Hello All,
It has been quite a while since we last provided an update on our progress. In the past year, the Twin Forks Chapter has seen a great many changes in the composition of its leadership and membership, and our work sessions have become more ambitious than ever before.
Firstly, we are happy to announce that the Chapter has acquired former Missouri Pacific Cabooses #13456 and #13388, as well as a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie 50' boxcar. These three cars have long sat on a landlocked spur near Kroemer Avenue, roughly two miles from our worksite in Riverhead Yard. The boxcar will ultimately serve as our storage car. We currently have a fundraising campaign to help fund the relocation of the three cars to Riverhead Yard.
As far as the rest of our collection is concerned, our first major project (or projects) of the season was the restoration of former LIRR N-22B Hacks #C-63 and #C-64. Over the years, our Chapter has had considerable success in keeping these cars well preserved and well maintained. Still, the interiors remained largely untouched since their retirement, with C-64 in particular being the recipient of much graffiti. The past few months have seen the interiors and exteriors of both cabooses completely repainted, albeit with lettering remaining to be applied. In addition, we have also succeeded in making the plumbing, electrical, heating (stoves) and brake systems fully operational. While all preserved equipment tends to be a constant work-in-progress, we are happy to report that these two cabooses are now suitable for showcasing to the public, inside and out.
In recent weeks, some of our attention has shifted to former LIRR MOW car #W-85, a former Boston & Maine "Osgood Bradley" coach that had been converted for alcohol and sandite service on the LIRR. With ample unused space and shelving, the car proved to be a perfect fit for relocating all of the tools and other equipment we had previously stored in C-64. To our surprise, a test of the car's electrical system and close inspection of the car's structure has shown that the car is actually in better shape than previously speculated, and we look forward to returning the car to its original color scheme of B&M "Minuteman Red" and making it an attractive and visible centerpiece to our collection in Riverhead Yard.
With so much attention on the rest of the cars, one piece that has yet to receive our full attention is former LIRR #W-93, the Jordan Spreader. This has long been one the most iconic pieces in the Chapter's collection, but because of its comparatively intricate and complex design, we have decided to put heavy repairs on hold and focus on preserving the spreader in its current state until we are able to dedicate the proper amount of time for welding and painting.
We hold work sessions more or less every Saturday from 11-5, and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information and questions about work sessions, please send us an email at
[email protected]. Please also feel free to stop by and see the progress that we continue to enjoy, and stay tuned for future news and updates!