Thursday, August 12th

Joe Marsh, Dave Sigafoose, Dick Ray and Dick Wilhelm, continued work on the car remover.


Friday, August 13th

Joe Marsh continued work on the car mover. Earl Pardini and Blaise Schatzel completed brake work on the 702.

Train Crew were John Prestopino, Neil and Kathy Isabelle.


Saturday, August 14th

Joe Marsh, George Peck and Dick Wilhelm tested the car mover successfully, moving the Lehigh Valley caboose around the Phoenicia yard. Except for cosmetic work, the car mover is now up and running.

Paul Sternitzke, George Cook and I replaced the broken rail at MP 6.5 and inserted two ties there. Some photos:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174811

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174812

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174813

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174814

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174815

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174816

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174817

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174818

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174819

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=174820

Train crew in Phoenicia were Dve Heick, Walt otto and Bill Kaba. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent and Joe Logiudice was dispatcher.

Kingston train crew were Al Schoessow, Ray Farrell, Mark Glaser and Steve Gollow. Ultan Johnson was ticket agent.


Sunday, August 15th

At Cornell street in Kingston, work continued on the brake rigging on the 400/2361, and more painting was done. The crew consisted of Earl Pardini, Ernie Klopping, Mark Glaser, Bob Blake and Steve Gollow.

In Phoenicia, George Peck worked with Jason DiTolla and Kurt Van Demark switching equipment in the Phoenicia yard.

Mike Lalonde continued work on flat 202.

Train crew were John Patane, Bob McDonald, and Al Schoessow, with Connie Johnson training as a car attendant. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent and Joe Logiudice was dispatcher.


Monday, August 16th

Paul Sternitzke led a crew including William Sternitzke, Mike Adsit, and Jason DiTolla, and cut with the sickle bar out-of gauge on the south side of the track from Phoenicia to Mt. Tremper. Afterwards they ran the sickle bar and Kalamazoo to Shokan. Some photos:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175026

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175028

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175032

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175034

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175038


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, August 21st

Phoenicia

George Peck will lead a crew Saturday morning starting at 9am in Phoenicia. He plans to do repairs on the track in the yard and other projects around the yard.

The 702 crew will begin at 10am.

Paul Sternitzke and I will lead an OOS crew starting at West Hurley at 10:00am. Plans are to continue cutting overheads from MP 7.1 down to Hurley Mountain Road as time permits. Bring chain saws and especially pole saws for overheads.

In Kingston, we will be continuing our summer service there at 1pm at Westbrook Lane. Cornell Street Yard will open about 10am for preparation work for the afternoon run.


Sunday, August 22nd

Cornell Street will open at 10am Sunday. 400/2361 work will continue under Ernie Klopping.

George Peck will be working in the Phoenicia yard starting at 10am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Tuesday, August 17th

George Cook and Earl Pardini started work on the Shokan siding. The area for the siding was cleared with the backhoe by Earl Pardini:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175203


Wednesday, August 18th

Repairs on the ESRM car mover were completed CMRR volunteers: Joe Marsh, Dick Ray, Dave Sigafoose and Dick Wilhelm.

Here is the before photo:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175340

After photos:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175341

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175342

The ESRM car mover has been out of service since the flood on April 1, 2005. It will initially be used in Kingston to bring the cars back from Roue 209.


Friday, August 20th.

On Friday, train crew consisted of John Prestopino, Neil Isabelle and Kathy Isabelle.


Saturday, August 21st

On Saturday, George Peck led a crew consisting of Greg Peck and Derek Stapleton, completing repairs to CMRR No. 29 and doing other repairs in the yard.

Paul Sternitzke led a crew consisting of Todd Syska and myself, and cut overhead limbs from MP 7.1 to 6.55. We also cut open the siding at West Hurley.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175532

Al Johnson worked on coach 702, tightening bolts and painting the undercarriage of 702.

