Work Session

December 4-6, 2020

To join the fun, contact the railroad at: WorkSession @ RedRiverAndGulf.net (no spaces)

Team:
Mike
Glen

Wimbley

Doug (SFHM Staff)
Domineaux (RRG staff)

David Hearne

David Hamilton

Tucker

Everett

Jason

Summary:
Firstly, I'd like to say "THANK YOU!" Equipment and materials don't grow on trees. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and talent this weekend! Thank you to Glen and Wimbley for the builder and front number plate reproductions for locomotive 106. Thank you to Everett for getting a wire brush for the crane cleanup, various screw bolts, washers, and nuts for the drop side flatcar axle replacements, and the ride to Georgetown on Sunday to view a locomotive "critter." Thank you to David Hearne for his welding kit, his welding of another tow bar, making another handle for the crane, and his gas and diesel donated for the M4 and M2 this weekend. Thank you to Mike for locating a perfect bolt brace to compliment the broken axle brace on the drop side flatcar. Thank you to Jason for the bright lights installed in the engine house tool rooms. I might have missed some items, but I am thankful for each and everyone of your efforts and donations. Thank you to David Hamilton for taking time to show and educate us on the McGiffert log loaders. And thank you to Dave Hearne for that great story on the panic button in his truck.

Accomplishments:

-  Jason single-handedly installed upgraded and wide-reaching interior illumination systems in both engine house tool rooms

   with zero safety incidents or cost overruns while increasing interior illumination by 800%
-  Builder's and front number plates made by Glen and Wimbley for locomotive 106 and affixed to the locomotive
-  Old axles removed from Drop-Side Flatcar (Horseman) and new roller bearing axles affixed and greased

-  Drop side flatcar now returned to service
-  Bridge Crane (Ichabod) greased, oiled, cleaned of lichen, and hydraulic system removed (and properly stored together) so as to operate

   by hand crank
-  Two crank handles for crane manufactured by Mike and David Hearne with parts sourced from Everett and David
-  Good and usable rail pile established on sawmill pad near main line track - additional rail sorted out by status and

   switch points sorted and stored

-  Wimbley and Glen also brought replacement builders plates for the 202.

-  Jason moved the open gallery car to let a very excited brother and sister from Monroe operate the handcar and they

    helped Everett re-position equipment while the rail sorting was going on.

-  Everett repaired the switch to the #1 engine house track which was damaged by a fallen tree during Laura.

-  Another drawbar was also fabricated to use with the push-car trains
 

Friday
Jason brought over some new and fantastic lights for the engine house tool rooms. You can now see anything and everything in there with the 3-directional light fixtures. Jason, Everett, and I started cleaning up and refurbishing Ichabod (the maintenance of way crane). The wire brush from Everett was good for cleaning off the lichen and vegetation that had grown over it. Jason and Everett removed the hydraulic system so the crane can be operated by hand crank. All parts were placed together in the engine house storeroom for storage and safekeeping. In the pit, I used the grease gun to grease and lubricate all the undercarriage grease points. Mike Miller had fashioned one crank handle with a socket from Everett. With the crane in serviceable shape, we turned our attention to the drop side flatcar. Using the tractor and oil, 204's tender was pulled out from the Machine Shop so we could roll out the flatcar. Jason did a fine motive power job pulling and then pushing the tender back in the Machine Shop. A bird's nest with eggs was sighted in one of the top corners of the shop from the top of the tender. In the afternoon, David Hamilton lent his knowledge and time to share the history, notes, oddities, and overall knowledge on the McGiffert log loaders onsite. He and John's restoration efforts over 15 years have yielded numerous insights and knowledge on these unique machines. The rest of the afternoon was spent using the Engine House gantry crane and chain hoist to lift up the flatcar for old axle removal.

Saturday
Saturday morning, with the fire barrel cleaned out and a cozy fire started, work continued on the axle change out on the Drop-Side Flat (Horseman). Mike found the perfect bolt brace to compliment the broken brace on one of the axles. David Hearne's impact socket wrench made quick and easy work on installing the bolt screws. Once both new axles were installed and greased, it was positioned behind the crane. The length of the drop side car allows for rail and tie movement. Plywood laid over the deck can also let the flatcar move ballast material such as rocks and dirt. The drop sides and clear ends allow for easy shoveling onto the track. The crane allows for easier lifting of ties and rail. Two more needed maintenance of way cars are now back in rolling service. David Hearne used his welding skills to finish a tow bar that had been started but not finished and also fashioned another crank handle for the crane. M-2 also got some needed attention with a thorough cleaning of sides, floor, and windows, fresh gas added to the tank, the belt tightened (it had become loose), and the front grill re-secured.

Glen had builder and front number plates for locomotive 106 cold casted out of brass and they look simply spectacular! They will look great for many years to come of the locomotive. Cosmetic restoration efforts continue by team leader Mike Miller on 106 and with great talent by Glen and Wimbley.

