Volunteer Workday August 29th

26 volunteers performed a literal cornucopia of tasks on Saturday August 29th.  Final cleanup from Boreas Pass RR day (BPRD) was accomplished immediately after the morning meeting by the entire crew. After that the track crew and engine team were active on a variety of tasks, and docents provided tours all day long.  The afternoon featured large equipment onsite as we prepared for the Gunnison Main extension and switching area.

Track Crew

The track crew leveled low spots on Track 13 and Track 16 that had become apparent on BPRD.  In the afternoon, the Lumber Boxcar near the Gunnison Main was moved to accommodate future Gunnison extension and track 4 and 16 switches. 90% of our tie inventory was moved to a new yard location to allow for the grading of this area.

New volunteers George Firstbrook and Nick Hanson, along with Noah Beauchamp and Roadmaster Alex Hois, leveling Track 16.

Noah Beauchamp, Bob Schoppe, Nick Hanson Alex Hois, George Firstbrook, and Dale Schallenberger building the “schlitten“ (sled) designed by Alex and Bob Revis (with apologies to anyone who spitballed the idea in the past)

Bob Revis flips schlitten over onto its rails

Left: Alex Hois performs final inspection.  Right: Bob Revis lifts north end of car onto schlitten under the watchful eyes of Alex and Bob Schoppe

Left: Brent Kroeker had arrived with his skid steer for grading, but gave us some quick lifting help with the south end of the car. Right: the lumber car takes a sled ride to its new location pulled by Bob Revis and a little nudge from Brent.

Brent Kroeker moves ties to a new location near pasture parking gate.

Diagram from Alex shows the South yard where the future switch area was cleared and graded.  1) the yellow existing Gunnison main will be extended (blue) 2) Orange Track 4 would be run in the next 2 years. 3) Track 16 goes into Track 4 and then Track 4 into the Gunnison. 

OK – Ties moved and area graded.  So Brent is finishing up here and is in the general area where the 2 switches will go.  Foreground is approximately the run of future track 4.  Single rail on far right is current end of the Gunnision main.

Engine Crew

The Tom Lawson delivery service showed up with pipes and fittings to start plumbing the oil firing manifold.  The manifold itself is a thing of Como manufactured beauty.

All the oil manifold is missing is the “Como Locomotive Works” stamp

Dan Silbaugh heats the oil pipe to make one of 2 bends for a slight diversion in its route

Final product of Saturday’s labor.  Beautiful

Left: Jon Dierksheide and Tom Lawson are simply happy with all the progress being made.  Right: New volunteers  Stephanie Nano and Olga Firstbrook applying wood sealant to existing “hitching posts.” Stephanie is the Great Granddaughter of Como Yardmaster Frank Card who lost his leg in an accident in 1902

·     Special thanks to:

·       Mark Arbucci and Michael Bottlemy for providing tours all day

·       Tom Lawson, Rob VanWinkle, and Bob Revis for working domestic water issues

·       The Artifact Boxcar crew for cleaning up inside the car

·       Bob Peterson, Tim Clay, and Jacoby Van Winkle for Engine crew work

·       Jimmy Scoville for putting in time with every crew at some point

·       Paul Greguoli for ongoing scrap wood disposition

·       Any others that I inevitably missed – I can do better