Order Board for December 2011

Santa Express at Reynolds Bridge - Photo by Scott Hartley

DECEMBER OPERATIONS UPDATE

Special thanks go to RMNE President Celeste Echlin, who compiled a detailed report on the preparation and beginning of our 2011 Holiday Operations. Celeste reported that we carried 180 ticketed passengers on our first operation – two Northern Lights Express premium runs on the Thomaston’s “Light Up the Town” night. Advance sales for future operations continue at a good clip, and with good weather we should easily beat last year’s ridership and revenue.

Our good friends up at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum have sold out their Polar Express trains for the season so they have kindly featured a link to our holiday operations on their web site’s home page and undoubtedly this will help build our sales. We also received mention in the AAA Southern New England (which covers western Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island) club on line Horizons magazine, which is accessible by 1.76 million households, all for free! We have also been working with radio stations WATR 1320 AM in Waterbury and WZBG FM 97.3 of Litchfield with advertising and promotion.

Many volunteers have helped with the decoration of the station, shop yard and train and this has once again given our railroad a sparkling appearance. New on the train this year is Al Pomeroy’s freshly overhauled Central Vermont 4014 caboose, with seating available only by advance arrangement with Al. Previously the CV 4014 had appeared with CPR 1246 as part of the "Santa’s Workshop" displays at the Thomaston Shop Yard, but this role has now been assumed by “NH C507.” Another great addition to Santa’s Workshop this year, and a big surprise to many of us last Saturday, is the use of a smoke machine for the CPR 1246 brought to us by Stewart Crouse. That and bright running lights circling the wheels had passengers talking about the big steam engine running on the Naugy!

We continue to need help for the operation on the train, at Thomaston and at the Volunteer Shop. We’re now running Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the next 2 weeks with a final night on Friday 23rd Dec. (Thursday 22nd Dec at 5pm & 7pm has been set aside as a snow date if needed.) Remember, it’s Fridays at 5:00 and 7:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00, 5:00 and 7:00pm. Tell your friends and neighbors to help spread the word. For ticket purchases, please visit www.rmne.org or call (860) 283-7245.


VOLUNTEER SHOP PROJECTS
Locomotive Department

NAUG 1732 - Our former Boston & Maine GP9 is slated to become an active project once again in 2012. Funding provided by the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award grant (via the Mass Bay RRE) and National Railway Historical Society grant will help finance additional parts purchases to help complete the engine rebuilding. With the locomotive close to the shop, preparation for the removal of the carbody hoods and internal items will begin.

NAUG 2203 – Our U23B has returned service and has been assigned to the north end of the holiday service train.

NAUG 2019 (ex-CDOT) remains in service and is the “southbound power” on the holiday trains.

Other Locomotives – Jason Hartmann has continued the inspection program dealing with our stored locomotives, although time devoted to this has been limited by the demands of holiday preparation. Jason and Matt Lawson continue to loosen up the diesel engine in FL9 Metro-North 2033 (ex-NH 2059), which had two cylinders fouled by moisture intake due to improper storage before we acquired the unit. The next locomotive scheduled for inspection is NH (CDoT/RMNE) 2002.

Car Department

This year’s Holiday Service train consists of coaches 5046, 4980, and 4990 plus caboose CV 4014, courtesy of owner Al Pomeroy.

Coach 4990 had a hot-air furnace installed by Howard Pincus to prepare it for winter season service. Coach 4992 awaits the installation of the roof surface. All lower deck tack boards have been installed. Coach 5046 has had a generator similar to the one in 4992 installed in an underbody battery box. This was scheduled for next year but was advanced due to 4992 remaining in the shop.

Motor Vehicle Department

Bob Harrington reports that Gene Pfeiffer has been doing various MVD projects at the TSY, while Bob has been spending most of his time on duty at Saybrook, operating and maintaining the IHC powered front end loader.


SAYBROOK YARD REPORT

The trucks belonging to boxcars Boston & Albany 39569 and Boston & Maine 70341, plus New Haven mail/express 3008 are now awaiting the arrival of their carbodies from Saybrook. B&A 39569 has been unloaded at the Chase Yard in Waterville, and when the other two arrive a crane will be called in to move the bodies onto their trucks. Bob Eberheim is master-minding the movements and he has kept costs lower than originally anticipated.

At the entrance to the Saybrook Yard, we have added a couple of loads of gravel to level off the surface to prevent loaded trailers from bellying out on the formerly uneven driveway. Walt Hermann and Bob Eberheim have done quite a bit of brush and tree cutting to prepare for upcoming gate and fence realignments, which will be needed when the passenger cars begin to depart. Yard cleanup continues; with all old ties having their track hardware removed to the metal scrap dumpster, and the old ties not needed for blocking also being disposed of. Any remaining loose tie plates were loaded into pallets for shipment. Jon Chase, Dan DiTullio, Bob Harrington, Walt Hermann and Bill Sample worked on the Nov. 3rd crew. We were visited by former members Bill Jeske and Howard Bidwell during the late morning.

Please note that our storage yard at Saybrook is not open to the public.

THOMASTON STATION

As the station is quite busy with holiday visitors, work has been somewhat limited. The third and fourth upper window sashes have been received, painted, and installed with lower sashes still under reconstruction. Some additional work was done in the baggage room area. Kevin Meehan, John King, Bob Martinchek and possibly others have been involved. A tip of the hat goes to John King for discovering some problems with one of the light timers. Sam Walker will be make modifications with parts in stock at the shop. The transom section above the sliding door has been painted for now and will receive more attention after the Christmas season. The TV has been set up with a loaned DVD player behind the information booth.

In the gift shop we will be selling a number of used railroad books donated by the late Harry Vallas.


MAINTENANCE OF WAY MATTERS

A major push to reopen our seldom-used main line north of the Thomaston Dam occurred in late November to allow a work train run to the Plains siding south of Albert St. in Torrington. Another pair of former Long Island Rail Road coaches was ready to depart their repair site for Saratoga Springs, New York, and they and the remaining two pairs of coaches had to be shuffled at Torrington, with the completed cars going to an arranged interchange at Highland Jct. in Waterbury. Ordinarily this would have been any easy move, but the State of Connecticut inspectors had discovered a damaged culvert between East Litchfield and Torrington and banned any locomotive movements over the site. But wait, there’s more… Extensive tree fall damage along our entire line had occurred, especially north of the Dam. While our first efforts were made to reopen the line that we normally use, armed with chain saws, bow saws and the tie handler we began to work our way north. It took hundreds of volunteer hours to make it but we finally had the line opened by Wednesday the 23rd. While we did most of the work, Iowa Pacific, the owners of the Saratoga & North Creek Railway – the destination of the coaches – was quite anxious to get the cars from the Naugy to their new home in NY. Not only did they assist with the culvert project but they sent a hi-rail grapple truck and crew over to help wrap up the project. The work train Extra 2203 ran Friday to Torrington and Highland Junction as arranged and the coaches were on their way to Saratoga Springs by that afternoon.

Chairman Howard Pincus, who spent many an hour on the phone orchestrating the above adventures, thanked all who were involved with this project. Some of those that your editor worked with included Randy Patterson, Stuart Crouse, Adam Miller, Louis Edmonds and Sam Walker. As was said in the previous edition, it is safe to say that in our 15 years at the Naugy, we have never seen anything approaching this level of tree damage for such a long stretch of the line.

Howard reported that this major effort - which landed right in the middle of holiday preparations, the Saybrook Yard evacuation, and the roof project on coach 4992 – impressed many outside of our all-volunteer organization as well as our own members.


SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER NEWS

- The Cheshire (CT) High School Ram Band Train Show was staffed by Kevin Meehan, Lisa Drazen, Tony Pratt and Sue Sample.

- Our next show will be the Amherst Railway Society’s 2012 Railroad Hobby Show at West Springfield. The dates: set up on Friday 27th January, with the show on 28th and 29th. Details will be in the January Order Board.

Volunteer Work Hour Records

As part of the renewed emphasis on obtaining grant funding, we must resume the recording of our volunteer time. Volunteer Worksheets are being re-designed and will be available by the north door of the shop by the dispatcher’s area or at the Thomaston Station. Sherry Edmonds will be recording the hours as submitted from these forms, which can be left at the station or shop. Records can be e-mailed up to Louis Edmonds at LRWEdmonds@gmail.com or mailed to Sherry at P. O. Box 443, Georges Mills, NH 03751-0443

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm. Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

That’s all the news that fits for now. Thanks to Celeste Echlin, Bob Harrington, Jason Hartmann, Kevin Meehan, Sam Walker, Louis Edmonds, and Sue Sample for assistance.

