Around The Museum 2020
Ethan Doty, Greg Elems, Bob Sims, Roger Stable, Mike Waters
Page last updated: Sat Jan 21 09:47:06 PST 2023
Snow flurries at sunset on November 8th 2020. - Photo by Greg Elems
Sunset gleam on the Silver Plate at sunset on November 8th 2020. - Photo by Greg Elems
Tree branch pruning is continuing and this view is from the balloon track looking towards the diesel shop. 11/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 165 and the Sweetwood - The two 100 yr + girls got some sunshine time Saturday while the light bulbs were getting changed in the shop over 1 rail. - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 165 and the Sweetwood - Another view of the old girls in the sun as light bulb replacement was taking place on Saturday afternoon October 31, 2020. - Photo by Greg Elems
Shop Lights - David Elems lifted Steve Habeck up in the man basket to put new LED lights in the shop. Not only is it brighter now it uses less energy. - Photo by Greg Elems
David Elems bucking for Roger Stabler, who was in the firebox hammering the stay bolts. 10/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
David Elems heating up a stay bolt on the firebox of the WP 165. 10/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
David Elems using the air hammer on a cherry red stay bolt on the firebox of the WP 165. 10/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Roger Stabler in the firebox of the WP 165. 10/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 165: Here we see Kirk Baer needle scaling one of the 165’s two sand domes. The middle dome is the steam dome cover. 10/23/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Weed abatement: Ethan Doty continuing the weed abatement at the west end of RIP 1. 10/23/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Shop Work: Part of the clean up and improvements being made in the shop. We now have an air hose reel mounted between the wood working bay and metal working bay. 10/22/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
SN 1642: After Duane sanded the metal bracing and frame, he applied primer. Duane has put a lot of time on this caboose and his skill and care show. 10/22/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Hank Stiles and Roger Stabler working on the 165. 10/22/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Cleaning Up:David Elems and Steve Lee are seen here discussing what items to save and which to scrap in the cleanup of the museum. 10/22/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Duane continuing his work on the SN 1642, seen here sanding on the metal frame. 10/22/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 165: One more step towards getting the 165 hot again was the connection of the fuel supply to the engine. Third week of October 2020. - Photo by Greg Elems
Duane Vander Veen has replaced more wood on the SN 1642 caboose. 10/21/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Ethan Doty has done a great job clearing out the grass and weeds at the Dodge Pole siding to inside balloon track. Thanks Ethan. 10/12/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
SN 1642 Duane Vander Veen has been making steady progress on the SN 1642 platform on the B end. 9/30/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
SN 1642 Another view of Duane’s work on the SN 1642 end platform and door jam. 9/30/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Late afternoon light with a rare blue sky during the 2020 fire season. 9/25/2020 - Photo by Greg Elems
At 12 gallons a minute, it takes a while to fill the 1100 gallon tank on the 1503. Here we see Steve Habeck waiting, not wanting to leave the fueling unattended, sitting on the front step. 9/19/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Work on 1642 continues. After a summer of heat, cracks became apparent on the side that was primed last fall. More DAP still needs to be applied but hopefully the rest of the caboose will get the primer applied by the end of September. 9/15/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
UP 6946 now sits on the east side of the diesel shop. 9/15/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Saturday 8/29/20, we decided to get the water buffalo loaded onto a flatcar. With it chained down and full of water, we will be able to move it around the museum should the need arise. Here we see Steve Habeck directing David Elems loading it on the ex-DODX flatcar. - Photo by Greg Elems
Here we see Charlie Spikes watching as David secures the water buffalo to the flatcar. - Photo by Greg Elems
Here we see Steve watching the move around the balloon track as we took the water buffalo to fill it with water and leave it coupled to the 1503. - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 705: We spotted the 705 at the crossing to the lounge car so we can start work on it for paint prep. We have water, electricity and air available. 8/20/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 165 needed to be moved to continue light bulb replacement in the shop. 2001 was used to pull it out and doing so allowed all six of the silver and orange diesels to be coupled up. 8/19/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
