dip and bake the field coils for re-installation in the motor.

We are hoping the mild weather holds for a few more weeks to allow us to switch the visitor center and get it set up for the coming year.  The plan is to change the display around with the Ponemah and Caboose paired togeather, and move 840 into the visitor center in place of 2056.  Of course, first we need to take down the visitor center decorations.

Anyone interested in helping with the visitor center taking down the Winterfest decorations, we will be having a work day this coming Saturday (01/07/12).  Anyone who is interested in helping to switch the visitor center, please contact Tim Lesniak. 

Anyone intersted in helping in the shop, please contact either myself or John Pelletier. 

I hope everyone had a very nice holiday, and am looking forward to a wonderful new year.

Galen