Saturday, November 3rd:


Track Blitz - Kingston

On Saturday, November 3rd, starting at 9am, George Peck will be continuing track rehabilitation in Kingston beginning at MP 3.56 (Chandler Drive) and working west. We will spike up the 27 ties we inserted last weekend, and start working towards Kingston Plaza. We will have the tie handler and scarifier (moved today) to help us.

We will meet under Chandler Drive (I-587 or MP 3.56) at 9am. This is located just east of Kingston Plaza at the end of an access road on the south side of the tracks. Please bring shovels and other equipment useful in spiking, plating and tamping with you.


N5B Caboose Reconstruction - Kingston

On Saturday, November 3rd, Earl Pardini and Jeff Otto will be opening the Cornell Street yard at 9:00am to continue work on the N5B Caboose reconstruction. Focus will be on the floor.



Sunday, November 4th


Kingston - Trackwork

Trackwork on Sunday will depend on crew size and interest. If you would like to continue trackwork on Sunday, report to the Cornell Street yard on Sunday, November 4th, to Earl Pardini any time after 9am.


Kingston - Caboose Reconstruction

Cornell Street will open at 9:00am on Sunday, November 4th. Plans are to continue working on the N5B caboose.


Weather is expected to be sunny Saturday and cloudy on Sunday with highs in the mid-fifties both days.



Upcoming Schedule (subject to change):

Saturday, November 10th, 17th - Kingston track and caboose work continues!


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator, Catskill Mountain RR

Yesterday, November 3rd, we had a large crew (22) in Kingston working to extend the tracks west and on the N5B caboose:

Trackwork

George Peck led a crew consisting of Rich Bause, Derek Stapleton, Al Schoessow, Earl Pardini, Bob Blake, Mark Glaser, Ed Palmatier, Peter Fluchere, Ron Epstein, Dave Baker, Brian Roloson, Harry Jameson, John Prestopino, Larry Ten Hoeve, Al Howes, Dick Wilhelm, and myself.

We removed 110 ties with the backhoe from MP 3.57 to MP 3.7 (the end of the ballfield), scarified and inserted 90 ties, and tamped 30 of these. We also spiked and plated 26 ties from last week, extending the line from MP 3.55 to MP 3.57.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 032094.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 568298.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 358343.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 258377.jpg


N5B Caboose

Jeff Otto, Raphael DeMeglio, John Patane and George Cook worked on the N5B caboose, finishing corrugated floor installation, and continued welding on the interior of the caboose.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 632040.jpg


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Saturday, November 10th:


Track Blitz - Kingston

On Saturday, November 10th, starting at 8:30am, George Peck will be continuing track rehabilitation in Kingston beginning at MP 3.57 (Chandler Drive) and working west. We will spike up the 90 ties we inserted last weekend, insert and spike the remaining 40 ties just west of 3.57, and remove and insert ties up to Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78. We will have the tie handler, scarifier, gradall, and backhoe to help us.

We will meet just west of Chandler Drive (I-587 or MP 3.56) at 8:30am. This is located just east of Kingston Plaza at the end of an access road on the south side of the tracks. Please bring shovels and other equipment useful in spiking, plating and tamping with you.


N5B Caboose Reconstruction - Kingston

On Saturday, November 10th, Earl Pardini and will be opening the Cornell Street yard at 7:30am to continue work on the N5B Caboose reconstruction. Focus will be on the floor, windows and interior.



Sunday, November 11th


Kingston - Trackwork

Trackwork on Sunday will depend on crew size and interest. If you would like to continue trackwork on Sunday, report to the Cornell Street yard on Sunday, November 11th, to Earl Pardini any time after 9am.


Kingston - Caboose Reconstruction

Cornell Street will open at 9:00am on Sunday, November 11th. Plans are to continue working on the N5B caboose.


Weather is expected to be sunny Saturday and cloudy on Sunday with highs upper forties both days.



Upcoming Schedule (subject to change):

Saturday, November 17th - Kingston track and caboose work continues!


