The Semaphare • Newsletter of the Rochester NY Chapter, NRHS P.O. Box 23326, Rocheste" NY 14692-3326; Published Monthly August 2000 Volume 42, No. 12 Meeting at Depol August 17" It's Summertime at the Depot! Part III-Riding the Diesels Our Membeniliip Meeting will be held at the R&GV Railroad Museum's Depot on Route 251 at IndustIy. The business section of the meeting will be short and will tBke pi... during a lull in the other activities planned for the evening. Our motive power gang and associates plan to put our diesel fleet to good use that evening. That should mean cab rides! This will be a 'run-thru' for the upcoming "Diesel Days' on August 19-20. The time? Just about anytime after 6 PM and unW the last person leaves. Ob Jes, be sure to bring any inter- ested guests (and potential memben)! Program Committee Tom Fo")'lh (Chainnan) 442'()125 Bill Limburg 586-9470 Dan Cosgrove 352~931 Dave Luea (Board liaison) 28W318 The Committee welcomes suggestions and ideas for future programs. Contact any of the Committee members. Summer Library Hours 7:30 to 9:30 PM Monday, August 21 Library Phone: 872-4641 A Reminder The Chapter's address has been changed. • The old PO Box has been closed. It is now: P.O. Box 23326 Rochester, NY 14692-3326 Fall Foliage Preparations Underwa~ Dates: Saturdays, October 7, 14 (Two trips each day) Sundays: September 17, 24 & October 1, 8, 15 & 22 Departure times: 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM from Sodus, NY Work has intensified on preparing our Excursion Fleet (5 coaches and a StoreIPower car) for this busy and important session of Chapter activities. Why is it important? Each year, the Fall Foliage Train Rides provides the Chapter WIth substantial and significant revenue to allow it to support its many activities at the Depot and with NYMT. After all, we now have a railroad to maintain! Wednesday Alternoons and Evenings Work Sessions: This is the time when maintenance and upgrading work is done on the Excursion Cars a1 the Webster location (behind the Chapter's Library). This location certainJy beats gOing to Sodus to do this world You are welcome to come out and give a hand. There are jobs to accommodate all capabilities. Ticket Sales: The tBking of ticket orders by phone or mail will start in mid-August However, the lirst tickets will not be sent until after Labor Day. The phone ticket office will be open from 3 PM to 9 PM. Now the interesting aspect of tBking orders by phone. You cao do it without leaving your HOME! Yep, thruugh the advantages of phone tecboology, the ticket order phone number cao be transfer to and from your home at anytime. We do need volunteers to do this job. Please call Eliane Reddeo at 388-9124 for details. (Note: the phone number for the Reddens in the recent roster is in error by one digit. Please correct your roster by replacing the 7' with a '2") Volunteer needs on Trip Days: Car Hosts, Parking Lot Guides; Concession Stand Sellers and On-train Store Sellers positions are all open for your consideration for statTmgon the days the train nutS. Jim East will soon be calling, or you cao call him at 3n-5389. Note some changes: The fIrst trip starts at 11:00AM instead of the former Noon start~the second trip begins at 2:00 PM rather than 2:15. Reason? To allow better vehicular exchange in anew, smaller parking area. The Enclosed Flyer: Post it, or give to a group or a neighbor! ~d~"'~~~f'i R:~~:~s~~;;fv:: Park . -;~~h ..-.. ~~t~]~Wflffi: The Rochester Rail Transit Committee had an educational and promotional display at the recent Park Avenue Festival. In addihon. they distributed 5ev~raJ pieces of literature and wer~ ",ell staffed on this hot, hwnid Yot:Ck. end. More on RRTC on Page 7.
Transcript
The Semaphare• Newsletter of the Rochester NY Chapter, NRHS
P.O. Box 23326, Rocheste" NY 14692-3326; Published MonthlyAugust 2000Volume 42, No. 12
Meeting at Depol August 17"
It's Summertimeat the Depot!Part III - Ridingthe Diesels
Our Membeniliip Meeting will be heldat the R&GV Railroad Museum's Depoton Route 251 at IndustIy.
The business section of the meeting willbe short and will tBke pi... during alull in the other activities planned forthe evening.
Our motive power gang and associatesplan to put our diesel fleet to good usethat evening. That should mean cabrides! This will be a 'run-thru' for theupcoming "Diesel Days' on August19-20.
The time? Just about anytime after 6PM and unW the last person leaves.
Ob Jes, be sure to bring any inter-ested guests (and potential memben)!
and ideas for future programs. Contact anyof the Committee members.
Summer Library Hours7:30 to 9:30 PM
Monday, August 21Library Phone: 872-4641
A ReminderThe Chapter's address has been changed.
• The old PO Box has been closed. It is now:
P.O. Box 23326Rochester, NY 14692-3326
Fall Foliage PreparationsUnderwa~
Dates: Saturdays, October 7, 14(Two trips each day) Sundays: September 17, 24 & October 1, 8, 15 & 22
Departure times: 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM from Sodus, NY
Work has intensified on preparing our Excursion Fleet (5 coaches and a StoreIPower car)for this busy and important session of Chapter activities.
