Maine Central RS3 557 had used diesel fuel from 2203's fuel filter change added
into its prime mover. It will help clean up the innards when the pre-lube
pump is set up. Some cleaner previously-used
oil will be added to the
crankcase after some of 557's "tar" oil is drained out.
Metro-North
FL9 2033 (ex-NH 2059) - Volunteer Alex began cleaning the unit out of debris. Volunteer Jason cut a
piece of polycarb for the missing rear window; pieces to fill the open number
boards are being worked on, these were/are three areas of weather inlet on
the loco that will be plugged up. Used diesel fuel from a filter change on the
2203 was dumped down the test cocks of the stuck prime mover. Two of its shot
batteries were removed by Jason and Alex, the rest are being freed up,
battery work was last done back in May.
NAUG
U23B 2203 continues
to power all needed trains the past few months. A 92-day inspection was done by
volunteers Hal Reiser, Jason Hartmann and Al Pomeroy.
New Haven
FA1 0401 had the fan grill that was brought up to the shop
site last month straightened out by Alex. It will be lifted up onto the roof
and put in place with a plywood covering pitched for drainage. This will close
up the open rear area of the carbody.
New Haven
RS3 529 has had its battery water topped off and its
batteries were charged.
New Haven
(CDoT/RMNE) FL9 2019 had its batteries charged and the unit was
started and idled for several hours. The 2019 hasn't been touched in 2 months
since NAUG 2203 has been dependably covering all needed assignments. 2019 is
being kept stored serviceable waiting for its reactivation to service this
fall.
RMNE 42,
the GE 45-tonner “the Critter” had its battery water was topped off
and batteries are currently being charged. Fluids will be checked and the plan
is to fire up its prime movers after 3 years of inactivity to keep the unit in
the best shape possible for when it will be needed again.
Want to get your hands dirty? Volunteer! Weekday work sessions are now held Tuesdays from 4:00pm-8:00pm at Thomaston Shop. Contact us for more information!
—Bill Sample, Editor
Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Thomaston Station News
While the inside of the station is now being enjoyed by our passengers and visitors, Kevin Meehan and John King have been removing the exterior Plexiglas covers from the west-facing waiting room windows. Window locks are being installed and the windows will be usable for ventilation. Exterior painting is also needed as part of the project.
We still have to do an extensive cleanout of the cellar, and some organization in the attic. Cellar work should be planned for the warmer months, the attic for the cooler times.
Celeste has received word of a funding award from the Town of Thomaston. The entire amount will be placed in the station fund On Tuesday 31 July, Laura Mancuso of the State Historic Preservation Office in Hartford was scheduled for a visit to the station.
Jason Hartmann is looking for a carpet “remnant” to be used on the station’s train layout in the station to deaden the sound. The carpet would have to be an earth tone, preferably beige or tan, and MUST be a loop style or low nap so it's fibers won't get stuck in the wheels and gears of the trains. A green or brown carpet would be OK too, just not ideal for "realistic" purposes but still "passable." The remnants or a small rug could be cut to fit but should be at least 3 feet wide.
—Bill Sample
We still have to do an extensive cleanout of the cellar, and some organization in the attic. Cellar work should be planned for the warmer months, the attic for the cooler times.
Celeste has received word of a funding award from the Town of Thomaston. The entire amount will be placed in the station fund On Tuesday 31 July, Laura Mancuso of the State Historic Preservation Office in Hartford was scheduled for a visit to the station.
Jason Hartmann is looking for a carpet “remnant” to be used on the station’s train layout in the station to deaden the sound. The carpet would have to be an earth tone, preferably beige or tan, and MUST be a loop style or low nap so it's fibers won't get stuck in the wheels and gears of the trains. A green or brown carpet would be OK too, just not ideal for "realistic" purposes but still "passable." The remnants or a small rug could be cut to fit but should be at least 3 feet wide.
