Saturday, March 7th

Phoenicia

George Peck took out a crew on Saturday and replaced 240 bolts in 60 joints east of Andrew's Lane. The crew consisted of George, Dave Mason, Derek Stapleton, Jason DiTolla, Kurt Van Dermark, and newcomer Michael Adsit.

The 702 crew consisted of Terry W., Al Johnson, Bill Kaba, Ed Palmatier, Ernie Gehrer and George Liucci. Ernie started the wiring, and George worked on the east vestibule. The rest sanded and applied a third coat of varnish to the sills, then evaluated the seat frames for installation.


Kingston

In Kingston, the crew consisted of Chris Bigham, Earl Pardini, John Patane, John Tuma, Joe Marsh, Joe Klapkowski, Bob Blake, Peter Fluchere, Chester Hartwell and myself.

We cut from the Holiday Inn to the Thruway. We finished limbing trees around the Holiday Inn, and cut about 50 trees from the Holiday Inn to C9.

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Earl used his backhoe and pulled stumps from the Holiday Inn west to about MP 4.65:

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Sunday, March 8th

In Kingston, the following worked: Earl, Ernie Klopping, Mark Glaser, John Patane, Walt Otto, and Jeff Otto.

Jeff writes: "We did a major clean up and organization of the yard (Mack dump truck chock full of junk), continued to clear off the dock, reset tarps over the new generator, etc, removed stumps and leveled some of the ground at the West end, took apart a second air compressor to salvage vanes for the other, welded grab hooks on the new backhoe, and dug into the old backhoe and determined that repairing it, though still labor intensive, will be less costly than feared."


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Friday, March 13th

On Friday, March 13th, Earl Pardini plans to lead a crew to do trackwork between Downs Street and Westbrook lane. Please meet at the Cornell Street yard about 9am.


Saturday, March 14th


Phoenicia

George Peck will again lead a crew to do boltwork. He plans to start at Phoenicia about 9am, and will be working later east of Andrew's Lane.

The 702 crew plan to start work on the 702 about 10am.

Kingston

In Kingston, the crew will do trackwork and brushcutting, depending on conditions. The track crew will work from Downs Street to Westbrook Lane under Earl Pardini, and the brush crew will work under Chris Bigham, most likely at the cars west of 209. Both crews should meet at Cornell Street at 9-9:30am, for last minute instructions.


Sunday, March 15th

Earl will open Cornell Street at 9:30. Plans including moving items off the dock to other parts of the yard. Work on the Cornell Street siding may resume if the ground is not frozen.


Saturday March 21st - Annual Stockholder Meeting

The CMRR Annual Stockholder meeting will be held the evening of March 21st in Phoenicia. Please mark your calendars. Exact location and time will be announced later.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Friday, March 13th

On Friday, Earl Pardini, Jeff Otto and John Patane did a detailed inspection of the line from Washington Avenue to Route 209.


Saturday, March 14th

Phoenicia

George Peck, Greg Peck, Dave Mason, Derek Stapleton and Michael Adsit did yard cleanup in Phoenicia as well as maintenance on equipment there.


On the 702, Al Johnson reports: "Terry W. and I applied the 4th coat of varnish to the sills. Ed Palmatier, Bill Kaba, and Tom Healy started the cleaning of the seat frames."

Next will be installation of the window sills.


Kingston

In Kingston, the crew consisted of Earl, Chris Bigham, Jeff Otto, Greg Vaughn, John Patane, John Tuma, Peter Fluchere, and myself.

First, we worked the area between O'Neil Street (MP 3.1) and Downs Street (MP 3.2). There has been alot of growth cut there over the years, and we chipped it and several new trees. The area will be used for rail storage and eventually for a siding for our MOW equipment.

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Chris Bigham, Peter Fluchere, John Tuma and I went over to 209 after lunch, and cut around the cars on the west side so you can walk through there better, and cut the gauge to about 100 feet west of the washout.

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In the afternoon, Jeff Otto and John Patane cleaned up garbage on the tracks from Downs Street to Elmendorf Street. Joe Marsh came by in the afternoon and worked on the tamper.



Sunday, March 15th

Phoenicia

In Phoenicia, George Peck, Greg Peck and Michael Adsit continued yard cleanup.