The crew for the regular trains at Phoenicia on Saturday consisted of Dave Heick, Bill Kaba, Dan Howard, Ray Farrell, and myself. Peter Fluchere sold tickets at Mt. Tremper, and Joe LoGiudice was Dispatcher.

The crew for the Twilight Limited was Dave Heick, Ray Farrell, Bill, and John Prestopino.
Music was provided by Earl and Mimi Pardini, Walt Otto, and their friends. Refreshments were provided by Tom Healy, and the station was managed by Dakin Morehouse. The Twilight Limited was sold out.

In Kingston, crew consisted of Al Ssoessow, John Prestopino, Mark Glaser, and Steve Gollow. Ultan Johnson was ticket agent.


Sunday, August 22nd:

At Cornell Street, Mark Glaser writes:

"On Sunday, the Cornell Yard crew moved the rail trailer to a new location east of the south side sliding gate. Switch parts,(two guard rail assemblies) were staged for pickup adjacent to the same gate. The portable (galv. roof on boiler tube) work shelter was lifted from the storage track and repositioned at the east end of the yard. Approximately thirty bridge timbers that were fouling the new siding were relocated to provide clearance for cars and equipment entering the siding though the east end stub switch. Participating were, Earl, Al Schoessow, Steve Gollow, Ernie Klopping and Mark Glaser.".

Sunday train crew consisted of John Patane, Bob McDonald, and Ray Farrell. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

Tuesday, August 24th

On Tuesday, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of George Cook, Steve Gollow, and Al Schoessow. They moved switch timbers for the new Shokan switch to Shokan, and moved the ESRM car mover to Kingston.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Great progress on the car mover! Is the bridge outside of Kingston safe enough for a car ferry? Or are the cars just being moved closer to town? I'm assuming it is safe, but previous pix indicated it might be up for some rehab before use. Again, more good news if it is OK for the car ferry move. Thanks for the updates.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

Mike,

We are looking at the bridge now. We think that if we replace a few bridge timbers right now we should be fine for a one-time move of the diner and coaches so they can be brought back to Cornell Street yard, where they will be assessed for restoration (the diner will be scrapped). Looks like the move will happen sometime in the fall. Restoration of the bridge for passenger service will require a larger investment.

Ernie Hunt
CMRR

Saturday, August 28th

Phoenicia

George Peck will lead a crew Saturday morning starting at 9am in Phoenicia. He plans to do repairs on the track in the yard and other projects around the yard.

The 702 crew will begin at 10am.

Paul Sternitzke and I will lead an OOS crew starting at Shokan at 10:00am. Plans are to use the CMRR's sickle bar cutter to cut from Shokan to the Boiceville trestle. We also plan to cut overheads west of Shokan as time permits. Bring chain saws and especially pole saws for overheads.

In Kingston, we will be continuing our summer service there at 1pm at Westbrook Lane. Cornell Street Yard will open about 10am for preparation work for the afternoon run.


Sunday, August 29th

Cornell Street will open at 10am Sunday. 400/2361 work will continue under Earl Pardini.

George Peck will be working in the Phoenicia yard starting at 10am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, August 27th

Train crews were John Prestopino, Walt Otto and Rob McDonald. George Bain was ticket agent.


Saturday, August 28th

George Peck led a crew consisting of Dave Mason, Mike Adsit and Derek Stapleton. They continued cleanup of the Phoenicia yard and made repairs on equipment.

Paul Sternitzke and George Cook led a crew that consisted of William Sternitzke, Steve Kijak, and myself. Because the sickle bar was not working, we instead cut overheads, shored up Butternut Cove slightly, and leveled out the track at "Cone Island". See below:

Butternut Cove:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175806

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175808

"Coney Island"

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175810

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175811

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175813

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=175814

The 702 crew consisted of Al Johnson, Ed Palmatier, and George Liucci. They continued work on the 702.

