Getting Ready for Opening Day

Spring maintenance has begun for operating fleet and 836, 1326, and 5645 are ready to go for opening day thanks to Adam, Katy, Wil, Jayden, Galen, and Kelly. Maintenance will continue next weekend with the start of the 2019 Trolley Care Program. All are welcome to come and learn how to care for the cars. The day stars at 8:30AM and runs to 1PM, including the provided lunch.

5645 visits the shop as the first car to receive maintenance this year

We installed some of our new segments from Westfield Technical Academy into 1326.

3 new segments in 1326

John is putting the diesel back together after its much needed maintenance. The water pump has been rebuilt, the motor generator has been serviced, and the fuel system has been cleaned. We send our thanks to Terry Snider for helping us out by pressing the impeller back onto the water pump shaft at his shop as part of the rebuild.

The hood is back on the diesel

Diesel 1's engine compartment is looking much better

Anthony joined us for the first time and worked on patching the Case loader's bucket. Its coming out very nicely and we hope to see him again soon.

One of the new patches on the Case's bucket (both sides done)

1500 Progress

Kelly, Wil, Jeff P, Jayden, Adam, and Jeff K have been at work in the Northern (1500). The hallway wall visible from the viewing platform through the kitchen window is almost completely free of varnish. The upper varnished areas in the stateroom are also being cleaned up.

Wil working in hallway. Photo- Gina Alimberti

Hallway is cleaning up

Jeff working in stateroom

Kelly working in stateroom. Photo- Gina Alimberti

Stateroom varnish removal progress

Winterfest 2019

The shop crew would like to extend their thanks to the New York Museum of Transportation (NYMT) for hosting Winterfest 2019, the annual get together of the northeast trolley museums, and the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum (RGV) for letting us visit during the event. Galen, John, Kelly, and Brian traveled out to Rochester for the event where they joined President Rob Brogle, Chairman Tim Lesniak, and Operations Manager Justin Chasse. We all had a great time. Some photo highlights are below and we encourage you to consider visiting (though we recommend you wait for a bit warmer weather). We're looking forward to hosting everyone next year.

Car 168 at the end of NYMT's line

We all fell in love with NYMT's plow

RGV's locomotive at the connection to NYTM's line

Restoration of Rochester Subway car 60 at RGV. The project is similar to 3001, but with a larger car.

Recreating the Past

The car shop would like to thank the students and staff of the Manufacturing Technology program at Westfield Technical Academy. They have been hard at work on some controller segments for our cars. Taking an unused, original segment, they reverse engineered it. They then created a prototype out of aluminum for us to test fit. Once that was proved out and minor countersink issues were resolved, they began creating real segments out of the correct copper material we provided. We received our first segment and test fitted it yesterday. It looks great! Thank you for all of your hard work and we look forward to working with you on our next controller project!

Left to right: Original, prototype, new

New segment test fitted into 1326

Diesel 1 Apart

John has been hard at work on diesel 1. The hood as been removed as well as the radiator. This allows us access to the water pump and fuel system, both of which need work. These repairs will keep the locomotive, critical piece of work equipment for the museum, in running condition.

Hood as been removed from the body and rests on a stand

Close up of the diesel's exposed engine

Some Seats

Work has continued on car 65. All of the flip seats are now installed along with their heaters thanks to Galen, Kelly, and Brian. Unfortunately, the bench seats are mostly missing, so we will be cutting down 3001's old rattan seats to fit. 3001 will be receiving all new wood seats as part of its return to original configuration.

Seats installed in 65

John continues to work on 3001's steel frame.

Steel beam going in on 3001's west end

65 Takes its First Trip Down the Line in Over 20 Years

65 has seen some important physical touches put in place over the past two weeks. The last grab iron was installed, a door was refitted, tack stripping was installed to hold the roof membrane in place, and the repaired motor hatches were leveled to the floor. All this meant the crew was able to take the car out on a test trip down the line. Galen, Kelly, and Wil were joined on the car by Chief Motorman Roger Pierson and motorman Ryan Trombly photographed the event. This was car 65's first trip down the line in over 20 years. The car performed beautifully with only a few minor issues noted as needing work, such as the west end whistle not functioning. When the car returned to the yard, the crew hauled its seats out of storage and placed them in the car in preparation for them to be installed over the coming weekends. Once the seats are in place, we will be able to test the heaters. The crew is short 3 bench cushions for the car. A temporary solution will be devised.

65 at North Road curve prior to departing for testing

Photo: Ryan Trombly

Test crew at Wells Road after a successful outbound trip

Left to Right: Wil, Roger, Kelly, and Galen

Photo: Ryan Trombly

65 inbound by Skylark Airport

Photo: Ryan Trombly

65 inbound leaving Hancock Siding

Photo: Ryan Trombly

Heading outbound on 65 as the car is brought to full speed for testing

Video: Wil Gambardella

Seats placed in 65

John has been at work on Diesel 1 and one area of the locomotive now has fresh primer. The crew decided the diesel will be painted red, leaving the frame black.

Diesel 1 is being primed

Car 16 has been designated out of service until spring. As the car does not have heat, it is experiencing issues with its air system freezing due to the cold weather.