Entries by Frank DeVries

...will keep the track department from completing their scheduled tasks.

So it was a typical spring day at Union today... Cloudy, with peeks of sun, occasional rain, and yes Virginia, Hail. For the most part it was simply cloudy and dry.

The day started around 8:30 with myself showing up and getting the Model 50 Burro fired up. Given the cool 40 degree weather, I needed to cut out one of the hydraulic pumps to get the engine to turn over and warm up. Tom showed up at 9AM and about the time the 50 was warmed up. We shut down, engaged the hydraulic pump and off to yard 13 for more work setting out track panels.

We had to work some strategy to the task today. We planned to set the last two panels already stacked near the broken rail for 13-4 track, set the remaining panels for 13-1 and 13-2. We needed to use lighter panels (read missing more ties) on 13-1 so as to not overload and tip the crane when setting those panels. We also had to stack the panels near the broken rail. The plan was to stack em, cross the broken rail light, and then lay them out.

We broke for lunch around 12:30 with only the panels across the broken rail to set. We came back and made short work of setting the panels, and adjusting a few more on the good side of the break. Some OTM was picked up, a few loose ties moved out of the way, and we headed back to the barn. Upon our arrival back on 11-2 track, we found the track cart from the dog pull last week. We set that off, and parked the crane. About that time, Steve showed up in time to help fuel and add hydraulic fluid to the machine, and get the rail tongs on the hook for tomorrow.

The panels for yard 13 are now all laid out, with one spare for filling in some gaps. Cropping and drilling are next. We will have to get the hydraulic cart moved over to yard 11, so it is close to the work. Adam and Marcus will be the Sunday gang.

New photos have been posted on the IRM members photos website at http://www.irm.org/gallery/album247

Frank D.

Today started later than usual with Tom and myself as the crew. We started around 9:30 with a fuel up of the 50 burro, the 30 burro, and the regulator. We then set to work to fix the starting circuit after the wiring harness melted on the overheated engine a couple weeks ago. A replacement low voltage circuit was installed with a new starting switch installed in the battery switch compartment. Much easier than trying to use jumpers under the crane. Once installed we tested the fix, and then went to work with the 50.

Today's plan was to set out more track panels back in yard 13. Last week we set out enough panels for 13-4 track. This track is laid out with mostly 100lb rail, with some 112 panels at the end. During our work we found two more 100 lb panels, one on the Rock flat, and one at the bottom of one of the stacks. These were dug out and set aside just before the rail break on 13-3 track. Once the rail break is fixed we will finish setting these two panels. During our work to get to the panel on the rock flat, we had to lift 3 rather difficult panels off the flat. We elected to pick them and set them over for 13-1 track. The first panel was not too bad. The second took multiple attempts and some heavier chains due to crossing panels and asphalt on the panel, to pick the panel off the car. We set that one, and found the next to be even more covered and much much heavier. We rigged the panel and began the lift. we swung it around and got ready to set it for 13-1 track. As Tom was lowering the boom to get the panel into position, the two wheels opposite the load lifted off the rails. Quick work by Tom got the load set down and the crane settled back down onto the rails. For a few brief seconds the back wheels were a good 4 to 6 inches off the rail!!! Talk about an E ticket Ride!!!! Tom had approximately 16 thousand pounds on the hook at that time. We decided that we would NOT do that again! We took the opportunity to stop and get lunch around 3PM.

As we were cleaning up for lunch, we got NICK'd. We were volunteered to help move a rather large painting in a crate over to the Strahorn Library. Nick, Buzz, Tom and Myself met Barb at the museum, and made quick work of loading the crate into the library. It made it into the door with centimeters to spare. We did get a slight glimpse of the painting. Can't wait to see it all the way out of the crate.

We returned to pick the last panel off the Rock flat, and set that, then started on the Eastern most stack of panels where 13-2 is going to be. We set several for 13-1 and set a couple panels from last week flat on 13-2. All of them in the 8 to 10 thousand pound range.... All in all we handled about 18 track panels and have them set. Another day like this and we should have all the track panels set out for the yard.

We wrapped up the day by moving the now empty rock flat to yard 14, and put the burro back on 11-1 track. A little clean up, some hospitality from the Silver car guys in the form of a cold drink, and it was time to head for home.

