Ernie Robart died in Albuquerque, NM on December 24, 2018. Ernie is survived by his wife, Lourdes Catalan Robart; his brother, Myron Robart; his niece, Myrene Eklund; and his nephew, David Robart, all of Albuquerque. Ernie is also survived by his numerous friends who enjoyed his company as a world-class photographer and railroad historian. A […]

December 12, 2018 The tool car work in Ohio continues as the various truck parts are dye-penetrate checked and any repairs completed. Two coil springs for the trucks have been ordered due to excessive wear and one which was broken. This will be shipped direct to Ohio. The under car generator for the tool car […]

November 27, 2018 After going through a bout of respiratory illness for the past three weeks I am on the road to recovery. Thanks to Bob D. and all the crew for keeping things going while I was out. This report will be a bit sketchy and will do what I can from conversations with […]

November 5, 2018 Due to the loss of a family member, Gail and I have been absent for the past several sessions. Thanks to Bob D. and the rest of the crew for continuing on while we were done. Work is ongoing on the root valve. Progress was made on the tender brake adjustments and […]

October 15, 2018 Work resumed this week on the buddy steam pipe enlargement. Most everything is done except for waiting on delivery of a 300# steam rated globe valve. All the supporting apparatus pieces were cut and welded for the rethreading of the male root valve threads. That process began Saturday at a very cautious […]

October 10, 2018 This past week volunteers recovered from the grueling previous week in preparation and entertaining 2000 visitors to the annual open house. Wednesday some time was spent reorganizing the site for another years work. Items which were temporarily stowed away were retrieved and placed where they belonged so restoration work could resume. Steam-up […]

October 4, 2018 Since my last report most of the crew was routinely transforming our work site into an exhibition area for Saturday’s open house. The final site clean up was completed along with pre-staging of tables, chairs and tarps for shade. The engine and tender received a good pressure washing and polish with the […]

September 24, 2018 Hello Steamers! Madame Secretary and I are back from our nearly two weeks of R&R. Thanks to all who continued on in our absence. This week, other than the usual work details, we began prepping the site for the Annual Open House this coming Saturday. Everyone in the near Albuquerque area continue […]

August 27, 2018 Besides finishing the pit rebuild, getting the speeder up and running, rejoining the locomotive and tender and outfitting the new souvenir store, we had a bit of an official first steam-up! Wednesday, on our regular work day, volunteers came in early to prepare for a live television steam-up with Channel 4’s Weatherman […]

August 15, 2018 The last of the welding was completed on the pit repair. The locomotive rolled over it and all was quiet again. After a bit of air brake testing she was rolled back over the pit in preparation of reconnecting the 2926 to her tender. They were reconnected along with the water and […]