Why is it important? Each year, the Fall Foliage Train Rides provides the Chapter WIthsubstantial and significant revenue to allow it to support its many activities at the Depot andwith NYMT. After all, we now have a railroad to maintain!
Wednesday Alternoons and Evenings Work Sessions:This is the time when maintenance and upgrading work is done on the Excursion Cars a1
the Webster location (behind the Chapter's Library). This location certainJy beats gOing toSodus to do this world You are welcome to come out and give a hand. There are jobs toaccommodate all capabilities.
Ticket Sales:The tBking of ticket orders by phone or mail will start in mid-August However, the lirst
tickets will not be sent until after Labor Day.The phone ticket office will be open from 3 PM to 9 PM. Now the interesting aspect of
tBking orders by phone. You cao do it without leaving your HOME! Yep, thruugh theadvantages of phone tecboology, the ticket order phone number cao be transfer to and fromyour home at anytime.
We do need volunteers to do this job. Please call Eliane Reddeo at 388-9124 for details.(Note: the phone number for the Reddens in the recent roster is in error by one digit. Pleasecorrect your roster by replacing the 7' with a '2")
Volunteer needs on Trip Days:Car Hosts, Parking Lot Guides; Concession Stand Sellers and On-train Store Sellers
positions are all open for your consideration for statTmgon the days the train nutS. Jim Eastwill soon be calling, or you cao call him at 3n-5389.
Note some changes: The fIrst trip starts at 11:00AM instead of the former Noon start~ thesecond trip begins at 2:00 PM rather than 2:15. Reason? To allow better vehicular exchangein anew, smaller parking area.
The Enclosed Flyer: Post it, or give to a group or a neighbor!
Committee had an educationaland promotional display at therecent Park Avenue Festival. Inaddihon. they distributed 5ev~raJpieces of literature and wer~ ",ellstaffed on this hot, hwnid Yot:Ck.
end.More on RRTC on Page 7.
Page 2
Depot Tour GuidesHere is the August and a portion of
September Schedule for those volunteer-ing as Tour Guides at the Depot Alldays are Sundays; Ihe hours are 11:30 to5:00.
August 13:Jim EastWilliam Cain
August 20:Tom & Tony WayRon Amberger
August 27:Dan GuttierBill Limburg
September 3:Jim & Joy LethbridgeBob Lipman
September 10:Rick IsraelsonChris Kingsley
September 17:Bob AchillesJack Matsik
If you encounter a conflict, pleaserrade wirh one of rhe other people liJledhere.
Steam Tour to Chinaby Ron Amberger
Ron Amberger will be leading a steamtour to mainland China this coming mid-November. The 14-day tour will go tolocations where there are steam workings inscenic main line settings and in a large-scaleopen-pit coal mining operation. Travel insideChina will be by rail including at least onesteam-hauled passenger train. Locations in-clude ling Pong Pass (3 days), open pit coalmine and a location where heavy coal trainsoperate wilh up to three 2-10-2's per train. Asightseeing tour of Bei ling will be included.Three meals per day are included. There willbe additional similar tours scheduled in earlyspring and again May 200 1. Ron Ambergerhas led live tours to China in Ihe past andhas traveled there extensivly over Ihe past 15years. Sample photos are available at <htlp1Iwww.ritedul-Jfaitelei> For more informa-tion call Ron at 242-9511.
Notice to Exchange NewslettersSending your Chapter/Club newslet-
ters 10: The Semophore, Gale Smith, 299Seneca Park Ave., Rochester, NY 14617-2433 will facilitate the exchange of newsor ideas.
August 2000
John ForsythTom ForsyIh's falher, 10hn, passed
away on July 6. In 1998, 10hn Forsryhdonated 525,000 to Ihe Chapter's Devel-opment Fund for use toward the 'new'Restoration Building, steam, trolley andolher projects Ihrough Ihe efforts of hisson, Tom.Mr. Forstyh was a native of Rochester
and a prominenl attorney here as ""ell asin Naples, Florida where he also retired.He was an athlete and served in WorldWar II as a Navy pilot, where he receivedthe Navy Cross.
Tom is our newly elected Correspond-ing Secretary and also has assumed !heduties of Program Chairman.We extend our sympathies to Tom,
his family and his siblings.
Lois RogersOur Sympalhy is also extended to
Clilf Rogers in the recent loss of hiswife, Lois. Cliff is a stalwart wilh ourTuesday afternoon Subway Car crew.
Retired BRli?'P EngineerPasses Away
On July 19, Grant Post of Belfust passedaway after a long illness. He was 94 yearsold. Mr. Post retired form Ihe Baltimore &Ohio Railroad in 1972.Kno"n as "Posty" onIhe railroad, he held !he distinction of beingIhe last known surviving engincman from theRochester Division of Ihe Buffalo, Rochester& Pittsburgh Railway. He started work forthat line in 1928, several years before it wasmerged into the B&O system.
