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I know I started a thread on this subject awhile back when I had just finished the application to be a volunteer on a local tourist railroad (Greenfield Village).  I've already worked 6 days so far and have put in well over 60 hours in that time.  I started pre-season cleaning and polishing the steam locomotive that would be doing the first runs of the season.  From there I observed for another day while the other crew members worked on some small parts for another locomotive restoration.  I took a couple weeks off for family commitments and went back last weekend, the first of our three Day out with Thomas events with the live steam Thomas the Tank engine from Strasburg.  I spent the first Saturday cleaning and polishing up our 1873 Mason Bogie "Torch Lake" (I felt bad that it was still filthy when her sister was out running and shiny), doing some maintenance on our early 1900's armstrong turntable from the Pere Marquette, as well as some other small tasks.  Sunday I assisted with firing up the 4-4-0 "Edison" for the normal weekday trains and ended the day assisting with some switching moves with our 1942 USN GE 50 tonner.

 

Jumping up to this past weekend, I spent Saturday morning applying a new coating of graphite and linseed oil to the smokebox of the 4-4-0 and wiped her brass clean again.  They let me take a cab ride on Thomas which was a bit interesting.  Sunday, once again was spent working mostly on the 4-4-0.  I cleaned the cinders out of the smokebox, cleaned off the grates and did the fire up mostly on my own (the guys came out and checked on my progress every so often and assisted with starting up the appliances).  The guy I work with moved her onto the turntable and over to the ash dump and water column, where I watered her up for the night, then we moved her back to the wash rack and banked the fire so she'd be ready to run today.

 

I didn't realize I could learn so much in 6 days, and still have a ton to learn.  The guys have been great at showing me what to do and answering my questions.  I'm working on memorizing the rule book right now to be ready for the upcoming test (hand signals and stuff like that).  I also received a steam locomotive operation and maintenance book to browse through.  Today I also received an email from my coworker saying the boss gave the OK to let them teach me how to fire as soon as Thomas goes away for the year.

 

Firing up our 1932 4-4-0 "Edison" last Sunday

 

Riding along on the GE 50 tonner

 

Our 1873 0-6-4T Mason Bogie "Torch Lake" pre and post cleaning (the brass got polished by us a day after I took the cleaned up photo)

 

 

 

A shot taken by one of my fellow train club members while I was firing up this weekend.

 

The current restoration project, D&LN #7.  An 1897 Baldwin 4-4-0 that's been under restoration since 2008.  The guys are hoping to have her up and running by Henry Ford's 150th birthday in July (she was his baby when he owned the DT&I), but are having some issues with the injectors that are being worked out.  She was restored for museum display in the 1930's and hasn't run since the late 1920's.  Many of the parts were installed brand new, but still need to be machined which ended up causing some unexpected delays.

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Originally Posted by loco-dan:

Jake, You'll have to give my wife and I a roundhouse tour later this summer.

On a job like this, the harder you work the more fun you will have.

Dan

 

For sure.  I put in 12 hours (6:30am-6:30pm) this past Sunday and was wiped out, but I really enjoyed it.  There's always some project to keep me busy.  If not, then I also enjoy watching the other guys work and learning that way.

 

As for the tour, I'm sure something could be arranged with myself or one of the other guys depending on what's going on that day.

Just found this video on youtube of Thomas running by while I whistled back and forth with the engineer from our 4-4-0 "Edison" during our warm up a couple weeks ago.  The 4-4-0 has a nice sounding 5 chime on her, but it is very loud and I was trying not to scare all the little kids standing around, so it's a bit weak sounding.

 

Originally Posted by MichRR714:

Jake that's a cool picture.  We need one now of you and your Dad.

That's actually a good idea.  We've both changed a lot

 

He's the one that took all the pictures of me in the cabs (except the one you took last weekend).  Nobody was around to snap a shot when he was visiting.  Maybe in a few weeks when the normal trains and locomotives are running.

Back in the mid-late 80's I worked as an extra Engineer/Fireman for a std ga. steam powered tourist line.  I know exactly what you're experiencing and what a wonderful world steam railroading is.  I have been in/around railroading since about 1970 or so, have run engines off/on since 1980, and have been full time for many years now (Certified Locomotive Engineer).  I have run scores of different kinds of EMD, both 1st and 2nd Generation, Alco's (currently work for an Alco powered regional), etc, etc.

 

I say that to say this: Of ALL the railroading memories to date, my BEST and most ENJOYABLE years were those I spent running and working on steam engines, hands down. 

 

Be safe and savor the moments.

 

Andre

Originally Posted by laming:

Back in the mid-late 80's I worked as an extra Engineer/Fireman for a std ga. steam powered tourist line.  I know exactly what you're experiencing and what a wonderful world steam railroading is.  I have been in/around railroading since about 1970 or so, have run engines off/on since 1980, and have been full time for many years now (Certified Locomotive Engineer).  I have run scores of different kinds of EMD, both 1st and 2nd Generation, Alco's (currently work for an Alco powered regional), etc, etc.

 

I say that to say this: Of ALL the railroading memories to date, my BEST and most ENJOYABLE years were those I spent running and working on steam engines, hands down. 

 

Be safe and savor the moments.

 

Andre

 

Thanks Andre.  As I've said numerous time above, I'm having a blast.

 

Safety talk today along with the rules/signal test.  Then I'll be open to a few more tasks around the railroad (hopefully)

The next time I go up to Michigan, I have specifically stated to my family that I want to set aside two complete days to go back to the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village (one day for each).  The roundhouse area did not exist the last time I visited, so I want to see that.  I actually never even got to see the turntable area.

 

It's interesting that you mention that you are working there, because I have an idea that would play right into recreating the historical atmosphere of the village, and help tie the community and railroad closer together:

 

I've thought about suggesting to the museum to build two spurs: one to the industrial sector, the other in another location, maybe somewhere on the other side of the village.  On the spurs could be switched in and out a small, very basic selection of era-appropriate freight cars (three cars, one box, one gon, and one flat, would be plenty) to help recreate freight operations.  They could be coupled ahead of the open excursion cars to simulate a mixed-traffic train.  Once a car has been dropped off, the cargo could be unloaded--even if it's just sealed, empty, weighted boxes-- and placed on a truck or horse-drawn wagon, and carried along an inconspicuous route through the streets back to the other spur, and dropped off, posing as some other kind of freight.  This would allow the cycle to be continuously repeated.

 

I know this sounds more like something you would find on a typical model railroad, but I am approaching this proposition with the idea of educating and exposing visitors to basic freight railroading.  Does it sound like something they might consider?

 

By the way, it's exciting to hear they are restoring a third engine.  I only saw the Edison when I was there, but I could tell by looking at a board at the station that there was a second locomotive on site which I now know is the Torch Lake.

 

Aaron Thompson

Jake,

 

Fairly certain i saw you today on the Edison.  Once around riding 3rd watching, and i could of SWORN i saw you on the engineer's side at the controls.... Did they let you "drive" ?

 

Meant to say hi but was with my father who was tired and in a hurry to exit once the Edison steamed into firestone station.

 

If you were not working....Someone looked just like you!

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