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator, Catskill Mountain RR

Today we had three crews working:

Shokan

In Shokan, the VRA brought their mower up and mowed from Shokan to Stony Hollow. The crew was led by George Cook as pilot, and consisted of Larry Ten Hoeve, Joe Marsh, Dick Ray, and Charley Roselius.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 122857.jpg


Kingston - Track Crew

In Kingston, a 15 man crew continued work west of Chandler Drive. Present were foreman George Peck, Al Schoessow, Harry Jameson, Peter Fluchere, Bob Blake, Ron Epstein, Mark Glaser, Tom Healy, Dick Wilhelm, Ed Palmatier, Earl Pardini, John Patane, John Prestopino, Derek Stapleton and myself.

We inserted the 40 remaining ties just west of Chandler Drive, tamped 100, and plated 47. We also dug out about 10 ties near the ballfield, with about 65 left to reach Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78.

A few photos from today:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 023287.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 523325.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 423384.jpg


Kingston - Caboose Renovation

A crew in Kingston led by Jeff Otto continued on the caboose.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mounrain RR

Saturday, November 17th:


Because we will be running out of light at about 5pm, we will be starting as early as possible this Saturday, so we can get a full days work in. Please come as early as you can.


Track Blitz - Kingston

On Saturday, November 17th, starting at 8:30am, George Peck will be continuing track rehabilitation in Kingston beginning at MP 3.57 (just west of Chandler Drive) and working west. We will spike up the 130 ties we inserted and tamped over the last two weekends, and insert, tamp and spike the remaining 75 ties up to Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78. We will have the tie handler, scarifier, gradall, and backhoe to help us. We should have the work train up to the ballfield by the end of the day, and maybe up to Westbrook Lane.

We will meet just west of Chandler Drive (I-587 or MP 3.56) at 8:30am. This is located just east of Kingston Plaza at the end of an access road (Aaron Court) on the south side of the tracks. Please bring shovels and other equipment useful in spiking, plating and tamping with you.


N5B Caboose Reconstruction - Kingston

On Saturday, November 17th, Earl Pardini and will be opening the Cornell Street yard at 7:30am to continue work on the N5B Caboose reconstruction. Focus will be on the windows and interior. The floor was poured on Wednesday, November 14th.



Sunday, November 18th


Kingston - Trackwork

Trackwork on Sunday will depend on crew size and interest. If you would like to continue trackwork on Sunday, report to the Cornell Street yard on Sunday, November 18th, to Earl Pardini any time after 9am.


Kingston - Caboose Reconstruction

Cornell Street will open at 9:00am on Sunday, November 18th. Plans are to continue working on the N5B caboose.


Weather is expected to be sunny Saturday and Sunday with highs in the forties both days.



Upcoming Schedule (subject to change):

Saturday, November 24th - Kingston track and caboose work continues! On to MP 4!


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator, Catskill Mountain RR

On Saturday, November 17th, we had tw0 crews working:

Kingston - Track Blitz

In Kingston, we had a 15 man crew working between Chandler Drive, MP 3.57, and Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78. The crew spiked 130 ties, extending the serviceable track to MP 3.7 from MP 3.57. They also inserted 75 ties from MP 3.7 to Westbrook Lane, which were partially tamped. We should reach Westbrook Lane next weekend.

Present today were foreman George Peck, Earl Pardini, Harry Jameson, John Patane, Dick Wilhelm, Tom Healy, Derek Stapleton, Bill Brosnan, Bob Blake, Ron Epstein, Mark Glaser, Ed Palmatier, Joe Marsh, John Tuma, and myself.

Here are some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 466432.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 116505.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 366540.jpg


Kingston - N5B Caboose

In the Cornell Street yard, Jeff Otto and Gary Lowe installed the four side windows in the caboose, and worked on the frames for several more.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... 376763.jpg


Future Plans:

We plan to do trackwork in Kingston every Saturday until the ground freezes. Sunday at Cornell Street will continue all winter.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Is that a continous joint bar I see wrapped around the joint in the first photo? You may have already answered this question but what size rail are you running on?

It is easier to measure your progress with the bridge disappearing into the background. Your work is impressive.

John Bohon

John,

The first photo is 105 lb rail; 2nd photo 90 lb; third photo shows 90 in the foreground and 105 in the distance. The line switches from 105 to 90 in the area we were working yesterday.

