Old Dominion Chapter, National Railway Historical Society

I am currently a volunteer for the Catskill Mountain railroad in Kingston, NY. While I have thoroughly enjoyed myself up there with the "crew", and will continue to be a part of that organization, I can only make the eight hour trips once or twice a year. Photos of the incredible progress they have made can be seen here: http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?byrail ... ountain_RR Also the corresponding Railroad.net discussion board: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... sc&start=0

Virginia is not exactly a hot bed of excursion rail lines and I had wondered if there was anything close to Richmond where I could volunteer and do railroad work.

What I found is The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, and it is located in Richmond Virginia. As with most volunteer organizations, more volunteers are always needed. There are many opportunities to do a variety of work. They run the Old Dominion Railway museum in the City of Richmond. They run excursions a couple of times a year on the Buckingham Branch Railroad. http://www.buckinghambranch.com/Excursions.htm

And they also do railcar and locomotive restoration at their Hallsboro Yard. Photos of some of the railcars, locomotives, and other projects can be seen here:
http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?byrail ... on_Chapter I will be posting further pictures of projects and their progress as they happen.
What I found at Hallsboro was the same passion for railroading that I had found up in the Catskills, and a great bunch of guys, with a lot of talent and expertise, but not enough hands to do the work. Some of the projects for this year include trackwork, car restoration, and basic yard maintenance. All levels of skill are needed and it looks like a great place to learn.
To find out more, their web site is: http://www.odcnrhs.org/ . Or send me a message and I will try and get you in touch with the right people.

Win

Added some more photos to Nerail site. These are taken at the Chapter's Museum at the former Southern Railway Station on Hull Street in Richmond, Va. The museum is actually housed in the baggage car until renovations are done to the station.

http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... %20Chapter



Win

Article on richmond.com about the wooden caboose restoration and the pending restoration of the 1939 Davenport


http://www.richmond.com/locallife/outpu ... position=1

This past saturday, different crews worked on constructing a new covering for over the air compressor, some yard equipment maintenance, drainage work, and some track work including setting the proper gauge on track three and spiking some ties. Photos an be seen at:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... %20Chapter

This was my first experience at spiking ties. Today I'm trying to figure out what parts of me aren't sore.
Ongoing projects are restoration of the RPO car, trackwork, brushclearing around the yard. And we would love help rebuilding the Caterpillar diesel engine in the Davenport 44 tonner.

Win

Progress was again made today at Hallsboro yards. The project of constructing a roof over our air compressor was completed as well as protective barriers were placed over the priceless cut glass windows on the McGirth pullman car and the Dindiddie County which is on the National Historic register. The Dinwiddie County was vandalized last week by grafitti and broken windows. Seems that suburbia and all that comes with it is moving closer. Photos of the progress, the beginning stages of restoration of the Central of Georgia 494 Baggage/RPO car for commisary use on our excursion runs, and the defacing of the Dinwiddie County are posted here:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... %20Chapter

Our upcoming projects in the short term are getting the RF&P Pettibone crane back in service, the RPO 71 restored and the COG 494.

As usual, new volunteers are always welcome. Experience is not necessary.

Win

Lots more progress made today at Hallsboro yard. Put new batteries in the Former RF&P 15 ton Pettibone crane. After the batteries were put in we found out it has a bad starter. Getting closer to sucess though. See photos here: http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... %20Chapter

Maintenance work was done on other yard equipment to make sure everyting is running well and dependable, and work was done to put the track in gauge at the track 3 and 4 switch. Engine work was done also on the HM-6, Also in the last stages of winter brushcutting and cleanup.

Win

Report from Kevin Frick, engineer and yard foreman for the ODC:

May 12th

"Win Goodier, Bob Stevens , Randy Ridgley and I were at Hallsboro today. Randy cleaned out the passageways for the water glass an tri cock check valves on the 0-6-0. He then worked on cleaning up and priming the Davenport. Bob and Win worked on the Ford yard maintenance tractor, changing oil and filter, fuel filter, installing the rebuilt starter and battery cables onto the tractor, There is still a problem but I hope to have it up and running by the end of the week . The crane outrigger was lifted up by the skid steer and tied off so it will stay up I started putting water into the tender for the 0-6-0. Bob Stevens and I then put the grate bearer frames back in the 0-6-0 and put the grate bearers in also. The new grates have some work that needs to be done to make them fit properly. We have to grind down the ends to make them square so they will fit properly. There are 70 grates that need to be reworked but we should be able to get this done in one Saturday . The new windows, for the cab sides, are at my house and I will be applying preservative to them before painting them.

Photos of the Davenport painting will be posted soon

Win

It's been awhile since I have posted, although there has been a lot of progress. Because of vandalism to the "Dinwiddie County", we had to move our security fence which took a lot of the summer. We are getting ready for the fall excursions out on the Buckingham Branch Railroad, the Davenport 44 tonner has been completely primed, so no more of the baby blue paint and rust. Also we have a 45 ton Whitcomb locomotive that has been donated to us, now we just have to come up with the funds to get it moved, and track work has been ongoing......more photos have been posted on Nerail:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... %20Chapter

Upcoming work day on saturday 10/13. There will be a couple of different crews working on dissasembling the old ballast regulator and replacing ties in anticipation of the arrival of the Whitcomb engine. Anyone interested in helping is welcome. We should have the gates open around 9 or 9:30



Win

How late will you be open, and are there any plans for Sunday?

I think most of us have to leave by around 2, but usually we are there until 4:30 or 5. usually no one there on Sundays....

Win

Oops, almost forgot, we're running our rail excursions on the Buckingham Branch for the next three saturdays....I think they are almost all sold out, but if you want to take photos or just see it, trains leave Dilwyn at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.

We continue to run our fall excursion which are sold out way in advance. Photos are posted on the Nerail site:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?order= ... %20Chapter

Check out the repaint of our RF&P 101. (then scroll down farther back in the pictures to see what it looked like before!)The orginal color codes from RF&P was found and so it should match up perfectly.

In other news, the new grates on the 0-6-0 had been hanging up, so they will be removed next week and the Machine Technology class at Hermitage Technical Center will be machining them as a class project.

the next work day will be October 27th at Hallsboro yard, we should be there at 9. Any new volunteers are always welcome. (Having a skill is not necessary) If you would like directions, please email me.


Win

ODC Workday 10/25
Gates will open around 9 am. Projects for today will included grinding some of the old tar off of the roof of the 1202 N&W RPO car in preparation for patching and painting the roof to prevent leaks. Also removal of the firebox grates from the 0-6-0 so that they can machined. Any new volunteers are welcome, email me for directions to Hallsboro yard.

Win

Also, for anyone wanting to take photos of the excursion train, it leaves Dillwyn @ 9:30 am and 1:30 pm, and gets to the James river bridge an hour or so later.


Win

ODC Workday 11/10 at Hallsboro Yard

Yard will open around 9. Work being done: remove the grates, grate bars and frame from the 0-6-0 in order to have them reworked. Work on track three replacing ties and tamping same. Working on the ladder track to replace the ties that will be within the boundry of the fencing. Putting the loader back on the tractor, and whatever else may come up. Send a message if you need directions.

Win