Book of Rules classes - April 18th & May 9th

The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is always looking for new people to join us and help us run our railroad.   We are always in need of crews to help us operate our diesel powered trains, the trolleys of the New York Museum of Transportation, and our track cars.   So if you were interested in learning how to operate real railroad equipment and do it safely, the first step is to attend our 2010 Book of Rules classes to be held this spring.

New for this year, we will have joint R&GVRRM/NYMT rules classes for train, trolley and track cars. Whether you are already a member of the museums' operating departments or you are a new member of either museum or either operating department, you are required take this class in order to be able to operate.

We are have two more sessions of the same class on April 18th and May 9th.  You are only required to attend one of the classes. The next two sessions will be held in room A-400 (basement) of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Wallace Library (Building 5) from 9:00AM to 12:30PM.  The Air Brake and Train Handling class will follow from 12:30PM to 5:00PM, and is required for anyone whom wants to be a Conductor, Fireman or Engineer. The best option for parking is in U Lot located on the south side of the RIT campus. Maps can be found here.

If would like to attend or if you have questions, please contact us.   Space is limited in each class so please contact us as soon as possible if you want to insure a spot.

Thank you, and we hope you will consider joining the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad and the New York Museum of Transportation in 2010 to help us operate our trains, trolleys and track cars!

More progress... Second wall panel installed!

More progress has been made on Empire State Express coach NYC #2567.   The second lower wall panel was installed during today's volunteer work session at the R&GVRRM.   The process is getting easier as the work progresses.  Three more full 4ft. x 8ft. sheets of material have been purchased.   This will give us six more wall panels to start to install during the upcoming Tuesday evening work session.

We also have received donations for seven of the sixteen panels we need to complete the job.  Thanks to all those who donated so far!   Would you please consider becoming of our Partners In Panels and help us get to the sixteen panels we need to finish the job?

First new wall panel installed!

First new wall panel installed in NYC #2567

On Tuesday evening, March 23, 2010, the first new wall panel was installed in ex-New York Central Empire State Express coach #2567.    The upper portion of the panel was fastened while the lower portion still needs to be fastened.   Once the panels are installed, a trim piece will be installed that will cover the window sills and the interface between the lower panels and the filler panels between the windows. 
  

To complete the lower wall installation, the R&GVRRM needs to purchase sixteen sheets of material.  We are looking for a few Partners in Panels.

As a part of our 2010 Annual Fundraising campaign, we are starting a new fundraiser called Partners in Panels to aid in the interior restoration of ex-New York Central Empire State Express coach #2567.   We have been actively working on the interior of the car over the past several months in the museums restoration building.  A portion of the work includes the total replacement of the lower interior wall panels on both sides of the car which had been damaged by some water infiltration and simple wear & tear from forty plus years of service.   

The wall panel material we are using comes to us in 4' by 8' sheets and at a cost of $75.00 per sheet.   We are going to need 16 sheets to complete the job.   Therefore, we are looking for 16 people to donate $75.00 each to help us purchase the sheets of material that will make up the wall panels.    Donations can be made online at the museum website or you may send your donation to:   Partners in Panels, Rochester Chapter NRHS, P.O. Box 23326, Rochester, NY 14692-3326.    Checks should be made out to the Rochester Chapter NRHS.   Donations to the Rochester Chapter NRHS and its Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. 

Would you please help us raise the funds to purchase the material we need to complete this phase of NYC #2567s restoration in the coming months?   Our current goal is to have the money raised for the panels by April 15th since we want to have the interior restored and display ready for the museum by July 1st.   

We want to thank you again for your continued support and for becoming one of our Partners in Panels!

Restoring more of the details on NYC #2567

The interior restoration of ex-New York Central Empire State Express coach #2567 continues.   Very soon, the replacement of the lower walls will start, but in between, a few more details from the car's past have seen restoration.   As built, the car had 56 long distance seats.  Above each set of seat and integral to the baggage rack was a switchable fluorescent reading light.   The New York Central actually made the car's fluorescent lighting a portion of its advertising campaign during the trains relaunch in 1941 as evidenced by some of the verbiage in this ad.

The car was rebuilt by the New York Central in 1966 and converted to an 80-seat commuter car.  The car was further rebuilt by Metro-North in the early 1980s.    It would appear that in the 1966 rebuild, the original glass lenses in the lights were replaced with plexiglass, however, the lights were possibly still serviceable.   Anyone know?  We would love see images or learn recollections from the car's second career as commuter coach.   In the 1980s rebuild, it appears the light's lenses were painted over due to the color of the paint used, and the bulbs and other parts (fluorescent starter) of the fixtures removed.   Yet, the fluorescent sockets and reflector were left in place.

