Official Naugatuck Railroad thread (NAUG/RMNE)

Although the RMNE's virtual presence has been quiet, the work occurring at our shop has been fervent. Members have been sanding, sanding, and well, sanding! The painters will be arriving next Monday so final preparations will be completed this coming weekend. While the current photographs documenting the progress are rather unremarkable (the unit looks as it did under Penn Central circa 1974), our design staff just completed scanning a number of items which will be used to interpret the locomotive both at Spencer as well as back home in Thomaston.

Please note, the RMNE is passionately committed to the preservation and interpretation of historic rail equipment and associated infrastructure. The 2019s presence in Spencer is important as it provides an unprecedented opportunity to present "our" story on a national level. The New Haven Railroad's impact on both the people and industry of southern New England is a relevant and important chapter in the proud history of our region.

Please consider helping us tell this important story. Donations can be made here: http://www.crowdrise.com/NH2019" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Enjoy & thank you!

Please remember...progress on the 2019 can be followed via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NewHaven2019" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Restoration of RMNE's FL9 NH 2019 is moving along. Body work has been completed, cab interior has been painted in green and black, epoxy primer applied to exterior and finish painting is underway. White areas, including lettering, are complete, as are the red-orange areas. Black will be the final color to be applied, then the unit will be unmasked. Once painting is completed, reassembly of the many cab and exterior items will commence. The stainless steel side grills are being cleaned and polished, and will be applied in about a week. This is going to be a very nice looking locomotive.

Monday afternoon, April 14, 2014: New Haven 2019 is gleaming in fresh paint inside RMNE's Thomaston Shop. Many more details must be attended to before the locomotive is completely finished, but the major work is now accomplished.

That looks FANTASTIC. What a sight that will be in person.

I can't even imagine the kind of work that RMNE volunteers put into this. This truly is a labor of love.

TrainManTy wrote:That looks FANTASTIC. What a sight that will be in person.

I can't even imagine the kind of work that RMNE volunteers put into this. This truly is a labor of love.

SEND MONEY: http://www.crowdrise.com/nh2019/fundrai ... seumofnewe" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is how preservation happens. With lots of cold, hard cash!

-otto-

Otto Vondrak wrote:

TrainManTy wrote:That looks FANTASTIC. What a sight that will be in person.

I can't even imagine the kind of work that RMNE volunteers put into this. This truly is a labor of love.

SEND MONEY: http://www.crowdrise.com/nh2019/fundrai ... seumofnewe" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is how preservation happens. With lots of cold, hard cash!

-otto-

What about people to do the work? Cash doesn't hold a hammer Otto...

But it hires the people that can, and it pays for the paint. Paint and related materials (masking, thinners, etc.) added up to over $4500.00 on the 2019 Project.

H.F.Malone wrote:But it hires the people that can, and it pays for the paint. Paint and related materials (masking, thinners, etc.) added up to over $4500.00 on the 2019 Project.

I take it with 2019 that paid labor is the major factor that will enable it to make Spencer?

Work commenced on 2019 in the Thomaston Shop on January 4, just after the holidays (2019 was in service on the Northern Lights Limited trains until Dec. 22). It was ready for the painters on April 7--- that's three months to do a major amount of body and steel repair work on a tired locomotive-- one of the most rapid projects RMNE has ever done. RMNE people worked long hours on this-- many, many weeknight work sessions in addition to the usual weekends. Some of the tasks that might have been done in-house were contracted out--- the cleaning and polishing of the stainless steel side grilles, and cab seat reupholstery, for example. A crew of pro painters worked with our restoration specialists to perform the final prime and paint work; they had two and three painters spraying simultaneously (RMNE does not have that many skilled automotive-grade spray painters), getting that part of the project accomplished in a few days. Professionals (upholsterers, painters, metal workers, sign makers) are tools to be properly used, just like a wrench or welding machine or lathe or drill press.

Many preservation railroaders learned a long time ago that (to a certain extent) time and money are interchangeable on these projects. No, 1500 man-hours does not mean 100 people working on a locomotive for 15 hours and it's done !! But 5 days a week, 8-9 hours per day for three people is more productive than 1-2 days per week, 6-7 hours per day for 5 people. And one of the primary skills needed in preservation railroading is how to raise/obtain funds, then apply them intelligently. That's why we are always concerned about money-- it, too, is a tool.

Don't get me wrong, volunteers are a major part of this and all other efforts at RMNE and other places. But assisting that volunteer effort with the proper tools, be they good power tools or good contractors, is what gets projects done in a reasonable time.

daylight4449 wrote:What about people to do the work? Cash doesn't hold a hammer Otto...

What, are you trying to be funny? This project already has volunteers and contractors lined up to do the work, otherwise RMNE wouldn't be on a fundraising campaign. Cash buys the materials, pays the contractors, and keeps the lights on in the shop. Sadly, few people seem to understand that. Have you seen any of the progress photos here? That engine didn't paint itself!

-otto-

I think Daylight's point is that in addition to funds, credit needs to be given to the labor required to accomplish such a task. Both for the purpose of recognizing those who help and calling for more volunteers to join up and in turn potentially save some money. I didn't read into it that he thought emphasizing volunteer labor in place of financial contributions and expenses was in order, but that it was a subject that also deserves attention. If I'm right and that's his point, then he's absolutely right. These things certainly require more than free labor, but said labor is just as important unless the funding is really plentiful. Seeking and promoting volunteerism is always something to encourage. Perhaps in doing so you'll boost the flow of that green stuff!

Both volunteer members/preservationists and funds are necessary. This place (and others like it) would not exist without both of those things.

2019 was pulled out of the Volunteer Shop today, fired up & was photographed for the first time since its restoration.

Film at 11.

Next stop Spencer NC.

PS. We need a few extra shekels to complete the 2019 restoration project

Please Save the Date - Noon on Tuesday, May 6 through Noon on Wednesday, May 7. 24 hours only this time for the newest Give Local "Give Where You Live" fundraising campaign, made available to us again by Connecticut Community Foundation in Waterbury and by Give Local America. We request your support by making an online donation to our own unique website url at the following

https://www.givelocalccf.org/#npo/railr ... ew-england" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


100% of your donation will be paid to RMNE as unrestricted funds within a few weeks following the end of this campaign. We will also have the opportunity to win cash prizes and some matching funds from Community Foundation supporters and a few matching dollars from the National campaign. You will remember, last November in our first Give Local campaign, we raised over $5,500 from our own members and friends of the Railroad Museum of New England.