Next up will be some cropping of the rails to length and to remove the torch cut ends. We will have to find some 100, 112 and 115 lb bars and see what we will need for comp bars. Once we know what the drillings will be we can start with drilling holes for bars. Some final moves with the crane and we can bolt up tracks. Easy to type, easy to read, but still a lot of work. We also have some misc. ties, frogs, points, etc that have to be moved out of the way. Long range plan for some ballast as well.

Photos have been posted on the IRM Member photo site. http://www.irm.org/gallery/album247

Frank D.

Friday Report.

Brian Harp was in town for the annual safety meeting, board meeting, etc. and was in town for Friday. I elected to take a vacation day as well Friday. We started with qualifying Brian on the Model 50 burro crane. He was instrumental in it's acquisition, and restoration to operation. So we used the 50 to dig out the Amtrak flat, CNW ballast car, and CNW flat from station 2, use two to build a work train for Saturday's trip to 4 mile siding. The Amtrak flat and Ballast car were moved to the East end of station 2, and we took the CNW flat back to yard 13 for loading of track panels for a future project. We also dug the EJ&E 529 caboose out of 11-0 track and moved that up to station 2 as well. Jeron joined us and we scavenged the battery out of the tie crane to get the Model 30 crane running. The 30 was put up against the ballast pile for later use to load ballast.

Once we completed all that, we still had daylight and lots of hands. We were joined by 1 other gent, whom I neglected to get his name. We elected to take the three car train out to dump stone on the main where we tamped last week. The crane was working well, except she seemed to fall on her face after running for a bit. More on that later... We made it out to the job site, and held a job briefing. Brian was elected to be the crane operator, Jeron, and our mystery volunteer were doing the dumping, and I was the dump master. We put down a little bit of stone in the middle to fill in the cribs from the 5" lift near the pond. We also dumped a bit on the shoulders. Once dumped we fought the air on the Amtrak flat back to Station 2. When we got back to 11-0 track with the 50 we noticed a transmission fluid leak. Investigation showed it appeared to be coming from the tranny fluid filter mount housing. By now we were losing daylight and called it a
day...

Saturday Report.

It was the day of the annual rules exam, safety meeting, Board meeting, and lots of familiar faces came out of the woodwork. It was good to see some people that have been MIA for a while. Hope they come back more during the year!

I was late today however when I arrived Jeron and Brian were preping the regulator, and Tom and Adam were locating a 112lb 18' long rail for 4 mile siding. While Tom and Adam continued preping the work train, Brian, Jeron, and I took the regulator out to dress the main were we dumped stone on Friday. Jeron did a great job in plowing in stone, pulling more from the shoulder and brooming it off beautifully! When we returned to the property, Tom and Adam met us back in yard 11 to pull a leaking cylinder off the regulator. We made short work of that, and loaded the cylinder in Julie's truck to take for repairs. Another big Thank you to Julie for again getting a cylinder out and back for repairs. We elected to break for lunch and then the Safety meeting.

After the meeting, those of us not needing to take the rules test went back to property. Brian and I fired up the switch tamper without the recommended Priest, Rabi, and witch doctor. The machine fired up, the pumps were working, and all seemed well.... untill we tried the newly replaced motor. The replaced motor did not start. We shut down, and started to investigate. We pulled the cable off, and started to ring it out. Unfortunately we found all three conductors to be OPEN. A spare cable was pulled off the shelf (thank god we have a spare), rang it out, and hooked it up. The second attempt the motor spun right up. We then shut down and declared success. The next victim was the 6000. We installed the cable for the pendulum, while Adam and Tom worked on the leveling potentiometer box. The cable was a success, the potentiometer box requires more parts, which will be ordered up.

Next up was to investigate the oil situation on the EJ&E 580 motor car. Last we looked the oil was way too clear and flowing way too easily. Turns out our 6 quarts of oil also had about 2 gallons of gas in the oil pan!!!! Thank goodness nobody tried to start that puppy!!!!! JD and Steve showed up about this time to help out with the oil drain function. We determined the problem was a blown diaphragm on the fuel pump, and removed the pump. Someone will have to go to NAPA and order up a new pump. Questionable oil was used to flush the pan, and a sacrificial 1515 filter was put on the machine. We'll have to order up a new filter as well.