Train crews on Saturday were:

In Phoenicia on Saturday 8/28, Al Schoessow was engineer, Bill Kaba Trainman and Dan Howard Conductor. Conductor-in-training Connie Johnson was aboard. Tom Healy was ticket agent and Joe Logiudice was Dispatcher.

In Kingston, Ultan Johnson was Ticket agent. Jason DiTolla was engineer, Ray Farrell was conductor and Joe Klapkowski flagged.


Sunday, August 29th

On Sunday, train crews were Dave Heick, Robert McDonald, and Doug Senterman and Edwin Winstanley as car attendants. Pete Fluchere was ticket agent.

In Kingston, Bob Blake, Earl Pardini and Al Schoessow worked at Cornell Street. The priming of CMRR 400/2361 is nearly complete thanks mostly to Bob.


Monday, August 30th

Mike Lalonde and Al Howes did maintenance work on the crane. Jeff Otto did work on his caboose at Shokan.



Tuesday, August 31st

Earl Pardini, Mimi Pardini, Edwin Winstanley and Al Schoessow did further cleanup in the Phoenicia yard, finishing disposal of the old trailer. Earl completed work on 702's brakes, and they also did some brush clearing near Andrew's Lane.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Thursday, September 2nd

Joe Marsh and Ernie Hunt will lead a crew starting at 10am at the intersection of Route 209 and the railroad. Plans are to cut away brush from the cars so that the wheel journals can be serviced and brakes checked for the upcoming car move to Cornell Street.

If there is extra time, I will be going to Hurley Mountain Road to clear vegetation from there down to the washout at MP 5.4. Brush crew should bring loppers, weed wackers and brush cutters.


Saturday, September 4th

Phoenicia

George Peck will lead a crew Saturday morning starting at 9am in Phoenicia. He plans to do repairs on the track in the yard and other projects around the yard.

The 702 crew will begin at 10am.

Paul Sternitzke and I will lead an OOS crew starting at Shokan at 10:00am. Plans are to use the CMRR's sickle bar cutter to cut from Shokan to the Boiceville trestle. We also plan to cut overheads west of Shokan as time permits. Bring chain saws and especially pole saws for overheads.

In Kingston, we will be continuing our summer service there at 1pm at Westbrook Lane. Cornell Street Yard will open about 10am for preparation work for the afternoon run.


Sunday, September 5th

Cornell Street will open at 10am Sunday. 400/2361 work will continue under Ernie Klopping.

George Peck will be working in the Phoenicia yard starting at 10am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Thursday, September 2nd

Today, Joe Marsh, Dave Sigafoose, Dick Ray, Dick Wilhelm, George Cook and myself cut brush around the cars and weed-wacked the ROW from the cars to bridge C9. Here are some photos:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176044

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176045

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176046

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176047

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176048

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176049

We cut the brush completely away from the cars east of 209 and were over half complete with the cars west of 209.


Friday, September 3rd

Train Crew were John Prestopino, Bob McDonald, John Watson.


Saturday, September 4th

702 crew consisted of Al Johnson, Gary Lowe and Arthur Vogel. They continued work on painting the underframe, and other work on the car.

Paul Sternitzke and I finished spiking "Coney Island" and cut trees and brush.

George Peck worked on yard cleanup in Phoenicia.

Train crew in Phoenicia were Dave Heick, Bill Kaba, George Bain. Tom Healy was ticket agent and Anthony Bocchino was car attendant.

Train crew in Kingston were Al Schoessow, Mark Glaser, Joe Klapkowski, and Connie Johnson. Ultan Johnson was ticket agent.


