A little time, and a little energy. A good time to write a few notes for our distant friends.

 

First, a bit of congratulations to the Wednesday special Projects Group.
They have been quietly making some really great progress on the restoration of several cars over the past two years, and they need to be applauded and thanked.

To begin, the CBQ Havelock Baggage car received for the Pullman Library is finished, and is on display as the third head end car of the Central Av display line.

 

http://www.irm.org/gallery/album205?page=1

While they were finishing that piece, a few of the guys began exterior work on the NP baggage car being used as a shop for the Passenger Dept.
The effort has really dressed up the car, painted in NP MOW brown until now

http://www.irm.org/gallery/NP230?page=1

Third..(yes third project in one year!)

The guys have agreed to make cosmetic repairs to the CGW combine that has been begging for attention for a while.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/CGW4061

Soooo, for the fans of specific pieces, they can always use donations

CBQ Havelock fans can donate to fund R993

NP fans can donate to fund R230

and CGW/CNW fans can donate as well I think R4061, although as i write this i cannot verify that. Hope to answer my own question this weekend.

As for the rest of the story….

Thomas is happening…

While that is going on, the track guys have managed to pull all the track from the bad siding in Barn 3 and we await B&G to clear and grade the space, so new track can be placed. The team has been building panel tracks so the installation should be a relatively straightforward process, once it starts.

Again, I apologize for a lack of photos right now, the time and energy have been on short supply for a while, 
I hope to get some pix in the website gallery soon.

With the construction, Dover Strait is outside for a while, and Gene and Bob are making good use of the time. The underside painting is going forward, and we still hope to have it done this year.

In Yard 5, it seems that i have spent a lot of time this summer repairing, adjustung and tweaking the ventilation in the streamliner set.
The latest, is that i have continued to fiddle with the pacific peak blower. i have now adjusted the power feed for the blowers to make it internal, so i can use the system all the time, and perhaps even when the car is in motion.

Birminghams' primary AC system has been dripping condensation recently, and i think I may have found an answer.
I will know this weekend, with a long two day run for the system.

Silver Pony has not had a lot of attention lately, i know, buy with a but of luck, we may be approaching a change in that problem.
Seat plans are moving forward. Upholstery is in hand and we await frame fabrication.
I have located and purchased the lenses i need for the dome light fixtures, and I am actively seeking lenses for the downstairs lights.
I also have leads on a couple of other items for the car, but i dont want to chat about them until they are complete.
Rumors are sometimes negative.

I reported in the dept report that we had seats in stock, and they are in the car.
My HUGE hope is to get the car on wheels soon so i can get it in place for the winter.

After Thomas leaves, perhaps we can all get the "powers that be" to focus on the project of getting the three cars home yet this year.

Last but far from least

I want to thank all of our donors, large and small , who stick with us and support us on a regular basis.

Specifically, i want to thank Kevin Brown again and Al Reinschmidt for his unexpected gift. 
Not to mention our casual visitors that make many small donations in the cars themselves.
i cannot tell you how much it means to us to keep us going.

Online donations can go via the web store in some ways

http://www3.irm.org/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_7

If someone wishes to make a specific donation to any other piece of equipment, whether one of the Wednesday projects or any other passenger car, thay can call the office at 1-800 BIG RAIL and they can take your credit card info on the phone.

Come out for Labor Day!

Enjoy the September event, Leviathan is running and the NZ set will be out

Stop in the Barn and see the construction, and then come over to Yard 5 and say Hi.