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