2000 Calendar of SpecialEvents for CombinedMuseumsAugu.t 19-20 (Sat. & soo.): "Die.el
Day." The museums will highlight Ihediesel locomotive during this two daycelebration with six operating dieselsfrom the small 45-ton switcher to thelarge 1000 & 2000 HP road switchers.Locomotive rides are planned.OcL 29 (Sunday) La.t day of Joint
Operation •. Track car rides end. R&GVRR Musewn closes for the season.NYMr remains open from Novemberthorough April at reduced admissionratc.
The Semaphore
Membership ReportBelhKrueger,Chair.
New Uembm:
Three new members were voted in at theJuly meeting. Please welcome them to IheChapter! They should already be on yourmembership roster.Mr. Franklin Suhr, Rochester, NY, retiredconductor
Mr. Brandon Evans, Canandaigua, NY.Interests include rolling stock restoration,publicationslhistorical research, and trips.
Mr. Kevin F. Yo.t. Rush, NY. Interestsinclude museum tour guiding, library,trips, and publicationslhistorical research.
Rost« AdJitionstCorr«tjons to your rostersent last month:Dick Bean: phone 716-293-2131 ~ <-mail:[email protected]
Scolt Becker, 134 Blue Jay Drive, CallOns-burg, PA 15317-2342
t\tembqshiD Chair Nok"On 15 August, I will be movrng 10
Austin, Texas for a year to enter graduateschool (l will be sllldying Education Admin.istration). The following people have kindlyoffered to help me wilh membership "hile Iam away: lanet Dittmer, Marie Miner andDick Bean 1 appreciate these members'willingness to help. They will be handlingmany membership duties while I am gone.I have really enjoyed Ihe friendships I
have made and will miss lUU guys andwomenI I especially would like to thankthose of you who made me feel welcome andthose who took Ihe time to help me learnhow to do various jobs aroWld the Depot.Your kindness and patience mean a lot. Ilook forward to returning to Rochester.
Once I have my address and \X>ulactinformation for Austin, I will post it in Tire.SemaphOle. My e-mail address ([email protected]) ""ill remain the same.One finaJ note. Please continue Eo send
any membership mailEa the Chapter at' POBOX 23326 Rochester NY 14692-3326.Thallkyou.
implementation of our overall MASlERDRAINAGE PLAN.Progress;
Final silt and debris cleaned up fromLA&L RR track and ditches.All culverts inspected for erosion. Rip-
rap on order to reinforce culverts.Washout area on hill line reinforced with
rip-rap and put back into service for locom<>-lives.
Swale cut at base of Weaver's hill to
•
divert nm otTwater north to nearest culvertRetention pond areas maintained at fill
site south of new building to prevent silt runoff.
Ditches rerouted on west side of bam todivert run off to north and west culvert,away from intermediate leveL
Ditch opened up along east side of mainline going up hill.Water course diverted way from Switch
#5 and Switch #6 so as not to flow westwardthrough track structure.
Corrugated steel culvert pipe ordered anddelivered to site.
Concrete catch basins ordered, picked upand delivered to site.Plans:
Layout stakes for drain lines and catchbasins.
Excavate for catch basin, install andconnect with drain lines.
Excavate trenches and install drains fromcatch basins to cuiverts.
Thanks to Drainage Crew:Joe Scanlon. Seolt Gleason. Dan Water.
•
straat, Neil Bellenger. Dave Luca, RandWarner. Charles Harshbarger. Chris Haufand others. RW
August 2000
ElectrificationFacilftator: Rand Warner
Progress:
Bob Miner is heading up the wiringeffort at NYMf to make P&W Car #168ready to run on overhead.Charlie Lowe is heading up the wire car
effort at NYMf to provide a 4-wheel pushcar with brackets for the wire reel.Rand Warner is ordering additional rail-
honds for the track return. We will need atleast 50 more to install.Plans:
We are aiming for a live demo with Car#168 running off overhead wire. and ourportable substation, on 500-1000 feet oftrack in October.The overhead structure is up. but we still
have to pull the contact wire, using a locohauled caboose. our wire reel car. and thebucket truck crew - for September.We need to install the rest of the rail
honds - using our special fixtures - could bein AnguslThe substation needs to be checked out
relocated to NYMf. and provided withweather protection. This could be done inSeptember.Fred Perry of Sl Louis has offered to
help us with final overhead wire adjustments- this could be in October.We look forward to this effort as com-
pleting the Phase 1 demo of our long timedream to run real trolleys on real overheadfor the benefit of our visiting public and allour resident juice fans.