—Bill Sample, Editor

Caboose 4014 lettering complete

A photo of a completed 4014 outside this past Saturday afternoon at Thomaston Shop. This former Central Vermont caboose was originally built in 1925, and retired in 1972 when it was purchased by the Steamtown Foundation in Vermont. In 1987 the caboose was purchased privately and moved to several museums around the New England region before it eventually found a home at the Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad. Photo courtesy Al Pomeroy.

Continued repainting of Central Vermont caboose 4014

RMNE Volunteer Al Pomeroy pauses while hand-painting the intricate Central Vermont "Maple Leaf" logo on the side of restored caboose 4014 (the CV was a subsidiary of Canadian National Railways, hence the maple leaf design). Stewart Crouse works on painting the complicated end handrails and hand brake mechanism; there are a lot of square feet to cover here! Photos from inside Thomaston Shop on Sunday November 6, 2011. Photos by Howard Pincus

CV 4104 caboose painting continues

RMNE Volunteer Al Pomeroy pauses while hand-painting the intricate Central Vermont "Maple Leaf" logo on the side of restored caboose 4104 (the CV was a subsidiary of Canadian National Railways, hence the maple leaf design). Stewart Crouse works on painting the complicated end handrails and hand brake mechanism; there are a lot of square feet to cover here! Photos from inside Thomaston Shop on Sunday November 6, 2011. Photos by Howard Pincus

MEC 557 gets a little touch-up work

Railroad Museum of New England volunteer Jason Hartmann has become a valued member of Naugatuck Railroad's motive power force. He not only has worked keep the operational locomotives on the road, but is spending as much time as possible providing care to some of RMNE's stored out-of-service power. Dedicating not only his time, but spending his own funds for paint, Jason has been working on cosmetically restoring some of the museum's pieces, including Maine Central Alco RS-3 557. He is seen at the Thomaston Volunteer Shop on October 23, 2011, matching colors on the historic Maine Alco. With this work towards cosmetic restoration, the historic unit will be a nice addition to be viewed by our passengers as they ride past the shop area. Meanwhile, Jason explores the unit's physical condition, working to ensure that it can be made operational in the future. Jason is also providing some needed mechanical preservation to the 557 in addition to the cosmetic work. He will be finished with this project within one week to allow other projects needing attention to move into the shop.

Builder's photo of sister unit MEC 556

Coach roof restoration continues

Repairs to the wood roof of Canadian National coach 4992 are almost complete. Working on the north end of the car, Tony Pratt is attaching new curved wood pieces to the roof. These cars used a composite roof, with steel structural framing, wood strip underlayment and heavy canvas as the outer layer.


In this rebuilding, any deteriorated wood has been replaced, and heavy commercial rubber roofing membrane will be the outer layer, replacing the old canvas. This is the first major roof rebuilding the Museum has done and it will serve as a guide for this work on the other CN cars in coming years.



Project Leader Sam Walker performs the "measure twice, cut once" ritual on a piece of edge tack molding before bolting the new wood part onto CN coach 4992. These pieces form the edge of the roof above the steel car side, seen in the background of this image.

—Photos by Howard Pincus

Central Vermont caboose 4014

RMNE volunteer Al Pomeroy continues to perform some maintenance on Central Vermont wooden caboose #4014, taking advantage of the warmer weather to make repairs and apply fresh paint. This particular caboose was built in February 1925, replacing another car of the same number that had burned at White River Junction, Vt. The car was in service until at least 1972, when it was purchased to become part of the collection of Steamtown when it was located in Bellows Falls, Vermont. The caboose was privately purchased in 1987 after that organization had decamped to Scranton. The car was later moved to display on the Valley Railroad and eventually moved in 1996 to the Naugatuck Railroad and the Railroad Museum of New England.

—Photos by Howard Pincus

Order Board for October

NEXT MEETING
The next Meeting will be the Annual Membership Meeting, held on Saturday, 19 November 2011. The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 6:30pm.

TRAIN CREWS NEEDED
Engine and train crews are needed – engineer, conductor, brakeman and car host positions plus we can always use help at the station, in the office and also tour guides now that we have the B&M 1109 SW1 diesel and B&M C72R caboose on the display track, which have been very popular with our visitors. Barb asks that you please sign up early so she doesn’t have to recruit crews at the last minute. This is especially important during our busy fall season! Please help out. Please contact Barb Walcott at 860.283.5790 or wwalcott@snet.net

TROPICAL STORM LEE FOLLOWS IRENE
In a scenario not unlike 1955 when Hurricane Connie was quickly followed by Diane, the remnants of Hurricanes Irene and Lee struck the upper Naugatuck Valley. As in 1955, the second storm added a very heavy rainfall to an already saturated ground and this time we suffered some damage, particularly in the Reynolds Bridge area, where we had a long wash over and a pair of wash outs, most of this run off from Waterbury Road. Operations were suspended for two days to allow repairs to be made. A work train with engine 2203 and the Pennsy hopper car was dispatched helped get the track back in service for the final weekend of the month. Side dump car NYC 133 was also used to help build up some of the eroded shoulders along the main line. As our own Gradall is out of service Murphy Construction’s Mike Vincent was hired in with his modern Gradall to perform ditching at various points between the shop yard and Thomaston station.

SHOP YARD TRACK EXTENSIONS UNDERWAY
The southward extensions of tracks 1, 2, and 3 saw much progress late in September. The roadbed was graded, ties were laid out and the rail and miscellaneous track hardware was brought to the site for placement with crane PTM 198. Track 1 needed spiking at the end of the month but tracks 2 and 3 were completed except for ballast and surfacing and were immediately filled with equipment. This additional space will help accommodate the arrival of equipment from Saybrook.

Extension of tracks 4 and 5 is underway as grading, including ledge removal, has begun. Gene Pfeiffer has arranged this and other grading to be done at no cost to the RMNE, which allows funding to be directed to other cash hungry projects.

Remaining to be done: spiking track 1, ballasting and surfacing all 3 tracks. Also, over 200 new ties have been installed in the main line using a mix of contract and volunteer labor. Some tamping remains. We hope to be hiring in a ballast regulator this fall. Contact Howard Pincus for project details hpincus@mindspring.com

PROJECTS AT THE THOMASTON SHOP
Motor Vehicle Department - Bob Harrington reports that he is modernizing the brakes on the boom truck mainly to save us $700. on the replacement costs on the antiquated system. New front tires are now on the Dyna-hoe. The IHC loader continues to serve at Saybrook. Gene reports that brake work is needed on the Cummins loader, the Dyna-hoe and Gradall to get things in good order for the winter.

Car Department - Coaches 5046, 4980, and 4990 continue in use on the regular service train.
Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop and work is progressing on the roof. Work on the wood sub-surface at the north end of the car is now nearly complete, and the drip rail installation has begun. Once the woodwork is done a major interior cleaning can start. An all-hands effort will be required to do the job correctly when we will be installing the roofing membrane – a special Order Board will be sent to announce the dates. NYC 133 Side Dump Car received some repair work and again became capable of being dumped to either side, just in time for flood repair duty. CV 4014 has had its roof completed, including walkways. The window repair work, including sills, is also done and the repainting has begun.

Locomotive Department - NH (CDoT/RMNE) 2019 (EMD FL9) remains in use as the regular loco, with NAUG 2203 being used for switching and work train duties until electrical problems in the higher throttle notches can be corrected.

Regarding other locomotives, Jason Hartmann has taken the lead in caring for the stored fleet. NAUG (B&M) 1508, NAUG (MEC) 557, and NAUG (MN 2033) have received recent work, which will be detailed in various upcoming Along the Line issues.

THOMASTON STATION
Kevin Meehan reports that the first two restored windows have been installed along the west wall and the restoration of the next two is underway. They sure look good!

SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER NEWS
- The new RMNE web site is now up and running. Check it out at www.rmne.org
- Advance sales and reservations for the autumn and holidays seasons are reportedly going well. Two complete trains have been reserved in December.
- The Cheshire (CT) High School Ram Band Train Show will be held 20 Nov, 10AM-4PM – we’ll be there!
- The RMNE appeared at the Eastern States Exposition in the Connecticut Building on 28 Sep. Tony & Nancy Pratt, Bill Sample, Timothy Reed, Matt Lawson, Kevin Meehan and Lisa Drazen worked the booth.
It’s not too early to start planning to assist with our busy fall season. One area where we’ll need extra help is the Pumpkin Festival, where we will need “Pumpkin Wranglers” to assist with distribution.

WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS
Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm. Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

That’s all the news that fits for now- Thanks to Bob Harrington, Barb Walcott, Jason Hartmann, Kevin Meehan, Howard Pincus, Jon Chase and Sue Sample for their assistance —Bill Sample, Editor

Track extension at Thomaston Shop Yard

The wooden Central Vermont caboose gets some attention inside the shop.

More track expansion at Thomaston Shop Yard! During the weekend on September 25-26, museum volunteers added 330 feet of new storage track to the Thomaston Shop Yard. Using the 1954 Portland Terminal Company self-propelled crane to handle the rails, the crew extended Tracks 1, 2, and 3 each by 110 feet. This track extension will allow us to house even more equipment at our secure restoration facility, helping to protect our historic equipment from potential vandalism and making it easier to access for routine maintenance. Photos by Howard Pincus.

Order Board for September

NEXT MEETING

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 10 September 2011. The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 6:30pm.

TRAIN AND ENGINE CREWS NEEDED

Engine and train crews are needed – engineer, conductor, brakeman and car host positions plus we can always use help at the station, in the office and also tour guides now that we have the B&M 1109 SW1 diesel and B&M C72R caboose on the display track, which have been very popular with our visitors. Please contact Barb Walcott at 860.283.5790 or wwalcott@snet.net

TROPICAL STORM IRENE BLOWS THROUGH NEW ENGLAND

Over the weekend of August 27-28 a well-watched former hurricane Irene passed over New England, leaving a path of destruction throughout most of the region, with only eastern Maine being spared. Virtually all railroad operations were effected, with such major routes as Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and the former Boston & Albany and Boston & Maine routes being shut down for days. In Vermont the destruction was worse, with some routes suffering damage that will keep them closed for weeks or even months. Thankfully, the Naugy was spared major damage from both wind and water, and was closed for two operating days due to weather and post-storm repairs.

A crew was assembled to inspect and start repairs to the line on Monday the 29th, consisting of Howard Pincus, Jason Hartmann, Lori Bean, Walt Hermann and Stewart Crouse. Hi-rail truck TC30 and the tie crane covered the line from Highland Jct. in Waterbury to the “DAM” block station at the west end of the Thomaston Dam, the current limits of regular operation. Several small trees were either cut up or moved off the track, and a number of silted-in drainage areas were cleaned out. The culvert north of the Chase Bridge held up well, remaining stable.

A Gradall run is planned before operations resume to touch up the few areas where minor erosion occurred. Once again the Thomaston Dam added to its value by preventing much downstream destruction of the type suffered in many areas of Vermont and New York.


EARLY SEPTEMBER ALL-MEMBER WORK WEEKENDS

Labor Day and the following weekend will be major project weekends as the Naugatuck Railroad will be on its usual end-of-summer shutdown. We are planning some significant work for the Labor Day weekend and the weekend after (Sept. 10 & 11). Work will include extending the outside trackage at the shop yard, preparing for tie replacement along the main line, running a work train to reposition equipment at Waterville and Thomaston, and repairing the roof of the comfort coach at the Thomaston Station.

If you have a friend who had always wondered about how this stuff is done, bring them along! We will plan to provide a grilled lunch at the Shop Yard on Labor Day weekend days, and will do likewise on the following weekend (although that may be a moveable feast, out along the line).


PROJECTS AT THE VOLUNTEER SHOP
Motor Vehicle Department - Bob Harrington and Gene Pfeiffer have both kept busy assisting with other projects, mainly work at the Saybrook and Shop Yards. The use of equipment maintained by them saves a considerable amount of money that we don’t have to pay in rental fees!

Car Department - Coaches 5046, 4980, and 4990 continue in use on the regular service train. Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop and work is progressing on the roof. Currently plywood clerestory sides have been installed on the east side, and the scaffolding is being moved around to allow work on other areas. Over the next month or two we will be installing the roofing membrane and we will need an all-hands effort to do the job correctly. We will make a special announcement when dates are known and it will be very important to have an adequate staff of about 10-12 to handle the membrane and keep it tight so that we don’t get wrinkles. Other work needed on this car includes interior cleaning and floor painting. Please consider assisting us with this important project. Please report to Sam Walker for instructions.

Locomotive Department - Former CDOT 2019 (EMD FL9) has been covering most of the trains so far this year due to 2203’s operating problems. It is used in the push-pull mode at the south end of the train. NAUG 2203 is again marked up for use on a work train this month.


THOMASTON STATION

RMNE President Celeste Echlin reports that we have been awarded a second grant from the Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, bringing funding up to $3400.00 for restoring windows along the west side of the station and installing the rebuilt original doors where the sliding door currently exists. Two windows have been removed to Torrington Sash & Door fro repairs, and when these return two more will be sent out.



SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER NEWS

Check out our newly designed web site at www.rmne.org. Designed by museum members Otto Vondrak and Mike Roque (by remote control from California), look for continual improvements throughout the end of the season.

Advance sales and reservations for the autumn and holidays seasons are reportedly going well. Two complete trains have been reserved in December.

The RMNE will be appearing at the Eastern States Exposition in the Connecticut Building on 28 Sep. We will be displaying info on the RMNE and the Naugatuck Railroad.

It’s not too early to start planning to assist with our busy fall season. One area where we’ll need extra help is the Pumpkin Festival, where we will need “Pumpkin Wranglers” to assist with distribution.


WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm. Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

That’s all the news that fits for now- Thanks to Bob Harrington, Barb Walcott, Celeste Echlin, Howard Pincus, Jon Chase and Sue Sample for their assistance —Bill Sample, editor

40 years ago...

The date is Sunday, August 1, 1971, the location is Deep River, Connecticut.  Amtrak is 4 months old today.  It is the Valley Railroad's second day of public operation, and engine 103 is having a little indigestion this morning.  Raising steam to get out of Essex was a bit of trouble, so 44-tonner #400 pushed on the other end of the train all the way from Essex to Deep River.  Engineer R. B. Jones was really not too happy with his fireman this day. This historic locomotive is part of the collection at the Railroad Museum of New England, moved by truck to our site in 2009. —Photo by Howard Pincus

Order Board for August

NEXT MEETING

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 10 September 2011.  The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 6:30pm.


TRAIN AND ENGINE CREWS NEEDED

Engine and train crews are needed – engineer, conductor, brakeman and car host positions plus we can always use help at the station, in the office and also tour guides now that we have the B&M 1109 SW1 diesel and B&M C72 caboose on the display track. Barb asks that you please sign up early so she doesn’t have to recruit crews at the last minute. Please contact Barb Walcott at 860.283.5790.

MAINTENANCE OF WAY PROJECTS

The next major job will be extending a couple of the yard tracks southward in the shop yard, likely just tracks 1 and 2 as track 3 is too close to the driveway. A work train, using the PTM 198 crane, was run to collect rail for the siding extensions, which are needed to allow room for equipment arriving from Saybrook and Chase Yard.  Ties are in stock and tie plates have been brought in from Saybrook.  The construction time will be announced, likely for this fall.

Gene Pfeiffer has been grading the area south of tracks 4 and 5, the tracks that pass through the Volunteer Shop.  Not surprisingly he hit some rock ledge below the driveway that goes along the shop, but is locating someone to remove the ledge, which is not too extensive.  The extension of these tracks will occur after tracks 1 and 2 are done.

Louis Edmonds and Matt Andel recently cleared the former Civil War exhibition site south of mile post 8 of many years of tree and brush growth to allow the site to be used as a pumpkin patch at a future fall event.  Platforms have yet to be constructed and will be needed to allow safe passage of “pumpkin hunters” to and from the train.


PROJECTS AT THE THOMASTON SHOP

Motor Vehicle Department

Bob Harrington and Gene Pfeiffer have both kept busy assisting with other projects, mainly work at the Saybrook and Shop Yards.  The use of equipment maintained by them saves a considerable amount of money that we don’t have to pay in rental fees!

Car Department

Coaches 5046, 4980, and 4990 continue in use on the regular service train. Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop and work is progressing on the roof.  Currently plywood clerestory sides have been installed on the east side, and the scaffolding is being moved around to allow work on other areas. Later this summer we will be installing the roofing membrane and we will need an all-hands effort to do the job correctly.  We will make a special announcement when dates are known and it will be very important to have an adequate staff of about 10-12 to handle the membrane and keep it tight so that we don’t get wrinkles. Other work needed on this car includes interior cleaning and floor painting.

