May 2007 President’s Report

By Ira Pollack

            In this month’s issue I’d like first to welcome our new members to the Museum. Every month I see your names printed, and I wonder who you are and what your interests might be. We have many different activities going on at the Museum which I am sure you read about, but still I’d like to meet you sometime and have you become part of our ever growing volunteer staff. There is an incredible variety of ways people can help out. A few examples are helping with restoration, maintenance of the facility, running our events, training to be part of our train crew, and car hosting. Listed below are our ongoing restoration projects in the yard along with their project leaders, if you have an interest in becoming involved:

NYC wooden caboose                         Gerry Herrmann

PRR Rail Post Office car                      Bill Britt

Track and railyard work                       Ira Pollack

NH #1402 RS11 locomotive                J.R. Mitchell

Boston & Maine steam locomotive        Carolyn Taylor

CN #660 party car                               Jim Teer

Equipment Maintenance                        Justin Chapin

            We also have many volunteer needs in the station building as listed below:

Gift Shop                                              Patty Osmer

Front Desk                                           Dave Lowry

Exhibits & Model RR layouts                Wade Roese

Train Crew Training                              Don Konen

            Volunteers are what make our Museum what it is today. If you would like to help continue our growth and be part of our future, please contact one of these volunteers and join our team.

            I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers who were involved in this year’s Easter Bunny Trains. This year’s event was the most successful one to date, with full trains both weekends, with many, many happy visitors. Once again look at what our volunteers can and always do when they set their minds to it. This event continues to grow every year.

            We have begun working on the restoration of Track 34. Our crew has been digging out ties that need replacing in several locations along the track. This is one of those necessary maintenance projects that must be done. We are trying to replace these ties and put the track back in service to extend our running area in the yard. Once done, our crews will be moving over to the turntable lead switch for more tie replacement. We, of course, welcome your help with this project, and we will meet every Saturday at 10am to continue its progress. If you cannot do this heavy type of construction work, but still want to help, the Museum has a track fund raiser. A donation of $35 will buy a railroad tie for our track. Once the project is completed, we will affix a metal plaque on the tie purchased indicating the name of the donor, or a name chosen by the donor.

            Once again, there is a lot going on at the Museum. Please come out, volunteer, and help us grow.