With everybody pitching in. in theirusual fme fashion. WE CAN MAKE ITllAPPEN/
New Project Teams/ntemaliona/4x4 Dump Truck
Neil Bellenger and Tom Webster withsupport from Dan Waterstraat and ArtMummery. Hopefully this effort will yield usa real snow plow fighter for our parking lotsthis coming winter seasoJL
Rochester Subway Car #60
Ron Letzin. a professional welder. willbe heading up the extensive metal workeffort on this car: replacing roof panels andside panels fIrst, and then getting intostructural repairs next He Yw111be assistedby Jim Moore. Dave Luca. Rand Warner andothers. RW
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Fire Safety in RestorationBuilding
• Get rid of any excess combustiblcs.• Tum off all equipment when lcav.ing area.
• Unplug all cords when closing upbam.
• Gel rid of any oily or painty rags.
• Disconnect batteries in heavy equip-menl parked inside when you leave.• Keep fire extinguishers bandy whenworking.• Keep access clear 10 fire extinguish-ers at all times.
• Keep fuels. lubricants. paints andsolvent in closed metal cabinets whennot in use.• Run dedicaled waler hose 10 build.ing and/or set up waler eislem!storage tank on hill behind buildingand run bose to building. RW
Welding/Cutting TechnologyOur long anticipated welding break-
through is upon us now:
Progress:
Jim Johnson has built up cords. recep-tacles and carts for our new Miller MIG andPLASMA equipment.Art Mummery has coordinated collection
of equipmenl and supplies for training anddemos.
John MacDonald is scheduling the firsttraining session for SatwUay moming, Au-gust5. from 9AM till lPM.Jeremy Tuke has procured the .nade up
sheet metal to be replaced on the cab ofRG&E 1941 loco. as the training demoexercise.
Plans:
Our flTst training class will be forMahaney's to train our in-house instructorswith the rest of us watching. Then ourin-house instructors will provide training tothe rest of us as student-trainees.
The goal is to get LOTS of peopletrained so we can get LOTS of use out ofthis new equipment on LOTS of projects!We look forward to a real lcap in
productivity for restoration efforts on ourmetal railroad, trolley and heavy construc-tion equipment!!! RH'
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Track and Right-of-wayActing Supt.: Rand Warner
Section Foremen AssignedJohn Redden: Depot area through Switch #6.Jeremy Tuke: Restoration Building toSwitch #6.
Rand Warner: Switch #6 to'S' curves.nave Luea: 'S' curves through loop switch.nale Hartnett Loop switch. north leg, toNYMf bam doors.
Mark Pappalardo: South leg of NYMfloop including loading mck.
Progress:Dale Hannett.. Tom Webster & Co. are
cribbing out ba11astat NYMf loading tracks••itch preparatory to replacing timbers.
Dale, Tom, Mark Pappa1ardo and othersare replacing bad ties on north leg of NYMfloop.
Weed splaying is in progress onR&GVRM and NYMf areas.
TIaCk #6 is being extended by reinsta1l-ing panel track under direction of ArtMummery, Scott Gleason and Dan Water-straat, assisted by John Redden, NormSbaddick and Jereroy Tuke.
Two track loads of ballast bave beeodelivered to site for use on new trackage atRestoration Building.
80# rail at Brighton siding is beingreadied for pick up and delivery throughelTortsof Tuesday night work parties.
TIaCk expansion plans are being re-viewed for next sidings.
Plans:
Continue insta1lation of rail anchorsnorth of Reid's Crossing.
Continue replacement of bad ties ands""tch timbers at NYMf area.
Install ballast at thin spots in NYMfareas.
Extend Ttack #6 along side of Restom-tion Building.
Continue weed splaying to protect ballastand surfacing investment.
Line CarM-1Also known as C-147
by Neil BellengerOn Saturday, June 3rd, the carpenters
with the Seabee Battalion, began coveringthe original roof, or what is left of it ""th1/2 inch CDX plywood. In a nwnber ofplaces the original roof planking was miss-ing or too rotted and 3/8 inch plywood wasused to fill the holes and bring the area
August 2000
level. Much of the morning was spentreplacing a rotied and broken section of topplate in the ••all. July 15th the Seabeesreturned and completed another third of theroof work before min forced an earlyadjournment. Once the roof has beeo com-pletely covered with plywood, plans are toadd a rubber membrane of the type used toprevent wata infiltration from ice and snowdarns.
Since last year when the ear was placedon cribbing constructed of ties, a three inchsag has developed in the center. A third tiecrib has beeo placed under the center of theear and over a period of several weeks, theear has beeo jacked up and leveled by Neil.The ear is much more stable now and shouldbe able to withstand the stresses of slidingthe sno\\brush drive motors to the center ofthe ear for removal through the side door.
A few of the original window frameshave survived and are serving as patterns fornew frames. The final color scheme ofyellow body ""th black trim is now evidenton the north end thauks to painting by RandWarner and Neil Bellenger. As new windowframes are completed and glazed ""th Plcxi-glass, the plywood "security panels" can beremoved, allowing in much more light.