—Bill Sample
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The Naugatuck Olympics: The Grey Team and the Brown Team
The 2012 Summer Olympics opened Saturday, July 28 in London. Simultaneously, the Naugatuck Railroad put two teams on the ground at Torrington, Connecticut, to salvage a short spur track south of the Water Street crossing.
The Grey (Hair) Team included Howard Pincus, Foreman; Al Galanty, locomotive engineer; Tim Reed, crane operator; Walt Herrman, spare parts runner; Steve Butterworth, track (work) coach and news reporter.
The Brown (Hair) team included Matt Andel, train conductor; Matt Lawson; Toni Barbera, Tom Wallace, Alex Neisloss, and Winfield Greene, apprentice track (but not field) workers. Jason Hartmann and Tyler came off the bench and joined in the afternoon.
This reporter observed very real progress in bringing along the younger generation at the Naugatuck. Both Matt Andel and Matt Lawson have a few years’ experience in all sorts of jobs on our railroad, ranging from car host to conductor and from track builders to mechanics and coach roofers. Toni, Tom, and Alex count their experience in months, but bring plenty of curiosity and enthusiasm plus their youthful energy. Considerable credit goes to Matt Lawson for collecting Toni, Tom and Alex and driving from the Norwich, CT area to the Naugatuck Valley. Winfield is a veteran of Mystic Seaport's SABINO, Tim Reed introduced him to the possibilities of mechanical things on rails.
In Torrington, Franklin Products is west of the main track and south of the Water Street crossing. Their business is expanding, and they wanted to use space east of the main track. ConnDOT, which owns the rail line we use, agreed that Franklin could construct a private grade crossing and use land occupied by a 250-foot spur track east of the main track. The spur was laid with 80-lb. section rail that the Naugy can use for yard tracks at Volunteer Shop. After restoration, a pipe-connected derail on the spur will be displayed on the Thomaston station track.
Festivities started at 8:30 Saturday with Matt Andel and Al Galanty inspecting 2203 before heading to Thomaston to pick up the PTM 198 crane and Maine Central gondola. Meanwhile, “the kids” helped Steve check TC30 and load it with track tools plus the oxyacetylene cutting torch. TC30 and Matt Lawson’s truck drove on the highway to Torrington. Meanwhile, Howard met with CDOT’s grade-crossing engineer and representatives from Franklin Products to walk the site and finalize details of their plan.
The day’s first goal was obvious: Remove the rails and other materials from the spur so Franklin Products can proceed with their expansion plan. The Naugy crew began by measuring the rails and marking them with their lengths and center points. Then it was muscle work, pulling spikes and removing the bolts from joint bars. Some bolts were so rusted, they spun loose in the holes and had to be cut with the torch. The freed rails were rolled toward the center of the track, exposing the tie plates. Those were picked up with a long packing hook, borrowed from the car knocker’s corner of the shop.
After 2203 arrived with the crane and gondola, we all put on hard hats. Then the rails, a ruined bumper post, the derail, the pipe connection hardware, the switch frog (previously removed, with a broken casting), guard rails, and crates of tie plates and scrap all went into the gon. We took an involuntary break in mid-afternoon when the sky opened up and poured rain. Nearly an inch collected in the spike bucket in an hour.
Next we moved north to the Torrington loading dock siding, intending to retrieve the resident New Haven gondola and bring it to Chase Yard. The switch needed digging out, and everyone learned what a track broom is for. The switchstand also required respiking. Walt cleared the weeds with his weed wacker, allowing a close inspection of the track. When we applied a track gauge, we found some just acceptable wide-gauge spots. After some reflection, Howard considered the hour (6 PM), the weather (still raining lightly), and the crew condition (wet and tired) and decided it was a good time to apply the lesson, “Bad things can happen late in the day.” The switch was relined and locked for the main, and 2203 headed south, providing a physical-characteristics session en route for Alex and Winfield.
The number of young volunteers gave the old guard the chance to teach and pass along skills and good work habits. Our “new” Naugatuck Railroad is already 15 years old; time marches on relentlessly. We are very fortunate to have some younger people who think our railroad is interesting to be around. And we are grateful for their help.