Kingston


On Sunday the following worked: Earl, Greg Vaughn, Ernie Klopping, Mark Glaser, Steve Kijak, Joe Marsh, Ryan Marsh, Walt Otto, and Jeff Otto.

Writes Jeff Otto: "We finished clearing the rail storage area by O'Neil St and loading the side dump with excess fill from there, continued cleaning out the yard of any sheet scrap and other low value scrap, continued removing trash and scrap along the ROW West of Downs St, repaired a loose caboose step, worked on the tamper, including installing the cooling unit, and removed the engine from the John Deer backhoe so it can be repaired."


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, March 21st


Phoenicia

George Peck will again lead a crew to do boltwork. He plans to start at Phoenicia about 9am, and will be working later east of Andrew's Lane.

The 702 crew plan to start work on the 702 about 10am.


Kingston

Earl Pardini plans to work on various equipment repairs in the Cornell Street yard starting at 9am.

Chris Bigham and I will be leading a brush cutting crew starting at Hurley Mountain Road (County Route 5, MP 5.95) between 9:30am and 10am. We plan to start there and work east towards the washout. The plan is to open up the track wide enough for the spray truck to reach the washout at MP 5.53. Bring rotary blade type brush cutters, loppers, and chain saws. Steve Gollow has said he plans to attend. We also may have a track car, and if so will work west towards Shokan at the end of the day if we have time.


Annual Stockholder's meeting

The CMRR Annual Stockholder meeting will be held the evening of March 21st in Phoenicia. The meeting will be held at 7:30pm at the Phoenicia Train Station.



Sunday, March 22nd

Earl will open Cornell Street at 9:30. Plans are to work on various equipment in the yard in preparation for track work.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Saturday, March 21st.


Phoenicia

The 702 crew worked on final fitting of window sills, and the beginning of seat assembly. The crew consisted of Ed Palmatier, Al Johnson, Bill Kaba and Tom Healy.

George Peck led a large crew doing bolt work at about MP 24.5. They installed 400 bolts in 100 joints. The crew consisted of Jason DiTolla, Mike LaLonde, Dave Mason, Derek Stapleton, Paul Sternitzke, Mike Adsit, and Joe Mitchell. Some photos:

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Kingston

The brush crew cut the Hurley Flats brush down to size. It is now passable by track cars, and we took out most brush over 1 inch within 7 feet of the ties, so the sickle bar can get through (with a few snall spots still left). For the most part, the spray truck should be able to get through to the washout this year. Some photos:

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The crew consisted of Chris Bigham, Peter Fluchere, Dave Hilliard, Dave Baker, and myself. Ron Epstein stopped by to visit.

At Cornell Street, Joe Marsh and Dick Wilhelm brought the tamper to life after may years of inactivity:

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Earl Pardini, Jeff Otto, Mark Glaser, and John Patane did other cleanup work around the yard.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Sunday, March 22nd.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Ken Darmstadt, Bob Blake, Ernie Klopping, Joe Marsh, Dick Wilhelm, Mark Glaser, Jeff Otto and Walt Otto.

Earl and Ernie Klopping worked on repairing the air compressor; Joe Marsh and Dick Wilhelm worked on the tamper, and the rest, led by Jeff Otto, worked on the new siding at Cornell Street:

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Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, March 28th

Main Line Tie Replacement Project Begins.

Phoenicia

Earl Pardini will lead a crew pulling spikes and plates on the mainline near the 26.09 bridge (in front of Russ's), in preparation for tie replacement. He will also be removing ties with his backhoe. The crew will meet at Phoenicia station at 9am for a safety briefing and to get tools, and will move to MP 26.09 shortly afterwards.

Chris Bigham and Peter Fluchere will lead the brush crew working at the same location. The goal is to remove all brush between the tracks and SR 28 from the 26.09 bridge west.

Those who prefer tree cutting will work east from the 26.09 bridge towards Mt. Pleasant station, removing all trees that encroach the ROW or have branches that do the same.

The 702 crew plan to start work on the 702 about 10am.

Kingston

Cornell Street yard will be closed Saturday.




