[PRCo] 11.19.03__*Weakly__Report__Bruce__Wells

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!

	The enclosed messages and binaries are courtesy of Bruce Wells
of Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.

	Bruce is a School Teacher by Profession and his love of people
really comes thru in these reports.    Bruce's Family is very
much involved with the Museum as well.    Bruce seems to be at
PTM each weekend with some task and when food is served, Bruce
quite often does the cooking   ---   his way of reaching out to
the young people coming to PTM as volunteers!

	Should be 6-URLs at the end of this message for binaries Bruce
sent.


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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Weakly Report 11.19.03
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:46:20 -0500

Weakly Report        November 19, 2003

In the past two weeks work on the trucks for 14 has kicked into
high gear.    The return of the truck frames from Reliance on the
7th gave the, new to PTM, Pettibone that Dave Hamley restored a
chance to prove its value.  The trucks and motors for that job
are now neatly arranged back in the shop addition while the parts
for 66's trucks have been relocated to the front of track 6.  

Work on 14's trucks has involved a bunch of cutting with the new
to us plasma cutter donated by (who else?) Adtranz, last year. 
Justin Skrbin has made quick work bolts and pins that appear to
have been untouched since 1949.  In fact when Justin took the
equalizer springs to Barber Spring he asked the workman there if
they could determine how old they were.  After cleaning a while
the guy says "1949?".  So we are assuming that this the trucks
saw very little work over during their 33 years in service.  I do
know from conversations at the time with the shop foreman (in
1982) that they did have rebuild parts on hand and had done some
trucks.  We believe that 24 has such a pair of trucks but 14 must
have been at the other end of the food chain.

We are requesting money to order new coil springs along with the
brake return springs.  In addition the links that hold the plank
that supports the leaf springs on the underside of the truck have
in a couple of cases worn completely through the bushings.  These
parts will be easier to start over on than repair.  Between the
two jobs we will need $3300 (1500 for the springs and 1800 for
the links).  Justin and the crew are also preparing the doors for
installation and we had a cost there for new safety glass of
slightly more than $500.  With the truck repair already over
$3000 we are estimating $6000 will be needed to complete all the
speciality items needed for the rebuild.

Down the tracks the pit in the Blimp Hangar has been fitted with
the trestle and the rails. (Photos to follow separately). The
siding is all in place and we appear to be awaiting the roll up
door in the back of the building as well as ventilating fans. 
The electrical guys had started wiring and the panel boxes were
in place along with a fair amount of the conduit.

Finally I just wanted to note the passing of our good friend and
hard working volunteer Lee Madden [last photo in the list.]   
His good nature comes through load and clear in this photo I
found from Trolley Fair a couple of years ago when he was the
motorcar ride operator.    Lee spent considerable time working
with the track crew and as an operator and we will miss his
smilin' face.

This report has to be short because it's board meeting night.  As
always, Keep smilin', be alert and stay safe and be thankful for
all the good friends and great times!

CuZinBruce
PTM RS&S


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Photos 11.19.03
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 15:27:09 -0500

Work on the train layout, Dave Woods, Laura Wells, Bryant
Schmude, Daryl Harps.

14, Looking good with a roll sign in place!

Really worn out parts from 14's trucks.

Standing in the pit looking toward the back of the building

Blimp Hangar in all it's resplendent glory, doors and all showing
shop annex.

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