—Steve Butterworth
The Grey (Hair) Team included Howard Pincus, Foreman; Al Galanty, locomotive engineer; Tim Reed, crane operator; Walt Herrman, spare parts runner; Steve Butterworth, track (work) coach and news reporter.
The Brown (Hair) team included Matt Andel, train conductor; Matt Lawson; Toni Barbera, Tom Wallace, Alex Neisloss, and Winfield Greene, apprentice track (but not field) workers. Jason Hartmann and Tyler came off the bench and joined in the afternoon.
This reporter observed very real progress in bringing along the younger generation at the Naugatuck. Both Matt Andel and Matt Lawson have a few years’ experience in all sorts of jobs on our railroad, ranging from car host to conductor and from track builders to mechanics and coach roofers. Toni, Tom, and Alex count their experience in months, but bring plenty of curiosity and enthusiasm plus their youthful energy. Considerable credit goes to Matt Lawson for collecting Toni, Tom and Alex and driving from the Norwich, CT area to the Naugatuck Valley. Winfield is a veteran of Mystic Seaport's SABINO, Tim Reed introduced him to the possibilities of mechanical things on rails.
In Torrington, Franklin Products is west of the main track and south of the Water Street crossing. Their business is expanding, and they wanted to use space east of the main track. ConnDOT, which owns the rail line we use, agreed that Franklin could construct a private grade crossing and use land occupied by a 250-foot spur track east of the main track. The spur was laid with 80-lb. section rail that the Naugy can use for yard tracks at Volunteer Shop. After restoration, a pipe-connected derail on the spur will be displayed on the Thomaston station track.
Festivities started at 8:30 Saturday with Matt Andel and Al Galanty inspecting 2203 before heading to Thomaston to pick up the PTM 198 crane and Maine Central gondola. Meanwhile, “the kids” helped Steve check TC30 and load it with track tools plus the oxyacetylene cutting torch. TC30 and Matt Lawson’s truck drove on the highway to Torrington. Meanwhile, Howard met with CDOT’s grade-crossing engineer and representatives from Franklin Products to walk the site and finalize details of their plan.
The day’s first goal was obvious: Remove the rails and other materials from the spur so Franklin Products can proceed with their expansion plan. The Naugy crew began by measuring the rails and marking them with their lengths and center points. Then it was muscle work, pulling spikes and removing the bolts from joint bars. Some bolts were so rusted, they spun loose in the holes and had to be cut with the torch. The freed rails were rolled toward the center of the track, exposing the tie plates. Those were picked up with a long packing hook, borrowed from the car knocker’s corner of the shop.
After 2203 arrived with the crane and gondola, we all put on hard hats. Then the rails, a ruined bumper post, the derail, the pipe connection hardware, the switch frog (previously removed, with a broken casting), guard rails, and crates of tie plates and scrap all went into the gon. We took an involuntary break in mid-afternoon when the sky opened up and poured rain. Nearly an inch collected in the spike bucket in an hour.
Next we moved north to the Torrington loading dock siding, intending to retrieve the resident New Haven gondola and bring it to Chase Yard. The switch needed digging out, and everyone learned what a track broom is for. The switchstand also required respiking. Walt cleared the weeds with his weed wacker, allowing a close inspection of the track. When we applied a track gauge, we found some just acceptable wide-gauge spots. After some reflection, Howard considered the hour (6 PM), the weather (still raining lightly), and the crew condition (wet and tired) and decided it was a good time to apply the lesson, “Bad things can happen late in the day.” The switch was relined and locked for the main, and 2203 headed south, providing a physical-characteristics session en route for Alex and Winfield.
The number of young volunteers gave the old guard the chance to teach and pass along skills and good work habits. Our “new” Naugatuck Railroad is already 15 years old; time marches on relentlessly. We are very fortunate to have some younger people who think our railroad is interesting to be around. And we are grateful for their help.
—Steve Butterworth
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