Sunday, September 5th

Train crew were Dave Heick, Bob McDonald, Ray Farrell, Bill Kaba and Doug Senterman and Anthony Boccino. Dan Howard was ticket agent. Some photos:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176182

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176183

From Mark Glaser: "Cornell Yard activities on Sunday included servicing sand delivery valving on RS-1 401 as well as cleaning and inspection of the sand towers on the forward end of the locomotive. RS-1 400 (2361) received additional priming with only several long hood top panels remaining to be coated. Axle and fender repairs were performed on a track car highway trailer. A portable 50-ton bottle jack was serviced for use in axle journal and journal brass inspection. Ernie Klopping was joined by Al Schoessow, Bob Blake and Mark Glaser. "


Monday, September 6th

Train crew were John Patane, John Prestopino and Al Schoessow.


Tuesday, September 7th

Tom Healy led a crew consisting of Steve Gollow, Al Schoessow and George Cook, and finished exterior paint on the caboose at Shokan. Al Howes worked on the crane.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176281

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176282

Joe Marsh led a crew consisting of Dick Ray, Dave Sigafoose, and Dick Wilhelm. They finished brush cutting of the cars on 209 and began work on the journals and brakes in anticipation of the move to Cornell Street.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, September 10th

George Peck will lead a Friday track crew to replace badly needed ties in the mainline between Cold Brook and Phoenicia. He will start at 9am in the Phoenicia yard. We have lots of ties to replace, so a big crew would be very helpful - please come if you are available.


Saturday, September 11th

Phoenicia

George Peck will lead a crew Saturday morning starting at 9am in Phoenicia. He plans to wrap up any trackwork from Friday and perform other work in the Phoenicia yard.

The 702 crew will begin at 10am.

In Phoenicia, the annual ESRM/CMRR volunteer party will begin with a train ride to Cold Brook at 5:30pm and dinner at the Phoenicia station afterwards.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini will be working in the yard starting at 9am.

Note: the CMRR will run a special "reservoir train" with the Kalamazoo and 10-person flat leaving Cold Brook about 1:45 (coordinated with the regular train arrival) for those who have never seen the reservoir before. Train will go to MP 20.



Sunday, September 12th

Cornell Street will open at 10am Sunday. 400/2361 work will continue under Ernie Klopping.

George Peck will be working in the Phoenicia yard starting at 10am.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, September 10th

On Friday, we had two crews working in Phoenicia.

George Peck and Mark Glaser took the tamper out and tamped several bad areas on the line starting at Cold Brook Station and working west.

Earl Pardini led a crew including John Prestopino, Bob McDonald, Harry Jameson and Al Schoessow. They completed the structure of the new handicap ramp at Phoenicia:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176481


Saturday, September 11th

On Saturday, our regular train crew was Al Schoessow, Ray Farrell and Bob McDonald. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent and Joe Logidiuce was dispatcher.

Joe Klapkowski and Dick Wilhelm took volunteers on a tour of the reservoir, leaving Cold Brook station at 1:45pm, using the Kalamazoo and 10 man flat.

Al Johnson and George Liucci continued work on the 702, finishing undercarriage painting and hanging the east end door.

Mike LaLonde installed the second of four stringers in flat 202.

Chris Bigham and I did miscellaneous brush cutting.

Our annual volunteer party was attended by 44 volunteers plus their friends and families.


Sunday, September 12th

Mark Glaser sent this report from Cornell Street:

On Sunday, the Cornell Yard crew cleared the storage track of 160 small boiler tubes and a large stack of super heaters moving them onto special racks in the yard's east end storage trailer and adjacent to the Davenport for final stacking on the rack next weekend. Work on 401's sanders continued with removal and cleaning of the delivery valves on the engineer's side of the forward truck. Repairs to the track car trailer were completed. The boiler tubing will be used in the restoration of Engine 23. Earl was joined by Al Schoessow, Connie Johnson, Tom Healy and Mark Glaser.

Steve Gollow mowed the Shokan station site and removed debris from the station area.

Train crew were Dave Heick, Dan Howard, John Patane. Trainees were Doug Senterman and Anthony Bocchino.

