SHOP REPORT
Philadelphia and Western 161 — Car 161 heater repair work has been advanced by the selection of a preferred vendor for the heater frames. Jim Wiesner will be the liaison for obtaining the heater frames and other materials needed for restoration of the coach heater system in this car. This car was oiled by Jay Consadine and Bob Achilles on April 24.
Philadelphia and Western 168 — Work commenced on replacement of the side windows glazing on car 168 on February 9, 2021 when Bob Achilles, Doug Anderson and Bob Sass met at the museum and reviewed conditions concerning this project. Two windows were removed so that Doug could take them home for work. Plywood panels were inserted in the openings to prevent birds from entering the car. On April 24, Doug was out at the museum to consider some final details of the project.
Exhibits — The Thursday crew resumed its activities on April 22 by creating a new exhibit. Using O-scale 2-rail model locomotives donated by Michael Birkemeyer of Stoney Creek, Ontario, the exhibit shows the "apex" of New York Central steam power. In the photograph made by Jim Dierks, the locomotive on the left is a 4-6-4 with streamlining designed by Henry Dreyfuss. The locomotive in the middle is also a Hudson, and its streamlining was designed specifically for the Empire State Express when that train was streamlined. Several cars from this train, which debuted on December 7, 1941-the same day as the attack on Pearl Harbor-are preserved at Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. The locomotive on the right is a 4-8-4 Niagara, which was used in both passenger and freight service. The Niagara locomotives were introduced in 1945 and were New York Central’s last new steam locomotives. [Note: NYC aficionado Bob Achilles observed that "the Niagaras were not the last steam engines built for NYC. In 1948, ALCO built seven 2-8-4’s for P&LE. Interestingly, the tenders were built by Lima. They were the last steam engines built by ALCO. After P&LE was dieselized at least some of them ran on the Big Four for a brief period. They were all retired in 1956 and scrapped in 1957."]
New
locomotive models are now on display as NYMT’s first new
feature of 2021. Photo by Jim Dierks
Grounds — The lawn mowing season began with Dave Coon, Rick Holahan, Taylor Reed and Rand Warner making a first cut in late April.
Midway Lights — In order to provide some fixed lighting at Midway for nighttime passenger exchanges between NYMT and RGV trains, a new installation of five lights has been devised for Midway. An extensive design report for this project was written, and the Board of Trustees voted to approve the project in March. A span wire is to be hung between two poles opposite the Midway (ex-Rochester, Lockport and Buffalo) waiting shelter, and five light hoods in stock at NYMT are to be hung at 20-foot intervals along this span wire. Power for the lights will be provided directly from the trolley wire. These lights will provide a continuous path of light between trains of the two museums, which can be augmented as needed by hand-held lanterns. Several of the components needed for this installation have already been obtained, and work is underway. It is hoped that these lights will add safety and authenticity to this year’s upcoming joint NYMT-RGV operations.
Milking Parlor — Repairs to one of the three sets of sliding doors on the milking parlor have recently started. The door, which is located near the silos, had missing boards and was open to animals seeking shelter inside the milking parlor. Initial repairs were made in early April; more work will return these doors to good condition.
Substation — The annual inspection and cleaning of the substation began on April 24, with Bob Sass and Dick Holbert getting about half the work done that day. Upgrades authorized by the Board are also underway.
Board — At its meeting on January 19, 2021, the Board agreed that while the 2021 budget is an austerity budget, the funding it provides is ready to be used. The Board approved a non-discriminatory policy for NYMT. The Board also approved motions that provided for the following: a) That Nancy Uffindell and Doug Anderson can investigate producing virtual programs and sharing them via zoom-type meetings with the community to help reawaken interest in NYMT; b) That the $500 grant provided to NYMT by Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys, which was intended for the maintenance of either car 161 or 168, be used to replace the plexiglass side windows in 168; and c) That Bob Achilles become the Project Manager for improvements to be made to the ceiling in the model train room, and that work commence on this project as soon as practical.
At its next meeting, held on March 16, 2021, the Board reviewed information concerning the recent substation incident. Motions were made and passed concerning the following: a) That the Midway light project be approved; b) That the 2021 Program for Public Operations, developed by Jim Dierks, Doug Anderson, Nancy Uffindell and Jim Wiesner, be approved; c) That the former restriction on volunteer access to the NYMT office, milking parlor and hay barn be rescinded; d) That a preferred vendor be selected for car 161 heater frames; and e) That state law be the basis for requiring use of facemasks inside NYMT buildings on NYMT grounds.
At its April 13, 2021 meeting, the NYMT Board made several decisions concerning the substation. The Board decided to provide funding for the substation to implement new security and emergency measures.
