Greetings: While we regularly send out emails and other communications to our members regarding weekly work sessions, we dont always have an opportunity to detail the work actually being done. Therefore, I submit to you this very detailed accounting of the work YOUR museum has been busy with this summer at the Oyster Bay Rail Yard. Turntable: All areas have been regularly checked for rust and corrosion. The only area found in need of attention has been the motor / frame assembly. This area has been cleaned and repainted, with some areas remaining to be done. SUMMARY: We need to keep an eye on this project and continue to maintain it. There is no damage being done and it is more of an aesthetic issue than anything else. The turntable awaits electrical hook-up, which cannot happen until our contract with the MTA is renewed and we can hire the contractor to complete the wiring. Once this is done, we will be contracting with Railroad Construction Corp. to level and secure the rails in the pit and install the rails on the table. The contract with the MTA is in the process of being renewed. Locomotive #35: Drive rods, axle bearings, cylinders and any other exposed surfaces have been cleaned of rust and coated with Cosmoline. This is an annual process that MUST be done until each of these components are shipped to Steam Operations Corporation in Alabama. All moving parts have been regularly lubricated to ensure freedom of movement. SUMMARY: We are awaiting the finalization of the contract with Steam Operations Corp. so we can ship the parts to Alabama. This is currently in the process of being finalized. Worlds Fair Cab: An air compressor has been placed in the nose with a portable generator. The generator is necessary to run the compressor until we have a regular and reliable source of power. The compressor is for the air horns which are currently fully operational. All lighting is also fully operational. The exterior has been fully cleaned and repainted. There is a water leak during heavy rains, resulting in pooling on the cab floor. Thus far, all attempts to locate and eradicate this problem have failed. This resulted in the necessary removal of all previous tile flooring and trim. For the time being, we have applied a heavy coat of gray paint to match the walls and are doing our best to continue to try to find the leaks. SUMMARY: We will continue to monitor and try to resolve the water leak. Meanwhile, this piece is one we can all take great pride in! Caboose #50: A water leak from a roof vent, repaired last year, resulted in rotten wood in the bathroom floor. The rotted areas have been removed, repaired and replaced. The bathroom floor was completely repainted to match. The exterior repainting, begun last year, has been completed in the same orange, yellow and black as before…the as delivered scheme. SUMMARY: The caboose looks great, inside and out. Caboose #12: Minor maintenance has been performed including touch up of exterior paint, touch up of interior stove and pipe and repair of door knobs. SUMMARY: The caboose looks great, inside and out. Ping Pong Coach: A detailed survey of the Ping Pong Coach has revealed more issues than previously thought to exist. The exterior has shown corrosion in various locations of the lower and upper car body, specifically in the side corners. Of more concern, the floor has shown numerous weak areas where he supporting steel has rotted away and the concrete floor has begun to give way, mostly along the extreme exterior walls. One are of obvious concern is on the west end of the car where an actual hole has appeared, now covered by plate steel. The interior of the car is in dire need of stripping and repainting, once metal repairs have been made. SUMMARY: This project has been funded, but an suitable contractor has yet to be found. There is extensive steel work to be done, beyond the capabilities of our weekly volunteer base. Once all steel work is completed, we will need a professional painter to strip and repaint the interior. We cannot stress enough our desire for our membership’s assistance in helping us find someone to take this on! Dinky Diesels: An inspection of small rust areas in the bottom of the cab of #398 revealed some serious underlying rot. Our volunteers have taken on this project with two qualified welders and a two in training working on it every Saturday for the past month or so. They have done a fine job and we expect this project to be completed within the next two weeks. Then it’s on to #397! SUMMARY: A great teaching project that has generated quite a bit of interest among our volunteers, and will ultimately result in more capable welders, a skill we always need. Locomotive #35 Cab: A machine was rented to relocate the cab to the area in which it now resides, next to the locomotive boiler. Steel has been purchased and delivered to our site, and work is expected to commence within the next two weeks. All of the rotted steel will be cut out and replaced. Original parts will be retained to the extent possible. Roof holes and damage will be patched and handrails will be straightened. Once done, the cab will be fully repainted and re stenciled. A pressure treated wooden deck will be erected in and around the cab to support it and to provide a safe environment for visitors. A false backhead of the boiler will be fabricated and the majority of the locomotives cab appliances will be affixed to it to simulate the actual operating cab of a steam locomotive. This project is expected to take at least the next year to complete. SUMMARY: This project will allow us to have interactive, interpretive displays of electric, diesel and steam locomotive cabs. It will also make use of the cab itself, along with numerous parts currently in storage, in a way that will be productive, educational and visually appealing. Stationary Steam Engine: Our industrial air compressor has been devoted to the operation of this piece, and is working very well in this capacity. A professional in this field has visited the site and given the “engine” a thumbs up, as well as providing some much needed insight into maintenance and repair of this piece. As a result, it is now fully operational. (SEE ATTACHED VIDEO) SUMMARY: This piece is a prime example of steam technology and a valuable teaching tool, not just for American industrialism, but also for how the basic operations of the steam locomotive function…sans boiler. Our first fully operational piece, it is a sight well worth the price of admission! M-1 Simulator: This lengthy project has been stymied by technological glitches, most of which are resultant of our lack of knowledge of computers. Thanks to a much younger and more tech savy gentleman than most of us, we now have a functional simulator in the M-1. Most of the actual LIRR electronics are non-functional without extensive knowledge of their 1980s technology. However, we were able to get certain aspects working including interior lighting and the PA system. The computer and control stand purchased last year has been installed on a platform over top of the actual controls, resulting in a very realistic simulation. Most of the bugs have been worked out and now it is undergoing field testing. If you would like to try running a train, in an actual train, come on down! SUMMARY: With this piece finally completed, we have an actual locomotive simulator that provides educational entertainment for the older and younger visitors alike, visitors who arent as easily amused by switches and buttons, but rather through the actual operation of a train. Once we are certain all the bugs have been worked out, a dedication ceremony will be held. Special thanks to the Great South Bay Model Railroad Club who will be underwriting a portion of this project. Other Equipment: As most are aware, we also have two P-72 Coaches, a BM-60 Baggage Mail Car and a 40 Box Car in storage on the LIRR. These cars are secure and will be relocated to the museum when the site has been developed. Shop: Our shop crew has continued to refine and define its purpose within the organization. Beyond the obvious need to provide materials and tools for our volunteers, there are numerous other important tasks that are being performed regularly. These include the tracking of petty cash and other expenses; tracking of volunteer hours and work records; regular review of safety practices; provision of lunch, cold drinking water, safety equipment and other weekly necessities; fabrication, maintenance and repair of tools and other equipment; restocking of hardware, paint and cleaning supplies, fuel, lubricants and first aid supplies; overall safety and security of the site and the equipment. Additionally, the Shop has tackled other projects including the operational restoration of a dwarf signal, a large steam whistle and many other bench top projects. As always, if you should have any questions regarding work being done, our volunteers or how you might help, please do not hesitate to contact us at LIRR35@aol. You can also stop by the rail yard any Saturday (weather permitting) and talk to our staff. IMPORTANT NOTICE: As we are currently nearing the end of our membership renewal process and updating our records, we will also be cross-referencing our email records to ensure they are up to date. Therefore, if you are receiving this message and have not renewed your membership, please be aware that these messages may soon end. Again, if you wish to continue to receive our email updates and work session notices, please renew your membership ASAP or contact us at the above email address. Thank you for your continued support!
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:58:34 +0000
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