Plans for the next month include replac-ing part or all of one window sill andbeginning removal of the snow brush andflanger blade equipment still underneath theear. This ••ill allow the ear to be placed on aflat ear ••mch will serve as a permanentunderframe. Using a lIat ear ",,11 provideneeded stitTness to the frame ••mch is muchtoo llcxible due to corrosion. It will alsoprovide better wheels, air lines, and couplerswithout baving to engineer these featuresinto a ear that is at least eighty years old.
Motive Power Reportby John Redden
LY-Zll: This unit has beeo positioned atthe end of TIaCk4, in order to prepare it foroperation. Jim Johnson and Dick Holbertbave started checking out electrical systems,and charging the batteries. Now running.
USA-1843: Foreman Norm Shaddick iscontinuing to diagnose the lube oil leakageinto the blower. Thauks to his work, theengine is again operational. Dick Holbert hasbeen working on its radio.
EK-9: The fuel filters have beeocbanged, and new gaskets for the filtercanisters were fabricated by Nonn Shaddickand John Redden. Thauks to a generousdonation. we have a running water pump forthe Steam Heat Generator. We have had the
The Semaphore
loan of severat books for this stearn genera-tor, courtesy of P.J. Saracen and HarOld.Crouch. Thauks to Jerry Bertoldo for theolTer of possible replacement parts for thisunit. Thauks to Rick Rubino for olTering togather more information on this unit.
EK-6: A severe battery discharge prob-lem was diagnosed and corrected by DickHolbert and Jim JobnsolL After several daysof heavy equalization charging, as well asadjustment and cleaning of a chargmg relayin the electrical cabinet. our trust~. #6 isoperable again. Norm Shaddick is inv<stigut-ing a possible problem ••ith the air oompres-SOT/airblake system, and also worked on thebattery problem, adding several gallons ofwater to the cells.
RG&E 1941: Many people continue towork on the cosmetic. mechanical andelectrical restomtion of this unit. The hand-rails and frame have beeo painted SafetyYellow by Chris Hauf and Tom Tucker.They also put another coat of gloss black onthe running gear. Dale Hannett and theYoung Railfans have removed the old paintand rust on the cab roof. Dick Luchterbandhas continued removing paint on variousloose parts from this unit. Air blake pipingcontinues to be replaced or rehabilitated ••necessary by John Redden. Dave Luca anJanet Dittmer recently took the blake valvesfor this engine to Pittsburgh for overhaul.Jim Johnson. Charlie Harshbarger and DickHolbert bave started working on the highvoltage wiring, ••mch is in serious need ofrepair and replacement. Art Mwnmery hasremoved the alternator drive coupling for thenwnber one prime mover, and has providedleads on where to lied replacement parts.
Plymouth Model BL: Foreman KevinKlees, with help from Beth Krueger andChris Hausler, has needle-scaled the oldpaint and rust from most of the frame Oil thisunit. Kevin, John Redden and Beth continueto research the "lost" history of our smalllocomotive. 1banks to Dave Monte Verdefor leads on historical information for thisengine.
Hei.ler Fireless: Many parts have beeoremoved from this engine. and its cabmounting bolts have been loosened, inpreparation for cab removal. Ron Ambergerhas been the prime mover for the work onthis engine, with help from Kevin Klees andJohn Redden.
BNY-IZ: The cab has been prepared for.removal by Ron Amberger and Kevin KleesKevin has also cut about len more llue-endsMany thanks to Art Mummery for the 10<111
of his one inch drive ratchet and gear
(Conllnued on Page 5J)
r
The Semaphore
Steam Locomotivesby RonAmberger
Over the sununer months we have beenpreparing the steam locomotives for theremoval of the asbestos. This has involvedremoving piping and appliances on top of theinsulation. Also, the cabs on both engineswill have to be removed so they are nol inthe way of the asbestos removers. Boltsholding the cab. in place have been removedand all pipe and rods peoetrating the cabfront walls have been removed. The Heislerwill be moved into a position along side theVulcan so that one containment shell can bebuilt around the two engines. Right now weawait the completion of track along the weslside of the restoration building so that theHeisler can be moved into place.
.Thonks to ...Raymond D•.•imiller for donation of enginedriven electric welder on rubber, enginedriven air compressor on robber. SPBreparts, good running 4-cylinder gas engine,and two 25-ton ratchet jacks.
Hud,on Steel for donation of heavy dutydiesel powered yard crane on robber.
Brian Pitt of Mendon Enterprises fortrailer axle assembly.
.Jim Johnson for keeping us in donuts andpizza.
Charles Hanbbarger for keeping us sup-plied with fuels and lubes.
Fran Cono and BOCES of Flint, NY forrepair and painting of hood for our '39Ford Railway Express Truck:.
Rand Warner for heavy wrenches, paintsrigging, and drip edge for new line car.
Neil Bellenger for plywood panelling fornew roof on line car.
Jobn Redden for many recenl uses of histrailer for pickups and deliveries.