A Request from Our Treasurer

Louis Edmonds is looking for financial donations to help defray the expenses of re-roofing coach 4992.  These expenses include plywood, supplies such as sandpaper and additions to our tools, the scaffolding, wood repair, and the rubber membrane surface and related installation items. Donations to pay for these items should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443. Please consider assisting us with this important project.  Please report to Sam Walker for instructions.

Coach 5805 - Interior woodwork continues to see attention from Stan Bogacz, Win Bissell, Kurt Wiener and occasional others, although some of the crew has been pressed into service on 4992.

Locomotive Department

Metro-North 2033 (ex NH 2059, the last production FL9 and the last production carbody F-unit by EMD) has been evaluated and sealed up by Jason Hartmann.  Jay has taken on the management of the out-of-service locomotives and is compiling records detailing their status and needs.

NAUG (ex-CDOT) 2019 (EMD FL9) has been covering most of the trains so far this year due to 2203’s operating problems.  It is used in the push-pull mode at the south end of the train.

NAUG 1508 (Alco RS3) was placed over the pit at the request of project manager Jason Hartmann so that the locomotive can be maintained for continued secure storage.  The 1508 is a former B&M locomotive that probably has one of the more interesting histories of any of our fleet. The unit is being sealed up, cleaned up, and being evaluated for needed repairs.  One traction motor needs replacement before regular service can begin.

NAUG 2203 is running in the work train with a new fuel pump and hopefully this will be what the loco needed to return to our active duty lineup. 

THOMASTON STATION

Kevin Meehan and his crew have continued the improvements to the station waiting room.  About 80% of the temporary crown molding has been installed and needs caulking and painting.  Wainscoting has been evaluated and the first area that passed the solidarity test has been given a coat of paint that matches one of the NYNH&H era green colors.  Next, four window sashes will be removed to be brought to a restoration shop in Torrington as part of a grant awarded by the Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation.

SPECIAL EVENTS

It’s not too early to start planning to assist with our busy fall season.  One area where we’ll need extra help is the Pumpkin Festival, where we will need “Pumpkin Wranglers” to assist with distribution.


Volunteer Work Hour Records

As part of the renewed emphasis on obtaining grant funding, we must resume the recording of our volunteer time.  Please complete the Volunteer Worksheets that are available by the north door of the shop by the dispatcher’s area.  Sherry Edmonds will be recording the hours as submitted from these forms or also records can be e-mailed up to Louis Edmonds. These forms are usually available by the dispatcher’s desk in the Volunteer Shop and at the Thomaston  station ticket office


OTHER NEWS

Executive Director Tom Carver has completed his work as RMNE Executive director and is heading for a new position in the operating department of the new Saratoga & North Creek Railroad, which is owned by Iowa Pacific, a prosperous midwestern regional railroad holding company.  In his short time with the RMNE he assisted with gaining several grant awards including funding for locomotive B&M 1732 and the Thomaston station and shared his experiences on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.  We wish him well and look forward to his future visits with us.


WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm.  Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

That’s all the news that fits for now- Thanks to Bob Harrington, Barb Walcott, and Sue Sample for their assistance!

—Bill Sample, Editor

Order Board for July

NEXT MEETING

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 10 September 2011.  The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 6:30pm.


TRAIN AND ENGINE CREWS NEEDED

Engine and train crews are needed – engineer, conductor, brakeman and car host positions plus we can always use help at the station, in the office and also tour guides now that we have the B&M 1109 SW1 diesel and B&M C72 caboose on the display track. Barb asks that you please sign up early so she doesn’t have to recruit crews at the last minute. Please contact Barb Walcott at 860.283.5790.


MAINTENANCE OF WAY PROJECTS

Repeat:  Howard Pincus has released the planned trackwork for July. We are planning to do work on various spots on the mainline the weekend of July 1-4.  We’d like to have at least 4-5 people each of the days we plan to work, especially Saturday July 2 and Monday July 4.  Sunday July 3 we are running the regular 12:00 and 2:00 pm trains.  We can plan the Sunday work to be done in an area where we can “clear up” for the trains, so that day is not lost as a workday.


PROJECTS AT THOMASTON SHOP

Motor Vehicle Department

Bob Harrington reports that he and Gene have completed work on the Ford Boom Truck.  Gene managed the move of the IHC loader to the Saybrook yard.  Gene also began to clear work areas for upcoming track extension work at the south end of the Shop Yard.

Car Department

Coaches 4980 and 5046 are scheduled for air brake servicing over the weekend of 1-4 July under the leadership of Al Pomeroy, at the Volunteer Shop track 4.

Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop.  Work continues on the roof, with repairs to the wood base being nearly completed in late April.  Tack boards have been custom made and are on hand, being prepped before mounting.  Please consider assisting us with this important project.  Please report to Sam Walker for instructions.

Coach 5805 - Interior woodwork continues to see attention from Stan Bogacz, Win Bissell, Kurt Wiener and occasional others, although some of the crew has been pressed into service on 4992.

Locomotive Department

B&M 1109 (EMC SW1) continues to be a popular display at the Thomaston Station.

B&M 1732 – Thanks to the efforts of Tom Carver, who credits Dana Hunt and the Western Connecticut Chapter NRHS for their assistance, the RMNE has received a grant from the National Railway Historical Society of $3400.00 to finance the purchase of replacement power assemblies and components to continue the engine rebuild program for our B&M GP9.

NAUG 2203 has received much cosmetic work in addition to various mechanical repairs. The completion of the current session was delayed somewhat by the discovery of a leak in an air system pipe adjacent to a main reservoir tank, necessitating its removal.  Side reflective striping has been replaced.

NAUG (ex-CDOT) FL9 2019 remains in service covering all assignments pending the return of U23B 2203 to duty.

 
THOMASTON STATION

Kevin Meehan and his crew have spent various Saturdays putting up a temporary wall crown in the waiting room, once again upgrading the appearance of the station interior.  Outside, much of the equipment on the bulk (display) track now displays descriptive signage.  Kevin renews his request that the station be kept clear of clutter.  Jason Hartmann took down the O gauge layout for the summer.

While the above was going on, Don Watson was putting the final touches on his architectural narrative description and an accompanying photo exhibit document and submitted it to Ed McAnaney for review.  This will be a firm foundation for future grant requests.

A Request from Our Treasurer

Louis Edmonds is looking for donations to help defray the expenses of re-roofing coach 4992.  These include plywood, supplies such as sandpaper and additions to our tools, the scaffolding, wood repair, and the rubber membrane surface and related installation items. These donations should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at  P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443 


OTHER NEWS

Steve Butterworth would like to resume crossing signal painting as we get into summer and/or early fall.


WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm.  Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.


INSTRUCTION AND RULES CLASSES

NORAC rule and air brake classes will be handled on an individual basis.  Please contact rules examiner Brent Bette or air brake instructor Al Pomeroy for details.

That’s all the news that fits for now.  Thanks to Bob Harrington, Barb Walcott, Steve Butterworth, Kevin Meehan, Don Watson, and others who helped with this issue.
—Bill Sample, editor

Order Board for June

NEXT MEETING – CHANGE OF DATE!

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 18 June 2011.  The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 6:30pm.

FLAGG COAL COMPANY #75 RETURNS TO THE NAUGY

The Gramling Family brought their 0-4-0ST steam locomotive back to the Naugy in late May for another 7 days of steam experience.  A number of the regular engine crew staff took their turns running and/or firing the locomotive, and this year one trip had two sisters – Sue Sample and her sister Sally Ostlund, running and firing – likely a unique type of crew in New England and certainly rare worldwide!  While the ridership for the event was less than what was hoped for, we did not lose money and are looking forward to a return next year.  John Gramling and his wife Pat were joined by their son Barney over the Memorial Day weekend.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROJECTS:  HELP WANTED

There are a good number of projects scheduled that could use YOUR help, please lend your museum a hand to get these things done!

TRAIN AND ENGINE CREWS NEEDED

Now that our busy Flagg Coal #75 weekends are behind us it is back to our regular schedule of Tuesday and Sunday operations, plus Saturday the 18th of June.   Engine and train crews are needed – engineer, conductor, brakeman and car host positions plus we can always use help at the station, in the office and also tour guides now that we have the B&M 1109 SW1 diesel and B&M C72 caboose on the display track Please contact Barb Walcott at 860.283.5790.