In the afternoon, the crane was tested with the Drop-Side Flat (Horseman) One axle on the flatcar is tight on the gauge (a little wide), but rolled well with good axles. The crane (Ichabod) additionally rolled well on the track. However, upon testing Ichabod, the cable brake was slipping when lifting a load. The cable brake will need addressing in order to lift weight. Fortunately, the crane and drop side flatcar are now brought out of the storage line, de-cluttered, and returned to service. A little more TLC and they will pay tremendous dividends for railroad projects.

With the sun setting, Jason operated the rail fork, Mike drove the tractor, and with yours truly on the forklift, a dedicated good rail rack was set up next to the Loop Main. The goal is to position all of our usable track material near the main line for easy loading and unloading by the crane or tractor onto the flatcar and work trailers. Switch points were pulled out of the rail pile and set aside. The forklift though, ran out of propane before we finished. So the tractor with Mike and Jason were dispatched to the finished lumber shed for a fresh tank to finish the rail sorting job.

Sunday
On Sunday, Jason, Everett, and I inspected a locomotive critter in nearby Grant parish as we are interested in acquiring small locomotive motive power for the Red River and Gulf Railroad.

-Tucker Baker
  RR&G Road Master

Friday

New 8000 lumen lights in the Tool Rooms!

It's so bright in there that we were finally able to locate the keys to the 106!

Tucker greases the bearings on the Bridge Crane (Ichabod)

Cleaning the windows on M-2

Cutting off stubborn bolts on the Bridge Crane (Ichabod).

We removed all of the components of the hydraulic system that we aren't going to use.

Jason tows the tender for Two-Ought-Two out of the Machine Shop so that we could get the Drop-Side Flatcar out.

"Easy does it..."

Moving the Drop-Side Flat (The Horseman) under the lift.

Up she goes!

She's up and ready for new wheels and axles.

Putting the Tender back in the Machine Shop

Tucker found a bird nest from atop the Tender.

Two-Ought-Two

New view of the belt drive in the Machine Shop

Jason backs the tractor out

Tucker sweeps off the Tender

SFHM Director Doug looks on as Everett adjusts the cable on the Bridge Crane (Ichabod).

The view from the Depot

Long-time volunteer (and one of our heroes), David Hamilton, spent an hour discussing the restoration and how to operate the McGiffert.

Old wheels and axles have been removed.

Saturday

Long Leaf was socked-in with fog Saturday morning.

The Saw Mill

Remnants of the blow pipe used to move sawdust from the Saw Mill to the boiler room at the Planer Mill.

RR&G Loop, near the Saw Mill.

McGiffert and Machine Shop

Car Shop

106 waits quietly in the Car Shop for her day to return to service.

McGiffert

Main Line Junction

M4 looks north up the main from the Engine House

Looking north towards Long Leaf Junction

Engine House

Long Leaf Loop

With temps in the upper 30's, Tucker lit a fire in the Engine House "heater."

This may be the first fire in there in decades.

Smoke from "the heater" rolls over the Engine House.

Could this be a harbinger of what it is to come?

Everett reinforces the steel support on the Drop-Side Flat before we put on the new axles and wheels.

The fire burned for hours.

There is plenty of firewood laying around after the hurricanes and tropical storms this past summer.

Securing the new axles on the Horseman.

Done!

Horseman has his new axles & wheels.

Seeing smoke waft through the Engine House made us all think about the future...

Down she goes...

Glen and Wimbley apply grease to Ichabod

Dave welds a new crank for Ichabod

DONE!

Ichabod & Horseman are (mostly) complete and coupled together.

If we're successful in running Halloween trains in 2021, you could see Ichabod pulling Horseman loaded with pumpkins.

That's pretty funny!

Mike unwraps new glass for the cab doors on 106

Glen & Wimbley pose on 106

Glen cast the new number plate for 106 and it sure looks great!

Glen installs the glass in the Fireman's side door.

Then the Engineer's side.

Working on M-2.

She was being stubborn and wouldn't start.

Didn't take long for Dave and Everett to get her happy again.

Dave single-handed located the short... by shocking himself.

THANKS DAVE!

Continuing the effort to clean up the Engine House

MOW train departs on Track 2.

M-2, Ichabod, and Horseman.

Backing down the Main to "the pad" to test the crane.

Up she goes...

Everything worked perfectly except for the brake on the lifting cable. It was insufficient to hold the 600lbs rail.

We'll adjust it in January.

Tucker moves rails between piles.

All good 60lbs rail was relocated to a new pile near the Loop Main for easy access.

Mike shoves good rail onto the tines of the forklift.

Mike drags good rail onto the tines of the forklift.

We wrapped things as the sun dipped behind the trees.

As the final light of day fades to night...

 ...the crew gathers under the lights of the RR&G Engine House to discuss dreams that are becoming plans... and plans that are becoming reality.
 

The future for this old railroad is very bright.

Sunday

Sunday morning, Everett, Tucker, and Jason drove up to Georgetown, LA to check out a critter that we may want to acquire for the RR&G.

We located the beast with no trouble.

She's a cute little thing... in an "ugly duckling" sort of way.

Unfortunately she needs more work than we can provide right now.

This little fella is sitting a short remnant of the old Louisiana Midland Railroad that was used by DJ Railcar Services Inc.

We bid the critter farewell and that ended a VERY successful and productive weekend.