Railroad Museum of Long Island Update:

GE 25 Tonner, 399 has seen a lot of progress in the past two weeks at the Riverhead Restoration Site, with even more on the way. The final welding on the back of the locomotive’s cab has been completed. Now small amounts of grinding remain to remove the welds for a nice and smooth surface. Once this is finished it will be primed and readied for painting. Preparations are also being made to reinstall the newly restored engineer’s door on the side of the engine. Plans are being finalized to install it based on original General Electric design. Filler metal possibly added by the Long Island Rail Road has been removed to allow for the door to be bolted on rather then welded. This will allow for a little more “wiggle room” when setting the door up to the striker.

Inside the cab needle scaling continues on the floor. It was also painted in primer brown to prevent further rust. The cab itself was also cleaned out of all tools and materials not related to the reassembly of the locomotive. A lot of the control stand and cab have also been cleaned up and painted including the break stand, seat and control stand. The entire under carriage of the locomotive has also been grinded down to a smooth surface and painted primer brown. Next week weather permitting it will be painted black. We will be restoring 399 to her original paint job, which is solid orange body and black under carriage.



Check out our blog for more photos and updates:
http://rmlinews.blogspot.com/2011/11/en ... gress.html


Anthony DeBellis
Presidents' Aide de Camp
Railroad Museum of Long Island

Good to see that work is being done.
I like critters.

Lee

Thank You Lee!

Even more to repot this week...

After another weekend is said and done, Engine 399 gets continued TLC from Aide de Camp DeBellis in Riverhead. A once old and rusty engine now has new life in it with it’s new bright orange and black color scheme. Saturday saw prep work for 399, with the entire locomotive getting grinded and sanded to remove any rust that has been taking this engine’s appearance over. By the end of the day Saturday the entire engine was in primer brown ready for paint! Front handrails were also in black ready to be reinstalled. Sunday was the big day for our little 25 Tonner, when color would be restored to this tiny loco.

The front of the engine received a nice gloss black, as did the undercarriage and wheels. This allowed for the installation of the coupler hand rails and a front handrail on the engine. With grinded shinny nuts and bolds and a little spray grease they went on just fine. Then came the moment every one has been waiting for…399 started to shape up to her original glory and orange paint. Right now the front and firemen’s side are done, with the roof and engineer’s side to be completed on the next good weather weekend. This is the first coat of paint that will be applied. In the spring the second and final coat of orange and black will be applied. But for now 399 is safe from any winter rust.

On the east side of the museum our Visitor’s Center continues to get needed repair and paint by Lou Caruso, who diligently works every weekend to make the museum look better. The Visitor’s Center is getting the same paint job the Lionel Visitors Center got, which is a historic white worn by many Long Island Rail Road Stations in the last century.

Next weekend there will not be any work done in Riverhead because of our Annual Holiday Open House at the Greenport Museum. Come and meet Santa and Sir Topham Hatt at your last chance to see the museum in 2011




Check out our blog for more photos and updates:
http://rmlinews.blogspot.com/2011/11/or ... lding.html

Anthony DeBellis
Presidents' Aide de Camp
Railroad Museum of Long Island

Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in North East, PA got one donated to them two years ago by Ellwood National Forge - in operational condition. It's proven to be very popular with visitors and volunteers and has been repainted.
We've also found a good assortment of GE manuals on them - including the maintenance manual. If you need contacts or a 'support group' I can put you in contact with them.
http://www.grape-track.org/Roll