August 2017 THE DISPATCHER S SHEET

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Trevor Cannon
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THE DISPATCHER S SHEET August 2017 SP 3001 in April 1966 in

3194 and worked mostly on the Peninsula.

It was retired as one of the last SP GP9s by the Union Pacific

1 THE DISPATCHER S SHEET August 2017 SP 3001 in April 1966 in Santa Clara, It would be later be rebuilt and became GP9E SP 3194 and worked mostly on the Peninsula. It accompanied SP 2472 to Sacramento in It was retired as one of the last SP GP9s by the Union Pacific and was purchased by a donor and given to the GGRM in Mel Lawrence photo, Hensarling collection.

From the Head End By Garrett Brisbee Over the past few years, the crews at Brightside Yard have seen just about everything imaginable while preparing for the upcoming move.

2 From the Head End By Garrett Brisbee Over the past few years, the crews at Brightside Yard have seen just about everything imaginable while preparing for the upcoming move. Through nasty weather (both scalding hot and freezing cold), vandalism, theft, engineering setbacks, and the usual nonsense, we've seen it all. But all that hard work and patience is about to pay off. We're now ready to move, and only need to have a few inspections take place prior to departure. I cannot thank the volunteers enough for all of the hard work! All of the preparation to move the equipment would be of little use without a place to move. On that front, we also have great news. Our track plan has now been approved, and work will begin shortly on laying new track. Once the track is in place, an engine house will be erected just prior to our arrival. I have personally been researching different engine house vendors, and all vendors would be able to erect a building within a few weeks. Things should happen quickly now that we have approvals in place. Finally, our utilities are being planned for install and should be in place soon. But remember, this is our temporary home. We will reside at this spot for as long as it takes to find, procure and construct our permanent home. But, for the time-being, our new venue will have a place to store our equipment safely, the opportunity to display the collection, provisions to maintain and restore anything in our roster, and also the space to run excursions. We want to make the folks in Sonoma county proud, so we will aggressively work on restoring equipment once we are settled in. Consider this, though; once we arrive at our new home, we have enough operable equipment to run small excursions. It's our goal to make that happen. Meanwhile, back at Brightside, we are getting the 5901 finished up, the Oakland upgraded, and the motive power operable and legal. No rest for the wicked, as they say.. So, the million dollar question on everyone's mind: "when are we finally moving?" Non-rail equipment is moving out starting this week to an off-site storage facility, and rolling stock/motive power will leave once we get the green light from all necessary parties. Cross your fingers, we can use the good luck.

The 5901 Report Work on the 5901 has been at the mercy of the weather lately, but progress is being made. Color sanding has now been started, which will give the car a mirrorlike shine.

3 The 5901 Report Work on the 5901 has been at the mercy of the weather lately, but progress is being made. Color sanding has now been started, which will give the car a mirrorlike shine. Red stripes are in the process of being applied. Several areas need touch up work, but it's minor stuff as compared to what we've already been through. Dave Hensarling is getting the stencils ready and shipped out to us, which will allow us to letter the car the same way it was done originally. Want to help? me at garrett@brisbee.com for information. Pictured is the masking work that was needed to paint an upper red stripe. With the windy conditions, the masking took an agonizing twelve hours over the course of two days. - Garrett Brisbee The Dispatcher s Lineup August 2017 Now Departing: Equipment and materials loading and movement by truck to new secure storage site in Antioch. Call Peter Schultze to volunteer. Heavy duty trucking is needed. Late Trains: NWPRR notice that the storage tracks are ready. NWPRR hospital train movement plan,. Hospital train movement plan approved by Railroads Construction of temporary engine house for 2472 Pending Clearance: Loaded box cars, econobags, diesel shop car, and steam shop car. Arriving soon: Equipment inspection by FRA, Union Pacific, California Northern, NWPRR 2472 Yearly FRA inspection. Madeup Hospital train for move. Departures: Extra to Schellville Not scheduled yet

4 Steam Trains in Carneros* - A Speculation The following is not GGRM policy or a plan. A steam passenger train appears across the bay lands approaching the highway. It is pulled by a large steam locomotive with a silver face and white steam rising from the stack. It is running fast toward the crossing ahead, an apparition from the mid twentieth century coming to greet you with a vision of the past. The train has two older coaches on the head end, a red and orange Daylight coach followed by two lounge cars full of passengers enjoying the ride, some sipping glasses of wine. Before the crossing a plume of steam rises from top of the boiler, and then you hear it. The locomotive whistle sounding the traditional grade crossing warning long, long, short, longer before the train rumbles across the highway. The engineer waves his gloved hand of cunning to those waiting, and the cars rush past full of excited and happy passengers. Then it is gone as the road curves away and you wish you could be aboard that magic train. At the RR depot a different experience awaits you. The steam engine at the head of the magic train is taking water from a water spout into the tender. You notice that it contains no coal, just a tank of fuel oil to heat the water. Behind is the magic train. Where do you want to sit? In front are the coaches with open windows where steam power can be heard and viewed close up. The chugging exhaust will be heard as the train accelerates with the clear, melodic blast of the whistle added when needed. Behind is another coach with closed windows and A/C. This is followed by the first class lounges, the most popular cars, where wine and beer are available to enhance the experience. Once underway the train moves faster and smoother than a typical tourist railroad operation. It rolls through scenic bay lands and crosses sloughs and creeks surrounding San Pablo bay. Birds and wildlife can be viewed from the right of way. Farms and vineyards are passed. At the end of the ride the train stops and the locomotive runs around to head the train for the return trip. Some of the passengers get off and board a tour bus to continue back to the City after a day in the Wine Country. Soon we are rolling again back to our origin, looking for things missed on the outbound trip or taking a nap as the cars gently sway. You muse that this magic train is the Vineyard Limited because few vineyards are passed on this end of the railroad on the edge of the bay and wine country. - Ronald Vane * Carneros, The grape growing region in southern Napa and Sonoma counties by the bay.