Rand Warner', faithful Suburban for manyrecent hauling jobs.
Art Mummery for donation of hydraulic
•press.
Hiram Colwell for donalion of Door creeperfor heavy equipmenl repair.
Jim Jobnson for hand truck for weldingequipment.
August 2000
Rochester, Lockport &Buffalo Railroad Restora-tion Update ... Car 206
by Bernard CobinAfter a number of trips 10 inspecl and
making preparations for moving, Car 206arrived al NRHS property on Augusl 28.1999, moved by Jeff Green.
Photo herewith shows Anna and SamGrover visiting 206 on Oclober 30, 1999.
Every inspection of 206 brought newdetails 10 light, from the number 206 paintedabove the toilet room to two ventilators inthe roof of the smoking passenger compart-ment. After the car was placed on cribbingin the back 101 , a large truck canvas wasplaced over the car to protect it as much aspossible, on January 8, 2000. On April 4",Dale Hartnett and Railfan Scouts placed anadditional truck larp donaled by GeorgeKnab over the south end and roof of the car.
Now being quile dark inside. JimJohnson and Bill Chapin helped to stringinterior lights with current from a generatorin the sweeper car nearby. On another day.Rand Warner, Chuck Whalen and BillChapin helped 10 remove many layers ofnewspaper, Masonite and linoleum and nu-merous tacks from the Door.
Chuck has been very busy using stripperon the interior walls which had severallayers of cream colored painl on it. To oursurprise we found the walls below thewindows to be solid dark wainul wood. Alsothe panels between the windows with yellowrectangular marquetry and on the toilel door.In stripping side windows, lwo partitiondoors and one-half remaining partition we
PageS
found solid walnut wood. Also found wasthe metal toilel pedestaJ and two windowsover the toilet. We have 24 .ide windows,with or with out glass. missing three.Missing are the two end windows on theoperator end and smoking room partition.We knew that someone had CUl a
doorway in one side of the car at \1tlndownumber 18, which had endangered theslrucIural inlegrity of the car, i.e. cuI throughthe sleel truss bar below the window .illsthaI counters the truss rods below the carsides.
With help of Bob Mader and NeilBellenger we have recently cribbed up thecenter of the car one-half inch above levelbetween bolslers. We are presently geltingready 10 repair by replacing the missingmetal. We have removed lower kick boardand several walnut panels. TIUs revealed twouprights from windows 10 floor rotled oulthaI will need replacing before repairing themetal work.Window side retainers appear to be
mahogany with heavy notched brass piecesfor window clamps. Only six windows havethis material. Conduclor end of car needsmajor work whereas boarding car end ismostly intact.
We are researching to acquire or fabri4cate bolsters. Searching for trucks and allmechanical parts necessary 10 pul this carback 10 running condition. Rand has made adetailed lisl of parts.
Come oul and see for yourself theprogress we are making. Your support andencouragement is greatly appreciated.
!I'Tnr. ~u6rtt.Project Foreman
Historical Crane Donated to the Rochester & Genesee ValleyRailroad Museum. by Joe Scanlon •
Page 6
Wantedo Indian type backpack portable fIre
pwnps.
o Rubber safety cones~ any size or color.
o Blacksmith forge and accessories:hardy tools for anvil.
o Gage rods, any style, for temporarytrack reinforcing.
o Good tics and switch timbers.
o Ballast rcgulator
o 50.53 fOOlflat car, useable.
o Girder drill
o Floor model or bench-top drill press forRestoration Building.
Library ReportCharles Robinson, Chairman
The Library Open Hours for Augnst willbe Monday, Augnst 21 from 7:30 to 9:30PM. More books and materials are comingour way so come out and take a look.
The big accomplishment for the monthwas almost finishing installing the siding onthe west side of the building. In order toterminate at the end comers. it was decidednot to fUlish the ends until we obtainedcompetent advice.
Bob Miner and Da ..•.e Luca worked onmatching the end terminations. The otherinstallers were Bill Limburg, Steve Dagley,Chris Hauf, Eric Drum and myself on twoMonday evening sessions. Steve filled in themiscellaneous holes and openings in thesiding in preparation for painting.
A coat of priml.'"f paint was applied to thesiding that has been installed to date. Thermal coat wilt soon follow. The chapter iscertainly grateful for the generons help fromthese individuals in correcting the currentstate of the library building.
Inside the library, Jerry Gillette andmyself put morc of our photo collection intoarchival slccves. We have received ConnDorothy Boyer, the "ife of the late CurtisBoyer. a large nwnber of aJbwns containingrail photos. In addition, Victor Paramenterhas donated a collection of photos of theChicago Rail Fair. All these items arewelcome additions to our collection. BobAchilles, whose father worked on the Cana-dian Pacific, volunteered to help us \\1th ourunique collection of Canadian National pho-tos.
Progress is thus being made on refurbish-ing our building and in sorting out andstoring our collections.
