Passenger Car Department

Here are some interior pictures of our newest acquisation,  Rock Island 2612.     O!!, my mistake! This is what it should  look like!   In actuality this is a pic of the 2602Q u e s t i o n ?   Do we want this coach to be operational for both the 2013 Thomas Event and the 4-day  Labor Day Weekend/Railroad Extravaganza?    Some monies will have to be spent inorder to place in service.  Is it a good return for the money?   Do the accounting..   I think so.                                Want to help with this project?    Show up at barn 3 any Saturday or Sunday and we will get you involved with the 2612!!                                              With volunteer help we CAN make this coach presentable to the public for revenue service.                                                                                                           Notice the "junk" on the floor  and walls.  This has to removed and cleaned.                                                         It  needs the manufacture and installation of two new buffers                                                   Both entrance decks are in fair shape shape                                                                                                             Please help... With a donation to Rock Island 2612 fund.   We need to pay the transportation costs and then pay for the $6075.00 track charges.   Thanks....  Roger     Just a reminder.....  Please help with a $25 donation to  the Barn 14  building fund. 

                                   The ceiling of the ELY is finally progressing to the point where new ceiling panels are being installed.   Buzz and Shelly are accomplishing most of the upgrade.   The first picture, just for a review of the progress,  shows what the ceiling looked like a couple of weeks ago.                  Now to the latest efforts.                            Last Sunday, Shelly painted the roof boards a dark brown color to protect them from the future elements.        Next, the reader can see  Buzz at work installing the first white panel.   It's not easy working over head especially when it's cold outside and in the car.   We do have an electric heater but it does not really warm the car.                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                            

These last few pictures give you an idea how much has been accomplished.                                                       

                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                    

The ELY last ran on a railroad as Nevada Northern 10  Please consider making a donation to the Ely Fund!  RELY  You are also invited to take a tour of the Ely in Barn 3 this spring and view for yourself the progress.                                               

Please remember the Barn 14 restricted fund!!  RBARN14     Roger                                                                                                  

                                                      The trucks for the Silver Pony, Irm's dome passenger car, are finally assembled!!   The next task is the unloading of the dome from the flat cat unto the trucks with two cranes.    After a long and ardent process Mike,  Ray, and Mark Gellman have completed the assembly work last weekend.   For those of you that are keeping "track"  of the progress it has been nearly three years, give or take a few months, when the project was started.                                       The crew spent the summer repairing and assembling the all important brake parts.  These trucks have a modern disc brake system. The knowledge learned on this job will be useful in future acquisations.  And, there will be more!                                             All this reassembly work was done outdoors where the trucks now sit.   The coach dept does not have a shop.  All the more impressive was the efforts from MIke and his crew.                                              On a sad note...  Phil Stepek  passed away two weeks ago.               He was the one member who was instrumental in working on, and raising funds for the restoration of the Silver Pony and the Silver Beaver.  His efforts and  kind heartedness will be missed......"We will take care of things for you, Phil"              NOW....   The process of unloading will be VERY expensive.    Please consider a donation to the SILVER PONY FUND.    Please also consider a donation to the  Barn 14 building fund.   Phil,   would have liked that.....      Thanks            Roger  Kramer