Re: RGS Coach #256

Rex Beistle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jim Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Now if only we had a ten stall, instead of a
> five
> > stall, roundhouse in Golden.
> >
> > Jim Barton
>
> Oh yeah, I would vote to restore the Rio Grande
> baggage car and the scorched outfit car and
> Caboose 0585 and the Midland Observation car and
> the Great Western Combine and - oops that already
> fills the five additional stalls. All fine
> examples of the car builders art, these and more
> are waiting to be restored - historically correct,
> of course.

There are over 100 pieces of equipment at the CRRM. To take on outside work would not be feasible. We have two part time employees in the roundhouse and a great group of volunteers. The volunteers are there on Thursday and Saturday. There is a restoration schedule, but we are limited with inside space and personnel. Before the roundhouse was constructed all work was done outside. Imagine laying on your back in the middle of January installing an air brake system on a car. Yet, we did it out in the open. All five stalls are full. A kitchen outfit car in #5, narrow gauge RPO/baggage 60 in 4, assembly of 318 in 3, Rico in 2,
(Rico had everything but the kitchen sink, last week Al Blount fabricated and installed one made up of galvanized sheet metal.) Stall 1 has #40 2-8-0 in it and is availible for work under the equipment. Stall 1 has an inspection pit. Several projects are in the wings, Narrow gauge business car B8, Ex Rio Grande GP30, Moving Ex Rio Grande
SD-40T2 from Coors onto the Museum. Roof work on several cars, the list goes on and on. Dirk Ramsey, an old volunteer had a saying, "Railroad equipment is always big, heavy, dirty and broke.
It still is very rewarding work. Before I fotget, we have a dedicated track crew, they work year round. They have relaid the three way stub connected it to three storage tracks and installed a single stub switch to line up with another storage track to the west. Track work is a thankless job. These men have done a great job in providing the CRRM with much needed car storage trackage. Some of the crew are Art Mitchell, Gus Sitas, Keith Goodrich, Andy Dahl and several others. (sorry for leaving you guys out) These are mostly Saturday projects. Which reaffirms that you can only get so much done with the time and personnel you have.
Bill Gould



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2011 10:50AM by HighCommander.