As the R&GVRRM's ex-NYC coaches are equipped today with commuter seats, but with the original baggage racks with the original reading lights painted over.

 The baggage rack reading lights as they appear today after having been painted over.   The switch to turn them on and off can still be seen at the left.

The fixtures are still inside the baggage rack arms.   The fixtures use a 14 inch fluorescent tube and most of the fixture is still there including the reflector and sockets seen here.

When this author discovered many years ago that the fixtures were still there, the seed of someday restoring the lights to operation was planted.   With the interior work on the NYC #2567, the time seemed right to investigate if the fixtures could be returned to service.   After finding a new small electronic ballast, a new replica switch, a new bulb, and a new lens made from the old plexiglass removed from the car's windows, one of the light fixtures was successfully rebuilt using the original sockets and reflector.

Here are some images from the result of the restoration of the light fixture.

The restored baggage rack light fixture which required a new electronic ballast, bulb, switch and lens to return it to service.

 

Of course, there are 26 more fixtures in the car to be restored along with the hooking the lights wiring back up inside the electrical cabinet.  For now, getting the walls back up is more critical, but hopefully this detail from NYC #2567's past will be completely restored for future generations to appreciate.

RG&E 1941 exhaust bowl welding completed

The exhaust bowl replacement project spilled over into a second Saturday volunteer work session since extra time was needed to position the new south bowl for welding once the old bowl was removed.   With the new bowl in position, the welding commenced and within an hour, the welding was complete.  With a little grinding to dress the welds and the repainting of the second stack and the exhaust bowls, the locomotive will be ready to have its exhaust stacks reinstalled with all newly fabricated gaskets so the prime movers can be started again.

Once the engines are checked out, the engine will be powerwashed, prepped and finish painted.   It will also have all new window glass professionally installed.   The cosmetic work is partially funded through generous grants from the Amherst Railway Society.

More pictures of the last welding session can be seen in this Flickr slide show from the R&GVRRM's Flickr site.

RG&E 1941 sees continued restoration

Work on Rochester Gas & Electric GE 45-tonner #1941 continues with some nicer late winter weather.   The locomotive has been waiting to have new exhaust stack bowls welded into the engine hoods.   The R&GVRRM decided to fabricate and install new bowls as the originals were showing heavy decay.   The bowls hold the exhaust stacks and exhaust connection to the prime movers.  

On Saturday, March 6th, the new bowls were welded into place.   Here are some images of the work underway in the museum's restoration shop.     The museum's goal is to have the #1941 fully painted and fully operational by mid-summer 2010.

 

  Working away on the north engine hood as seen through the cab.  Currently all of the engine cab windows are removed as new windows will be professionally installed as part of the engine's restoration.

A newly fabricated exhaust bowl sits on the south engine hood as it waits its turn to be installed.

The original exhaust bowl inside the south engine hood.  This was carefully cut out and the new bowl installed in its place.  The pipe connects the exhaust stack on the outside to the engine exhaust manifold.

Book of rules class to be offered - March 6, 2010

The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is always looking for new people to join us and help us run our railroad.   We are always in need of crews to help us operate our diesel powered trains, the trolleys of the New York Museum of Transportation, and our track cars.   So if you were interested in learning how to operate real railroad equipment and do it safely, the first step is to attend our 2010 Book of Rules classes to be held this winter and spring.

New for this year, we will have joint R&GVRRM/NYMT rules classes for train, trolley and track cars. Whether you are already a member of the museums' operating departments or you are a new member of either museum or either operating department, you are required take this class in order to be able to operate.

We are planning three sessions of the same class in March, April and May.  You are only required to attend one of the classes. The first class session will be held March 6 in Room 2240 in the Center for integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS, Building 78) at RIT from 9:00AM to 12:30PM. The Air Brake and Train Handling class will follow from 12:30PM to 5:00PM, and is required for anyone whom wants to be a Conductor, Fireman or Engineer. The best option for parking is in J Lot or T Lot, located at the northwest corner of the campus just off East River Road. Maps can be found here.  We do not yet have the April and May dates solidified.  We will update via our blog when the dates are set. 

If would like to attend or if you have questions, please contact us.   Space is limited in each class so please contact us as soon as possible if you want to insure a spot.

Thank you, and we hope you will consider joining the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad and the New York Museum of Transportation in 2010 to help us operate our trains, trolleys and track cars!