News Letter Index

Various members give a report of happenings at the railroad.

Saturday, March 06:

Haack, Dean, Cullen, Walsh, Horn, George and White worked on various projects in the round house. Minor plumbing was completed on 535 and the locomotive is ready to be buttoned up. (at last one seems to be ready for service!!)
Minor projects on 403 and 400 are ongoing. A valve gear linkage rod on the 403 is bent and cracked at one of the holes for a connecting pin. Attempts to straighten it would likely break it completely. Walsh will make a replacement when he returns to school.
The 401’s boiler was hydro tested. Numerous leaks were found which for the most part can be easily fixed. The flues looked good. A special fitting that connects the dry pipe through the front flue sheet seems to have a slight leak. The best fix involves removing and resealing the fitting. This is not a major project but it will involve replacing the dry pipe. While we might be able to live with the leak, now is the time to fix it the right way.
Hardt continued welding up the new tender for the 928.
No one from the car department was out today.
Welch worked on the new wall in the stucco building. Lorance and Welch are making good progress on rebuilding the round house turntable. The old wooden walkways will be replaced with metal grating. Nothing but first class.
Bitsch was out on the line trenching (or moleing as Neubauer would say) for signal extension to Mohan.
This was the first “warm” day we’ve had since winter began. We opened the RH and turned the heater off!
Here’s to Spring!
TCW-SMP

Sunday, March 07:

Matt Horn and his friend Melissa, Clayton Cullen, Mike Walsh and Tom White worked on various projects in the RH.
Mike Walsh is returning to school on Tuesday for the home stretch to graduation.
Hank Welch, Mike Lorance, Rich Owings, Tom Ernst, Dave Neubauer, John Bell and Dale Bitsch replaced ties in the yard and out toward Bluffs which Dave removed last fall.
Jim Scott, Greg Wapelhorst and Mike Brennan were in the car shop.
Once again a great weather day brought out a large crew this time for MOW.
TCW-SMP

The Safety team met to discuss upcoming training topics.

Mike Walsh in Machine Shop working on Wheels.