By this time we decided to go out to 4 mile and start on some of the prep out there. Tom ran the crane, Adam the conductor, Brian, JD, and Greg all went out to 4 mile. We positioned ties, knocked off the metal screws sticking out of the ties, cleaned up some debris, set off the one rail we needed, and then proceeded to work on the big chunk of tree that was fouling the extension of 4 mile siding. We were successful in getting the big chunk of tree up on the rails. In our next installment of "As the Rail runs" our heroes will attempt to slide the chunk of tree down the rails of the siding and somewhere we can get it off the railroad. Picking and pivoting was tough as Tom kept hitting the load limits on the Kruger computer. We ran back to the property, tied up the crane and everyone was off to the Board meeting.

All in all a good day.

Photos have been posted here: http://www.irm.org/gallery/album240


Frank D.

Today's function was to ensure smooth operation of the Santa trains. I arrived around 9am, to a balmy -3 degrees, Adam around 11. I started with putting a charger on the car battery Adam used for the Depot street switch stand light. I then went about checking the crossings for snow and ice buildup. Central ave, and Depot street were not bad, and were easily cleaned out with a broom. Karstens crossing was another story. The ice along the south rail was really packed and frozen in. Once Adam arrived, we fired up the air compressor, and broke out the air lance that Adam had made. We still had quite a job at Karstens, but we got it cleaned up. We returned to the property and proceeded to blow out 50th ave, and the Electric switch. East switch, East Wye, and Carline wye switches were also checked and cleared.

Item number next was to light the 6 smudge pots Adam had set up, and light the switch stands at Carline Wye, and Depot street. We then went back to the material yard and dug up 4 more smudge pots with good wicks, and put them out at Depot street. The 6 Adam set up yesterday have Kerosene in them, the 4 from today are filled with Diesel. The Kerosene seems to do a better job of heating the rail and clearing the switch. The diesel did the job, but might need more pots to cover some longer switches. We were informed at the end of the day by the train crew that there were no track related issues on tonights runs.

After we had everything in order for the train runs, we attempted to start the 50. NO DICE, at 11 degrees, she wasn't even going to turn over. SO off to barn 2 we went. We made good progress organizing the shelves, and organizing our parts and tools. A lot of garbage was collected and moved up to the front for hauling to the dumpster. The walkways are much clearer now. Still a lot of clutter to be cleaned up but good progress was made.

About an hour before the last train of the day, Adam and I broke out the cameras and tripods and did some night shots around the property. I've posted a few in the IRM members section under Tom Hunter's group. It was quite a sight out there.

Frank D.

I see I have been negligent in updating this group. A great many things have happened since February.

Spring Inspections: Starting in March, Adam, Andy and I have walked all 5 miles of main line, and the carline, looking for track defects. And did we find defects! We found and repaired no fewer than 8 cracked joint bars, one complete pull apart aka.. two bolts on one side of a joint were broken/missing. We also had several broken bolts, and washers. All speed restrictions were lifted prior to opening day. It took us until April 5th to get it all done. Add into that we had the Kallas' popsicles to dump. Chicago rail car called their 5 ballast cars back. Unfortunately for us, they were still frozen. So with a lot of help from the Diesel department we thawed and dumped the cars.

We still have some work to do, but will get that done before operations or under traffic.

During the winter Andy and I spent quite a bit of time trying to get machines ready for service for this year. Unfortunately when we did a big barn switch to get machines out, the Tamper decided it had not received enough attention. She did not want to fire up. With the help of Wes Lloyd we were able to get her started, but she promptly started to spew out antifreeze. Looks like out newly rebuilt engine needs some more work. That will be taken out over the weekend of April 12th and sent back.

For 2008, The track department has some big plans.

First off we will attempt to raise level and tamp yard 11 for the new barn. The key to getting this work done as quickly as possible is to get the Jackson 6000 Tamper back and repaired. We can then use the 6000 and the switch tamper to quickly knock out that work.

Project number 2 is to ballast, and tamp the main line after operations. Progress will be dependent on our ability to turn the ballast cars.

Project number 3 is to build tracks in the yard 13/14 yards. Progress on this will probably be dependent on if we have to swing a track over in yard 11.

Spring Inspections will start in March. The main and car line will be walked and have all defects identified, and marked. Once that is done, we will load the motor car and flats, and go fix the defects. Anyone wanting to learn more about track and structures please feel free to join us.

Frank DeVries