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

470 Railroad Club September 2024 Membership Meeting - Ashley Webb on the photos of O. Winston Link from the 1950s

 Ashley Webb will present Take an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look into technical aspects of several photographs of O. Winston Link, 1950s railroad photographer, who iconically captured the last of the steam trains in America, set against the backdrop of rural Virginia. This lecture will highlight the notebooks, letters, and installation images of some of the photographer's more iconic and technologically involved works.

The O. Winston Link Museum collection comprises the striking photographic and auditory works developed by photographer- artist O. Winston Link between 1955 and 1960. A successful commercial photographer from New York, Link brought his studio outdoors to create carefully arranged images designed to convey the end of the steam propelled Norfolk & Western Railway and the communities and countryside along the right of way. Covering much of Western Virginia and bordering portions of North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland, Link took advantage of the region's then unique combination of mountainous terrain, sparsely arranged populations and steam rail infrastructure to capture the end of America's once thriving industrial age.

Roanoke, Virginia, the museum is the repository for all of O. Winston Link's Norfolk & Western negatives and contains both rotating and permanent exhibitions.

Ashley Webb on O. Winston Link Photos

1741 Road Tested on the Explorer Train to Crawford Notch by Cory Fothergill

 

Sunday the 1741 was road tested on the Explorer Train to Crawford Notch. It provided power for the trip with no issues. It has been returned to the shop to finish some small odds and ends before the 470 Club Trip November 2. We look forward to all of our guests for a fun packed day. If you are free, purchase a ticket and help support the 470 Railroad Club. We will be using our equipment for the excursion and provide several photo run-by opportunities for riders. Photos provided by member Chuck Killian

1741 Update by Cory Fothergill - welding, painting, horns, and number 3 traction motor cables secured

 

This weekend Ryan finished the short hood floor in 1741 so we can reinstall a toilet . The floor will be sanded and painted. Some touch up paint work was done to the locomotive to make sure it’s accurate to the original. The horns were reinstalled and tested, number 3 traction motor cables finally re-secured and it’s getting closer to going out for a test run. Did a different approach on the photos and hopefully everyone can see the photos. 

GP-18 #904 donated to the 470 Railroad Club by the Mass Bay Transportation Authority

 The 470 Railroad Club is proud to announce our latest acquisition. The Mass Bay Transportation Authority has officially donated ex GP18 # 904 to the 470 Railroad Club. The locomotive was built in 1960, and started life as Grand Trunk Western # 4952. The locomotive was rebuilt for SEMTA as the 904 prior to being acquired by MBTA. The locomotive has been out of service for some time and has been vandalized. Initially the club was interested in this locomotive to have parts to maintain our F7s and GP9, however we look forward to partnering with the New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad to attempt to make this unit operational again. Please note, this locomotive is on private property and is not available for public access like our equipment in North Conway is at the time. Thank you for not trespassing , we will keep you up to date with work on 904 via our Facebook page. Thanks to the MBTA for this generous donation as well as CSX for donating the move!

Submitted by Cory Fothergill

1741 Moving Forward for the Fall Trip and getting ready to bluecard

Today (10/4/2024) the number 1 traction motor blower was reinstalled and rewired on the 1741. The locomotive was brought outside to test it. Some more paint modifications will be made before this locomotive is done. At this point, the bathroom floor and toilet need to be installed, flooring installed in the cab and cab heaters need to be connected then 1741 will be ready to bluecard! All donations help keep this project moving forward and we hope to have it ready for the fall trip! Also listed is the number one traction motor blower.

 Update from Cory Fothergill 

Getting 1741 Ready for our Fall Trip reported by Cory Fothergill on September 29, 2024

 

Over the last several days more work was completed on 1741 to get her ready for our fall trip. Some cosmetic details were added such as new builders plates , painted door gaskets , mirrors and newer glass. In the sheet metal department Ryan has finished cleaning out the basement , removing all the rotted metal that once supported the traction motor blowers duct-work and assembly. The downstairs of the GP7/9s all suffer from years of rust and rot from New England’s harsh weather. Ryan Fothergill has removed all of the rotted metal right down to the frame and began building everything back up. In another week the subfloor should be rebuilt, and lastly the bathroom floor will be replaced for the toilet. Also in other news, wiring was reconnected to factory standards to the front platform light, and years of excess wiring left in dead conduit were all removed from under the cab to clean up the locomotive.