Tuesday, September 14th

On Tuesday, Earl Pardini joined Joe Marsh, Dick Ray, Dick Wilhelm and Dave Sigafoose at 209. They continued freeing hand brakes on the cars and Earl attempted to remove the bolster pin for coach 703 to use on the 702.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=176736


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, September 18th

George Peck will lead a crew Saturday morning starting at 9am in Phoenicia. He plans to do trackwork and perform other work in the Phoenicia yard.

The 702 crew will begin at 10am. Earl Pardini will be assisting the crew getting the car ready for service.

In Shokan, Paul Sternitzke and I will be leading a sickle bar run going west from Shokan, with the newly repaired sickle bar machine at 10am. We need a crew of at least three to four.


Sunday, September 19th

Cornell Street will open at 10am Sunday. 400/2361 work will continue under Ernie Klopping.

George Peck will be working in the Phoenicia yard starting at 10am.


Tuesday, September 21st

Joe Marsh is tentatively planning another work session on the cars on 209, getting them ready for movement to Cornell Street. Please contact him directly if you would like to join him.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, September 18th

On Saturday, our regular train crew was Dave Heick, Ray Farrell and Neil Isabelle. Peter Fluchere was ticket agent.

George Peck, Dave Mason and Art Vogel did repair and maintenance work in the yard at Phoenicia.

Paul Sternitzke and I cut with the sickle bar the south side of the tracks "out of gauge" from the Boiceville Trestle to Shokan.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=177185

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=177186


Sunday, September 19th

At Cornell Street, Earl Pardini, Al Schoessow and John Patane finished putting away boiler tubes for Engine 23, and then began cutting notching bridge timbers for bridge C9.

Train crew were John Prestopino, John Watson, and Bob McDonald. Thom Johnson was ticket agent.


Tuesday, September 21st

On Tuesday, Joe Marsh, Dick Ray, and Connie Johnson worked on the cars at 209. They continued resurfacing journals and otherwise preparing the cars for their upcoming move to Cornell street. Al Howes, Earl Pardini, George Peck and Al Schoessow stopped by to help out.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=177187

Also on Tuesday, John Prestopino, Bob McDonald and Neil Isabelle continued work on the new handicap loading platform at Phoenicia. They installed all the floorboards. Railings are next.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, September 24th

George Peck has asked for an "All Hands Call" on Friday for track crew to replace badly needed ties in the mainline between Cold Brook and Phoenicia before our leaf season begins. He will start at 9am in the Phoenicia yard. We have lots of ties to replace - if you are free please come and help. The CMRR tie handler, scarifier and gradall will be used as part of this work.


Saturday, September 25th

Phoenicia

George Peck will lead a crew Saturday morning starting at 9am in Phoenicia. He plans to wrap up any trackwork from Friday and perform other work in the Phoenicia yard.

The 702 crew will begin at 10am under George Liucci and Earl Pardini. This is another "ALL HANDS CALL" to clean the car and prep it for service. The car will be switched out onto the mainline and coupled to the 701 at the end of the day - after 5 long years of work by George Liucci and his crew.

In Shokan, Paul Sternitzke and I will be leading a sickle bar run going west from Shokan, with the newly repaired sickle bar machine at 10am. We need a crew of at least three to four.


Sunday, September 26th

Cornell Street will open at 10am Sunday. 400/2361 work will continue at Cornell Street.

George Peck will be working in the Phoenicia yard starting at 10am.


Tuesday, September 28th

Joe Marsh is tentatively planning another work session on the cars on 209, getting them ready for movement to Cornell Street. His crew usually meets at 10am. Please contact him directly if you would like to join him.


Exact Date To Be Determined - Week of September 27th to 30th

Upon arrival of materials, Earl Pardini will be issuing another "all hands call" to finish the Mt. Tremper roof. Keep an eye out for an announcement of which day this will take place.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

A Mingling of Leaf-Peeping and Time Travel

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/tr ... liage.html



Nice coverage for the CMRR and several other northeast railroads.

EH