5 Volunteers, 6 Cars, 7 Hours - Summary of Work Completed November 17, 2012

Along with routine maintenance tasks (and unanticipated repairs at times) throughout the year, an annual work session is scheduled for the middle of November to ensure our passenger cars are ready for the demands of the annual Polar Bear Express and Santa's Trolley Events.  These events draw hundreds of riders every year, and our cars must be ready.  Cold weather is typical for these events also, adding the to the demand placed upon our equipment.

Therefore, 5 volunteers set forth to tackle the servicing of 6 of our most heavily used passenger cars this past Saturday.  Work accomplished is as follows:

Johnstown Traction Company #355:  This car received the bulk of the attention during the day.  Budd Blair and Fred Wagner did a fairly substantial overhaul of both K-35 controllers, which had taken quite a beating during the operating year.  The controller work was extensive and kudos to Budd and Fred for spending much of the day at this task, which is not exactly ergonomic.  Matt Nawn, assisted by Fred Wagner, Bill Monaghan, and George Rich, checked the oil levels in all 12 bearings and added oil as necessary (most needed just a minor topping off with journal oil).  The gears were inspected as well, as a pack of crater grease was added to each gearbox.  The heat was tested as well and found to be operating perfectly (this is a warm car for a cold winter's day!).  Finally, the air governor (this turns the compressor on when air pressure drops and shuts it off as well when pressure builds up to a set point) filter was cleaned, repacked, and the contacts serviced.  After two test runs, the car was declared fit for service. 

Open Car #1875:  This might sound like the "influenza express" at first glance, but many Polar Bear Express riders will wait in line with blankets for a chance to ride this car at night through the lighted Christmas displays in a truly unique experience.  The air governor filter was cleaned, repacked, and the contacts serviced.

STCP #172 and #249:  Each of these car's air governors got the same work done as #355 and #1875.  By this point, Bill and George had become proficient and learning how to do basic servicing of an S-16 governor.  Rockhill Furnace is a long way from the Portuguese coast - these cars have no heat!

York Railways #163:  Along with the usual governor servicing, this car made two test trips to ensure the inbound K-68 controller functioned properly.  This controller has been giving problems this year but it appears Budd's latest work has corrected the problem.  The heat was also turned on and successfully tested.

Public Service Coordinated Transport #6:  The backup controller contactors were cleaned and dressed, which corrected the problem of dynamic brake drag that had developed when operating the car from the backup controller.  The heat was also turned on and found to be in good working order.  A short test run was made late in the day to verify the car coasts properly in reverse.

Last, and certainly not least, Nicholas Brightbill helped late in the day with getting all of the equipment put away in the Carbarns.  His efforts were much appreciated by a work crew that was getting tired by this point.

The photos below illustrated some of the day's progress.  My thanks to all volunteers!

Budd toils away at the outbound controller of JTC #355

 

Proving your author does something other than tell other people what to do while George gives me some extra light.  Cleaning the governor contacts on #1875.

Two of our most popular orange cars sit outside Carbarn #1 while crews work inside of them.