THE CLUB CAR Bulletin 689 Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. January 2021 WP 713 Gets A New Main Generator Photo by Gerry Feeney Western Pacific GP-7 #713 sits outside the Car Shop at Brightside Yard in May 2019 waiting for its main generator to be replaced. The locomotive looks good in its new paint. During the generator replacement care was taken to protect the paint job. The last time Western Pacific GP-7 perienced a ground fault. The failure IN THIS ISSUE #713 operated on a train was during prevented the locomotive from reliably the 2018 Train of Lights season. Its dy- delivering power to its traction motors 2 An YV 330 Merry Christmas namic braking capability makes it ideal which is needed to pull through the Big for controlling train speed and provid- Curve and when switching to service 3 Activities Page ing passengers with a comfortable ride, and spot the consist at the end of TOL a real asset in handling the long TOL operations. Despite its problem 713 Presidents Message 4 consist on Westward runs from Sunol limped through the 2018 TOL operation 6 General Manager Report to Niles. Back then 713 looked pretty not missing a night. In May 2019, con- spiffy having received a new coat of tractor Matt Monson along with retired 12 Tales of the Past green and orange paint during the prior SP electrician Bob Neff of Dieselmotive Summer. The dynamic brakes worked investigated the electrical problem and 15 Information Page just fine. However, 713 frequently ex- Continued on Page 8 OUR MISSION: To be an operating railroad museum for standard gauge railroading, past, present and future, with emphasis on the Western United States and special emphasis on Northern California NILES CANYON RAILWAY An YV 330 Merry Christmas We hope everyone had toys in their stockings this Christ- mas. Life in the times of Covid have been a bit different, but using that time wisely has resulted in getting the bookshelf for the 1st class section in the 330 completed. As mentioned in a previous email, a photo from the 1940’s was all we had to go on, and I think the replica is very close to the original. Note the top wall trim wraps around the top of the shelf. This caused us to build the shelf now, as the trim is literally ready to hang as soon as we can work at Brightside again. The rear of the bookshelf is the partition between 1st and 2nd class. Mounting to the side and partition is accomplished with 15 hefty screws. I integrated LED lighting tucked into the front sides of the left and right wall. This won’t be visible except at extreme angles, and the on/off is with a remote that will be kept in the desk drawer. The top shelf will have smaller format reading such as “30 Years Over Donner” by SP signalman Bill Fischer. The middle shelf will contain orig- inal builders plates on each end, with an O Scale model of the 330 in between, custom built by Jack Burgess. The low- er shelf will include standard format books, mainly hard cov- er and photo albums of the 330 restoration and history. The books in the photo were donated by Pat Cassell, “Trains to Yosemite” being the most visible, with of course the 330 on the cover! Hank Johnston’s books will also be stocked, as well as Lucius Beebe, including my favorite “When Beauty Rode the Rails”. In each of his books there were always about a dozen beautifully written captions that stimulated the imagination. In his “Mixed Train Daily”, he did write a melancholy reminiscence about the 330 that prematurely said it was gone forever! If there is room available, Bruce McGregor’s trilogy on the South Pacific Coast will be added. If things continue to be slow with the pandemic, I may start work on the desk. As you can see in the picture, the original desk had a fold down wood countertop, which in the up po- sition leaves the drawer contents visible. We will substitute a small grey granite countertop for a more finished look, as it would be more functional and aesthetic. Things are still quite scary with Covid, the website worl- dometers.com has very accurate daily information. Be in- formed, take precautions and let’s get to the other side of this! Wes Swift E-Coupling Information Website: http://www.ncry.org Email: To Join Members Email List, send an Email to: [email protected] Twitter: @toots4ncry Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NilesCanyonRailway YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NilesCanyonRailRoad Page 2 Pacific Locomotive Association January 2021 NILES CANYON RAILWAY = = = = = = = = = January Activities = = = = = = = = January 6, 13, 20, 27 Wednesdays Maintenance of Way, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Ron Thomas January 9 2nd Saturday Board of Directors Meeting, 2:15 pm (Teleconference) January 23 4th Saturday Brush Cutting, 8:00 am (Brightside) - Steve Jones Volunteer Report Ed Best - Volunteer Coordinator The following is a list of the people who volunteered supporting your railroad in November. All volunteer hours on projects related to the railroad during these restricted periods are eligible to be registered. Please send your hours to me by e-mail at [email protected]. One member of a working group can send me the data for all members of the group. Meeting at- tendance by teleconference is reported to me by the Membership Secretary. Administrative Depot Crew Mechanical Meetings MOW & Track Other Henry Baum & Operations Bill Stimmerman Henry Baum Charles Navarra Linda Stanley Mike Strider Bob Bailey Charles Franz Jeff Haslam Chris Campi Mark Miller Jim Evans Chris Hamilton Chris Hauf Jim Evans Chris Hauf Patrice Warren Linda Stanley Donna Alexander Chuck Kent Jim Gilmore Chris O’Gara Steve Jones Pat Stratton Leanne Hamilton Dee Murphy Jim Stewart Dan Colley Wesley Van Osdol Dee Murphy Steve Barkkarie Rich Alexander Doug Vanderlee John Zielinski Zonker Harris Jim Stewart Gerald DeWitt Doug Vanderlee Kent Hedberg Docents Gerry Feeney Justin Legg Gerry Feeney Switching Crew Gail Hedberg Henry Baum Henry Chandler Karen Kadaja Jack Harrington Alan Siegwarth Bob Pratt Jim Evans Howard Wise Kent Hedberg John Pelmulder Charles Franz Chris Hauf Jordan Hamilton Jeff Haslam Leslie Smith John Zielinski Gerry Feeney Ed Best Mike Bozzini Jeff Schwab Linda Stanley Johnny Ross Jackie Vlasak Mimi Hamilton Justin Legg Lou Bradas Ken Southwick Train Crew Joe Scardino Rob Giles Karl Swartz Marshall Williams Linda Stanley Brad Jones Mark Miller Sue Thomas Kurt Olsen Mike Strider Mark Whitman Chris Chisom Mary Asturias Linda Stanley Matthew Petach Dave Burla Electrical & Signals Pat Buder Rich Alexander Lou Bradas Pat Stratton Mike Pechner Ed Best Curt Hoppins Peter Bradas Patrice McDonald Mike Strider Jackie Vlasak Jim Stewart Ron Thomas Archives & Library Rich Gove Paul Veltman Jorg Linke Steve Jones Steve Barkkarie Justin Legg Brian Hitchcock Facilities Rich Alexander Steve Hill Kurt Olsen Dennis Mann John Zielinski Roger McCluney Steve Jones Linda Stanley Rich Alexander Meetings Rosanne Strahle Wesley Van Osdol Mark Miller Car Department Steve Barkkarie Bill Strahle Steve Barkkarie Nick Alexander Bob Moore Bob Bradley Bob Bradley Steve Jones Other Rich Anderson Bob Pratt Steve Jones Bob Pratt Thomas Libbey Barry Lependorf Ron Quilici Denis Murchison Wesley Van Osdol Charles Smith Tim Flippo Bob Bailey Ron Thomas Dennis Mann Curt Hoppins Tom Crawford Chris Hauf Scott Crislip Henry Baum Gift Shop Dave Burla Tom Eikerenkotter Curt Hoppins Ted Unruh Jim McDaniel Donna Alexander Dee Murphy Zonker Harris Dennis Mann Travis Zupo Marshall Williams Gail Hedberg Don Gholson Warren Haack Pete Goodier Rich Alexander Don Kirker Donna Alexander Phil Stone Donna Alexander MOW & Track Ed Best Steve Van Meter Mechanical Doug Vanderlee Bob Bailey Gail Hedberg Terry Stokes Alan Siegwarth Gail Hedberg Bob Pratt Jim Evans Tom Crawford Bill Ross George Childs Bruce Sorel Karl Swartz January 2021 Pacific Locomotive Association Page 3 NILES CANYON RAILWAY President’s Message Henry Baum - President First, I want to take this opportunity to have NOT closed the railroad – yet. sight as it is slowly being buttoned back thank everyone who helped out on our Projects in the yard should be limited up. Work also continues on the Great very successful photo charters Decem- to those which can be done by single Northern Ranch Car, which is needing ber 5 & 6. It went very well, and all the workers, maintaining social distancing more work than originally planned but passengers enjoyed their opportunities and wearing masks whenever within 20 is coming along nicely. Work contin- to photograph the Skookum pulling a feet of others. The sanitizing protocols ues on the Gothic Peak as well, get- freight train. Thanks to the train crew should also be followed as much as ting some much-needed welding of car and to the Commissary Department as practical, but they are not as necessary end plates. The SP1744 restoration is well as the Depot staff. as thought back in the early days. This progressing on two fronts, the running Now it’s Déjà vu time. Similar to our is not to say two people cannot work to- gear and frame in Brightside, the boiler March train operations, our December gether on a project when it is absolute- work in Colorado. The WP713 is back event came in just under the wire of Al- ly necessary, but every attempt should in service and ready for anything. The ameda County slamming the door on be made to minimize the need for that. SP1218 (the chicken engine) is getting us having any further train operations, Again, even when having lunch you TLC again. The Skookum #7 will be re- at least through next January.