Fixing the Controller

The main accomplishment today was fixing a controller on the 308. We owe Rod a lot of thanks for providing the expertise to fix the problem. Now let's see if I can explain it.

The brass part (red arrow) is a collar on the controller handle shaft. When you press down on the big button, a series of levers pushes this collar down, if possible. The wider part of the collar then lines up with a roller on the throttle mechanism, and when the handle is moved to the first point, the roller is pushed out by the step that the red arrow points to, and that closes the contacts (white arrow). This step, however, tends to get worn down. This particular picture shows a controller that isn't too bad.

Rod had to braze the piece up and then grind it to the right shape. This took several adjustments, but it's now working. He also adjusted the large spring (black arrow) that pushes up on the collar. In the past, motormen (including myself) were unhappy with how hard it was to keep the button down. By carefully grinding the spring, this problem has been fixed. Thanks, Rod! I plan to inspect the 308 next week, and for part of the summer we'll be running the 319 and 308 as the wood train.

And then I spent some time sorting parts and cleaning up in the container, and cleaning the floor in the 319. The 319 and 309 are scheduled to run again next weekend, and then I should have a chance to paint the floor in the main compartment.

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Closer and closer...

The 205 is drawing near to the point where we can begin painting. Sunday I concentrated on finishing up application of body filler to a few more areas of the car and priming those spots. Included in these were the two wide window posts at the east end of the car body, shown below in "before" (below left, in January) and "after" (below right, yesterday) condition. There was extensive loss of metal in these areas and they had to be patched.









I also finished sanding and primed the northeast corner post, and did progressed on using body filler to smooth out the letterboard at the west end of the car. And I spoke with Dan Fenlaciki, a project worker on Indiana Railroad 65, who gave me some information on the exact shade of orange we're going to want to use for the 205. Once I can procure a sample we'll get it matched and then we can start on turning the car orange!

The department was busy. Norm, Jeff and Walt were working on roof carlines and front end wiring on Michigan 28, George was plugging along on LSE 810, inspection work on CA&E 409 was wrapping up, and several people were working on prepping cars for the July 4th Trolley Pageant. At the end of the day North Shore 714 was brought over to the pit lead for oiling; all other inspection work on the car had been completed last November. It just came out of the Barn 2 paint shop and boy does it look terrific, especially trained with the 749!

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I Remember Perris

I remember Perris, California, and man was it hot!!! What an awful climate! It was almost that bad today in Union. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it was too hot and humid to do much heavy lifting.

So I rode the wood cars a couple of times. They were in good hands, of course: Steve Jirsa was the motorman, and Tom Disch and Henry Vincent were the conductors.

I adjusted the rope on one of the retrievers, but everything else seemed to be working fine.






Here a number of eager visitors are lined up to visit the cab of a locomotive. I had a chance to talk to several riders and promote Thomas, for instance. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

Then I spent some more time working on a controller on the 308. Here's a partially disassembled C-21. Slow progress is being made, but what a frustrating design. I've been sorely tempted to change this back to C-6's. Maybe on Monday it won't be quite so unpleasant in the barn.

It's much nicer to work in the air-conditioned shop. Jon Fenlaciki continues to refurbish windows for the 451, and I helped him briefly. Here he is installing the rubber molding in the bottom of the brass frame.

Outside under the broiling sun, stronger men than myself are continuing the installation of new drainage and electrical utilities.

The 409 is over the pit being inspected; it should be ready for revenue service soon with the 431. And there's a line of five, count 'em, five waycars being inspected for service too.

Joel Ahrendt was planning to install new poles on the 319 after service ended, so that will be a big improvement. Thanks, Joel!

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More CA&E and North Shore Art from Zach Ehlers

We received some more artwork from our friend Zach Ehlers. Zach is spending his summer creating CA&E and North Shore artwork before he heads off to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as a freshman this fall. Thanks Zach!

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Visit to Madison

I happened to be in Madison, Wisc. for the day, so here a couple of views of railroad preservation.

The Milwaukee Road station is now a bicycle store. The platform area has been fenced off and is used for bicycle storage. Madison almost appears to have more bicycles than people.

Next to the station, on a section of disconnected track, sit a Milwaukee Road locomotive and four streamlined passenger cars.

(L) One from the NYC, and two (R) lettered for MTA, but probably also NYC. These are being used as offices by investment bankers and so on.

And the open platform obs car "Camp Randall." The sign says it's available for lease!

Finally, I thought this switch was mildly interesting. It leads into a coal-fired power plant near the middle of town. Originally the switch would have been located in the middle of an intersection, so the rails were extended out about 50' to put the mechanism on open ground.

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Memorial Day Weekend

Sorry for the delay, but here are my pictures from last weekend, with the WWII re-enactment and the Memorial Day service.

Saturday

Cars 319 and 309 operated all day. I was the motorman, Dan and Chris Buck were the conductors.

The day started with a briefing for all the participants out in the wye. Safety first, these are real trains!

Besides the various uniformed soldiers, there were a lot of civilians in period outfits.


And antique vehicles of various sorts. Soldiers could often be seen riding around on bicycles.













And here's an American detachment on their way to the front on the 319.

The GB&W car got a quick coat of olive drab to disguise it as a hospital car. This is an improvement over the faded yellow, I believe.

On Saturday evening, in my capacity as society columnist, I dropped in briefly at the USO dance being held in the old Legion hall in Union. A good time was had by all!

Sunday

The wood cars did not leave the barn on Sunday, due to the weather reports. It rained heavily for much of the day, with thunder and lightning. For part of the time, the West End Jazz Band was playing in the smoker of the 749, as seen here while the rain falls steadily. I worked the Zephyr for most of the day.

Monday

Monday was much better. The band is playing in their usual location under the pavilion.

And then there was a women's baseball game out near the Springfield Ave. stop.

And a Memorial Day service in honor of all those who gave their lives to defend our country.

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Movie Time in the 460

Our friend Steve Heister from the Northern Ohio Railway Museum forwarded me an interesting YouTube link about one of our recently-acquired Trolleyville cars. It seems that some years ago, CA&E 460 was used as the filming location for some bumper spots for a cable access movie show in Cleveland. (This appears to be something similar to Svengoolie.) There are numerous shots of the car operating on the old trailer park trackage in Olmsted Falls. Navigation between the various video segments is kind of do-it-yourself, but you can go from one to the next via the icons on the right side of the video. The first segment is here; be forewarned that they're all pretty quirky. Enjoy!

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