Locomotive Restoration by the 470 Railroad Club, presented by Eric Grover and Jackson Small on December 18, 2024

 This month ‘s meeting is being done by program coordinators Eric Grover and Jackson Small on the club’s equipment. Have you ever wondered about what it takes to restore a diesel locomotive? In this presentation we are going to give an in-depth view of the restoration projects that the 470 club has completed over the past few years. We will cover the history of these locomotives and the process that it took to restore them. We will look at the skill and craft that is needed to make these locomotives look brand new. It’s neither easy nor clean, but it’s a job that skilled volunteers do because of the love and passion they have for railroad history. So, join the 470 club in a review of its restoration projects completed in the last few years and get an inside look at what it takes to make something old new again.

Locomotive Restoration by the 470 Railroad Club

History of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and Restoration of the Narcissus by Phil Morse on November 20, 2024

 

Phil Morse - A septuagenarian who was born in Portland, Maine. Current Resident of Saco. Long-time member/volunteer of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Former Trustee, President/CEO, and Executive Director. Currently, the Sponsor for the restoration of the 1912, Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus, and Administrator for the Blog (now approaching 600K total views) that features the Narcissus Project, all the former Electric Railways in Maine, and Theodore Roosevelt's connections in Maine (TR was a passenger on the Narcissus, on August 18, 1914).

The talk will highlight the history of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, the extended life of the Narcissus, and its current restoration.

Portland Lewiston Interurban

History of the Flying Yankee by Bob Kotsonis

Flying Yankee Past Present And Future 

In this video, Bob Kotsonis, Treasurer of the Flying Yankee Association, reviews the modern history of Boston & Maine Railroad Streamliner #6000, more commonly known as the Flying Yankee. He discusses the attempts made by multiple groups to restore and operate it and reviews the current status and condition of the train and its recent acquisition from the State of New Hampshire and move to its new home in Conway, NH.

The Return of Boston and Maine 1741 from Railfan and Railroad Magazine by Eric Grover

 Here is Eric's recent article about 1741

Return of Boston & Maine 1741

Final 2024 Work on 1741 and all three locomotives stored for the winter reported by Cory

 

Work was concluded on the 1741 for this season. The final plates were welded in the nose, door locks added , and front walkway latch was added . The 1741 operated with 573 on the regular mountaineer on Sunday and performed flawlessly. After the trip 1741/573/4266/4268 were all moved to the north yard and dead and drained for winter storage. More work will continue next year including some flooring in the cab, cab interior paint and short nose paint as well. Donations always help keep our projects moving.  As we enter the winter season we will work on transportation for some other donations we have obtained.

Video of Train from 470 Annual Notch Trip returning to Conway Station

 Thanks to Alan Small, here is the train returning from the Club's annual trip. The train has 6 passenger cars and two dome cars pulled by F7 4266, GP-9 1741, and F 74268

Notch Train Returns to Conway on Nov 1, 2024

470 Railroad Club October Membership Meeting - Sperry Rail Service from 1999-2000 by Bob Tegtmeier

 Bob Tegtmeier will be doing an inside look at the Sperry Rail Service 1999-2000. I will be making a few changes to the program based on prior feedback and showing a VHS tape I have on hand what to expect if you hire on with Sperry Rail. Most railfans know the Sperry Rail Big Cars inspect the rails, but how is it done? What defects are they looking for? How many vehicles are there that perform this service? Bob Tegtmeier was lucky enough to be hired as the Sperry Quality Assurance Manager in 1999. Being a railfan and a quality assurance engineering professional, it was a good combination for the time it lasted. Bob was able to ride the cars doing the inspections, help qualify new vehicles and learn about the nondestructive test methods used to detect the multiple defects that can occur in the actual rail. And he took photos. The program was originally put together for Bob’s railfan friends back in 2000 along with a shop tour. It has been updated to give an overview of Sperry Rail during that time with a bit of history and the structure of the company. All the detector vehicle types, and test methods are reviewed along with the other services Sperry performed in the Danbury shop location. There are photos and explanations of what went on during the rail testing inspections, the output provided to the host railroad, and what it was like working on Big Car and Hi Rail test vehicles. Bob was born in the Bronx and grew up in Yonkers so subway rides, watching the New Haven and New York (later Penn) Central trains were a big part of his childhood. But it did not stop there. After getting his Bachelor’s and Master of Mechanical Engineering at Manhattan College he discovered there were railfans and model railroaders at his aerospace employer in New Jersey. He and his friends have been building/operating model trains and railfanning together for the last 45 years. He has found time to get married to his patient wife of over 40 years, Amy, and has two children with one being a railfan. (he does love the other one too). For over 30 years he has operated trains with friends in Connecticut and is working on his LNE model railroad. Now retired he almost has time to work on it! He has also taken the time to update this presentation

Sperry Rail Service by Bob Tegtmeier