Hello all,
Ever since I posted I was taking Steve's place as Volunteer leader for project 565 there has nothing been said, it's like you all just swept the project under the rug.
The fact is we need volunteers to take time to go up and help cosmetic restore this historical locomotive. It's really funny how you can get all fired up over 952 in St. Lou. MO. but you can't with a her sister in the North East. How come?

No. 565 is a lackawanna locomotive too. and she needs help! are you just going to sit back and leave her just sit there in pieces for the rest of her life in Stall 26? or are you going to take time out and help her look good once more.

I like to set up a work day for either day in July 12,19 or 26 it's a Sunday.
If anyone wants to go ages 18 or older you must wear steel toe boots.

Please come out and help? Let me know which day will work for you.

Take care and God Bless,
Len.

I'll make a suggestion.

Male a list of VERY SPECIFIC needs of skills and equipment needed for this project.

Judging from your video, I'd guess you could use a certified forklift operator. If we come up with one, will you have access to a forklift?

Do you need a welder? What would they be welding? Are said pieces ready to weld?

Do you need an experienced railroader, the kind who can take one look at the axles in question and then look in that pile of stuff and spot the bearings, brackets, etc.?

What do you have for two newbies who don't know what they're doing?

Do you have personal protective equipment, or do we have to bring our own? Steel toes? Gloves? Goggles? (Folks wonder why there's occasionally a dirty orange jumpsuit/overalls in my car.....)

You will be lucky to get two or three dedicated people to assist with the 565 project, and maybe a few others who would be able to give a day or two. I don't think I would fit into either category right now as I'm swamped with a building project to get our organization's collection under roof. I'm also on the wrong end of the state.

However, you may find it useful to join the forums at www.practicalmachinist.com. While not railroad specific, there are many people there who love old machinery of all kinds and maybe there are a couple of people in your area who may like to come work on a steam locomotive. It is also a great resource for technical information and advice.

How is this project organized? Are you a volunteer of the SNHS? What hoops would prospective volunteers have to jump through in order to gain access to the "other side of the railing" to work on the project? Has anyone devised a prioritized list of work that needs accomplished?

Hello all,
I thought I said in the video about people knowing about steam railroading. which would be a plus.
List of what we need to be done, A lot!
we are working with a 101 year old locomotive, and there are places that need to be welded.
Every thing is very heavy, so yes we need a certified forklift operator/overhead crane operator. We need to take out the oil tank that is in the tender.

Yes , wearing steel toe boots is mandatory, bringing Gloves, Goggles is a plus everything is very dirty from sitting in the roundhouse with some of the active steam locomotives.

You'll be working in the roundhouse / main locomotive shop, they'll provide the tools and equipment needed.

Wear clothes you don't mind getting filthy and bring a change of clothing for the trip home.

They have a locker room and a nice one too. " What do you have for two newbies who don't know what they're doing?"

We'll be teaching them how to be do stuff along the way. Heck I'm learning new things and I've been there only one day. there's a lot to be done for every one big or small. So they will not get board.

So let me know what days you can come through July 12,19 or 26 there Sundays.
we are all volunteering our time. you'll need to fill out NPS forms.

Here is the small video I took up there last Sunday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEryaMazq_8

Thank you,
Len.

OK, I'll say it.

Honestly Len, I think the lack of talk about the project has less to do with the locomotive and more to do with the person now heading the project. Your reputation proceeds you, and not in a good way.

While I think you're doing a nice thing with the 565 project and being the caretaker while Steve is overseas, I think you've got an uphill battle.

Len, I've got nothing against you, but you asked.

Dave

"Your reputation proceeds you,"

There is nothing wrong with my reputation, it's the lies you have been beliving for a long time, that is what is wrong. I don't have a police record and I 'm not guilty of what they say I have been doing !

Len.

Len

I've never heard about a police record. I was refering to your behavior on this and other forums.

Didn't you threaten to report RYPN to the "Freedom of Speach Organization" or something like that a few years ago?

I have never threaten to report RYPN or any other forum on the web. Where are you getting this incorrect information from? This is something I have never heard before.

Len.

I did a search through RYPN data base and this is what I come up with on the Freedom of speach.

"Forum: Interchange Topic: Project DL&W 565

Schuylkill Valley Post subject: Re: Project DL&W 565 Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:09 am


Replies: 7
Views: 141

... you threaten to report RYPN to the "Freedom of Speach Organization" or something like that a few years ago? ...


Forum: Interchange Topic: Project DL&W 565

Dave Crosby Post subject: Re: Project DL&W 565 Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:50 am


Replies: 7
Views: 141

Len

I've never heard about a police record. I was refering to your behavior on this and other forums.

Didn't you threaten to report RYPN to the "Freedom of Speach Organization" or something like that a few years ago?


Forum: Interchange Topic: PA systems?

Ron Goldfeder Post subject: Re: PA systems? Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 9:47 pm


Replies: 25
Views: 230

... with the Washington DC Joint Trip Committee of NRHS and RRE groups we had our own PA system ... system was loaned to Amtrak for the return of Freedom Train #4449 to the west coast, as they had ... tool if used wisely and sparingly. Your safety speach will be the same for all cars, something ... "

So I don't know where your getting you information from.
Len.

Fortunately, I'm blessed with a near photographic memory. I just needed to scroll back to mid Feb of 2006. Your post was removed, it involved the buy a tie program at the Bel-Del. Here is the only reference I could find.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19974

Anyone else remember the "Freedom of Speach Organization" (sic) issues that spring?

There are a lot of people who have worked very hard to make this forum a good place to share ideas, opinions and stories regarding railway preservation.

I can think of no other person who has posted more mis-information, half truths and miss information.

Maybe I'll get myself banned, but I think it takes away from the board as a whole, and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one.

Dave

Anyone else agree?

Gentlemen
May I ask that if this conversation needs to be continued, that you do so offline and amongst yourselves ?

This forum really doesn't benefit from these types of comments, accurate or otherwise, and you're dancing on the lines that have been established not to be crossed.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and restraint.

I'm specifically NOT saying ANYTHING about specific people.

I'm talking ONLY as someone who's "been there, done that" with locomotive restoration.

Assuming I'm in the position to help (which I wouldn't be that particular weekend, having family plans), here's what I specifically need to know to help me decide either to come out this time or make plans for a future time:

Do you have a specific plan and checklist? Look at the routine posts by the Catskill Mt. RR guys/"eehiv" as examples. Do you already have ready access to either acetylene or arc/MIG welders, a forklift, an overhead crane, power tools?? Is there appropriate sheet metal on hand, or is it a case of we have to figure out what metal to order or steal from the scrap pile? You don't get a welder to twiddle his thumbs while someone else wastes a weekend finding something for him to patch with. You have paintbrushes or a power painter/air spray gun? Got paint? A place to paint? Got a place to put that oil tank if we get it out?

Is there a vetting process? Can I just blow in and start grinding off rust, or will I spend three hours in a NPS safety class, signing releases and whatnot?

Have you outlined what is necessary to put that pony axle under the 565? What tools and repairs will be necessary before someone tries to pick up the end of 565? When and HOW will someone pick/jack up the front of 565?

Are we still trying to identify parts in those bins? Why? How much head-scratching is going on? Are we sure we can't hunt down any responsible/irresponsible parties who may have loaded said bins in Vermont in the first place and ask them to play "spot the parts"?

The best thing you can possibly do is produce the assurance among potential volunteers that 1) you can identify very specific needs whereas we can then seek out specific talents, and 2) volunteers aren't going to drive 2-4 hours one way to stand around while a "Chinese fire drill" of haphazard events happens around them. Groups like the Friends of the EBT and Friends of the C&TS and the WW&F work parties have gotten quite good at such a challenge, even putting my then-fiancee to work shoveling ballast while others with more experience are entrusted with spike-driving, brakeman duties, etc.

Maybe it won't happen this particular day/weekend. But convince me and my associates that the mission is practical and effective, and then we'll start plotting what weekend(s) we CAN come up and apply specific talents.

I understand we are getting into a really touchy area. Dave, thank you for going where I'm sure a lot of us were thinking "should I"? I for one was really happy to see the effort started by Steve to try to make DL&W 565 be as good a display piece as is possible. There are many people on this site with less than kind views about Steamtown. The fact that Steve was able to put together a group of volunteers and get support from Steamtown staff was really great. No matter how well or poorly we think of the place, everyone can agree that if this locomotive should be on display and be as complete as possible.

That being said, we don't know how this transfer of leadership was decided upon for the project. Dave has merely been bold enough to point out the obvious - the person now making public pronouncements has developed a reputation both on the Internet and elsewhere that Dave (and I do as well) believe will keep other volunteers away in droves. Since we don't know how this decision was made we really can't know the important issue - WHY?

I hope we are wrong and that there is real progress. At a minimum I hope that there is no harm done and the 565 will at least be in a position for Steve to pick up on upon his return.

SO

That's the point I was driving at. Really, I just answered the initial question as to why there was not much said about the 565...

In any case, I think Steves group was a fantastic idea. They've already gotten all the parts of that engine together in one spot, which is a giant leap forward. I'd hoped to help on the 565 project, but it seems I've been working 7 days a week for the last two months. That being said, I'll be happy to help Steve when he returns safe and sound and I'm not confined to the four walls of Bridge 60 Tower....

Dave

Hi all, this is a quote from Steve in an email to the crew. it has the guidlines in what needs to be done, and I'll add to it too.

" shop boss at Steamtown and has been an awesome help and great person all around. they are excited, like most of the shop, about getting 565 back to her former glory. All the parts are by the engine and in the room just in front. We have 3 bins full of stuff. Some we are sure don’t go, so you can take that back to the scrap dock. Pat who Leo I have been in contact with can help with getting you into the basement where there may be some more parts.

Some of the parts will have to be made. The cow catcher and smoke box front are located in the bay next to the tender. The new boiler jacket is on the other side of 759. The doors and windows are in the parts room, off the room where the bins are. As you come into the room look to your left on the shelves, you will see red doors about 5-6 feet on a shelf those are for 565. Also in that same room is a loft, the headlight is there.

Bruce wants to get her on the pit to re-install the journals but we need the wheel lift to do that. So we have to wait until the contractor gets that fixed. I suggest you guys concentrate on getting the pilot truck ready to go back in. Also sandblast the journals for the front driver and you are going to need to make the piece that holds the journal in place. We have one so to make a copy should be easy. It’s in the bins. It’s about 2 feet long, 2 inches thick and about 4 inches wide. you may want to look at the tender. To me it looks in very good condition, except for the rotten wood on the ends and that ugly oil tank. "

I think what we need to work on right now is the tender, because there are pins to be made and LV-Lou is going to make them , they go to the lead truck.

The tender is in good shape and needs little work. the mager thing is removing the oil tank and the rotten wood beam on the front of the tender. there are a few things that may be have be removed and reweld on the coal bin too.

The one leg iron on the rear of the tender needs to be reworked its bent.

They have a compleat locomotive repair shop, paint shop , ect.

Let me know what you people can do.

Len.