Work Session Status Week Ending 11/07/2020

November 10, 2020

Hello everyone,

It’s been awhile since I wrote a progress report since most of the work has been the same for quite some time.

Many hours have been spent on the interior of the tool car wire brushing all the sides ends and ceiling in preparation for the painting. We hired an outside company to do the painting which was completed this past Wednesday and Thursday. Next project will be floor repair and painting.

I understand shop drawings have been completed for four replacement side doors. Those drawings will enable us to procure bids to fabricate new ones.

We had a welding inspector take a look at a repair done by others many years ago in the tool car. It appears the weld is inferior and will need to be redone. At this time the old weld has been ground out in preparation for the new weld.

Much planning and work has gone into installing an ethernet cable and conduit under the tender. It will be part of the Positive Train Control (PTC) system.

The metal casting crew have been churning out more parts for the Cumbres group up north, along with small pieces for our own use.

Before I took some time off I delegated a project which, when finished, will be cab side sunshades and rear cab curtains. I understand a canvas company has been retained to fabricate the material.

Lastly, I want to remind everyone that our annual holiday greeting cards will be out in the near future. They contain a note how all of us can contribute financially to the restoration. The membership renewal is also enclosed. Please return your contribution as soon as possible. That way it won’t get misplaced with all the upcoming holiday cards and letters. If you are on a yearly renewal, which is now available on our website through PayPal, or paid by check or otherwise in the last quarter or this year, you are good until 1/2022 or whenever your yearly is due automatically.

Due to the Covid epidemic we were unable to have an open house this past September. That annual event makes up a large part of our yearly budget, so I would encourage everyone to donate more than your annual membership best you can. Our GoFundMe Campaign is still on the website and we haven’t met that goal as of yet. Those who are Lifetime members feel free to donate what you can.

Kudos go out to all those who have persevered for the past seven months working safely during this epidemic. We all hope you and yours are safe and healthy and can continue to stay that way.

As always . . .

Keep on Steamin’,
Rick Kirby
CMO, NMSL&RHS