See you at the library, Monday evening7:30 to 9:30 PM on August 21.
August 2000
Last year aninteresting item,",as posted onthe Internet: -Porsale: nay CityModel65 CrawlerCrane." That \\asenough to piqueJoe Scanlon's cu-riosity and desireto investigatefiuther. What hefowuJ out wasthat the lIamesfamily ofElkhart, Indianahad one majoritem left fromtheir family bnsi.ness, founded bytheir late father, Percival 1. Haines: a BayCity model 65 crawJer crane. This crane,built in 1948, and used by the company forfive decades had little use since a completerebuild. The fi,'e Haines brothers recognizedthat it was time to dispose of the crane. butthey didn't want to see it go to someone "'nowouldn't treat it as the family heirloom thatit was. This crane had always been aroundas the brothers grew up, and could always bedc."ended upon to do a strong day's work.
Literature about the collections and manyachievements of our Rochester & GeneseeValley Railroad Mnseurn were forwarded tothe IJames brothers for thdr consideration.
The Semaphore
The brothers considered their options,and around Christmas time. Joe Scanlonreceived an c-mail message: 'make out adonation form - we've got something foryou'
During the spring. arrangements wcr.made to bring the crane to our museum, an~this in itself was no small task. lhis crdIlCweighs 65,000 100. And has an 80 foot longboom! lbis move amounted to three tractor-trailer loads of equipment!
But our chapter and its volunteer mem-bers were up to the challenge. George Knaband John McDonald found m'LT the road
(ContInued on Page 7)
The Semaphore
Historical Crane(Cont'd from Pg 6)
• truckers who were willing to help us withthese tricky moves. Art Mwnmery, RandWarner and Joe tIaveled to E1khJIrt todismantle the crane and load out the dozensof pieces of boom sectioos, pendants, cablesand spare parts. Art and his wife lolaMwnmery along with their grandson hadarrived at E1khJIrt the day before andinspected the crane. On the morning Joe andRand arrived Art was pictured on the frontpage of the local newspaper, The ElkhartTruth, with Mr. Lewis Haines in a frontpage article about the Haines family donat-ing the cnme to our mu.seum, and its longhistory in the Indiana - Michigan construc-tion scene.
Moving the dismantled house and carbody of the crane through four slates is nosimple chore, when your load is over II feetwide, over 11 feet high and 'W-eighs30 tons.Special permits for an oversize load need tobe obtained from each slate traveledthrough, and long winding routes followedoff the beaten path. But Mr. Jim Schreinerof Jim's Enterprises in Farmington NYmakes a business out of specialized hauling
~f oversized cranes and came to our aid Jim~ent to E1khJIrton a Friday morning and
loaded the crane and delivered it to the
About the RRTCThe Rochester Rail Tnnsit Committee
proposes and promotes a light rail systemusing mostly present railroad right-of-waysbetween Charlotte to near the University ofRochesterlStrong Hospital.
The Charlotte line would use abandonedand lightly-used freight rail lines for muchof the route. The use of the subway tunnelwith its bridge across the Genesee Riverwould reduce Ute costs. If successful,branches could run to Marketplace Mallarea, RiT, Kodak Park, the airport. Pittsfordand maybe even Webster.
RRTC goals are to:• Act as a citizen voice in the transporta-tion planning process.• Educate Ute public. aboot Ute benefItsand possibilities of rail tntnsit
• Research rail tntnsit issues so Utat in-formed decisions may be made.
• Their web site is: www.ggw.orglmc.
August 2000
museura on Saturday morning, July 22,2000. To Jim Schreiner it was aU in a day'swone. and he made unlashing and unloadingthe crane look simple. But we know beller -moving big equipment interstate can be anightmare, and Jim made it look easy, forwhich we're very grateful.
Joe Scanlon got the honor of fIring up theHaines and Haines Construction CompanyBay City Model 65 and walking it off Utespeeialized beam trailer to a crowd ofchapter well-wishers. The Bay City now sitsproudly in our upper yard, waiting to soon goto work selling truck switch panels for ouryard area North of the Restoration Building.
This donation certainly proves our gen-eral philosopby of success which makes ourvolunteer group so strong: Nothing is unol>-tainable when you set your mind to it andhave a group of eager, willing and coopera-tive volWlteers.
Our sinoere thanks to Ute many whojoined togeUter to make this monuraentalachievement happen. especially:
Lewis, Leland, Roger, Richard andMarion Haines; George, Richard andDavid Knab; Jeff Green of Green-BarTrucking; John McDonald; Jim Schreinerof Jim'. Enterprise" Art and lola Mum-mery; Rand Warner. Photo.r: Joe Scanlon)
The "Hojack"A partial early history of the Rome,
Watertown & Ogdensburg Rai1road as re-membered by an early employee of saraewas printed in the New York Centrol LinaMagazine, Dec. 1926, pp 84-85, and hasbeen reprinted in Central NY Chaplel'. TheGree" Block, July 2000.
