New York Central - DOVER STRAIT

The Dover Strait has received much attention in January in spite of all the cold, snowy, and rainy weather.   Dale and Mark have been working away at removing much of the old three layers of paint in bedrooms A and B.  We have committed ourselves to removing as much paint as possible from these last two bedrooms before the Spring weather sets in.  Myself along with Mark, Dale, Bob,  Austin, Jane and Howard have worked on this project either in barn 3 or in the heated wood shop extension.    We have also been working in the  museum's heated woodshop where we have been refinishing doors and tables from the Dover.  When all doors and tables are free of old paint we will then restain and apply two coats of polyurethane clear gloss coat to each.  Would you like to help us?  Come out on any Wednesday or Saturday and we will gladly help you get set up in your new restoration experience!   A series of three pictures showing the progress in bedroom B You can help make this final restoration push a reality by sending in a donation to the Dover Strait fund.  We are still on our work schedule and now we have narrowed down our carpet choices  for the lounge!  Please consider a donation.   Thanks     Roger

Hey, the cold weather is again upon us and the coach dept has come up with a great winter project for the 2015-2016 season.  We have decided to work on the Dover Strait and try and finish it for the new year. This includes repaints of both Bedroom B and Bedroom A, prepping the cement floor for  carpeting and finally the reupholster of the period furniture.   An enormous goal, but  well obtainable considering our lack of a heated shop.  This idea evolved from the positive response we received when operating the Dover, for the first time, last fall.   The decision was made to first remove all old paint from Bedroom B and if time and volunteers permit, from Bedroom A.

 November saw the completion of the RI 2612 ceiling repaint project.   We  then began the job of removing various parts from the Bedroom B walls.  They were labeled, marked for their position, and then placed in plastic bags for future restoration.   That began our focus and from then on we have been steadily working on the Dover.  

 So far we have had a small but determined crew working on it almost every Wednesday.          We have temporarily removed a window in the lounge and remove all the furniture in preparation for surfacing the floor for the eventually carpeting       This project will take some time but if we continue to get the support from our small band of volunteers this one bedroom should be ready for primer in two months.    If you would like to help support this project  please send in a donation and mark it " DOVER STRAIT!            Thanks    Roger 

I have been quite busy with the Mt.Harvard move but now it's time to catch up on some important September activities.  We in the Coach Dept were very happy to finally run the Dover Strait as well as the L&M 2726 diner in a nine car passenger consist the weekend of September 19 and 20    .  The highlight of the nighttime festivities was having three cars lit for operations.  Thanks to Warren Newhauser, Brian La Kemper and their team for operating the dynamometer and supplying electric power for the Dover.  It sure was thrilling to see the lounge lite and operating at night!! 

You haven't seen the Dover Strait outside for a long time!    That's about to change.   Last week  we  moved it outside along with the L&N 2726 to do an inspection to determine the status of its air brake system.   Paul and I found an air leak inside the Pullman and will repair it as soon as time permits   We would like to run it for either Labor day weekend and/or railfan weekend.  It and the 2726 will make a good looking consist.In the mean time enjoy the shots taken in the sun.  Sorry about the scaffold shot.  Sure is a good looking two car consist.    We are making progress inspecting and repairing passenger cars that have not seen the light of day for a long time.   Our aim is to repair and run them on our main for all to enjoy!   We are slowly cleaning the interior.  This past Wednesday  Loraine Bixler swept the floor and dusted and cleaned the years of dirt off the walls and windows sills on the entire car.  The Dover Straits  restricted fund needs your help!!    Thanks    Roger

       

 The Dover Strait restoration project has again come alive thanks to a renewed interest in its operation for the 2015 season.  The warmer weather,  of course, makes the work somewhat easier.   Thanks to the devotion of two members,  Bob Hunter, project leader, and his assistant Gene Mackowiak, the interior is 90% complete.   I hope to continue where they left off.               The goal is to install all parts, bring in furniture, give the Dover a single car air test,  fix any problems associate w/ that test and then place it in limited service for this season.  Want to be one of the first patrons to ride?   I will keep you updated on our progress and our intentions.   This will be a beauty Pullman bedroom-lounge and will be a very popular ride!  I have already received a number of compliments from other museum members concerning the great job we all doing on the Dover.                                             We still need many  $ of donations to pay for additional  upholstery materials.  Please consider helping.   The work is being preformed by John McKelvey.         Roger