CLASSES

Your editor has received several requests for information concerning upcoming NORAC rule and air brake classes - none are currently scheduled as rules examiner Brent Bette is busy winding up the school year where he teaches and air brake instructor Al Pomeroy is recovering from surgery. We hope to have further information in the next Order Board about these and also Roadway Worker Protection and possible timetable classes.

PROJECTS AT THOMASTON VOLUNTEER SHOP

Jason Hartmann reports that he is building some heavy-duty shelves over a storage area for jacks and blocking, which will result in better space utilization. Jack Tarter and Dick Edling continue the construction of the electric service in the building. The shop air system is now accessible throughout most of the building – please keep air tools and hoses stored in their designated areas.

Motor Vehicle Department - Bob Harrington, usually the first responder to my requests for information (Thanks, Bob!) reported that recent weekends were spent preparing the Chevy dump truck for coal duty during the Flagg Coal #75 visit, an assignment that was successfully completed without any problems, as did the station front end loader.  The Eslargo GMC boom truck received a new wheel seal.  The tie inserter received running repairs, and the NYC 133 side dump car was serviced as has seen use with some washout repairs at the south Thomaston twin bridges.  The Ford boom truck has seen considerable work with a hydraulic overhaul being completed, the bed being raised to provide better wheel clearance.  Remaining work should be completed over the next few weeks.  Gene Pfeiffer’s new job has him working on many weekends but he has working on weekdays as time permits.

Car Department - Coaches 4980 and 5048 had their floors repainted prior to the Flagg Coal Co. operations. Coach 4990, our reserve coach in recent years known as “The Beater” due to its well-warn appearance, can no longer be known as that as far as the interior goes.  A number of volunteers under the leadership of Sam Walker completed a complete interior repaint in time for the Flagg Coal Co. #75 weekends.  This, combined with window repairs by Sam, Stan Bogacz, Win Bissell, Kurt Wiener and others, got the car returned to service.  Trap repairs were also continued, and the seat cushions were re-installed during mid May.  We ran out of time before any exterior painting could be done – hopefully we will get this done later this year.

Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop where it took a time-out while full attention went to the other coaches in the operating fleet.  Work should be resuming later this month after the scaffolding is reinstalled.  Woodwork on the roof is mostly completed.

Coach 5805 – Like the 4990, activity on this car was halted so that the car department staff could concentrate on the active fleet.

Locomotive Department

NAUG 2203 – Our U23B has received much work through the spring, both mechanical and cosmetic.  Details will appear in an upcoming Along the Line issue.  As of early June the locomotive remains on the pit track but should be back in service shortly.

New Haven (CDoT/RMNE) 2019 is in service and was recently the “protect” locomotive for the Flagg Coal Co. #75 visit.  As usual, #75 performed without operational problems but to save coal the 2019 hauled the 75 and its trains from the shop yard to the station and return.  Fresh paint is also slowly appearing on this locomotive and this work will likely resume once the 2203 returns as the primary locomotive.

Other Locomotives – Jason Hartmann is beginning a general locomotive inspection program dealing with our out-of-service locomotives such as former Maine Central 557.  This work will include the “barring over” of the diesel engines, inspection of stack and vent covers, and general clean up.

THOMASTON STATION AND GROUNDS

With the general freshening of the interior of the station by Kevin Meehan and his crew, the building was ready for the beginning of the 2011 season.  The south waiting room wall was completed and all walls were re-coated, and the floor was touched up where needed.  A temporary crown will be applied where the walls meet the ceiling later this year.  The new point-of-sale system has allowed a ticket position to be located at the information booth display, which sits at the former location of the Thomaston ticket office. Outside, Howard Pincus and crew applied striping to the station approach road that helped with the traffic flow during the Flagg Coal event.  Walt Hermann has continued his landscaping work with plantings around both the building and parking lot.

Volunteer Work Hour Records

As part of the renewed emphasis on obtaining grant funding, we must resume the recording of our volunteer time.  Please complete the Volunteer Worksheets that are available by the north door of the shop by the dispatcher’s area.  Sherry Edmonds will be recording the hours as submitted from these forms or also records can be e-mailed up to Louis Edmonds at lrwedmonds@gmail.com.

A Request from Our Treasurer

Louis Edmonds is looking for donations to help defray the expenses of re-roofing coach 4992.  These include plywood, supplies such as sandpaper and additions to our tools, the scaffolding, wood repair, and the rubber membrane surface and related installation items. These donations should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443 

That’s all the news that fits for now.  Thanks to Bob Harrington, Barb Walcott, Steve Butterworth, Pam Larson, Jason Hartmann and others who helped with this issue. —Bill Sample, editor

May Order Board, Second Section

HELP URGENTLY NEEDED!

UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROJECTS

One of our major events of the year is fast approaching and we have a number of tasks to complete before Flagg Coal Company #75 returns to the Naugy.  Listed below are the schedule of classes and also various projects that could really use your assistance.  Every little bit helps – even if your schedule allows for a day or two, we appreciate it.   Please lend your museum and railroad a hand to get these things done!

Blue Flag Safety Class

Hal Reiser will conduct a Blue Flag safety class at the Volunteer Shop on the 14th of May (Saturday) 9:30am shop.  This will be a short class and it is recommended that all who might have reason to use the blue flag system attend.  Please register with Hal so he can prepare materials.  Please bring a pencil, pen and notepaper.

Other Classes
No other rule or air brake classes are currently scheduled.  Please contact Brent Bette concerning rules or Al Pomeroy about air brake classes. We will be scheduling Roadway Worker Protection and possibly Timetable classes at later dates, to be announced.

14 May:  Flagg Coal #75 planning dates with meetings at the Volunteer Shop, 2:00 pm covering operations, staffing & activities for the event.  Please bring your suggestions! 

PROJECTS AT THE THOMASTON VOLUNTEER SHOP

Car Department

Coach 4980 will have its floor painted this month. Coach 4990 is now in our regular lineup and a general refurbishing is underway. Work will concentrate on the interior.  To date, seat cushions and backs have been replaced where necessary and removed to allow access for interior cleaning.  The windows have been inspected and repaired as required.  Surface preparation is in progress – scraping, sanding and some light patching are the primary tasks, then vacuuming and a tack-cloth rub-down treatment will ready the car for painting, including the floor.  This is the first priority of the coaches at this time. This project will be ongoing on Wednesday and possibly Thursday afternoons/evenings as well as on weekends. Sam Walker is the project manager – questions or to conform Thursday call him on his cell phone 860.485.2569.

Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop.  Work will continue following the completion of pre-season work on 4980, 4990 and 5046. Coach 5046 is scheduled for a floor painting this month. Coach 5805 – most work suspended until active fleet is ready for service.

Locomotive Department

FL9 2019 is in service.

U23B 2203 is on the final stretch of its pre-season repair session.  Andy Kromer and/or Scott Paribello will be completing the project over the next few weekends and need at least one helper.  Besides mechanical/electrical completion, it also needs some minor cosmetic work before going back into service by 22 May.

MAINTENANCE OF WAY

Track projects are planned for the weekends of 14-15 and 21-22 May.  The first weekend will see tie replacement on the main line on the tangent just south of the south twin bridges in Thomaston, and the following weekend we will be doing some tie replacement and gauging south of the Jericho Bridge.  We can use at least 4-5 people on each track crew – please contact Howard Pincus for information, cell phone 914.907.7071.

THOMASTON STATION

We need a crew at the station to help ready the grounds for the Flagg Coal #75 visit.  The platform around B&M caboose C72 needs to be moved to allow switching – we will be moving B&M 1109 to the display track and switching out the crane and MEC gondola.  Rolling stock signs need to be installed.  Contact Celeste Echlin (cell 860.485.2567 or Tom Carver (cell 315.351.6680)

Volunteer Work Hour Records

As part of the renewed emphasis on obtaining grant funding, we must resume the recording of our volunteer time.  Please complete the Volunteer Worksheets that are available by the north door of the shop by the dispatcher’s area.  Sherry Edmonds will be recording the hours as submitted from these forms or also records can be e-mailed up to Louis Edmonds.

A Request from Our Treasurer

Louis Edmonds is looking for donations to help defray the expenses of re-roofing coach 4992.  These include plywood, supplies such as sandpaper and additions to our tools, the scaffolding, wood repair, and the rubber membrane surface and related installation items. These donations should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443 

FLAGG COAL #75 CREW CALL

I will need crews for May 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 (Flagg Coal #75 trains). Please contact Barb Walcott at 860.283.5790 or by email.


WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm.  Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.  Thursdays may be added if required.

NEXT MEETING

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 11 June 2011.  The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 7:30pm.

That’s all the news that fits for now.  Thanks to Tony Pratt, Howard Pincus, Sam Walker, Pam Larson, Tom Carver, Celeste Echlin and others who helped with this issue.  —Bill Sample, editor

Here comes the Revolution…

It’s a quiet Saturday in Binghamton, NY; a local railfan is roaming the Delaware & Hudson yards with his camera, and is intrigued by three new diesel locomotives among all the D&H steam power.  Five days ago, on Monday November 13, 1939, Electro-Motive Corporation released these 600-horsepower switchers from their new plant in the cornfields west of Chicago, at LaGrange, Illinois.  EMC’s soon-to-be-famous Model 567 Diesel engines are inside those glossy black hoods, the first of that model to cross the Hudson River and enter New England.

Stacks covered and engines quiet, they are bound for the Boston & Maine Railroad and will be handed over at Mechanicville, NY by the D&H within hours of Mr. Humphrey’s picture.  B&M 1109, 1110 and 1111, the three sisters, will serve as passenger train switchers at Boston’s North Station until 1959, and will go on to have an after-life on two New England shortline railroads.  1109 and 1110 eventually will be preserved by Railroad Museum of New England.  On this quiet Saturday, they are the advance troops of the Diesel Revolution, ready to kill off the majestic steam power that rules the rails this November day.  Within 14 years, they will have triumphed in New England and the Northeast.

This small print was discovered in a batch of prints obtained at an auction by RMNE’s Al Galanty.  The EMC builder number for 1109 is actually 912; the “#192” on the back of the print is a typo.

—Howard Pincus

Order Board for May 2011

Col. Randal B Hathway, USAF (ret.), 1921-2011

RMNE member Randy Hathway passed away on Saturday evening, April 30, at his home after a period of declining health. Randy joined the RMNE soon after we began operations at the Naugatuck Railroad and was quite active in many projects, including the Thomaston Station rebuilding. He had been a Thomaston resident since 1931 and often shared his memories with your editor, including riding the last passenger train from Thomaston to Winsted and return.  A P47 fighter pilot in both the European and Pacific theaters of World War II, he flew many combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Funeral services will be held at the First Congregational church in Thomaston on Thursday 5 May at 11am.  Calling hours will be at the Lyons Funeral Home on High St, Thomaston, on Wednesday 4 May 4-7pm.

SUCCESSFUL EASTER SATURDAY

Our first operation in 2011 was the “Easter Bunny Express” service, which ran 3 trains consisting of FL9 2019 and coaches 5046, 4980, and 4990.  Despite the weather being miserably wet and cold, we had a very good crowd of over 550, almost equaling last year’s, which had benefited from operations being on a fine spring day. Retail sales were also strong and our new, state-of-the-art point of sale and ticketing accounting system was ready for the task, and Celeste Echlin, Lisa Drazen, Barb Walcott and Executive Director Tom Carver put it to work.  Now gathering the various income flows will be far easier and take a fraction of the time.

Tom recognized Sue Sample for leading the cleanup and decorating of the station, comfort coach, and train; and also thanked Kevin Meehan and his crew for finishing up the sheetrock installation and painting of the waiting room.  Agent Joan Jackson was also thanked for her part in helping to get the retail department ready for the opening day. Tom, Bill Sample, Stewart Crouse, and others helped keep the parking lot operating smoothly.

Train crew was Hal Reiser, engineer; Ed McAnaney and Bill Sample share the conductors duties, Matt Andel was the brakeman, Matt Lawson the student brakeman, car hosts were Lou Beres, Lee VanIderstine, and Joe Viener and the Easter Bunny was portrayed by Sue Sample. As noted, the day was wet and cold but the train was warm thanks to the efforts of Sam Walker, Jason Hartmann and other members of the shop crew who had all three cars heated.


UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROJECTS:  HELP WANTED

There are a good number of projects scheduled that could use YOUR help – please lend your museum a hand to get these things done!

Blue Flag Safety Class

Hal Reiser will conduct a Blue Flag safety class at the Volunteer Shop on the 14th of May (Saturday) 9:30am shop.  This will be a short class and it is recommended that all who might have reason to use the blue flag system attend.  Please register with Hal so he can prepare materials.  Please bring a pencil, pen and notepaper.

Other Classes

No other rule or air brake classes are currently scheduled.  Please contact Brent Bette concerning rules or Al Pomeroy about air brake classes. We will be scheduling Roadway Worker Protection and possibly Timetable classes at later dates, to be announced. An additional NORAC class may be offered if there is sufficient interest – please contact rules examiner Brent Bette so that arrangements can be made.


PROJECTS AT THOMASTON VOLUNTEER SHOP

Motor Vehicle Department

Bob Harrington reports that work continues on the Boom Truck, and the Gradall has been brought to the Shop Yard from Chase Yard for some maintenance work by Gene Pfeiffer.

Car Department

Coach 4990 was returned to service for use on the Easter Train.  Jason Hartmann, Terry Hannon and others replaced worn or damaged seat cushions and backs with some from the currently out of service 4992.  We hope to have some new paint on the exterior prior to the Flagg Coal weekends.

Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of track 5 in the shop.  Work continues on the roof, with repairs to the wood base being nearly completed in late April.  Other work that can be done while the car is in the comfort zone of the shop is a thorough interior cleaning and floor painting.  Please consider assisting us with this important project.  Please report to Sam Walker for instructions.

Coach 5805 - Interior woodwork continues to see attention from Stan Bogacz, Win Bissell, Kurt Wiener and occasional others, although some of the crew has been pressed into service on 4992.

Locomotive Department

Currently FL9 2019 is in service while U23B 2203 continues to receive miscellaneous repairs.  The rebuilt governor was installed in later April using one of the new forklifts donated through the effort of Jason Hartmann. 2203 is also receiving some cosmetic work, particularly on the nose and cab, which will help to give it a less-rusty look until a complete exterior repaint can be done.

Tom Carver has prepared and submitted a grant request to the National Railway Historical Society for funds to assist with the 1732’s diesel engine rebuilding.

THOMASTON STATION

Kevin Meehan and crew got back to work inside the station once the weather warmed up, continuing the wall improvement project.  The remainder of the east wall was patched and painted, and the south wall of the waiting room was sheet-rocked and painted, being completed in time for a pre-operation spring-cleaning. The station hasn’t looked this good since long back into the 20th century.

Tom Carver, Sue Sample, Lou Beres, Kevin Meehan, and others helped with the big cleanup while the final installation of the new Point of Sale accounting system was completed.  Celeste Echlin, Joan Jackson, Barb Walcott, and Lisa were in the first training class.  All gift shop stock was entered into system prior to the Easter train.


May 14:  Flagg Coal #75 planning dates with meetings at the Volunteer Shop, 2:00 pm covering operations, staffing & activities for the event.  Please bring your suggestions! 

Volunteer Work Hour Records

As part of the renewed emphasis on obtaining grant funding, we must resume the recording of our volunteer time.  Please complete the Volunteer Worksheets that are available by the north door of the shop by the dispatcher’s area.  Sherry Edmonds will be recording the hours as submitted from these forms or also records can be e-mailed up to Louis Edmonds at lrwedmonds@gmail.com.

A Request from Our Treasurer

Louis Edmonds is looking for donations to help defray the expenses of re-roofing coach 4992.  These include plywood, supplies such as sandpaper and additions to our tools, the scaffolding, wood repair, and the rubber membrane surface and related installation items. These donations should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443 

OTHER NEWS

- Membership Chair Pam Larson reports that about 100 members still haven’t paid their dues this year and a second and final billing will be going out early in May. PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES!

- Tom Carver reports that he and Celeste Echlin are resubmitting a grant request to Community Foundation of Northwestern Connecticut for stairway and signage supplies for exhibit track at the Thomaston station.

- Advertising is beginning for the Flagg Coal #75 visit and we will attempt to recruit school field trip visits to the Friday events.

- I will need crews for May 26,27,28,29, and 30, Flagg Coal #75 trains - Barb Walcott.  Contact Barb at 860.283.5790.

- Steve Butterworth would like to resume crossing signal painting as we get into summer and/or early fall

- Your editor has not heard any confirmation on any spring track project as of publication date.  Usually they are scheduled for May.  A special e-mail Order Board will be sent out if details become available.

WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm.  Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

NEXT MEETING

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 11 June 2011.  The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 7:30pm.

