To All,

We will be having the July Work Weekend Friday through Sunday, July 10, 11, and 12.

This is a change from the previous schedule due to crew leader scheduling issues later in the month.

We are sorry to have to make the change, but we hope you will come out and help the railroad on these new dates!

No track, no trains!!

We have a number of track issues that need to be addressed, along with several improvements that are planned. We’re expecting good summer weather and hope to continue making steady progress.

Friday: We will continue installing ties through the curves west of MP4, working our way toward the Deer Creek Bridge.

Almost every joint through this section is out of gauge, loose, or has bad ties. There are also several locations west of MP5 that need spot ties, and we’ll be working on those as we move forward.

Saturday: The train is running, but we may head out beyond the Class I connection to work on loose and missing track bolts. There are many that need attention. If we can get ties loaded and everything ready, we may also do tie work if we can get out of town before the train.

Sunday: The HOTT train is running, so we’ll probably begin installing Class I maintenance ties around the picnic grove area. There are many ties there that need to be replaced.

As always, there is plenty to do, and we need your help! Yes, each and every one of you can contribute in some way. The coach crew needs help, the mechanical shop needs help, and the station, buildings, and grounds crew can always use an extra hand. Just see one of the crew leaders, and they’ll get you set up.

In June, we moved the red board a considerable distance west. There is no shade out there, and it’s hard work in the hot summer sun. We’ll hold off on moving it farther until September, when temperatures begin to cool.

For now, we have plenty of maintenance ties to install!

It is your railroad. You can help. Without you, it will rust!

Regards,

David Williamson

The June work weekend is approaching quickly! We have a lot to do and are encouraging YOU to come out and help! The work weekend runs Friday through Sunday, June 12, 13, and 14.

We have a good variety of work planned for the weekend. With our new machinery, much more of the work is mechanized and easier than before! We regularly have teenagers, women, and even 78-year-olds coming out to help! If you can run a leaf blower, pick up and distribute spikes, or set out tie plates, you can help us reach our goals while the machinery handles the HEAVY work!

We got a lot done in May, but fell behind due to the broken rail and smaller crews. We installed 12 ties past MP4, 12 ties in the cut before MP5, and placed ballast and tamped west of the water cistern.

In June, we will spend one day out on the line installing ties west of MP4 down to Deer Creek Bridge, one day performing regular maintenance on the Class I track, and one day extending the Class I track between the auto body shop and the township building.

The west end of the line is struggling with poor tie conditions, and it gets worse every year. In order to keep our sold-out motorcar runs operating over the west end of the line, we need MORE people to help fix the spots that require attention to keep the line safe and maintained. There is more work than the regular crew can handle! We would hate to have to cancel this program due to a lack of volunteer support.

As always, the railroad will provide cold drinks, ear plugs, and gloves. We’ll also have lunch out on the track on at least one day!

Any questions or comments, please let us know!

The May Work Weekend is coming up fast — this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 15, 16, and 17! The weather looks perfect for spring trackwork, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s.

We will be installing ties on the big hill from the high trestle fill down to Deer Creek Bridge, where tie conditions are poor and the rail is loose. This area must be repaired before the Sunday motorcar excursion to New Freedom. More than 80 ties need to be installed, so there is plenty of work to do, and we would love to see a big crew turnout to help!

This is a great opportunity to come out and lend a hand if you have not been out in a while or if you are new to the group. We will gladly provide training and help get you started.

On Sunday, after the motorcar train leaves town, we will take the Plasser tamper out to work ballast and correct low joints west of the water cistern. The motorcar train will then follow us back up to the wye track later in the afternoon.

As always, there is plenty to do, and we need to take full advantage of this stretch of good weather. It is your railroad, and without you, we are rust… and ghost ties!

Please bring your lunch, as we will be working out on the line in an isolated — but very scenic — area. The railroad will provide water and cold drinks. We also just received a truckload of ties ready for installation, so let’s get them into the track where they can do some good!

We are looking for a few volunteers to take on the project of getting our orange passenger trailer fixed up and ready for use on our motorcar excursion runs to New Freedom. These excursions frequently sell out, and we could really use the additional seating capacity. This car can accommodate 8 to 10 passengers.

The trailer is in generally good condition but will need some cleaning and painting, a few wood pieces replaced, a new floor installed, and a brake handle added. The railroad has all the necessary tools, and materials can be easily purchased. If you’re interested in helping with this project, please let David Williamson or Mike Ruane know.

We are also looking for a couple of volunteers to wire brush and paint the two fuel tanks, as keeping them in good condition is important for long-term use. In addition, we are continuing work on the station bench construction project. Most materials are already on hand, and we are currently fabricating the curved slat supports before assembly and painting.

Our May work weekend will be May 15–17. We plan to be out on the line addressing problem areas between MP4 and Deer Creek Bridge. Very little work has been done on this stretch in many years—there are loose rails, and new ties are needed. The area was recently inspected and gauge rods installed prior to the weed spray operation, but additional work is necessary to safely sustain ongoing operations. It’s also some of the most scenic track on the railroad.

In June, we will focus on the section between the auto body shop crossing and the township building crossing, extending the Class I track and making improvements to the existing track. This extension will require three to four days of work, including installing 64 ties plus several “ghost ties” up to Bridge 5.

July will be dedicated to replacing failed ties in the Class I track.

It’s shaping up to be a busy few months as we head into the warmer weather. As always, there’s plenty to do—and we can use your help!

A reminder that the April work weekend is this coming Friday (18), Saturday(19) and Sunday(20). We will be out on the line so bring your lunch.

We have four big tasks:
1) Install more ties in the swamp area west of Elm Street crossing. Saturday
2) Install more ties and put stone at the approaches to bridge #2 west of Kirchner Road
3) Shore up the eroded bank area just east of the Mann and Parker yard so the weed spray truck can safely traverse it ( probably Sunday)
4) Add stone and fill in the problem culvert area roadbed just East Of Elm Street where we worked on Friday, and maybe a couple more ties if we have  time.

We had a good crew on Friday the 10 th and got a lot done on a brilliant sunny Spring day, including removing a fallen tree, cleaning out a clogged culvert and fixing some gauge problems and replacing broken joint bars.

This work is being done to improve the line for the upcoming motorcar excursions, the weed spray truck expedition and further maintenance and improvements on the west end. As always, we have much to do and we need your help!!