SN 1642 Duane Vander Veen has been working on replacing the wood on the B end of the SN caboose. Here we see the replacement wood on floor and beside the center sill. 8/18/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
SN 1642 The work on the side with the final applications of DAP is nearing completion. 8/18/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
With the RIP tracks rearranged, RIP 1 cars are getting staged to go back in. The silver snow plow had its headlight turned on for this picture. 8/18/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
We have a bunch of the boxcars stored out on the balloon track for work on the RIP tracks. 8/8/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
8/8/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
8/8/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Lots of New Work On The Backhead of WP 165 8/3/20 - Photo by Bob Sims
Backhead Fireman's Controls 8/3/20 - Photo by Bob Sims
Mike Waters Chases Nuts on the Smokebox Cover 8/3/20 - Photo by Bob Sims
Apron Plate On The New Support Timber - Engineers Side 8/3/20 - Photo by Bob Sims
Boiler Piping Overall Side View 2020-08-06 8/3/20 - Photo by Bob Sims
For the time being, with switching being done the Quincy #4 is out in the open. 7/27/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
QRR 4 ex. WP 504. 7/27/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
QRR 4 ex. WP 504. 7/27/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Hey You Can Actually See Down 4 Rail Now and it is Cleaner 7/7/20 - Photo by Ethan Doty
Last Load Of Brush from the Sewer Crossing from when Greg, David and Limbed Clearance for the IB 7/7/20 - Photo by Ethan Doty
One of the Big Log Skids After Being Drug to the Parking Lot 7/7/20 - Photo by Ethan Doty
The Massive Brush Pile in the Parking Lot Backhoe for Scale 7/7/20 - Photo by Ethan Doty
Another two hours today...last of Phil's piles along the road down that way and then Ethan loaded up a bucket load from Milward. Phil got the trees, Ethan finished off the bushes around the Milward sign. 7/8/20 - Photo by Ethan Doty
Inside balloon track, trees to the north got a major pruning by Phil Schmierer, Greg Elems. Ethan Doty took on the task of limb relocation and ground brush removal with the backhoe. We are seeing major progress with the fire tender and fuel. Low branches now removed open up the viewing and stop the laddering effect if a fire should come through. Along with the tree work Phil has spent time mowing the grass growing next to the tracks. Ethan has graded fire breaks with the backhoe. Great work by both and just in time for the 2020 fire season which has started with earnest. 6/29/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Phil Schmierer has been busy with limb and tree removal. Trees by four rail have at least six feet of free trunk from the ground now. The inside balloon track not only got limbs removed but Greg Elems and Ethan Doty removed sage and other brush underneath the big trees. More brush removal and pine needles are next along the inside balloon track. By Milward switch sign and west the closely growing pines are getting thinned and brush will get removed also. 6/29/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
More Tree Trimming 6/29/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
More Tree Trimming 6/29/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
More Tree Trimming 6/29/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Shop Clean Up 6/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
More Shop Clean Up 6/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Phil Schmierer seen at the end of the day of tree trimming checking out the progress. 6/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Tree Work! The small trees between Dodgepole siding and seven rail have gotten big. No work on them over the years produced this bushy set of trees. 6/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
First step was pruning the lower limbs of the trees. We effectively have removed a fire ladder up 9’ from the ground. Now we can see the display train on Dodgepole siding. Next step will be to rake the huge mat of dead pine needles from under the trees to further reduce the fire tender. 6/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Lastly we cut and pruned big heavy limbs off this tree that were almost touching the ground. With the moving of our wooden cars and limb removal, this area should be less of an issue should we get unlucky and have a fire. 6/24/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Bush Removal By Backhoe - Photo by Ethan Doty