That’s all the news that fits for now.  Thanks to Bob Harrington, Barb Walcott, Steve Butterworth, Pam Larson, Tom Carver, Celeste Echlin and others who helped with this issue.  —Bill Sample, editor

Order Board for April

A portrait of three F-units getting some sun at Thomaston Volunteer Shop. The two units at left are former CDOT F7's that ran in Shore Line East commuter service, while the unit at right is a former New Haven FL9 rebuilt by CDOT in the 1980s for Metro-North. Photo by Howard Pincus.

REVISED Rules Class Schedules

Due to schedule conflicts, the 16 April and 21 May Blue Flag classes have been cancelled.   The only class scheduled for now is the 14 May class, but an additional class will be offered in June – date to be determined.   “Blue Flag” classes take place at the Volunteer Shop. It will be a hands-on class with a short exam and should not take more than one hour. The class is required for all NORAC qualified personnel as well as anyone who intends to work at the shop.  All those who plan to take the course please register with instructor Hal Reiser by email to get details.  Starting time will be at 9:30am.  The classes are open to anyone interested in getting involved with train operation on the Naugatuck Railroad!


2011 ANNUAL DINNER
There's still time to sign up for the RMNE 43rd Annual Dinner. Please call Nancy Pratt at (203) 578-5930 for details.


PROJECTS AT THOMASTON VOLUNTEER SHOP

Motor Vehicle Department

Major work on the Boom truck continues in the northwest corner of the shop – good progress has been made in raising the body and rebuilding the hydraulic controls.  Also the TC-30 is in for hi-rail work.

Car Department

Coach 4990 will be brought into the shop for a light prep and repaint and vestibule repairs.  Air brake servicing is also needed on this car.  This car is scheduled to re-emerge as Canadian National Railways 4990 in the 1950s color scheme.

Coach 4992 remains in the north bay of Track 5 in the shop.  Our brand-new scaffolding has been set up along the east side and south end of the car, making for a safe and pleasant working platform for roof work.  The west side and north end are reachable using the mobile scissor lift – no working from ladders is needed The large opening that once housed air conditioning equipment has been successfully enclosed. The priority project is to complete the sanding and any needed surface preparation to ready the car for roofing installation. and the other with its deteriorated painted canvas roof removed down to the wood surface.  This will allow the installation of a rubber membrane surface that should stop the leaks that the car has been plagued with in recent years. Plywood covering will be fitted to the side of the clerestory surface once the roof membrane is installed.  Other work that can be done while the car is in the comfort zone of the shop is a thorough interior cleaning and floor painting.  Please consider assisting us with this important project.  Please report to Sam Walker for instructions.

Coach 5805 - Interior woodwork continues to see attention from Stan Bogacz, Win Bissell, Kurt Wiener and occasional others.

Locomotive Department

Currently FL9 NH 2019 is in service while U23B 2203 receives governor, exhaust system, and other miscellaneous repairs.

Train and Engine Crews:

16 April – Possible work train crew Volunteer Shop Yard – Thomaston Station

23 April - Easter Bunny Train:  need conductor, engineer, and car hosts including Easter Bunny Assistant.


Rules and Training Classes:

We will be scheduling Roadway Worker Protection and possibly Timetable classes at later dates, to be announced. An additional NORAC class may be offered if there is sufficient interest – please contact rules examiner Brent Bette so that arrangements can be made. Regarding any future Air Brake instruction and exam needs, please contact Al Pomeroy.

Pre- 2011 Operations Projects:

16 April (plus 17th if needed) we will have a Spring Cleaning Day (s) at the Thomaston Station and also on the train, which may be moved to the Station to facilitate cleaning.

30 April, 14 May:  Flagg Coal #75 planning dates with meetings at the Volunteer Shop, 2:00 pm covering operations, staffing & activities for the event.  Please bring your suggestions! 

Volunteer Work Hour Records

As part of the renewed emphasis on obtaining grant funding, we must resume the recording of our volunteer time.  Please complete the Volunteer Worksheets that are available by the north door of the shop by the dispatcher’s area.  Sherry Edmonds will be recording the hours as submitted from these forms or also records can be e-mailed up to Louis Edmonds.

A Request from Our Treasurer

Louis Edmonds is looking for donations to help defray the expenses of re-roofing coach 4992.  These include plywood, supplies such as sandpaper and additions to our tools, the scaffolding, wood repair, and the rubber membrane surface and related installation items. These donations should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443 

WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm.  Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

THOMASTON STATION

Kevin Meehan is resuming his work inside the Thomaston Station and has his staff needs under control.  He asks that we all continue to keep the station neat and to refrain from cluttering the building. 

NEXT MEETING

The next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, 11 June 2011.  The meeting will be held at the Thomaston Senior Center, Town Hall, Main St. and is scheduled for 7:30pm.


Thanks to Celeste Echlin, Louis Edmonds, Bob Harrington, Al Pomeroy, Jon Chase, Kevin Meehan, Tony Pratt, Hal Reiser, Howard Pincus, Barb Walcott, Sue Sample and others who helped with this issue. —Bill Sample, Editor

March Order Board

RULE AND AIR BRAKE CLASSES AND EXAMS

Brent Bette and Al Pomeroy will be conducting classes for RMNE members in good standing who wish to participate in the operation of our Naugatuck Railroad. Details received are as follows:

RULES – Change of Time - Brent Bette

Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) instruction and exams will be given on Saturday, February 26 and Saturday, March 5, beginning at 9:00am, breaking for lunch from 12:30pm-1:15pm, finishing up by 4:00pm. Brent advises registration is not necessary. Location will be the Thomaston Town Hall Senior Citizens Center, in the basement of the Thomaston Town Hall on Main St. We will add another date if necessary but Brent would like to see if the majority of our operating crew can be certified on those two dates. The third date will be a weekday mutually agreed upon by those who cannot attend either of the Saturday sessions. (Editor’s note – please bring your NAUG employee’s timetable, pen, pencil, and scratch paper.)

AIR BRAKE – Al Pomeroy

Air brake class will be held on Saturday March 12, 2011 starting at 09:00 location is at the Senior Citizen’s Center, basement of the Thomaston Town Hall. I have been advised that with the new rulebook due out soon that both engineers and Conductors will be required to pass this exam to continue in qualified service. Brakemen are encouraged to participate as well. A three-part download is available on request with an e-mail to alp4@myfairpoint.net if you do not have class materials from previous classes. A limited quantity of new books is being printed and will be available at the class if you have not previously received one. A $25.00 fee for a replacement copy is available for those who have lost/misplaced their copy. This class is made available subject to advance reservation to the above e-mail address. Reservations must be made prior to March 7th 2011 so that the correct quantity of tests may be prepared. This exam will be for new and experienced qualified Naugatuck railroad employees only. Additional testing/retesting dates to be determined based on need. Any additional details will go out to those individuals who have reserved their place in the class. (Editor’s note – please bring your NAUG employee’s timetable, pen, pencil, and scratch paper.)

ADDITIONAL CLASSES

We will also be scheduling Roadway Worker Protection and Timetable classes as well as a possible additional NORAC class – a special edition of the Order Board will be sent out when this info is confirmed. If a member cannot attend either of the scheduled NORAC classes, they may contact Brent at bbette@msn.com so that alternate arrangements can be made.

PLANNING FOR THE RMNE’S FUTURE

While the most visible focus of RMNE activity is the hands-on work in the shop or Thomaston station, rest assured that many hours of behind-the-scenes planning work concerning the RMNE’s future does continue. The Board of Trustees and Executive Director recently met in a daylong that session to help write a strategic plan. Our progress will be reviewed at the next General Membership Meeting on March 12, and this will include details of our leasehold expansion south of the Volunteer Shop and Yard area and RMNE control of the reversionary rights of the Thomaston Station. Some of the foundation of the overall plan was established during the meetings held last winter, and the Board is most appreciative of the input and support offered by our membership.

WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm. Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TELEVISION (CPTV) SPONSORSHIP

Celeste Echlin reports the RMNE was contacted by CPTV last week to see if we were interested in becoming a sponsor for their March fundraiser, which will air during the evenings of March 6 and 7 and possibly some additional dates. CPTV came to us through Robert Van Camp, the producer of the Great Scenic Railway Journeys series. He has been in the area to arrange for the showing of his new series “Celebrating North America’s Steam Railways.” We will be included with video footage taken by Ralph Harris, which will include Flagg Coal, NH (CDoT) 2019, and the Northern Lights Limited. Ralph’s footage will be edited into a presentation that will also include 30-45 second clips of the Cape Cod Central and the Delaware & Ulster lines. In return for this publicity, we will provide the CPTV a number of 4-pack tickets good for regular train rides. Celeste made a short presentation to Mr. Van Camp describing our operation, and this has spurred his interest in possible future work with our organization.

