After a couple of years of prep work in Tennessee and 4 months of labor here in New Jersey, followed by fits and starts and a scary runaway, LV 112 came back to life Friday afternoon.
This start-up would not have been possible without the help of Don Lachenauer, Frank Conlon, James O’Connor, and Eric Levin. I owe them all heartfelt thanks for their help and love of railroad preservation.
We had fun putting 112 back together. Here are some of the memorable quotes:
In Rockwood, Tennessee, Don Lachenauer, auto repair business owner, after an engine hood fell on his head while he was closing it: “See, I told you my head was harder than that hood.”
James O’Connor, tractor trailer diesel mechanic, while we where trying to service the starting relay: “Wow! Look at that yellow smoke!”
Frank Conlon, fellow railroader from the Black River and Western and a Lehigh Valley fan: “This is really cool!”
And finally, Eric Levin, after being asked about a particular engine component: “It still has that?!”
Without these guys, 112 would not have started on Friday. Thank You!
We still have more to do before we can dig into a paint job, but we cleared a huge hurdle by getting her running.
Check out
http://www.prrllc.com for a couple of neat videos of the start up process, including a scary runaway.
Scott Kwiatkowski
Pennsy Railcar Restorations LLC