EH

Friday, November 23rd:

Trackwork - Kingston

On Friday, November 23rd, Bob Blake will lead a crew removing spikes and plates west of Westbrook Lane and tamping the remaining ties east of there. He will be joined by John Patane and Evan Jennings of the Trolley Museum. George Peck will be joining up later in the morning, as well as Earl Pardini, who may bring the 401 down to the Plaza with the newly renovated caboose.

The crew will meet Earl Pardini at the Cornell Street yard at 9am to pick up tools from the work train, and will move to Westbrook lane at 9:30-10am to start work. The goal is to remove enough spikes and plates so that the gradall can go right to work west of Westbrook lane first thing on Saturday.

Saturday, November 24th:


Track Blitz - Kingston

On Saturday, November 24th, starting at 8:30am, George Peck will be continuing track rehabilitation in Kingston beginning at MP 3.7 (near the ballpark just west of Westbrook Lane) and working west. We will spike up the 75 ties we inserted and tamped last weekend, and insert, tamp and spike as many ties as possible west of Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78. We will have the tie handler, scarifier, gradall, and backhoe to help us. Earl will be bringing the 401 down to the ballfield and probably cross Westbrook lane for the first time in many years.

We will meet just west of Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78, at 8:30am. This is located on the east end of Kingston Plaza. We will park on Aaron Court, just east of the crossing. Please bring shovels and other equipment useful in spiking, plating and tamping with you.


N5B Caboose Reconstruction - Kingston

On Saturday, November 24th, Earl Pardini and will be opening the Cornell Street yard at 7:30am to continue work on the N5B Caboose reconstruction. Focus will be on the windows and interior.



Sunday, November 25th


Kingston - Trackwork

Trackwork on Sunday will depend on crew size and interest. If you would like to continue trackwork on Sunday, report to the Cornell Street yard on Sunday, November 25th, to Earl Pardini any time after 9am.


Kingston - Caboose Reconstruction

Cornell Street will open at 9:00am on Sunday, November 25th. Plans are to continue working on the N5B caboose.


Weather this weekend is expected to be sunny with highs in the forties both days.



Upcoming Schedule (subject to change):

Saturday, December 1st - Kingston track and caboose work continues! On to MP 4!



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator, Catskill Mountain RR

A quick question.

Now that you guys are working in much more high visibility areas around Kingston (and doing a FANTASTIC JOB, might I add), have you had any NIMBY sort of incidents with the public?

greenwichlirr,

So far no problems, but we are not working in a residential area right now. We had two pairs of fathers with sons come by to cheer us on last weekend, though.

We'll find out more when we are working near a residential area on the other side of the plaza, from MP 4.15 to 4.37.

EH

Today, a work crew led by Bob Blake and John Patane continued track work in Kingston. The crew also included Earl Pardini, Evan Jennings, Paul Hintz, newcomer Dan Bishop and George Peck. John Patane sent this report:

"-all ties to westbrook lane are tamped and plated.
-all but 18 ties are spiked
-between 20-30 tie plates are removed west of westbrook lane
-tie handler and scarifier are parked behind herzogs for the night
-gradall is in the parking lot next to ball field for the night"

This means that 59 ties were tamped and plated today, and 57 were fully spiked, bringing the end of serviceable track west from MP 3.7 to about MP 3.75.

With all the equipment pre-positioned for tomorrow, we should make a lot of progress from Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78 to Fair Street, MP 4.01, where 197 ties are marked for removal. Great going!

EH

On Saturday, November 24th, the track crew led by George Peck continued trackwork in Kingston. The crew included Geoge Peck, Tom Healy, Dick Wilhelm, Earl Pardini, Derek Stapleton, John Patane, Bob Blake, Peter Fluchere, Harry Jameson, Mark Glaser, John Tuma, John Mech, and Ron Epstein.

The crew tamped and spiked 18 ties east of Westbrook Lane, and 12 west, extending the operable track from MP 3.75 to MP 3.8. Of 197 ties marked for replacement between Westbrook Lane, MP 3.78, and Fair Street, MP 4.01, 102 were removed and 87 ties were inserted. 95 still need to be removed, 110 inserted, and 185 spiked.

Some photos from today:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 151440.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 391465.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 081537.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 261696.jpg


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR