|
To: "oermsignal" Subject: Orange Empire Railway Museum Signals Update - 5/11/2004 This email is our semi-regular update about signals work (installation, maintenance and restoration) at the Orange Empire Railway Museum and is a collaborative effort -- the information for this e-news issue was provided by Ron Beach, Allen Holliday and Gene Cranston. If you have information that would be of interest to others, please email it to me and we'll include it in our next newsletter. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please email me. Likewise, if you know someone who would like to be added to this list, please have them email me. If you receive duplicate copies of this email, please contact me and let me know your preferred email address. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Saturday was our second Saturday of the month work day. Those present were Gene, Allen, Ron, Paul Orton, Paul Khoury, and Melanie, Bob and Ray Hirth. Paul Orton's father joined for lunch. The primary Signals work day is the fourth Saturday of every month with additional work done on the second Saturday as desired. Signal Garden: Ron, Allen, Paul O. and Paul K. worked in the Signal Garden. They moved a crossing gate and flasher assembly from out back into the signal garden. Zeke Hastings operated the Grove crane to make this move with Mahlon DuPree taking pictures of the event. They also mounted the push button post for the dwarf and poured the footing for the dwarf including the conduit. And Allen got his chance to operate a forklift for the first time. Allen and Ron discussed replacing the mast on the Searchlight signals with a shorter five foot mast. This would free the longer mast for the mainline railroad and lower the signals to a more reasonable height for viewing by passers-by. This is a low priority item but should be completed as time allows. The plan for upcoming Signal Garden work on Saturday May 22 is to complete the conduit run from the dwarf to the crossing gate, complete the conduit run for the banjo signal to the banjo post and complete the J-bolt forms for the crossing gate. And maybe dig the footing for the crossing gate. The hope is to complete the concrete work before the hot weather comes (late June/July) Also we still need to needle gun and sand blast the banjo signal and sand blast the relay case for the portable crossing protection and mount the case on old ties or treated 4x4's for fork lift access. It was suggested that maybe we should use a cement mixer for the next pour --- we need about a yard and a half of concrete for the banjo and the crossing gate. Even with a mixer that is a lot of work (35 to 40 sacks of concrete mix). If Perris has a ready mix trailer rental we could buy premixed concrete. Also with a little bigger pour we might consider ready mix in a truck. Anyone have additional thoughts? Portable Crossing: A portable crossing flasher is being put together to protect the expanded Alpine Member’s Entrance until the permanent improvements are completed. Long term we’re planning to include a 110 VAC plug and track connection provisions to make this portable flasher as universal as possible. It should also have provisions to be operated by an existing XR relay. For now the flasher wiring at Alpine is done, and just needs the wire installed from case to the flasher. Monthly Inspections: The Hirths and Gene did the monthly inspection for 11th St. and removed the temporary circuit modifications and chart recorder at 11th St. Miscellaneous Notes: Mike Carpenter and Steve Struman replaced some wires for the crank telephone system last Thursday. The Hirths, all three generations, helped Gene move equipment. And final notes from Gene: We still have plenty of 5 1/2 inch OD pipe for signal masts. The Steam Crew has decided that many of the superheater tubes from VC2 will have to be replaced. The tubes are thinner than we usually use, but plenty strong (they are thinner but higher strength steel). The lengths are short but 2 or 3 can be welded for longer poles, as we have previously done. There is plenty of work to be done. We have all of the previously listed projects plus there is cleanup of past projects, such as checking and reconnecting impedance bonds from the 11th St. and South Alpine jobs. Also projects like cleaning up messy wiring to the relays (the back side of the panels not included). At Alpine Member’s Entrance, the crossing has widened and needs new track wires from the north side of the new sidewalk into the Main Alpine Case. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For additional OERM Signals information, visit the signals website at: http://gsee.sdf-us.org/signals. Previous editions of these email newsletters are at: http://gsee.sdf-us.org/signals/enews/enews.html . Questions or comments regarding OERM Signals should be directed to the Signals Superintendent Gene Cranston. |