Microsoft Word - 2000apr.doc HotScoop Shovel Logo by Larry Rose A publication dedicated to San Diego Railroad Museum volunteers April 2000 MUSEUM NEWS VOL XII NO IV >>>Annual Awards Dinner<<< Jack O’Lexey We had our Annual Dinner at the Bali Hai on Shelter Island on March 23rd. Awards were given at the Annual affair as follows: Gold Spike: Gary Sweetwood Silver Spike: Dick Cupp Railfan of the year: Mike Edwards Team Award: Dick McIntyre, Dick Cupp and Bob Haney, the 3 Musketeer’s Team award: Allen Dillane, Steve Kostelak, Rich Warner, Dick Hobson and Ken Hansen. They have worked hard laying tracks wherever needed for the museum. Extra Effort Award: Dwight Koller for his efforts as Locomotive Superintendent Extra Effort Award: Darren Apedaile for always being there when needed Spark plug award: Ed and Kevin Boyce, father and son (13) Spark Plug award: Alma and Rod Gilbert Volunteer Party There will be a POTLUCK dinner Volunteer's Party Saturday May 27 at the Campo Depot. Anyone wanting to help organize it E-mail me or call (858) 274-4449 or leave a message. More in next month’s Hot Scoop! >>>FROM THE TRAINING OFFICER<<< Jim Baker ANNUAL TESTING Our annual Rule Review and Testing program is essentially complete. Only a couple of people still need to take the test. Here are a few statistics: 37 people have taken the test; 33 of them, or 89% of them scored 90% or better. This means that either I am a terrific instructor, or that the test is too easy. I think it is the latter, so look out next year. Speaking of next year, that is a "third year," meaning that the class and test will be 8 hours long instead of this year's 4 hours. The following people scored 97%, or better: Allen Andrews, Jim Baker, Robin Becker, Al Brill, Ross Bryan, Randy Gibson, Dick Hobson, Randy Houk, Allen Jones, Denby Jones, Ken Kahan, Chop Kerr, Bob Nickles, Steve November, Jim Polloreno, Don Pope, Richard Pope, Dianne Roberson, Dick Ruppert, Brian Sampson, Sandy Schussler, Lew Wolfgang, and Steve Young. GOOD JOB!! Special recognition goes to Dick Hobson, who scored 100% on the speeder operator test; new brakeman Brian Sampson, who scored 100% on the brakeman test; and Robin Becker, who scored 100% on the engineer's test. I haven't taken the time to dredge back into the old records, but scoring 100% is almost routine for Robin. RULE OF THE MONTH A couple of questions that were missed quite a few times on the Rules Test were questions 38 and 39, regarding the speed required by a yellow flag or a yellow-red flag when these flags are not mentioned in the track warrant. If you encounter a yellow flag that is not mentioned in your warrant, proceed at 10 mph; if you encounter a yellow-red flag that is not mentioned in the warrant, proceed at Restricted speed, prepared to stop. (Rules 5.4.2 and 5.4.3) NEW CERTIFICATIONS The Qualification Board recently certified the following people to operate: Conductor: Don Pope Speeder Operator: Jim Polloreno CONGRATULATIONS!! GENERAL ORDER #1 For those of you who have the old (SP binder) rule books with 51/2 x 8 pages, and signed up for the correct sized pages at the review class, copies of General Order are now available in the operations office. The special paper for these cost me 40 bucks, so please don't waste the copies. To keep control, each copy has a name on it. Please take only the copy with your name on it. If you didn't sign up for one, and need one, see me. I'd greatly appreciate it if, when you pick up your copy, LEAVE your 81/2 X 11 copy in the box; I need them for new rulebooks. BRAKEMAN'S/SPEEDER OPERATOR'S CLASS In the Feb. HotScoop I placed a notice about scheduling a brakeman/speeder operator class in April or May. Nobody was interested. Therefore, I have scheduled a lot of vacation time for May and June. If you want to take such a class, let me know, and I'll see what we can work out for July. TRAINMAN'S CLASS The Spring Trainman's class had its final session at Campo on March 25. There are 11 people in the class, so look for some new faces to be starting as trainmen. Many thanks to Bob Schussler, Bruce Semelsberger, and Roger Challberg for assisting me. If you have any questions about Training, contact me:(619)670-7441 or baker@sdrm.org. STRETCHING We recently had a very embarrassing, time-consuming, and potentially dangerous incident at Campo. An SD&A coach was added to the east end of an existing consist at about 9 AM to use on the School train, scheduled for a 10 AM departure. Because of a late arriving bus, we didn't actually depart until about 10:30. When the train departed, it separated at the joint at the last-added coach. Obviously, the brakeman who made the joint didn't give it a good stretch. It turned out that the buffer plate on the coach was hanging up on the coupler of the car behind it (350) preventing the knuckle from closing completely. The consist, with close to 300 passengers on board, had to be rearranged, putting the last-added coach on the west end. This delayed departure about another 30 minutes. If someone had been walking between cars when they separated, we could have had a very serious injury. So, brakemen, remember to get A GOOD SOLID STRETCH when making up a train. >>>The Trainman's Corner<<< Bob Schussler Jim Baker's Trainmen course is going well, with eleven students in attendance. March 25 was the "practical factors" session at Campo, where the students observed the "real Trainmen" in action. Those who are interested in being Trainmen will notify me, and I will schedule them with an experienced Trainman. This will give each candidate a "snapping in" period, where he can learn the duties a little at a time. We feel this is a better approach than simply asking them to sign up, and then having them perform the duties their first time out. Let's hope we get a few new