Just like everyone else in California and the World we are in a bit of a holding pattern both as to when we can have our next work weekend, and when and if we are going to steam up #18 in 2020. With a lack of current event news to report we will take another quick look back….
As the picture below shows, its been three years ago this month that #18 left the confines of Dehy Park for the first time since its placement there in 1955. With it being the first time we had moved the locomotive we all learned a lot – and tested our collective patience. Despite the struggles of the day all went safely. Since then we have refined our equipment, knowledge, and the museum site to the point that its become second nature to move #18.
As always, stay well, and don’t forget to support the Eastern California Museum and the Carson Colorado if you are able to!
First off we hope everyone out there is staying safe during these unusual times. Things have obviously been quiet in Independence; the ECM has been closed as well.
Despite the lack of physical work, we have done a little dealing with the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. The NCNGRR has purchased our former Rio Grande stock car #5771. We acquired the stock car in 1997 with the intent of using its frame and hardware as a riding car for use with #18. Since we now have 2 original SP boxcars that are being restored for service we decided to let the stock car go. The NCNGRR intends to use the bones of the car to reconstruct a NCNG flatcar, #185. The flatcar once carried a tank #919. That original tank has recently been found and subsequently acquired by their museum.
The original NCNG car that stock car #5771 will help bring back to life.
Stock car #5771, converted to haul passengers at Knott’s Berry Farm and showing the effects of a hard life.
In addition to the stock car, the NCNGRR will supply the CCR with a #8 – 90lb frog and switch points that will help tremendously with achieving the proper angle on our west switch for the museum extension track. Move of the car to Grass Valley will likely occur later this year. We at the CCR always enjoy working with other groups and being able to help each other preserve our respective heritages.
With these slow work times we will start a new series for the next few months called “Remember When”. This will feature a photo of some aspect of the #18 restoration and a fun story associated with it. So without further adieu…….
Forest Newman looks over the grinder.
The contraption that Forest Newman is looking at in the photo was once a radial arm saw. Marty Westland designed the device to grind the valve surface on the engineer side. Marty constructed it at his shop in Ely, Nevada. When Dave and Forest went to Ely to pick it up, Marty drew out how to set it up on a napkin at a restaurant, Marty then proceeded to keep the napkin diagram. Back in Independence – without the napkin – the installation seemingly went well until Marty arrived a day later – with the napkin – and informed us it was installed upside down. Once turned right side up it worked amazingly well. Thanks Marty!
