Microsoft Word - 2000feb.doc Page 1 of 4 HotScoop Shovel Logo by Larry Rose A publication dedicated to San Diego Railroad Museum volunteers February 2000 MUSEUM NEWS VOL XII NO II >>>The Museum Needs Your Help<<< Lew Wolfgang As seen on TV today (Jan. 26), work is finally starting on tunnel #3. This project is a joint effort between the Museum, the Carrizo Gorge Company, SD&IV and various Mexican governmental bodies. Now the work begins for us. We are tasked with the responsibility of supporting the tunnel workers in any way necessary. This will mean that we may have to stage work trains and speeder runs during the week until the tunnel is repaired. However, this is only the beginning. We also have responsibilities to maintain the Division section before the start of the next fire season. Also, work will soon start east of Miller Creek to prepare for regular Jacumba service. These opportunities and responsibilities are what we have all been dreaming about for many years, and now we have a chance to participate. When KPBS does their next documentary on the SD&A in 100 years, future generations will look back at us as the "Volunteers Who Tackled the Impossible Railroad." Now, let's cut to the mustard. We need volunteers who are available for work during the week, and possibly weekends as needed. We don't have a firm schedule yet and so these volunteers should be able to work without much advance notice. We need engineers, conductors, brakemen, fireman and motorcar operators. If you are willing to join in this historic effort please let me know by email, snailmail, telephone or carrier pigeon as soon as possible. We need a list of folks who can be called at a moment's notice. (619) 553-3106 or (619) 339-8511 >>>The Trainman's Corner<<< Bob Schussler Let's begin by thanking the Trainmen who have performed so well these past few months during the most adverse conditions. Perhaps a reference to the "Thin Black and white line" would be in order, except for the corpulence exhibited by a few of us. Our numbers are still rather thin, and several trains operated last month without any Trainmen or tour guides. The Trainmen who were present did double duty and the Brakemen, Conductors, and trainees filled in admirably. Now the situation is improving as several of our "old faithful" are returning from vacations. It's good to see Herman and Beverly Hodges back from the canal, and Al Keevil is right in there. Duane Dubke and Roger Challberg are as stalwart as always. I know there are even more of you signed up for February. Our ad seeking volunteers appeared in the Union Tribune, but the response has not been overwhelming. Personal contacts, however, have been fruitful. Roger has recruited a potential Trainman, and there is a strong possibility that one of our passengers from the January 8th trip may join us. This is what we need; strong personal contact and enthusiastic recruiting by our present members. Jim Baker's Trainman class will begin in March, and it is always our best recruitment medium. With the new requirement to work as a Trainman for eight days prior to becoming a Brakeman, we will have more folks to draw from. I would also like to emphasize to our new students that being a Trainman is an honorable pursuit, and not necessarily merely a barrier to be breached on the road to Brakeman. One last thought on our system of recognition and rewards. The next weekend you're out there check the passenger's faces, especially the small ones. I think we all agree; this is the greatest reward we could ever have. Keep up the good work. Page 2 of 4 >>>From The Training Officer<<< Jim Baker Annual Rules Review & Testing At this writing, the Rules Review program is well underway; over half the people who are required to take the class have done so. Remaining classes are at Solar (6:30 PM) on 1/24, and at Campo (9:00 AM) on 1/29. Remember that all certified operating personnel MUST take one of these classes, as required by the FRA. The written test must be completed by the end of February, or you cannot run until you pass the test. If you don't take the test at one of the class meetings, see me, Bob Schussler, Lew Wolfgang, or one of the Assistant Operations Superintendents. Speeder Training CDF is requiring fire speeders to follow all trains during fire season. With the dry weather we've been having, the '99 season may not end before the 2000 season starts. We therefore have a great need for speeder operators and speeder crew. If you have ever passed the Brakeman's written test, you qualify for speeder operator training. Contact our speeder instructor, Darren Apedaile for hands-on instruction. Darren can be reached at or 619-589-1966. Speeder crew requires no classes; just notify the crew caller (Ansara Gilbert; or 619-744-8343) that you'd like to be on the crew. This job is fun! Trainman's Class While most of you who receive the Hot Scoop are already active crewmembers, if you aren't, or know someone who might want to get involved, we have a critical shortage of Trainmen. Get started right away; contact the Chief Trainman, Bob Schussler, or 619-698-1458. The Trainman's Class will meet at Cuyamaca College March 7 & 14, and at Campo on March 25. Contact me or Bob Schussler for registration information, but don't wait for the class to start to join our crew. Call Bob NOW! Certifications The Qualification Board recently certified Robin Becker as a Diesel Engineer. Congratulations, Robin! BRAKEMAN/ SPEEDER TRAINING It is time for me to think about scheduling a Spring Brakeman's class. This class would also include the classroom portion of speeder training. The class takes 20 hours; 4 hours in the classroom and 16 hours at Campo doing hands-on training (Only part of this would be required