Saturday, November 7th

On Saturday, in Phoenicia George Peck, Derek Stapleton and Dave Mason continued work on converting the section house to a work shop.

Also in Phoenicia, Ed Palmatier, Al Johnson and Dick Wilhelm continued work on the 702. Ed worked on the bathroom, and Al continued cleaning luggage racks.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini led a crew that inserted 65 ties and plated, tamped and spiked 42. The track was put in service up to four rail lengths west of Trailways crossing to about MP 4.91 or so, with ties inserted to MP 4.94. They had two backhoes going (Earl and John Patane) as well as the tamper. The crew consisted of Al Schoessow, Ron Epstein, Greg Vaughn, Bob Blake, Ray Farrell, Mark Glaser, Peter Fluchere, Steve Kijak and Mike LaLonde. Some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156148

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156149


Sunday, November 8th

Earl Pardini had a crew on Sunday that consisted of Mark Glaser, Al Schoessow, Dave Hilliard, Dick Ray, Walt Otto, and Ron Epstein. They continued plating, spiking and tamping to MP 4.94, and inserted 14 more ties to about MP 4.95. There are now 49 ties left to replace to get to bridge C9, which should be reached by next weekend.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

I enjoy watching the latest news and progress. What is the plan when you reach bridge C9?
Phil

I, too, enjoy the weekly updates and photos. What weight rail are you working with?
Is the dirt "ballast' adequate or will stone later be added?
Thanks and good going.
Ira Schreiber
Aurora, CO

Phil and Ira,

Our plan once we reach C9 is to bring our equipment which has been stored about 1/2 mile west back across the bridge to Cornell Street. After that we are looking at options to repair the bridge, both with and without public funds. We believe the bridge and its foundation are structurally sound, but needs a new deck; pins need to be freed and new pads installed. Of course some steel work may be necessary once the timbers are removed from the bridge and we can see areas now hidden.

As for the weight of the rail, it is 90lb AS where we are working with now. There are stretches of 105 Dudley in other parts of the line. The ballast is actually cinder not dirt, but looks like dirt in the photos. We plan to put in stone ballast in the low spots, but mostly the existing cinder is fine.

EH

Saturday, November 14th

All hands for Kingston!

In Kingston, we plan to have two crews working Saturday, one finishing the track to C9 and the other doing tie replacement under Chandler Drive. This work is very important for our being able to open our Kingston Holiday service on November 26th, and we ask all volunteers who are able to to join us.

Earl Pardini will lead a crew inserting the 49 final ties to C9. They will meet at the Trailways crossing (MP 4.89) at 9:00am.

George Peck will lead a second crew inserting ties under Chandler Drive (MP 3.56). They will start at about 8:30am.

The 702 crew will start at 10am in Phoenicia, continuing work on luggage racks and cabinets and painting the west end of the coach.



Sunday, November 15th.

Earl Pardini will lead a crew starting at 9:30am at the Trailways crossing at MP 4.89. He will be working to finish up the last of the C9 extension, and if this is completed early, will work east towards Cornell Street fixing minor track repairs.

Weather is supposed to be good both days.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Friday, November 13th

On Friday, November 13th, Al Schoessow and Earl worked on the C9 extension inserting 18 ties.


Saturday, November 14th

On Saturday, there were two crews working on the C9 Extension:

At Chandler Drive, George Peck, Jason DiTolla and John Patane inserted 8 ties under Chandler Drive and dug out the entire illegal crossing there. They need to insert another dozen ties or so there.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156512

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156513

At C9, Earl led a crew consisting of Bob Blake, Mark Glaser, Al Schoessow, and John Tuma. They 1/2 spiked 40 ties, fully spiked 20, and tamped and plated 6. Earl inserted the last 30 ties right up to MP 5.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156514

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156515

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156516

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156517

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156518

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156519

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156520

There remain 22 ties to tamp and plate and 28 to spike, so the C9 extension is now nearly complete.

In Phoenicia, George Liucci, Ernie Gehrer, Al Johnson, Ed Palmatier and Dick Wilhelm worked on the 702. They continued cleaning luggage racks and moved finished celestory windows into the boxcar.


Sunday, November 15th

On Sunday, the C9 extension was completed. Al Schoessow led a crew consisting of Harry Jameson, Mark Glaser, and Dave Hilliard who spiked and tamped the last 28 ties up to the bridge. Some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156576

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156578


Next weekend we will finish Chandler Drive, do spot trackwork and inspect the track thoroughly so it can be opened for our first Holiday Train on Friday, November 27th.

EH

Saturday, November 21st

All hands for Kingston!

In Kingston, George Peck will be leading a track crew inserting more ties at Chandler Drive in preparation for our Holiday service to begin on November 27th. There is lots of work to do, and George needs as much help as possible. He will be starting under Chandler Drive (MP 3.56) at 8:30am. We need a big crew to get this section of the line ready for service, so please come if you can.

The 702 crew will start at 10am in Phoenicia, continuing work on luggage racks and cabinets and painting the west end of the coach.


Sunday, November 22nd

Earl Pardini will lead a crew starting at 9:30am Cornell Street. They will be getting the Holiday Train decorated and ready for revenue service. We could use a good turnout.


Saturday, December 5th

Our Kingston service will start on Saturday, December 5th at 1pm. Our complete schedule is listed here:

http://www.catskillmtrailroad.com/ki_schedules.html



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, November 21st

In Phoenicia, the 702 crew consisted of Ernie Gehrer, George Liucci, Ed Palmatier, Al Johnson, and Dick Wilhelm. The east end of the coach received its final coat of paint:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156960

Work continued on the brakes, cabinet doors, and luggage racks.


In Kingston, George Peck and Earl Pardini led a crew continuing work repairing the track at Chandler Drive. The crew consisted of John Patane, John Tuma, Bob Blake, Ray Farrell, Paul Hintz, Mark Glaser, Al Schoessow, Harry Jameson, Ron Epstein, Peter Fluchere, John Mech and myself.

Here are some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156962

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156963

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156964

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=156965

About 20 ties were replaced, tamped and spiked. Afterwards, the 401 took the crew to MP 5 to pick up flat 201. This was the first trip the 401 ever made that far west on the line.



Sunday, November 22nd

Earl Pardini led a crew at Cornell Street consisting of Ernie klopping, Al Schoessow, John Tuma, Mark Glaser, and Walt Otto. They made repairs to the 401 and the backhoes, and in the afternoon took the 401 and caboose to C9 where they cut overhanging trees, and picked up old ties from the ROW.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

On Saturday, the CMRR ran its work train all the way to MP 5 and Bridge C9 for the first time in 20 years. A few photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157023

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157024

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157025

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157026

Holiday train service will start on December 5th.

Ernie Hunt

Monday November 23

On Monday, Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Todd Syska, Al Sshoessow, Walt Otto, Paul Hintz, and Ron Epstein and worked on Fair Street crossing today. They removed half the asphalt from the east end, and put in new asphalt level with the rails.


Tuesday November 24:

Tomorrow, Earl Pardini and Todd Syska will lead a crew finishing work on the Fair Street Crossing.

They really need anyone who is able to join them to come and help as helpers and flaggers. Please come if you can spare the time.

We also need someone to photograph the work so it can be properly documented for the county.

They will be starting at Fair Street Crossing at 8am Tuesday morning.



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Ernie,

Now that the track is repaired to bridge C9, when are you planning on moving the marooned equipment into town? Has the siding been finished for it yet?

Phil

Phil,

We plan to make some temporary repairs to the bridge this winter, and bring the cars back in the early spring. The siding is 2/3 done, and will be ready when we decide to move the cars.


EH

Tuesday, November 24th

The CMRR continued reasphalting the crossing at Fair Street today. Earl Pardini led a crew consisting of Todd Syska, Al Schoessow, Mark Glaser, Harry Jameson and Walt Otto. Some photos:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157140

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157141

http://naphotos.nerail.org/s/?p=157142

About 20 feet of crossing is still left to be finished.



Wednesday November 25:

Tomorrow, Earl Pardini will lead a crew finishing the last 20 feet of Fair Street Crossing.

As before, they really need anyone who is able to join them to come and help as helpers and flaggers. Please come if you can spare the time.

We also need someone to photograph the work so it can be properly documented for the county.

They will be starting at Fair Street Crossing at 11am Wednesday morning, though prep work will begin at 9am.



Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

November 25th, 2009

Today Earp Pardini led a crew that finished repairing the crossing at Fair Street. The crew consisted of Al Schoessow, Walt Otto, Mark Glaser, Harry Jameson and John Patane.

They finished the last 20 feet of asphalt, and also cleaned up the old battery box and electrical equipment from the former flashing signals that were once located there. Finally, they ran the train through the crossing to carve the flangeways. The end result is a smooth crossing for both cars and trains. Congrats to the crew today as well as the Monday and Tuesday crew who made this possible.

Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR

Saturday, November 28th

In Phoenicia, the 702 crew plan to continue work on luggage racks and brakes at 10am.

In Kingston, Earl Pardini plans to lead a crew that will use the work train to pick up tie shards and other debris from our recent extension to C9, and do other work on the ROW. Crews should meet at Cornell Street at 9am. A second crew may work on the permanent benches for flat 278 and other work in preparation for our Holiday Train startup.


Sunday, November 29th

On Sunday, Earl Pardini plans to lead a crew at Cornell Street starting at 10am. Plans include further ROW cleanup, benches for flat 278, decorating the holiday train, and other work in preparation for our Holiday Train startup.


Ernie Hunt
Volunteer Coordinator
CMRR