5 Operation report AND HERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS! About three years ago, a cast of volunteers led by Steve Rusconi, Jim Swafford and Eric Child among others, acquired extremely valuable switch material for GGRM. Although this material was stockpiled in Santa Cruz County, it is now more valuable for a permanent long-term home in Sonoma County. I recently again reviewed the very valuable material list that Jim Swafford provided, and I am very impressed with the completeness of the acquisition! More news to follow: I am also pleased to report that cleanup and organization at Brightside has slowly continued. At this juncture, I would submit to everyone that Golden Gates ground storage items should be moved out in the next 60 days. If you stand there and look at it, such a move may seem impossible. But if you put everything in order, it can move very efficiently and very quickly. I am now developing a sketch of the material, where it will be located and exactly when it will be moved. For the success of Golden Gate departing Brightside, this is a bold and ambitious statement. We can do this working together. Now I save the best for last: Recently we received a more than generous donation for rental of a large ground store site. Yes, we now have a destination for the ground storage items for Golden Gate. We will provide more details very soon, but this suspense item is now no longer in suspense. The new storage site will have adequate room for all of the material from Brightside. We ll have room for additional storage of other items until our new permanent site can be developed. Please stay in touch with me. You can text or phone call. We will get our work teams together to make this happen. Any money donations for the move of ground storage items from Brightside to the new storage site in Antioch will be greatly appreciated. Now is the time to continue to help us move forward. I ve been a long time wanting to write this report and now its here. Tomorrow is much closer than we thought. Now Golden Gate s move will be a positive step forward and in our control. I m extremely lucky and proud to be part of this volunteer project and look forward to working with all our GGRM volunteers each day! - Peter A Schultze

6 August 8 Member s Meeting Cancelled. Host Ron Vane will be missing for a business trip. Member meetings are at Peter s Café in Millbrae at El Camino and Millbrae Ave next to the Caltrain and Bart Station. Dinner at 6:30pm, discussion at 730, program at 8:00 pm. "THESE DO NOT GLITTER, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUILD A RAILROAD MUSEUM, THEY ARE GOLD! " Very recently, GGRM was able to retrieve and haul the remaining two and one half pallets of track joint bars purchased over two years ago. Then, as now, these are an extremely valuable part of the track construction of GGRM's new, permanent museum site, now expected to be in Sonoma County. My sincere thanks to all the GGRM volunteers that originally secured the 6 or 7 turnouts, Rail, and OTM we will surely need! - Peter Schultze

7 Monthly Calendar Member Meetings: Usually on the Second Tuesday of the month. Member meetings are at Peter s Café in Millbrae at El Camino and Millbrae Ave next to the Caltrain and Bart Station. Dinner at 6:30pm, Program at 8:00 pm AUGUST MEMBERS MEETING CANCELLED GGRM Board Meetings: GGRM Board meetings are on the Third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm, GGRM Office upstairs in Room 16B, 1755 East Bayshore 19A, Redwood City, CA (XEI Scientific). Next August 16 and September 19 GRRM Work days: Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays at Brightside Yard, Niles Canyon Railway, Sunol, California. Contact Peter Schultze at Peter@trackservicesinc.com We are now sending out notifications for all events. Add your address by ing Membership@ggrm.org Help Support Historical Preservation! Share your support of GGRM with a friend or loved one. Your support enables the Museum to complete special projects. The GGRM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, IRS # Friend $25 (newsletter only), Regular $40, Family $65, Sustaining $75, Patron $150+ Please accept my tax-deductible gift to the GGRM: $ Name: Total: $ Address: City: State: Postal Code: Phone: Check enclosed Visa or Master Card CC# Expiration: / CVV: Signature Send to: GGRM Membership Secretary, 1755 East Bayshore Road, Suite 19A, Redwood City, CA Or Join online at

650-208-3784 Jim Bunger Cris Hart David Hensarling Staff & Project Managers Peter Schulze, General Manager 925-200-2907 Dave Varley, Chief Mechanical Officer

8 1755 E Bayshore Rd. Ste.19A Redwood City, Board of Directors Garrett Brisbee, President Dave Varley, Vice President Jim Prettyleaf, Secretary Ron Vane, Treasurer Jim Bunger Cris Hart David Hensarling Staff & Project Managers Peter Schulze, General Manager Dave Varley, Chief Mechanical Officer Jim Prettyleaf, Diesel Shop Manager Jim Bunger, SP141 Oakland Project Dave Varley, SP2472 Project Jim Prettyleaf, SP6378 F7 Project Ron Vane, Editor and Publisher Dispatcher s Sheetu RVane@Evactron.com Jay Jacobs, Web Site Linda Jacobs, Membership Secretary membership@ggrm.org General Contact 2472info@ggrm.org

January 2009 On Track to a New Year

THE DISPATCHER S SHEET G O L D E N G A T E R A I L R O A D M U S E U M January 2009 On Track to a New Year Members Meeting Jan 10, 9:30am 2979 Lounge Brightside Yard. January 2009 Dispatcher s Sheet PUBLISHER: