Cats in the dirt... To dig more effectively, the Cat 627B scraper is pushed by the museum's Cat D7E dozer.
Up close... The front portion of the 627B scraper is seen on the fill area south of the restoration building. With over six foot tall tires, the 627B was a force to behold.
From scraper to dozer... With the fill area quickly being covered in new earth at around 25 cubic yards per pass of the 627B, John McDonald changes machines to the museum's D7E dozer to level off the fill area.
Another blade full... The D7E has a full blade at this shot looking north across the fill area at the south end of the R&GVRRM's restoration building. Eventually this fill area will carry railroad tracks coming south out of the building's two railroad equipment bays giving the museum addition equipment storage and work areas.
Back to the cut... The 627B starts another pass at the cut area with the museum's FM H12-44 #1843 locomotive parked in the back. Also shown in the museum's Cat D8 tractor pan. While serviceable, the D8 pan simply can not match the performance of the newer 627B scraper although the museum has used the D8 tractor pan extensively to move A LOT of dirt! It won't be long before it sees service again.
Off to the fill... The 627B heads past the north end of the restoration building to dump another load of earth at the south end of the building.
Prepping for the next pass... Museum volunteer Scott Gleason has the controls of the Cat D7E as he works the cut area after the 627B makes a pass. To make the scraper work most effectively, it needs a level cut area. The dozer has its work cut out to make that happen before the scraper returns.
Lining up... John McDonald has the 627B lining up for another pass. The cutting blade for the scraper can be seen under the machine.
Making a pass... Working alone, the 627B digs its way through the cut area. The 627B is equipped with two engines. One up front that pulls and another at the rear wheels that pushes.
Cats at work...With the 627B finishing a pass, the R&GVRRM's Cat 12 grader backs to make a pass at the cut to level it off for the 627B's next pass. The Cat 12 was recently turned to operational condition by the museum's volunteers.
In the dirt... The Cat 12 strains its way through the cut area with museum volunteer Joe Scanlon at the controls.
Up close... A close-up view of the Cat 12 at work with a full blade of dirt.
Turning around... The Cat 627B makes a turn at the north end of the cut area. The 627B is remarkably nimble and able to turn very sharply in a very small area for its massive size.
Not much left... After two days of digging with the 627B, there is not much dirt left to move. It would be all gone by the end of this work day. Thanks to the R&GVRRM's excavation crew to another job well done! Soon this area will hold tracks leading to the museum's restoration building.
Installed... Our Plymouth BL took a big step with the installation of its custom-built radiator which was recently assembled and leak tested. This is the last major piece of the mechanical restoration required before the Buda engine can be started.
Installed... A little wider angle showing the Buda 4-cylinder gas engine with the radiator behind it.
Another job completed... The BL's transmission has also been completed. The drive wheel mechanism is shown here. The wheel takes power from the flywheel of the engine and directs it to the chain drive. The direction of the locomotive is determined by which side this wheel is placed in contact with the flywheel. Torque and speed are then adjusted by moving the drive wheel across the flywheel. The BL casting mark can be seen in the spoke of the drive wheel.
Time to work a little on steam... Showing its coal bunker, ex-Brooklyn Navy Yard Vulcan #12 was receiving some cosmetic restoration work in the museum's restoration building. The museum's Motive Power Department works on steam projects on the first Saturday of each month. Interested in helping us bring steam back to Rochester? Learn how you can volunteer.
Ready for excavation... With one of the rainiest Septembers on record, the north end of the restoration building awaits a few dry days so more excavation work can be done to remove more dirt which from the right side of the image.
The Pennsy lives... Two former Pennsylvania Railroad pieces await their turn at restoration. The museum's PRR class B-70nb Railway Post Office Car and PRR N-5C caboose 477822 sit north of the museum's restoration building. The museum plans to restore both of these pieces to their PRR livery.
Out of the Barn... A night photo session was held at the New York Museum of Transportation as part of the events for the Rochester Chapter NRHS's August general membership meeting. Nearly two dozen photographers took part in the shoot which featured two different setups. Here we see the NYMT's fully operation ex-Philadelphia & Western "Strafford" car #168 poking out of the NYMT's new car barn. Photo by Christopher R. Hauf. Flashbulb lighting by Christopher Hauf and Paul Monte.
Waiting for passengers... The second setup of the night was with Car #168 posed next to the NYMT's Rochester & Eastern trolley waiting room. Here are two different views. Photo by Christopher R. Hauf. Flashbulb lighting by Christopher Hauf, Paul Monte and Jim Dierks.
Setting up for the July meeting... In June, July, and August, the Rochester Chapter NRHS holds general membership meetings at its Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Less of a meeting and more of an operating session and open house, the R&GVRRM operates many of its pieces of equipment for the enjoyment of the meeting's participants. Guests are always welcome to come out to see what we are all about. For July, operations included the museum's two former U.S. Military locomotives, R&GV #1654 (GE 80-tonner) and U.S. Army #1843 (Fairbanks-Morse H12-44). More diesel operations are planned for the August meeting.
A little business... Usually kept to under ten minutes, Rochester Chapter NRHS President, Jeremy Tuke, holds a brief meeting in front of the former Erie Railroad Industry depot for a few announcements including the R&GVRRM's upcoming special events like Diesel Days.
7/20/06 - Coupling up...
The museum's F-M #1843 couples up to the museum's restored Erie caboose #C254 which is stored on Track 6. The museum's restoration building can been seen in the background. By later in 2006, the museum hopes to have the building tracks built and connected into Track 6.
Ready to go... USA 1843 is ready to depart north out of Track 6. The track on the right is the museum's mainline heading to the museum's Industry yard.
Southbound... Shoving south, #1843 and Erie C254 head to Industry yard to start the evening's ride operations.
Up the line... Stopped to allow passengers to swap consists, #1654 with our restored Penn Central transfer caboose #18526 and #1843/Erie C254 wait to head south back to Industry depot.
Back to life... The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum's Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #1843 roars back to life after its winter slumber. The F-M had been pre-lubed and had some replacement batteries installed prior to its 2006 startup. USA 1843 is the only operating F-M locomotive in New York State.
Transmission nears completion... The friction drive transmission on the museum's Plymouth Model BL is nearly complete. This image shows the complete transmission along with the brake lever (red handle) and engine throttle.
A closer look... A closer look at the friction drive transmission. The flywheel on the right is directly connected to the Buda engine while the spoked wheel runs off of the flywheel via friction; transferring power via chains to the wheels. The position of the spoked wheel to either side of the flywheel determines the direction of travel for the engine.
The engineer's view... Shot from the back of the BL looking forward, here we see the transmission as it will be seen by the engineer. In this view, the drive chains can be seen. The spoked drive wheel is hidden in the center of the photo under the red guard. The small spoked wheel in the center of the image is used to move the larger spoked wheel left and right which adjusts the engine's direction and speed.
Caboose Day briefing... Before the engines were started and Caboose Day at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum got underway, a job briefing was held with all train and museum volunteers to get everyone on the same page. These briefings insure a safe and efficient operation.
Heading out... The museum's GE 80-tonner #1654 passes the B&O position light at Switch 6 as it heads north to the passenger transfer point to start Caboose Day 2006. If you missed Caboose Day, you will have another chance at Diesel Days in August.
60 years young... Behind R&GV #1654 is Erie caboose #C254. Built in May 1946, Erie C254 just turned 60 years old and continues in revenue service for the R&GVRR Museum.
Second section... Two trains were operated for Caboose Day. Here we see Eastman Kodak Company GE 80-tonner #6 passing the former Erie Railroad signal on the museum's demonstration railroad as it heads toward the Caboose Day passenger transfer point.
Back to Industry with passengers... Erie C254 enters Industry yard with its first load of passengers during Caboose Day.
Unloading passengers... Museum volunteer Dave Peet helps some of the passengers off of Erie C254 so they can start their tour of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum.
French drain complete... With good weather and the right equipment, the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum was able to complete the installation of a 300 foot french drain that will aid in the removal of surface water after the track is installed to the museum's restoration building. This view is looking north with the building behind the photographer with the drain shown on the left in the image.
Looking back... Looking south toward the restoration building, the french drain can be seen paralleling Track 6.
Almost at grade... With the drain complete, finish grading was started and nearly finished. From this stake, only about 10 inches needs to removed from this position to reach finish grade at which point sub-ballast and track can be installed.