Pre- 2011 Operations Projects: – Sat, April 16, 10:00 am (& 4/17, as needed) will be clean-up day for the Station & the Train with the train parked at the Station to facilitate cleaning.

Sat, Apr 30 & Sat, May 14 are Flagg Coal planning dates with meetings at the Volunteer Shop, 2:00 pm covering operations, staffing & activities for the event. Please bring your suggestions!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Tom Carver

Tom continues to research grant request and other income possibilities from a number of different resources. Tom is now the head of the Thomaston Station Development Committee, which will oversee the planning and financing of the restoration of the passenger station, of the crown jewels of our collection. In this position he will be meeting with various interested community and political officials beginning this spring.

Tom also reports that he has lined up a replacement air compressor for his locomotive (Alco C424 #4243) and he will be ordering other needed parts for an upgrade of the 251 series engine. Once the installations are completed, the locomotive will be test-run and if successful, the 4243 will be on its way to the Naugy.

TICKETS PUNCHES AVAILABLE

Our friends up at the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum are in the process of ordering ticket punches and have offered to include our staff if interested. There are two types available – with a “chad” hopper (catches the punch-outs, less sweeping in the coaches!) for $28.60 each, or the hopper-less model for $24.10. Designs include "Heart," "Star," "T," "Rounded T," "Sideways Y," "Circle on Square," "J," "Key," "Wrench," Hammer," “L,” "Star with squared point," "Lightning Bolt," "P," and "Celtic Cross." Please contact Kevin Chittenden, Supt., BSRM, to order at his e-mail kchittenden at berkshirescenicrailroad.org and be prepared to send a check made out to the Berkshire Scenic Railroad Museum to the BSRM, P O Box 2195, Lenox, MA 01240 – don’t forget to describe the design and with or without the chad hopper.

February Order Board

 2011 RULE AND AIR BRAKE CLASSES AND EXAMS

Brent Bette and Al Pomeroy will be conducting classes for RMNE members in good standing who wish to participate in the operation of our Naugatuck Railroad. Details received are as follows:

RULES – Brent Bette

Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) instruction and exams will be given on Saturday, February 26 and Saturday, March 5, beginning at 8:00am and likely lasting until 2:00pm. Brent advises registration is not necessary. Location will probably be the Thomaston Town Hall Senior Citizens Center, in the basement of the Thomaston Town Hall on Main St.

We will add another date if necessary but Brent would like to see if the majority of our operating crew can be certified on those two dates. The third date will be a weekday mutually agreed upon by those who cannot attend either of the Saturday sessions. (Editor’s note – please bring your NAUG employee’s timetable, pen, pencil, and scratch paper.)

AIR BRAKE – Al Pomeroy

Air brake class will be held on Saturday March 12, 2011 starting at 09:00 (location to be confirmed but probably in the usual place in the Thomaston Town Hall) I have been advised that with the new rulebook due out soon that both engineers and Conductors will be required to pass this exam to continue in qualified service. Brakemen are encouraged to participate as well. A three-part download is available on request with an e-mail to alp4 at myfairpoint.net if you do not have class materials from previous classes. A limited quantity of new books is being printed and will be available at the class if you have not previously received one. A $25.00 fee for a replacement copy is available for those who have lost/misplaced their copy. This class is made available subject to advance reservation to the above e-mail address. Reservations must be made prior to March 7th 2011 so that the correct quantity of tests may be prepared. This exam will be for new and experienced qualified Naugatuck railroad employees only. Additional testing/retesting dates to be determined based on need. Any additional details will go out to those individuals who have reserved their place in the class.

PROJECTS AT THE VOLUNTEER SHOP

We all owe a big thank you to Gene Pfeiffer for his continuing efforts in battling the record snowfall this season. Thankfully this did not start until after holiday operations ended but Gene was ready “just in case.”

January did see a number of substantial snowfalls and few if any days above freezing to reduce the groundcover. Gene has kept access to the Thomaston station, dumpster, and display track equipment open as well as keeping the greater Volunteer Shop and Yard areas opened – important for staff and emergency access. Gene has also monitored the interior temperature at the shop, which allowed the excessive snow to slide off the roof at the expense of the gutters – but the alternative was a possible roof sag or collapse under the snow load. Please use caution – icy conditions persist despite our best efforts at plowing and sanding our access areas. Watch out for falling snow from building and equipment roofs, and slippery footing especially on hidden ice.

The wintry weather now has precluded Naugatuck Railroad operations, limiting even switching in the Volunteer Shop Yard. Before the most recent foot or so of snow fell, coach 4992 was switched into the shop on track 5 north, and then 2203 headed onto the pit. Christmas decorations need to be removed and packed away from locomotive NH 2019 and coaches 4980 and 5046, likely to be done outside – Sam Walker reportedly will wear his snowshoes. At last report, Coach 4992 will remain inside to receive a new roof covering and tack strips, work to begin now.

WEDNESDAY PM WORK SESSIONS

An old RMNE tradition is being formally revived – Weeknight Work Sessions are being held on virtually all Wednesdays at the TSY, running from about 4:00pm until about 8:00pm. Sam Walker is heading this – please call him if you wish to confirm the session on cell 860-485-2569.

In Motor Vehicle Corner at the northeast end of the shop, Gene has opened up enough space to serve as a motor vehicle dept. repair area. Work on the Islargo boom truck has been completed for now, and our Ford boom truck, which has been a hard working part of the RMNE family for over a quarter century now, has entered for needed maintenance and repairs. The two front-end loaders have been busy with the snow clearing work mentioned above. One of the uses for our vehicle fleet will be further work at the RMNE Saybrook Yard once the weather breaks. We hope to have most of the yard clear of most non-rail equipment items by summer and will need MVD assistance.

Jason Hartmann recently hung up a pair of message boards on the south wall of the comfort station that list various equipment projects. In addition to these projects, electrical and air installation continue, mostly along the east wall.

THOMASTON STATION

Up at the Thomaston Station, work on interior repair and painting will resume when it warms up a bit. The east wall is almost completed, and the south wall awaits sheet rocking. Watch for further information in the next Order Board.

TORRINGTON NEWS

As expected, the privately owned former passenger station in Torrington, a victim of over 50 years of neglect, was torn down during the first week of January. Ralph Harris videotaped a segment of the demolition, which shows the south end of the building as it was ripped apart. It was unfortunate that no one in town had the will and financial ability to save the structure.

Also now missing in Torrington is a former B&M drop bottom gondola that resided on the bulk track for a number of years. Scratch the B&M W610 from your rosters... Sister NAUG 92788 survives.

Membership Matters

Membership Chair Pam Larson announced that the 2011 dues billings have been mailed. Please respond as soon as possible and don’t be afraid to upgrade your membership and add a donation!

RMNE Treasurer Louis Edmonds suggests that, as dues are a portion of the Museum's income, he would like to see members consider an upgrade to the next higher membership level. Also, since all levels of membership now will receive the same benefits, the value of membership dues paid above the base level of $35.00 is tax deductible.

And the Museum will always gladly accept direct donations to the General Fund, which is also tax-deductible. These donations should be sent directly to the Treasurer, either to the Museum at P. O. Box 400, Thomaston, CT 06787-0400 or the Treasurer’s home address at P. O. BOX 443, GEORGES MILLS, NH 03751-0443

RECENT EVENTS

- As most readers know, this winter has been a severe one with some extraordinary snowfalls. Several snowfalls in early January deposited around 2 feet of snow along parts of the line and it was decided to run a plow train over most of the length of the line on January 12th. Locomotive 2203 retrieved our snowplow X105, which formerly fought snow for the Green Mountain and Maine Central railroads since its construction in 1936. The operation was depicted on our web site and will appear in an upcoming “Along the Line.” Howard Pincus, Dave Manning, Al Pomeroy, Brent Bette and Randy Patterson crewed the move.

- Once again the RMNE appeared at the Amherst Railway Society’s Railroad Hobby show during the final weekend of January.

That’s all the news that fits for now. Thanks to Celeste Echlin, Louis Edmonds, Bob Harrington, Al Pomeroy, Brent Bette, Sue Sample and others who helped with this issue. - Bill Sample, editor