for speeder operators). My present schedule looks like late April/early May would be the best time for me to schedule the class. If you are interested in getting qualified as a brakeman or speeder operator, let me know. or 619-670-7441 >>>Local Governments Enact Whistle Bans<<< Don Getz Whistle ban unsafe (Associated Press) WASHINGTON – Train whistles – nostalgic to some, a noisy nuisance to others – are being silenced at the expense of lives, federal regulators said yesterday. They want nearly 250 communities that have banned whistles to let the warnings sound once more if other steps aren’t taken to improve safety at those railroad crossings. Page 3 of 4 There were 431 deaths and more than 1,300 injuries in highway-rail crossing accidents in 1998, the Federal Railroad Administration said yesterday in proposing a rule requiring train horns to be sounded at all public crossings. In California, Anaheim, Duarte, Los Angeles, Placentia, Sacramento and South Pasadena have whistle bans. Ban sought on overnight train whistles (Union Tribune, 19 Jan 2000) SAN DIEGO – Train whistles must be silenced at night in part of downtown San Diego, the City Council ordered yesterday. Whistle blowing would be banned from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the Harbor Drive corridor between Eighth Avenue and Front Street. Councilman Byron Wear, whose district includes most of downtown, said the ban is needed to encourage housing development downtown. Playing an audio tape recording of a train whistle, Wear said people are awakened in the middle of the night by whistles that no longer are needed because the downtown is protected by guard rails which block the tracks when a train approaches. The ban law is modeled after similar measures in Anaheim and Placentia. >>>LA MESA DEPOT REPORT<<< Jim Polloreno FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES: The Depot will be the site of new fundraising events this year. These include four Model Train Swapmeets the first one on March 11 and the next in June. There will be twenty-six Thursday night Car Rallys 6pm to 10pm starting in April, and a Rummage Sale May 20. Anyone who has any model train stuff and would like to donate it for the sale, the Museum will have it's own sellers table to raise money in addition to the six dollar per table fee for the other sellers. THANKS to DON GETZ for his donation of some Lionel track and a transformer. If you would like to work the Car Rally's, cooking or serving food you will need a food handlers permit. The class is three hours, with a two dollar fee, Dates are Feb. 12 & 26 and Mar. 18 Call to register (619) 660-4350 Grossmont College Room 553 Donations for the rummage sale are being stored at the Santa Fe Depot downtown. DEPOT SEEKS ELEC. HOT WATER HEATER: (about three to five Gal. Size). If you have one or know of one to donate please let me know. MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES: 1. Three broken windows replaced. 2. Fire System reconnected and working. 3. La Mesa Depot Museum Signs (two) repaired, painted, re-lettered, new posts with formed concrete footings and galvanized post brackets. 4. Floor painted with two coats "buff" (tan). 5. New oak door thresholds FUTURE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS: 1. New Shingle Roof 2. Exterior paint 3. Baggage Cart Refurbishment 4. Install Hot Water Heater 5. Paint 150' Wrought Iron Fence Special Thanks to Bruce Semelsberger for helping me move the displays around. And to Bob Schussler for his help with prep work on the floor. And to Duane Dubke who keeps his eye on things and keeps the exterior clear of trash & graffiti on a daily basis. Please, if you have any questions call me at (619) 590-2892 E-mail at Polloreno@sdrm.org >>>New SDRM web site offerings<<< Randy Houk I’ve updated the People Gallery with new shots of Jim Baker, Sandy Schussler, Mike Edwards and Dave Houk. You can see these folks at http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/people/ Page 4 of 4 >>>February/March 2000 Dates of Note<<< Feb. 5 & 19 Tecate March 4, 18 & 25 Feb. 7 Operations meeting March 6 Jacumba Train March 11 Feb. 12 & 19 Dinner Train March 4 & 25 Feb. 15 School Train March 21 Feb. 23 Museum Services meeting March 29 Feb. 25 Deadline for March articles >>>Article Submissions<<< Please submit articles in pure text (.txt) or MS Word (.doc) format. E-mail to hotscoop@sdrm.org is preferred, but floppy disks are OK. >>>PHONE NUMBERS and e-mail<<< SDRM ADMINISTRATION @sdrm.org Business Office, Rich Borstadt (619)595-3030 office Business Office Fax (619)595-3034 Museum Phone (La Mesa Depot) (619)697-7762 Report Editor, Marna Hartjen (760)489-1353 report HotScoop Editor, Randy Houk (858)672-0111 hotscoop Station Master, Terri Gregory (619)280-8529 gregory La Mesa Depot (619)697-7762 Campo Depot (619)478-9937 Campo Car Shop (619)478-9451 Campo Caretaker, Thomas Lee Braginton (619)478-9344 DEPARTMENT HEADS @sdrm.org Executive Director, Rich Borstadt (619)294-9321 borstadt Research, Bruce Semelsberger (619)264-7282 Crew Caller, Ansara Gilbert (619)529-3927 gilberta Library, Roy Pickering (619)462-3392 pickering Operations, Lew Wolfgang (619)662-1963 wolfgang Restoration, Ted Kornweibel (619)461-0098 kornweibel Steam, Bob Miles (619)280-8529 Training, Jim Baker (619)670-7441 baker Trainmen/Guides, Bob Schussler (619)698-1458 schusslerb La Mesa Depot, Jim Polloreno (619)590-2892 polloreno Facilities, Thomas Lee Braginton (619)478-9344 Web page: http://www.sdrm.org The HOT SCOOP is published by the San Diego Railroad Museum. Please send address changes to: San Diego Railroad Museum C/O Santa Fe Depot 1050 Kettner Blvd. STE 5 San Diego, CA 92101-3339

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