|
To: "oermsignal" Subject: Orange Empire Railway Museum Signals Update - 10/25/2004 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 Gary See. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The following activities took place this past weekend with the following Signal Crew at work -- Ron Beach, Ray Hirth, Bob Hirth, Melanie Hirth, Gene Cranston, Allen Holliday, Gary See, Paul Orton: SIGNAL GARDEN: Work continued on the garden with an extra emphasis on having it "ready" for Thomas in November. 1) The Shortened V20 3-Color Signal mast was painted silver. 2.) Reflectorized Cross-Bucks were installed on the crossing gate mast - see attached photo 3.) A new bell was installed at the top of the Crossing Gate mast. 4.) The Cox Bell is operational again after repair and modification of the controller board. The noise once again will thrill the kids and drive the adults crazy. 5.) The casting for the yet to be installed "flasher" was needle-gunned and primed - it's now ready for paint. We thought it would need to be sand-blasted but after a thorough needle-gunning it looked great. 6.) To save electricity, a timer was added so that the "always-on" signals will only be illuminated from approximately 9am to 6pm . We figure this should save a couple of dollars per month. 7.) An attempt was made to pull in the wire from the new PE signal back to the controller case via the new Santa Fe Style-R signal. Unfortunately, the conduit between the PE and Santa Fe signals seems to be broken or plugged -- future plans may require running another conduit. A pull wire was installed between the Santa Fe Style-R and the controller cabinet. 8.) The backshade was installed on the Santa Fe Style-R signal -- photo attached. 9.) The new PE Signal and the recently installed Crossing Gate were both leveled (the PE with nuts under the base and the Gate with shim washers). 10.) Don't forget to check out the Signal Garden history article in this months Gazette. ALPINE CROSSING FLASHER INSTALLATION: Work continued on the new Flasher being installed for the main entrance walkway. 1.) The new bell is not working -- another has been obtained and tested but is not yet installed. 2.) Eyebrows and backshades have been partially installed. 3.) The new lights have been adjusted to be visible to pedestrians on both sides of the track. 11TH STREET CROSSING REPAIRS: The holding coil for the east gate at 11th Street failed which caused the gate to continually cycle by drifting part way down and then being motored back up. Gene installed a temporary repair by adding a relay and resistor that makes the primary coil act as a holding coil once the gate is back up. The resistor dissipates some of the power so that the primary coil is only minimally energized once the gate is up. A new holding coil will be ordered but could take several weeks to arrive. In the meantime we will all be keeping an extra watchful eye on the 11th Street crossing. UPCOMING SIGNALS MEETING NOTICE: November 6 - Main Saturday work day for November since Thomas and Thanksgiving conflict with all other Saturdays. Everyone is welcome and encouraged on Nov 6. November 13, 14 - Day Out With Thomas November 19, 20, 21 - Day Out With Thomas November 27 - No formal work effort -- Thanksgiving weekend but some signals crew will probably be working. December 11 (2nd Sat) - Normal second Saturday Signal's work day (main work day this month since the 4th Saturday is Christmas) December 25 (4th Sat) - No formal work effort --- Christmas Day January -- back to normal 2nd and 4th Saturday Signals work days Also Gene is usually at the museum most Fridays if that better fits your schedule. Call or email him for confirmation of the date and time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. |