From: Les Beckman
2-24-2024
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum (HVRM)
https://www.hoosiervalley.org/Greetings!
Our mild February has seen only 3 days with temps below average. Last Saturday and THIS Saturday have been two of the three! Still, sunshine all day and the lack of wind, made for a decent day.
Arrived and went by the depot and found Bob Barcus talking to a couple of visitors; a lady from North Judson and a gentleman from Louisville, Kentucky. Bob opened up the IC display caboose and I then took them for a tour of the Shop.
Starting off with the continuing truck work for EMD SD9-M 818. Steven Newland was working of a tight fit (see photos 1 and 2) where the brake part would not slide easily in the notch. Steve did some "adjusting" and eventually the part moved easily within the notch (3rd shot).
One of the switching moves today included shuffling the equipment in the Shop, which included putting the 818 inside along with Central Indiana flat car # X-66. The flat car will eventually become an open car riding behind the Bock Lumber Forney. The 4th photo, taken from inside the building, shows SD9-M # 814 preparing to move the two pieces inside as conductor Todd Flanigan (at left) and Ashton Stasko talk to engineer Ben Harleman in the 814's cab, as he eases the equipment in. The 5th and 6th shots, show the progress of the move.
Inside the shop's West Annex, Drew Beveridge (at left) and Harrison Bailey are shown in the seventh photo grinding off more paint from the replacement cab earmarked for Monon SW1 # DS-50. Don Phillips had taken home the "fried" grinder from last week's efforts and, putting on a new plug and cord, was able to get about an hours worth of work before the grinder expired once again.
Work continued on the rear truck of Bock Lumber number 1. In the 8th photo, Tom Rainford is seen swinging a sledge while Fred Haberkamp (at right) and Mark Belmonte (on the ground at left) watch Tom's progress. The 9th shot shows the truck assembly ready for the next step.
David Miller spent most of the day cleaning out the "office" located next to the washroom in the original section of the Shop. Looking much cleaner now!
The TTX long flat car was needed at the Shop for some testing which meant that all of the cars on the east end of the museum's property had to be included in what turned out to be a 13 car freight train. The 10th photo shows the SD9-M 814 after she had crossed Main Street heading west and in the 11th shot, Ashton and Todd are seen riding the TTX flat at the rear end of the freight.
Later in the afternoon, we move back to 818 truck work, and the 12th photo shows Mark directing Ashton to slide the jack in under a brake part and photo number 13 shows Mark and Aston getting the jack into the "sweet spot". After the part was lifted, it is seen in the 14th photo awaiting the bolt to be slid in to hold the part in place and photo # 15 shows Travis Hunt after placing the bolt and "jostling" the jack, so that it seats correctly.
When I checked the interior of Monon caboose 81532 last Saturday, I found one of the cabinets located under the cupola seats had a lock on it. After checking around, it was determined that no one had a key to the lock and that it needed to be cut off. Finding a blot cutter in the Shop was not easy and I pretty much gave up on it for the day. but then Jason Jordan located one. Took it down to the 81532 and cut the lock. Only an old broom inside! As I carried the bolt cutter back to my car, I spotted a motor car flat that I had not noticed before. Set the bolt cutter down on the frame and got a photo of C.M.St.P.&P. flat # 1214. This is the first piece of Milwaukee Road equipment at HVRM! Had I overlooked it previously?
After the downturn in temps today, it is supposed to quickly rebound and get back into the 50' and 60's this upcoming week. Hope everyone enjoys these warmer than normal days.
Les
