Microsoft Word - 2000Aug.doc HotScoop Shovel Logo by Larry Rose A publication dedicated to San Diego Railroad Museum volunteers August 2000 MUSEUM NEWS VOL XII NO VIII <<>> Jim Baker RECENT CERTIFICATION Bob Nickles was recently certified as a Steam Fireman. Congratulations, Bob! Instructor Engineer Randy Houk has been added as a member of the Qualification Board. TRAINMAN'S CLASS The Fall Trainman's class will be held on October 23 & 30 (Monday evenings) at Cuyamaca College, and on Sat., Nov. 4, all day (10 AM - 5 PM) at Campo. The College has not yet scheduled exact times and room numbers. All Trainmen who have not taken this class, please plan to do so. Put those dates on your calendars now! If you live in the Grossmont/Cuyamaca College District, look for registration information in their "Community Learning" catalog, which you should receive in the mail this month (don't confuse this with their regular College information which is also mailed out). If you don't live in the District, contact the Training Officer for information. Also, EVERYONE please pass the word about this class to your friends and neighbors. More crewmembers will always be needed in continuing and expanding our operations. BRAKEMAN / SPEEDER OPERATOR CLASS I'd like to schedule this class for Nov./Dec. timeframe (I'll be unavailable in Oct.). Speeder Operators need to take the Rules portion of the class only (about 1/2 of the total classroom time for brakemen). The Brakeman class can consist of 2 evening classroom sessions in town, plus 2 full days of hands-on training at Campo; OR a half-day classroom session at Campo, plus the 2 days of hands-on at Campo. Remember, to become certified as a Brakeman, you must have first taken the Trainman's class and worked as a trainman. If you are interested, please let me know your date preferences for the classes, and we'll se what we can work out. RULE OF THE MONTH RULE 5.13, BLUE SIGNAL PROTECTION OF WORKMEN It has been brought to my (and the Qual. Board's) attention that it has become our practice to use blue flags improperly. "A blue signal signifies that WORKMEN ARE ON, UNDER, or BETWEEN rolling equipment...." If "workmen" are not working on a piece of equipment, that piece of equipment should NOT be blue-flagged. If a piece of equipment should not be used because it needs repairs, or is in an unsafe condition to use, some other signal, such as a red tag on the controls should be used. Remember that a blue flag is only to be used to protect "workmen." <<>> Lew Wolfgang Operations Superintendent I'm sure that many of you are wondering, "What's going on with Wolfgang?" My family and work responsibilities have been preventing my full participation as your Operations Superintendent. In recognition of that I was considering resigning the position. I was subsequently persuaded by our President and Executive Director to stay on during this difficult transition period we are currently involved with. With the help of our assistant superintendents, Mike Edwards, Steve November and Randy Houk, I now have confidence in our ability to move forward into this new era of joint operations with the CGRY. Feel free to give me a call at any time to discuss your operations questions and concerns at (619)662-1963, (619) 553-3106 or (619) 339-8511. Motorcar Accident Long time Museum member Al Brill was injured recently in the line-of-duty during motorcar operations. As Allan Dillane reports, Al will be out of service for a couple of months. I'm sure that Al would appreciate calls from you to help lift his spirits during his recuperation at (619) 420-3878. The circumstances of the accident are currently under investigation. Blue Flag Usage As Jim Baker's Rule of the Month indicates we have been using Blue Flag Signals improperly. We've all heard folks saying that, "The forklift is blue flagged!" to indicate a mechanical malfunction. We've also seen rail equipment blue flagged to protect from movement for mechanical or scheduling reasons. This overuse of the blue flag signal tends to dilute the urgent message that it needs to communicate; that life and limb are in imminent danger if equipment is moved or coupled to. Remember, you want others to respect the signal when YOU are under a car working on the brake rigging! <<>> Dick Pennick Our second-hand air brake test stand in the Brake Room at the Campo shop needs a lot of work to bring it up to a level where it can perform the job it was designed for. Ken Kahan estimates it will take $1000 to accomplish this. Dick Pennick has been passing the hat recently to come up with the dollars needed, and thanks to some of our members, both near and far, we are $690 toward that goal. If Dick hasn't gotten into your pockets yet, send a check for $50 or $100, or whatever you can afford, to Dick at 9584 Upland Street, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Please make checks payable to: San Diego Railroad Museum and note in the "memo" area that it is for the "brake bench fund". A restricted account has been set up specifically for this money. Contributors to date have been: Dwight Koller, Jim Baker, Randy Houk, Dick Pennick, Arn Hunsberger, Don Getz, Darren Apedaile, Steve November, Greg Perrin, and Ed Couch. Ed and Dick are probably the only remaining Museum members who had also been members of the Museum's predecessor organization, the Railway Historical Society of San Diego, founded in 1954. Ed is now living in Santa Maria, CA and is involved with plans to operate historic trains over the remnants of the Santa Maria Valley R.R., former owner of our quaint Railbus #9. Thanks to all who have so far chipped in to this very worthwhile endeavor We have only $300 to go to accomplish our goal. <<>> Dick Pennick Dick Pennick is spearheading a steering committee to formulate plans for a community- wide festival next Spring, to be staged at the Museum's Campo Train Operations and Visitors' Center. By the time you read this, the Committee will have met at least three times during June, July and August to develop and implement an action plan. The draft plan, approved by Staff, proposes a community educational and fund-raising event that will incorporate lots of good food, live music, beer garden, demonstrations, displays and booths by community groups, including the Native American community, as well as selected commercial enterprises. The town of Tecate, Mexico, our neighbor to the south, will be represented as well. The Museum's contribution will be operation of steam shuttles to the Stone Store and the Truck Museum, speeder rides, tours, displays and many other special activities, in addition to overall coordination, advertising and promotion. Helping with the Steering Committee to date have been Dianne Roberson, Sandy and Bob Schussler, Ann McVeagh, Rita Cloud, Jim Polloreno, Sue Ann Taggart, Arn Hunsberger, Rich Borstadt, Duane Dubke, Mike Retz, Dick Pennick and Roger Challberg in addition to various community representatives. If you would like to lend your expertise to this exciting effort, give Dick a call at (619) 463-2276 any time. More hands make lighter work for all. <<>> Allan Dillane Bob Haney's hand is still swollen from his last operation but is having therapy to restore the use of his left arm that he broke in three places. Al Brill spent most of last Wednesday at the hospital doing tests on both legs and checking his circulation and for possible blood clots. The progress report was good. He will need to be flat on his back for at least 2 more weeks and then will need about 6 weeks of therapy. NOTE: I think Bill Niedrich is improving from his throat cancer operation and treatment but I have not talked to him personally. <<>> Jack O’Lexey We have several people who are unsung heroes. Every week on Thursdays a small group of people get together at the La Mesa Depot and sell food and raise $200 to $300 each week less expenses. Now going into its 15th week this summer they are raising money for a new La Mesa Depot roof Jim Polloreno gets to La Mesa Depot in the morning and takes an hour or more to set up the booth. Mike Edwards and Duane Dubke often come buy to help Jim set up the booth. Jim has a handicap and for the most part tries not to let it slow him down. Jim is always cheerful even when he gets down. But most of the time he seems to be in high gear. He gets food donations from the Soup Plantation (chilly) plus selling a Depot hot Dog, Superchief (sausage) Dog. Don Getz cooks all these. Jim's mother comes to help too. If you want to help one evening you get your dinner free. Dick Pennick usual opens the caboose and sell shirts, mugs and things. Roy Pickering and Bruce Semelsberger often come to talk to people in the Depot. The Depot has a telegraph display and the telegraphy works except it doesn't go to the next station wherever that might be. One night a few years ago I was taking the annual rules test at the telegraph desk and a half dozen people were taking a class run by Jim Baker, our training superintendent. When I finished the test I tapped out something on the telegraph. I got a "Jack what are you doing?" I replied "I am asking the telegraph operator if he knows the answer to the last question on the test!" Other unsung heroes are Sandy and Bob Schussler, and Darren Apedaile. Mike Edwards comes by in the evening after working in the Museum office all day. I know there are others but I can't remember their names right now. <<>> Jim Lundquist Jim Lundquist has been appointed Superintendent. The first organizational meeting has been held, and many items were discussed and prioritized. The next meeting will continue these planning efforts. All members who are interested in becoming involved with the Facilities Department are welcomed to attend. Contact Jim Lundquist for meeting details. During the past month, here's the news: Paul Broer's improvements regarding the Depot cactus