faces, and let's all make them feel welcome. That's important. As most of you know, we're now running special trips from Tijuana to Tecate and from Campo to Jacumba. These trips are not listed on the availability sheets or on the callboard. I will be assigning Trainmen to these trips until we get them integrated with our Miller Creek and Tecate runs. I would like to get a list of Trainmen interested in working on these trips, so I can call you when we need a crew. If you're interested, please call me at (619) 698-1458 or by a-mail. The weather is perfect these days, so let's get out to Campo. Talk it up with your friends, and see if you can recruit somebody. Remember, they don't have to wait for formal training. We will provide on-the-job training at any time to anyone interested. See you on the trains. >>>Things you can't easily see<<< Ken Kahan Fred Carnathan and Tom Walker donated materials and finished plumbing air into the brake room and Ken Kahan donated the air equipment (reel, hose, nozzles etc.), and finished the inside hardware. People, we have an operational brake room (such as it is). Next large improvement will be more storage racks as we've already run out of rack space and we're on the floor. Jim Baker and I worked on the freight consist getting the air system operable on 1809 and about seven cars behind it so it can be used for runbys and demonstrations. Work continues on 2353 trying to get it ready with REGULAR weekly work by Dwight, Paul, Jim, Ken, Tony and possibly others I don't see on my regular work days. Our main stumbling block is finishing the boiler Hydro and re-bricking the firebox. Most other jobs in order to run on the 15th and 16th are done. We also now need to put the Loco and Tender back together since the draw bar and safeties and pins passed their inspection. Many hours of work and jobs have been accomplished. Please feel free to add to my list so others will know the work behind the scenes that isn't headlines. >>>La Mesa Depot Report<<< Jim Polloreno As mentioned in last month's report, the floor-painting project has now been completed. A new electric water heater has been installed with a permit to do so, and on March 29 was inspected and signed off. The water heater, valued at $150 was graciously donated by IDEAL PLUMBING of San Diego in Mission Valley. Thanks to Darren Apedaile for pulling the wire and installing the breaker. Model Train & Railroad Collectibles Sale had a very good turnout. The next one on June 10 falls on Flag Day (parade). The large crowds should prove to be a big bonus. The Food Booth at La Mesa will open Thursday April 6 for the first Car Rally and continue every Thursday for 26 weeks. Hours are 6Pm to 10Pm. Setup begins at 3:30Pm for those who wish to participate. On board so far we have Don Getz, Roy Pickering, Bob & Sandy Schussler, Bruce Semelsberger, and me as Food Handlers, with Dick Pennick as a Docent. Thanks to all who have taken on this task of raising money for La Mesa. Please feel free to join the team or just stop by for a "Depot Dog", "SuperChief Dog", "Section House Chili" or Pizza. Rummage Sale May 20, 2000 Please, we need your Donations of useable items for the sale. It's spring and that means cleaning out all that stuff in your garage and closets. For more info please Contact Don Getz or me. There are many new things happening at La Mesa which will give us a chance not only to raise money, but perhaps more importantly for the Museum to promote our Campo Operations, gaining ridership, volunteers and awareness of what we do. Anyone willing to participate in any capacity will be welcomed with Open arms. THANKS TO ALL! >>>Safety Corner<<< Jack O’Lexey We need to stop leaving buckets sitting around with fluids in them. We never know when it’s going to rain. When you put oil, antifreeze etc in a bucket and leave it, it rains and the mess is much bigger. Recently I found a 5-gallon bucket that appeared to be full of oil. It turned out only the top ½ inch was oil. The rest was contaminated soil someone had left out. Rain raised the oil to the top. We had two problems, two products to pay someone to take away. Someone left 1 inch of oil in a bucket; it rained now we have to pay to haul away the oil and contaminated water. If you see a problem, try to be part of the solution. I am not always able to take care of things due to body part failures. We need to dump oil in the waste oil tank located near the southeast corner of the car barn. Waste antifreeze goes in a drum in where the lubricants are stored in the white connex box. Waste solvents in a drum in the paint locker. >>>April/May 2000 Dates of Note<<< April 3 Operations meeting May 1 April 2 and 30 Tijuana to Tecate May 28 April 8 and 22 Twilight Dinner May 27 April 8 and 22 Campo to Tecate May 6 and 20 April 15 and 16 Steam Campo to Jacumba May 13 April 18 School Train May 16 April 26 Museum Services meeting May 31 April 27 Deadline for May articles >>>Article Submissions<<< Please submit articles in pure text (.txt) or MS Word (.doc) format. E-mail to hotscoop@sdrm.org is preferred. Please send address changes to the Hot Scoop editor. >>>PHONE NUMBERS and e-mail<<< Web page: http://www.sdrm.org 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 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, Mike Edwards (619)595-3030 edwards Library, Roy Pickering (619)462-3392 pickering Operations, Lew Wolfgang (619)662-1963 wolfgang Safety, Jack O’Lexey (858)274-4449 olexey Restoration, Ted Kornweibel (619)461-0098 kornweibel Locomotives, Dwight Koller (619)478-9348 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

2000-04-Hot-Scoop

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Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

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