Starting them up & testing them out!

This past Saturday, it was time to get two machines started and tested. First, our Fairmont tie extractor was given some attention to its hydraulic system so it was time to start it up and try it out. Of course, this was a little harder than it seemed since the machine had not been starting in some time AND someone "borrowed" the starter for another engine at the museum. Since the motor can be rope started, one of our volunteers lent his pulling ability to starting the engine. After many tries, success was had and the unit was successfully tested.

Museum volunteer John Redden sets to attempt to pull start our tie extractor. While success was not achieved on the first pull, the engine was successfully started several pulls later.

With its batteries in place and hooked up and all the engine's systems checked out, it was time to let Eastman Kodak #6 stretch it legs for the first time in a few months. Locomotive EK 6 prepares to depart from Track #4 after having new batteries installed and all systems checked out.

EK#6 passes RG&E #1941 which is receiving both cosmetic and mechanical attention in the Industry yard. We hope to have pics of its test runs very soon.

We find Rochester Chapter NRHS President Jeremy Tuke at the throttle. This was a little more fun job then his lawn mowing detail of the previous weekend.

Digging, painting, mowing, and cleaning

This Saturday saw work on several projects around the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. With the new batteries in place, GE 80-tonner EK 6 received some routine maintenance including a checkout and cleaning of the electrical gear including the main generator on the working prime mover. The unit also started to get some more cosmetic attention. Elsewhere, museum volunteers were kept busy digging ditches, mowing grass, and helping keep our museum railroad in top operating condition through our 2004 season.

Museum volunteer, Ryan Kane, uses an angle grinder with a wire brush to clean up areas of rust on the grab irons of EK#6 prior to priming by museum volunteer, Jessica Stallone.

While Ryan continues his work, we can see the three recently repainted bumpers on Tracks 3, 4 and 5 in the museum's Industry yard.

Drainage is always something we need to continually work on due to our multi-level property. Another group of volunteers was working on some ditching along Track 5. While hard work, it is easiest done by hand, although I am not sure if they would agree with the easy part. But we greatly appreciate their efforts and hard work! Museum volunteers Mike Roqué, Jessica Stallone, Joe Werner and Randy Bogucki dig dirt for a new drainage ditch. The spoils of their work was loaded on to the two track carts and taken up the line where it was used as fill.

Joe (left) and Randy (right) nearly have both carts filled and ready to go for a trip up the line for dumping.

Although it was not needed on this day, the museum's BS-2 ("Ballast Sifter 2"), sits awaiting reloading on to the track carts and its next assignment. Since the R&GVRRM and the NYMT mainline has a fair amount of recovered ballast from old road beds which has some dirt in it, this device was engineered and built by museum volunteer, Randy Bogucki, to allow us to sift the dirty ballast and recover the good stone for re-use.

Finally the Rochester weather has sent us a more than reasonable share of rain this year so the grass is growing and growing and growing. Everyone pitches in! Rochester Chapter President Jeremy Tuke addresses some of the lawn cutting with one of the museums string trimmer/mowers.

New batteries hooked up and ready to go

While over 50 members and guests enjoyed the June Rochester Chapter NRHS general membership meeting at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, our Master Electrician Jim Johnson hooked up the new batteries on Eastman Kodak Company 80-tonner #6. Here are two images of Jim at work and many thanks for a job well done.

R&GVRR Museum Master Electrician, Jim Johnson, hooks up the new batteries on EK#6. The locomotive has a 64-volt electrical system requiring eight 8-volt batteries hooked together in series to create the necessary power.

Another view of Jim hard at work making sure all the connection are properly made.