WP 2001 sitting on the east lead waiting for the signal to go tie onto track seven in a switching move Tuesday afternoon. 6/16/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 2001 seen on the lead while WP 608 sits on four rail. 6/16/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Our two green end cab switch engines. WP 1503 is staged next to the WP 563 at the Dodge Pole siding. 6/16/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Bob Sims installed the front footboards on the WP 165 and Roger Stabler installed the brackets. 6/16/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Bob Sims fitted the deck plate support and set it in place. Now the deck plate is level when laid down. Next step will be to bolt it to the tender deck so the orange straps can go away. 6/16/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Monday afternoon, 6/15/20, a view of 1503 and 2001 sitting on 3 rail. - Photo by Greg Elems
Sun broke out briefly this afternoon on our fleet of silver and orange. 6/1/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Work continues on the 1642 with more DAP applied Monday 6/1/20 afternoon in preparation of more brown primer. - Photo by Greg Elems
With the rearranging of cars, Baldwin NVR 51 and WP 921-D have been moved away from the south side of the museum to the west end of track 3 for the time being. 5/26/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WPRM Steam - Roger Stabler heating the throttle support for bending to fit the new throttle lever - Photo by Mike Waters
WP 165 - New Throttle lever installed - Photo by Roger Stabler
WP 165 Positioned in the shop for the steam work week - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 1503 is seen here picking up the WP 563 to turn it for use on Dodge Pole siding, on the other side of the sewer road crossing, as WP 921 sits in the sun. 5/21/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Steam work week has started, with limited number of people. WP 165 and 2001 are stable mates for a few days. 5/21/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 563 was turned on the balloon track so it faces west now when it go back onto Dodge Pole siding. 5/21/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 1503 is seen with WP 501 on Wednesday May 20th on the east lead. - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 1503 Shows Off Her New Paint Job in the Spring Sunshine 5/20/20. - Photo by Greg Elems
Charlie Spikes putting the finishing touches on the water riser repair between 3 and 4 rail. WP 705 in the background. 5/18/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
David is seen here inspecting journal boxes on 7 rail in preparation for switching over the next week or so. 5/18/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
This young buck was bedded down by our Brownhoist. 5/16/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Friday the 15th the Whitcomb in the parking lot was loaded for its trip the San Francisco Bay Area to its new owner.
The Whitcomb on the road out of the museum. This engine started working at Blake Brothers Quarry in Richmond in the early 1900’s. It was moved from San Francisco to Oroville, then to Portola and Friday the 15th was loaded back onto a truck to head back to the Bay Area for display with a boxcar and caboose at a B&B. Interesting note, the same trucking company has made all its moves in the state since it left San Francisco. 5/15/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Even though the museum is closed, work continues at the museum. Late afternoon sun finds 1503 on the pan with Rio Grande 01414 5/7/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Work on the wooden SN caboose has started once again. Paint flakes removed and caulking the cracks and filling the holes. Once this end has been finished the other side of the bay-window will get the same treatment. Hopefully the brown primer will follow shortly thereafter. 5/7/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Time for the SP 2873 to come off the pit to make room for 2001. 5/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Getting ready to shove 2001 to the diesel shop and over the pit for traction motor inspection. 5/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
With WP 2001 over the pit and SP 2873 in the shop on 1 rail to finish its inspection, the trio of F unit and Baldwin S12 will get spotted on 1 rail outside the west end of the diesel shop. 5/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
A quick move made with Ethan Doty on the engine and David Elems protecting the shove on the WP 484. 5/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
WP 2001 sits over the pit. Undercarriage and traction motor inspection will be next. 5/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
2873 sitting in the shop on 1 rail. Inspection, a few repairs and adjustments to made and it will be ready to go to work should the need arise. 5/5/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
The snow finally came. 3/17/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Snow At Museum 3/17/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
Early March Snow - Photo by Greg Elems
Early March Snow - Photo by Greg Elems
WP646 Caboose Fire 2/27/20 - Photo by Greg Elems
The big water riser on 3 Rail by WP 1503 went out of service on January 17th. Ethan Doty had to temporarily shut off the main water valve in order to shut off old faithful so he could get into the vault underneath to turn off. - Photo by Ethan Doty
Page last updated: Sat Jan 21 09:47:06 PST 2023