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News Letter Index |
Various members give a report of happenings at the railroad.
7/12/08 Saturday saw a fleet of members at the WFPRR. Mike Walsh, Mike Walsh Sr., Devin Lawson, Tennessee, Jim Scott, Jimmy Scott, Brad George, Hunter DeBellis, Clayton Cullen, Hank Welch.
Jimmy Scott, Tennessee, Brad George and his father spent Friday and Saturday camping at the WFPRR.
Mike Walsh and his father delivered 534's Boiler back to the WFPRR, now that the repairs have been completed. It was loaded into one of the Shaprio Gondolas and put away in the roundhouse.
401 was put away in the trailer, as it has developed more issues, and cannot be repaired right now. The plan is for the Roundhouse gang to work on it over the winter months.
The Roundhouse stall housing tracks 1 and 2 were cleaned up by Devin Lawson and Mike Walsh. After lunch, 400 was moved over the pit, then Mike Walsh and Tennessee worked on 400's burner, removing it and cleaning the lines and burner. A bracket was fabricated to securely mount the burner to the firebox. Also, the regulator was removed, and the pressure gauge for the atomizer was rerouted and now the regulator can be adjusted. The regulator was also set for a maximum of 25 psi, rather than the original 10psi. A test firing was conducted, to test the burner (with no steam pressure).
Also, for the past week or two, #704 was not operational due to engine problems. It was later discovered that the fuel oil that we use for our oil burning steam engines had been put in 704's gasoline tank. As a result, the Kohler was not running clean. Devin flushed the tank on 704, and refilled it with gasoline. It ran much better after the tank was flushed. We borrowed spark plugs from 5205's engine and placed 704 back into service. Later in the evening, a store run was made, and replacement spark plugs were installed in 5205's engine. We now have a few extra spark plugs in the roundhouse for the engines.
Please remember to check what type of fuel you are putting in the gas tank of various locomotives. The oil burning steam locomotives use fuel oil from the big tank INSIDE the fuel shed, the diesel engines use gasoline which is located outside of the fuel shed.
Jim Scott and Jim Keeton were working on the wagner car in the carbarn again.
Jimmy Scott, Brad George and Hunter Debellis were painting the bridge at Yeatman again. They are nearly done. Way to go, guys!
7/13/08
Sunday saw 522 passengers throughout the day. 535, 928, 400, 704 and 13 were used at various times throughout the day. 535, 928, and 400 were all fired up in the morning. Tennessee switched cars out of the car barn with 400, then took a consist to the wye and back to test 400's repaired setup. 400 had to be rescued, and 928 shoved 400 and the train back into Glencoe, then 400 returned to the roundhouse.
928 took the first train out, with 535 taking the second train out. 13 entered the rotation after 928 returned. Repairs were attempted on 400, and 400 took a train out, while 928 was put away. Unfortunately, 400 could not fire well on the trip, so 704 went to rescue it. 400 was put away yet again. Later in the day, one of the leaf spring keepers on 535's tender were found to be missing, so 535 was put away. 13 handled the next two trains before the day was over.
Members present:
Mike Walsh,
Brad George,
Tennessee (Don Angles),
Hunter DeBellis,
Jim Scott,
Jimmy Scott,
Clayton Cullen,
Mike Lorance,
Steve Haack,
Richard Owings,
Jim Foster,
Matt Grewe and father,
Steve Marx,
Devin Lawson,
Wayne and Carol Mosbacher,
Gina Debellis,
Paula Shaw,
Elliot Littlejohn,
Jim Strain,
Bob Hardt
7/16/08 Wednesday
Mike Walsh, Jim Scott, Jim Keaton, Clayton Cullen, Hank Welch, Mike Lorance were all out on Wednesday.
A special run was made for 17 children and 2 adults.
Mike Walsh again fabricated new keepers for 535's tender. Problems were presented in the design, and the project was placed on hold until Saturday. Jim Keaton and Jim Scott were working on the Wagner Car again. They mounted one coupler pocket on the car. We are one week away from putting the car on trucks and starting on the floor.
Hank and Mike took down the first hoist in the Carbarn to put a longer arm on the verticle post. Jim replaced the broken light switch on 13 put grab handles on the front, and put chains on the cut pins on both ends.
Mike Lorance, Clayton Cullen, and Hank Welch were working out on the line.While Rich Owings and Paul Smith went back to east mohan and replaced some balist that had washed away
Thanks to Mike Walsh and Jim Scott for the report this week
Jr Brakeman, Matthew Grewe behind East Bound #13
The Look On His Face Says It All