Sunday, March 29th

Phoenicia


Earl Pardini and George Peck will continue spike and plate removal in the same place Sunday (west of the 26.09 bridge). They will also be removing ties with the backhoe. Brush and tree cutting crews will also work continuing from the prior days stop point. Earl and George plan to meet everyone at the Phoenicia Station at 9:30am, before proceeding to the 26.09 bridge area.


Kingston

Cornell Street yard will be closed Sunday.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Saturday, March 28th

On Saturday, all crews were working near Phoenicia.


Track Crew - Earl led a crew consisting of Bob Blake, Mark Glaser, Joe Marsh, Dick Wilhelm, Mike LaLonde and George Bain. They took out 162 tie plates from MP 26.09 to Campground Curve, and removed and scarified about 20 ties.

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Brush Crew - Chris Bigham led a crew consisting of Peter Fluchere, Todd Syska, Bruce Devorkin, and myself. We cut brush west of the 26.09 bridge in front of Russ's, between the tracks and Route 28.

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Maintenance Crew - Derek Stapleton worked in the Phoenicia yard on the gradall.

On the way back into the yard, I shot this video from MP 27 to 27.4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2WcYAY6vGg


Sunday, March 29th

Today, the track crew was out on the line removing and inserting ties between the 26.09 bridge and Campground Curve.

The crew consisted of Earl Pardini, George Peck, Joe Marsh, Dick Wilhelm, Bob Blake, Mike LaLonde, Michael Adsit, Mark Glaser, John Patane, and myself.

About 72 more ties were removed today, and 87 new ties were inserted.

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Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Main Line Tie Replacement Project Continues.


Friday, April 3rd

Phoenicia.

On Friday, April 3rd, Earl Pardini will lead a crew continuing to pull ties, scarify, and insert ties between Campground Curve and the 26.09 bridge. The crew will meet at Phoenicia at 9am, and move to the job site shortly thereafter with the scarifier, backhoe, and tie handler.


Saturday, April 4th


Phoenicia

Earl Pardini will lead a crew continuing to scarify, insert and tamp ties between Campground Curve and the 26.09 bridge. The crew will meet at Phoenicia station at 9am for a safety briefing and to get tools, and will move to MP 26.2 shortly afterwards.

The brush crew will work alongside the track crew between Campground Curve and the 26.09 bridge to complete removing all brush between the tracks and SR 28 from the 26.09 bridge west. They will start about 10am.

George Peck will lead a crew replacing bolts at about MP 24.3. They will meet at the Phoenicia yard at 9am, and move out to MP 24.3 with the work train shortly thereafter.

The 702 crew plan to start work on the 702 about 10am.

Kingston

Cornell Street yard will be closed Saturday.




Sunday, April 5th

Phoenicia


George Peck will lead a crew to finish inserting, tamping, plating and spiking ties from Campground Curve to the 26.09 bridge Brush crews will also work continuing from the prior days stop point. George plans to meet everyone at the Phoenicia Station at 9:30am, before proceeding to the 26.09 bridge area.


Kingston

Cornell Street yard most likely be closed Sunday. Please check with Earl Saturday evening for the final word.




Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Thanks to the recent TRAINS magazine article on you guys, I now appreciate the scale of what you are doing. And now recognize many of the names from the article.

My hats off to you and the other organizations working to restore the same line.

The volunteers come from all over. I drive up from Virginia twice a year to help out. (Going back up next week) It's some of the most scenic ROW on the east cost and the history of the area and how intertwined the railroad was and is with it is fascinating.

James,

Thanks for the note on our efforts to restore the U&D. We are also very aware of your organization's project to restore the WW&F, and wish you the best on that equally worthy endeavor. Someday I'll come up to see it myself!

Win,

Looking forward to working you hard next weekend!!!

Ernie Hunt

Friday, April 3rd

The track crew, which consisted of Earl, John Patane, Dick Wilhelm, and Joe Marsh, completed tie removal on the line from the 26.09 bridge to Campground Curve today. They installed another 40 ties, leaving about 35 left to go.

Tom Healy worked on seat parts for the 702.


April 4, 2009

The 702 crew started window sill installation and continued electrical work and seat part cleaning. The crew consisted of Terry W., Ed Palmatier, Ernie Gehrer, and George Liucci.

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The track crew focused on the section from the 26.09 bridge to Campground Curve today. The remaining 35 ties from Friday were inserted, and 112 out of 162 were tamped. The crew consisted of George Peck, Greg Peck, Michael Adsit, Tom Healy, Dick Wilhelm, Joe Marsh, Derek Stapleton, Otto Vondrak, Mark Glaser, Earl Pardini, and Paul Sternitzke.

Photos from Saturday:

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Sunday, April 5, 2009

Phoenicia

George Peck led the spiking crew between the 26.09 bridge and Campground Curve. They spiked the 112 ties tamped Saturday, plus three more. About 57 ties are left for tamping and spiking and this project will be complete.

The crew today consisted of George Peck, Greg Peck, Jason DiTolla, Michael Adsit, Mark Glaser, Dick Ray and Tom Healy.

Some photos:

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Kingston

At Cornell Street, Earl Pardini, Ernie Klopping, Walt Otto and Bill Hoppe worked on miscellaneous projects in the yard.



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Thursday, April 9th and Friday, April 10th

Earl's Special Project

On Thursday and Friday, Earl will be brushcutting on his "special project" starting on site at 8am. If you would like to participate, please contact Earl Pardini or Joe Marsh or myself for directions to the site. Bring chainsaws, clippers, and blade brush cutters.

Win Goodier will also be in town on Thursday and Friday brush cutting closer to Phoenicia. If you would like to join him, call him or email him for details.


Saturday, April 11th

Phoenicia

George Peck and Earl Pardini will lead a crew finish tamping and spiking the 50 remaining ties between Campground Curve and the 26.09 bridge. The crew will meet at Phoenicia station at 9am for a safety briefing and to get tools, and will move to MP 26.2 shortly afterwards.

The brush crew will work alongside the track crew between Campground Curve and the 26.09 bridge to complete removing all brush between the tracks and SR 28 from the 26.09 bridge west. They will start about 10am. If there is sufficient time, they will also work near Mt. Pleasant station.

The 702 crew plan to start work on the 702 about 10am.


Kingston

Cornell Street yard will be closed Saturday.


Sunday, April 12th


There will be no work crews Sunday because of the Easter Holiday.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR

Thursday, April 9th


Earl's Special Project

On ESP, we had a good crew - Earl, Joe Marsh, Joe Klapkowski, Mike LaLonde, Bob Blake, John Patane, Chris Rittner and Jeff Otto.

The crew cut all brush on site, and stacked it for chipping Friday.


Brush crew

The brush crew started at MP 33.5 ar the SR 28 crossing in Shandaken, and cut the ROW open from there west to MP 34. The crew included Peter Fluchere, Chris Bigham, Dave Heick, Dick Ray, and Dave Sigafoose.

This track was cleared 10 years ago by Dave Heick, and will now be added to our 21 miles of OOS service track that is now accessible for maintenance by MOW equipment.


Friday, April 10th

Earl's Project

Friday the crew consisted of Earl, Joe Marsh, Mike LaLonde, Mark Glaser, Bob Blake, and Jeff Otto. The crew chipped all the brush cut yesterday and is ready for the next phase of the project.

Brush Crew

Chris Bigham and Win Goodier continued cutting west from the SR 28 crossing in Shandaken. The crew consisted also of Dick Ray, Dave Sigafoose, Dave Heick, and myself. The crew cut west from MP 34 where they stopped yesterday, to MP 35.83. Only .39 miles more needs to be cut to complete clearing this section of the line.

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Saturday, April 11th

Saturday, the 702 crew installed the window sills and continued work on electrical and the east vestibule. The crew consisted of Terry W., Dick Wilhelm, Ernie Gerhrer, and George Liucci.

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Th stamping and spiking crew tamped and spiked the last 57 ties in the main line replacement project, which was completed today.

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The crew consisted of George Peck, Michael Adsit, Derek Stapleton, Win Goodier, Bob Blake, Mark Glaser, Todd Syska, Dave Sigafoose, Mike LaLonde, Jeff Otto, Tom Healy, Ken Darmstadt, and Steve Kijak.

After lunch, some of the crew cut brush east of Mt. Pleasant:

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And a few others went to Cornell Street to work on our new siding there:

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Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
Catskill Mountain RR