The Ohio Central Steam Department will open its doors next weekend for a “Volunteer Blitz Weekend.” The exciting weekend begins on April 8, 2004 at 8:00 a.m. and will run three days ending on the 10th. During the event, volunteers will work on steam locomotive No. 33 currently under restoration as well as Northern No. 6325. A variety of other projects will also be completed during the event.

Becoming a volunteer on the Ohio Central is simple. You can begin by attending the “Blitz Week" activity or you can respond to this note via e-mail. You may also learn more about our program by visiting our web page at ocsteam.com. As our program is growing and changing, we are finding ourselves in need of additional hands. If you have ever wanted to work on large steam engines, here is your chance!

The Ohio Central has a very packed summer schedule. Our largest event, Train Festival 2004 (trainfestival2004.com) is shaping up to be the steam event of the year.

If you would like more information about the “Blitz Week” event, please call me at
740-622-8118, Monday-Friday 7-3:30 Eastern Time or by e-mail at jerimmasch@ohiocentral.com .

If you are planning on attending, please advise us as soon as possible as we are planning on feeding all volunteers during the event. We would hate to not have enough food. Not only will we have plenty to eat, we will also have a number of fun activities such as slide shows and video shows.

See you next week,

John E. Rimmasch



jerimmasch@ohiocentral.com

Does Ohio Central still have a paid steam crew or are they starting to move towards a volunteer steam operation as this seems to suggest? I have always thought that working full-time for an outfit like Ohio Central would be like a dream come true. I'm sure voluneering is fun, but just imagine, working on steam all week and getting paid for it!! If only I had the experience to get hired :((

David,

There is still a full time crew at the Ohio Central but the volunteers help rebuild the engines and assist when the engines are running. Many times more people are needed to make sure everything is done.

It is hard to get experience in the world of steam, anymore. The best way to get some experience is to volunteer and learn from the guys that have been working on the engines for a while. From what I hear the full time guys at the Ohio Central are very professional and do a very good job restoring steam engines. Look at the 33. They haven't had it for a year and they are planning on having it completely rebuilt for Train Fest. These are the people you need to learn from. They can help you get the experience. A very large thank you must be given to the Ohio Central employees and volunteers for keeping steam alive.
Don S.

John,
Great idea to give people a ground floor chance to work on steam. The hobby is already short on people and this is a good way to introduce the biz to new volunteers. Only one question though. The notice to sign up is rather short and why not have a few more of these blitzs during the summer?

Bob,
From what I have gathered over the last couple of months if you check the Train Festival web site there is a place that says that volunteers are needed for Train Fest. Talk about a blitz week!!! The schedule for the Ohio Central this summer is extensive on top of Train Fest.
Don S.

> The Ohio Central Steam Department will open
> its doors next weekend for a “Volunteer
> Blitz Weekend.” The exciting weekend begins
> on April 8, 2004 at 8:00 a.m. and will run
> three days ending on the 10th. During the
> event, volunteers will work on steam
> locomotive No. 33 currently under
> restoration as well as Northern No. 6325. A
> variety of other projects will also be
> completed during the event.

> Becoming a volunteer on the Ohio Central is
> simple. You can begin by attending the
> “Blitz Week" activity or you can
> respond to this note via e-mail. You may
> also learn more about our program by
> visiting our web page at ocsteam.com. As our
> program is growing and changing, we are
> finding ourselves in need of additional
> hands. If you have ever wanted to work on
> large steam engines, here is your chance!

> The Ohio Central has a very packed summer
> schedule. Our largest event, Train Festival
> 2004 (trainfestival2004.com) is shaping up
> to be the steam event of the year.

> If you would like more information about the
> “Blitz Week” event, please call me at
> 740-622-8118, Monday-Friday 7-3:30 Eastern
> Time or by e-mail at
> jerimmasch@ohiocentral.com .

> If you are planning on attending, please
> advise us as soon as possible as we are
> planning on feeding all volunteers during
> the event. We would hate to not have enough
> food. Not only will we have plenty to eat,
> we will also have a number of fun activities
> such as slide shows and video shows.

> See you next week,

> John E. Rimmasch
does the OC do work during the week? I work 21 turn, and only get one weekend a month off. Usually get days during the week off.

LL675@aol.com

My question is for those of us who do have railroad experience? i would like to volunteer to work on the engines but would also like to have the opportunity to run them as well. i have a fra license and would like to get to experience the fruits of the labor. how does that work for OC? thanks in advance,

Joe

googanelli@aol.com

Anybody living near the Ohio Central should really consider attending this Volunteer Blitz and be prepared to have a lot of fun and learn new things. John runs a great volunteer program, and there is always something for everybody.

I envy everybody who gets to go. I wish I could go, but it is nearing the time for finals here at school. . .

. . .But that's okay! Anybody living in or near Utah can have the same volunteer opportunities working on steam engines at the Heber Valley Railroad. We are holding volunteer sessions every Saturday through April and May, starting at 9:00 AM. Contact Mike Lewis or Craig MacFarlane at (435) 654-0627 or Mike Manwiller at (435) 654-5601 ext. 105 to sign up or find out more information.

It spring and a great time to get out and get ready for summer, and I'm sure there are lots of railroads out there that need helping hands.

- Mike Lewis
Heber Valley Railroad



Heber Valley Railroad
dakota97@xmission.com