I lost my Broadband access due to a burglary, so can't get to Facebook, but this forum works on dial up; so, any progress over the last week at the EBT (any progress, of course there's progress, but WHAT? )?
Thanks!

Just keep checking their Facebook and the FEBT facebook. Maybe the Facebook group too if you get your broadband back up.
I haven’t seen much from them in the past week either but I think that’s mostly due for 2 reasons

1. They’re getting ready for their first excursions so they might not have much time to update right now

2. The weather in the past week has been pretty deplorable, so I don’t blame them if they can’t get much done.

Not to be disagreeable, but what part of "I can't get to Facebook" did you not read? NOTHING on facebook works on a 37K dial-up connection. I can't even get to eBay to lock my account or change my password and "because of Covin 19" they aren't even answering their phones--what part of "no customer service available" is caused by Covid-19? You can answer phones from home!
Sorry, been a long week with Kidney Stones, Root Canal and then to have your shop broken into and burgled--this "new normal" is not agreeing with me!
But thanks for the info you did supply--out here it's too hot to work outside--105 in the shade, didn't realize they were having inclement weather back there (another thing that doesn't work on dial-up, internet weather forecasts). AT&T is putting in fiber-optic cable here, and promises Broadband, but when??? (and no, there is no cell coverage here, and too many trees for satellite--trust me I keep trying for SOMETHING better.) Meantime, it's pretty quiet here, and peaceful, except when there's a wildfire nearby.

Report for the FEBT June Restoration Work Session:
https://febt.org/2020/06/22/june-2020-w ... on-report/

Sorry, but most of the work session photos are on Facebook, a few on the FEBT site.

EBT tickets went on sale today for the August 60th Anniversary train rides. Pulled by M-4 or M-6. They are shorter than the normal ride:
https://eastbroadtop.square.site/tickets

Lots of work on track continuing at the EBT, work on the #14 and #16 progressing.

Thanks for the update Chris; yes LOTS of work getting done!
Was hoping to hear if anything is getting done on the "bumped" bridge. And what about the police report of an Arson fire of ties? Old ties, new ties, not much damage?? Haven't see ANYTHING other than the police report, which was very brief. Exciting times, wish I lived closer, I'd be right there helping too.

The Shops steam engine was re-operated today for the first time in since 2013. In honor of that I have (finally) uploaded video from 2011 when the the first demonstrations of the engine connected to line shafting occurred.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8rEAbGZgdw

I saw the live broadcast on Facebook, and it got me wondering - what is the condition of the shop boilers? I know it's unlikely they will ever be restored to operation, but was there a reason for the EBT jerry-rigging an electric motor to shop shaft system in the waning years. The shop steam engine seems to run fine on air.

In a word, Bad. in the 80's and 90's the Boiler Shop roof got very bad and let a lot of weather in on the boilers. The southeast corner of the boilers was beginning to disintegrate (brickwork.) When the FEBT crew repaired the brick wall of the Boiler House in the mid 2000s they also repaired the brickwork on the corner of the boilers, but there is still a lot of damage to the brickwork and metal parts. I would say it is not outside the realm of possibility to repair them, but it would be a lot more work than other parts of the shops require. At least they will no longer deteriorate further.

As for the electric motor, it is generally held that it was installed after the end of common carrier operations. Kovalchick Salvage did some wheel pressing work at that time. However the motor only appears to have run a part of the line shaft system in the Machine Shop area, not the entire thing. A larger motor was located near the steam engine, but never hooked up, either electrically or by belt. Both motors are being removed from the shops to return them to common carrier configuration.

The trouble with running the engine on air is that it has a lot less energy than steam and it takes a huge amount to run the engine. As more shafts are lined and added back into the system, it will become increasing difficult to provide enough air. Also the hydrostatic lubricator for the engine does not operate on air, so a manual lubricator is fitted for the moment.

Any chance a steam line from one of the locos could be run to the shop engine for an occasional demo?

Agree with that. I expect the the boilers on the Titanic are not much worse. Remember that (I presume) the stacks have been open to the weather for the entire lives of those boilers.

Regarding a source of steam, there are plenty of enthusiasts in the traction engine hobby that will be happy to bring up an engine or portable for the weekend to provide steam.

Two other disadvantages of running on air, it doesn't smell right, and there is no steam puffing out of the exhaust above the roof for all to see.