garden has received a number of favorable comments. Thanks Paul. The installation of an air conditioning and heating system in the lunch room and classroom in the Car Barn by Paul Broer and his son JR. The air is for groups having lunch and when the area is used for classes and meetings, not for a single person’s use or for overnight. Thanks again, Paul. The efforts of Rich Warner, Dick Hobson, Allan Dillane and new member Seth Miller in starting the big job of cleaning out the Display Building so that grading and track laying can begin on tracks 5 & 6. Everyone has been aware that Staff has approved this project and it is assumed that by now everyone who has stored anything there has removed it. Every consideration will be given to where and how the stuff will be moved and stored. However, it is hard to be caring over materials that have been temporarily stored there for a couple of years and the Departments asked to remove them on numerous occasions and have not done so by this time. <<>> Submitted by Don Getz COPLEY NEWS SERVICE July 19, 2000 Copyright 2000 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, joined a long line of lawmakers yesterday voicing their opposition to a proposed federal regulation that threatens to override train whistle bans by communities across the country, including San Diego. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., made a rare appearance at a congressional hearing to oppose the Federal Railroad Administration's proposal to require trains to sound their whistles at all crossings unless state-of-the-art safety equipment is installed. Proposed improvements include four-quadrant gates that cannot be evaded easily, photo enforcement and median barriers. But Filner, Hastert and other lawmakers urged the agency to allow less expensive safeguards, such as two gates (one on each side of the crossing), to avoid round-the- clock whistle noise. "There has to be a middle ground," Filner said at a House Transportation subcommittee hearing. The city of San Diego recently enacted an evening ban on train whistles at some rail crossings. But the railroads have refused to comply, citing the pending federal rule. John Wells, deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, told wary lawmakers that the final version of the regulation -- expected by the end of the year -- would give communities more flexibility than the current proposal. <<>> Steve November This Saturday we had to shuffle the crews to be able to provide speeder support to Miller Creek. the scheduled speeder operator could not make it and did not take the time to find some one else to fill his spot. Everybody that signs up on the call board needs to be aware of the "sacred rule" -- If you cannot fill your spot it is YOUR obligation to find a substitute. It’s not the crew caller's responsibility and you don't just say I can't be there. YOU FIND A SUBSTITUTE. Don't leave your fellow crewmen in a bind and don't make the Museum cancel a train. I had a very rewarding experience this Saturday. Most you know Josh O'Brien, who is our 14 year-old Trainman (and now Ticket seller). Josh's Grandfather helps out around the depot and told me Saturday how much the family appreciates all the interest and support that the crewmen (and you too, ladies!!!) have given to Josh. He has been raised in a single parent environment and our support has given him purpose and responsibility. Pat yourselves on back, folks, You deserve it!!! <<>> Randy Houk I have added new photos of Dianne Roberson, Steve Young and Ian Bulger. These folks and others can be seen at http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/people/trainmen/. For those of you with fast connections check out http://www.sdrm.org/mpegs/. I have added two mpeg videos of 2353: one is a night shot from Feb. ’96 and the other is from Sunday. <<>> August 7 Operations meeting September 4 August 5 and 19 Campo to Tecate September 16 and 23 August 15 School Train none August 22 Board meeting, (1830@Solar) September 26 August 30 Museum Services meeting September 27 August 29 Deadline for September articles <<

>> Please submit articles in pure text (.txt) or MS Word (.doc) format. E-mail to hotscoop@sdrm.org is preferred. Send address changes to the editor. <<>> Web page: http://www.sdrm.org SDRM ADMINISTRATION @sdrm.org Business Office, Rich Borstadt (619)595-3031 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 Library, vacant Operations, Lew Wolfgang (619)662-1963 wolfgang Safety, Jack O’Lexey (858)274-4449 olexey Restoration, Ted Kornweibel (619)461-0098 kornweibel Mechanical, Gary Sweetwood (619)561-9402 Steam, Dwight Koller (619)478-9348 Diesel, Darren Apedaile (619)589-1966 apedaile 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, Jim Lundquist (619)470-7553 lundquist

2000-08-Hot-Scoop

Publication

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

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