As a supplement, Richard Palmer hascompiled when the various sections of Ute"Hojack' were abandoned, along wiUt mile-posts. Local ones were:
Hannibal to Webster was sold to OntarioMidland, Oct 15, 1979.
Webster to Windsor Beach; Charlotte toBarker, and Rochester to Windsor Beachwere abandoned 1978.
Through passenger service from Oswegoto Rochester and Suspension Bridge wasdiscontinued Feb. 2, 1935.
Ha" Cenlury ReviewTempo jr. of June 2000 has a review of
Landons (Ont) General Motors Diesel Divi-sion's operation. The fllSt locmotive wasdelivered August 25, 1950. Irs a three pagereview of interesting history. You can readit in our LibraI)'l
Page 7
Water Problems? We're Not AlonelOur neighbor chapter, Leatherstocking in
Oneonta, also experienced water problemsfrom May rains. # I. Part of Uteir railroadembankment decided to take a swim in UteSusquehanna River. It has since been rein-forced with six flat car loads of ri(>-rap. #2.They have a busy heaver Utat keeps plugginga culvert, resulting in water buildup behindthe dam and applying pressure to anoUtersection of Uteir embankment {Rail Times,June 2000J
Via Ralph WulffRalph sent several clippings from Canan-
daigua's The Daily M •.•.•enger.
The city redesigned its parking lot byCity Hall. Previously, some cars would beparked too close to the tIacks so a trainwould have to stop until Ute owner could befound to move the car, and on occasion, atIain would hit a car. (We sometimes hadUte same problem at Sodus - but should notthis Fall.)
The paper has also be soliciting historicalpictures. One showed a trolley tIack runningdown lree-lined North Main Street AnoUtershowed the crew of a Lehigh Valley trainposed with Engine # 1806 at Manchester.
AI the Lake Shore Chapler -The Lake Shore Railway Chapter has
been approached by General Electric to storeGE's archives of original drawings wiUtstipulation Utat GE can have access to themwhen needed. Although enticing, LS docsnot have suitable storage space. but mayconsider applying for a grant
This Chapter sponsored boUt a MoUter'sDay and Father's Day 'Dinner in Ute Diner"using their dining car wiUt full course mealson tablecloUts. MoUter's Day had 48reservations; Father's Day: 33. Tidy profItsresulted from each. [Lake Shore TimetableJ
N&W J #611 on Ucense Plale?Several Virginia railroad societies with
others were successful in their effort to haveClass J #611 symbolized on auto licenseplates - IF 350 pre-paid applications arereceived by the states DMV. [Potomac RailNew., July 2000]
The Editor shouldbe off to Ohio Ute lastweek of August andfIrst week of Septem.ber. Early input wouldbe appreciated even
Rochester Chapter National Railway Historical SocietyThe SemaphareP.O. Box 23326Rochester, NY 14692-3326
Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDRochester, NY
Permit #826
Chapter Meeting & Program:
n.~Summertimeat the [)epvt!
Part IIIAugust 17,2000
R&GV RR MuseumRoute 251
Industry, NY
- ,111111111111111111111 \ 1111111111111 \ 1111111111111111111 \ II'ONOVAN SHILLING765 FIVE MILE LINE RDENFIELD NY 14526-9724
•The Semaphore is published monthly by the Rochester, NY Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. It is mailed free to all Chapter
members. Non-member's subscriptions are S5.00 aod run from Jaouary 1 to December 31. Chapter meetings are held the third Thursday aodthe Board of Directors meets the fIrst Thursday of each month.
Rochester Chapter NRHS Officen:President: Chris HaufVice President: Sieve OagleyTreasurer: Dave LucaRecording Secretary: Jeremy TukeCorrespondence Sec.: Tom ForsythNational Director: Bob Miner
Trustees: Charles Harshbarger, DaleHartnett, Art Mummery, Joe Scanlon,John Stewart and John Weber.
The Semaphore Staff:Editor: Gale SmithPrinting: Bob Miner/Gale SmithMailing: Dan Cosgrove
InterNet (World Wide Web) address:htlpJIwww.rochnrhs.orgi
Contributions to The Semaphore are welcomed and encouraged from all readers. Theyshould bemailedto:GaleE.Smith. 299 Seneca Park Avenue, Rochester, NY 14617.2433.Phone: (716) S44~221. Contributors using a computer are asked to send their submissions onany MS-DOS diskette in ASCU or TXT fonnat, as well as a printed copy. Deadline: FirstDay of Each Month.
PaurinlJ the Re~taratian Facility Flaar!The Restoration Building is up and nmning! Now we need to provide it with a concrete
floor. We raised the dust to fInish the space. Now we've faced with dust allover the place.One hundred dollars will buy a batch of concrete. The estimate for the floor is S25,OOO;we11need 250 hatches (I). Help "cement" together. great project. Maybe we11 even let your",rite your name aod date in a slab. [Don Shilling]
