Yuma Clapper Rail. Improving the Storage Container. By Wm. Kent Corcoran Sr.

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1 Volume 4 Issue 1 March 2012 Yuma Clapper Rail Improving the Storage Container By Wm. Kent Corcoran Sr. With several volunteers joining us, we have a work force to help us improve the infrastructure at Joe Henry Park. Due to the rains we had in November, there was a need to repair the drainage along the Container Lead before we can do the double track into the container. Templates were made of the Container Lead so that we could weld fish-plates to the steel track for a better fitting of the joints. Then the track was removed and the drainage basin was excavated so that a 8 drainage pipe could be installed. Gravel made up the foundation and finally larger gravel made up the top cover. The next step was to fabricate tracks out of 1/8 flat bar to go inside the container. With these steps completed, we reinstalled the Container Lead track and secured the flat bar track inside the container. The next project was to install shelving over the flat bar track so that we could install more track above for lighter rail cars. Then peg board was secured to the walls near the doors to hang shovels, rakes, brooms, and other tools to be close at hand. With these tasks completed the train can now be driven out of the container and straight to the Yard Lead without breaking the cars loose. Now we have more open space inside the container to store items. Now we had to build a turnout for the Yard Lead so that we could move the Wye from the Yard Lead to provide a turnout in the Container Lead to feed both tracks into the container. Finally in late March we installed a half shelf over the shelf for light rail cars. On the upper level shelf we can store the light material such as tablecloths, picnic dinnerware, and items that we do not use at every public function.

2 Taylor Farms Co. Picnic: by Wm. Kent Corcoran Sr. On the day that we completed our track in 2011, Taylor Farm had a company picnic for their employees before they moved back to the fields in California. At the end of the tests we invited the organizers to take a ride before it was all over. This spring we contacted them to see if they would want us to provide our train for the picnic this year. They had reserved the entire park for the picnic and were using Ramada #2 for cooking and serving the food. Therefore we had to utilize a makeshift passenger station. Using a Pop-up Canopy set up at the southeast corner amongst trees in that corner provided enough shade. Instead of installing all of our signs, we only used our grade crossing sign. Misfortune started from the beginning when the rear drive shaft fell off of the GP38, our main work horse. We got spare parts and prepped her for action. We also used our Speeder so that we had two trains running for the large crowd in attendance. We also had our third straddle car in operation along with a wood gondola that was donated to us by Tim Gilliland. We started providing rides by 12:15pm and had a constant line of passengers from that point through the end of the day. We would stop the trains in the shade of the Eucalyptus trees on the northwest corner while the other train discharged its passengers and loaded more for a ride. Time went fast and at 2:00pm a crew change was made for both trains and Station personnel. Shortly there after we had our first derailment when the Engineer s car missed the switch points of a turnout. Then on the return to the station, misfortune reared its ugly head again. The GP38 lost the rear drive shaft Pg2

3 First Quarter Passenger Totals This is the first year that we started providing rides in January. Also we had our 1 st Anniversary and a private operation for Taylor Farm in early March. January 8, passengers including 19 Hobos January 22, passengers February 12, passengers February 26, passengers including 3 Hobos March 3, passengers including 3 Hobos March 10, 2012 Taylor Farm 457 passengers on 2 trains March 11, passengers March 25, passengers The total count of passengers for the 1 st Quarter is 926. Community event displays by Wm. Kent Corcoran We participated in several events around our region. Unfortunately the Yuma Doll & Toy Show was not one of them. This year there was not enough venders to hold the event. Several other events coincided with other obligations. There was also no time to develop a parade float for any of the parades in the region. On February 4 th we split into two crews for the Scout-A-Rama and Wellton Pioneer Days. Kent Corcoran Sr. & Chuck Finnila attended the Scout-A-Rama while Leonard Houpt, Bob & Ginny Hinkel had a table in Wellton. Also Harold Dykstra & Ray Henry had a train float for their RV Park in the Wellton Parade. On February 11 th Kent & Leonard traveled to Holtville for the Carrot Festival. It was our 1 st trip to Holtville. We were placed along the parade route at the City Square. We met several people from the Yuma-Wellton area who where aware our rides in Yuma. Then there were the folks from the Imperial Valley that we invited to travel to Yuma to ride our train. Also in attendance there were members of the southern California chapter of the Hit-N-Miss Engine club. They had 3 engines in operation, 1 had a large piston and fired about once every 90 seconds, the 2d was a mechanical display. It had a continuous loop of rope providing inertia to several animated displays. Unfortunately I had taken my last exposures from my camera; not a roll of film to in the bag. The 3d engine operated a Custer making machine with a conveyer belt to deliver them to the table. Pg3

4 Preparing the trains for operation at the Yard Lead Chuck Finnila starts engine 8002 while Kent Corcoran Sr. gets train orders at the left of photo. Mike Santos engineers O&A 2351 with a full load of passengers. Engine 8002 arrives at the station to pick up another group of passengers. Kent Corcoran Sr. gets a photo op with the young riders from Taylor Farm. Pg4

5 Taylor Farm continued again, damaging portions of the rear truck and derailing. Traffic was stopped for about 10 minutes while we re-railed the rear truck. Once back on the track the train was moved to our regular station area with the passing siding. Here we changed passenger cars to the Speeder to accommodate more passengers on the only train running. At 2:50pm we were back in business hauling passengers around the park using the Speeder as our prime mover. After inspecting the damaged GP38 rear truck we found that the front cross member was broken. This cross member keeps the axels from coming out of the side frames. The GP38 was moved under its own power to the Yard Lead. There we took a straddle car off to adjust the coupler height to fit the Speeder. When finished it was added to the Speeder consist when it came around. With a heavier load on the Speeder it was only a matter of time that the batteries would be strained. By 3:30 the Speeder had issues with the slight grades that are in our track. Finally we had to cease rides and retire the train at 3:45. At the end of the day we had carried 457 passengers throughout the day. If you leave a GP56/60 unattended, follow these procedures; 1. Observe al RR safety precautions. 2. Set engine run & generator field switches in OFF position. 3. Set throttle handle in IDLE position. 4. Set dynamic brake handle in OFF position. 5. Remove reverser handle from controller to lock controls. Pg5

6 Yuma Territory Live Steamers 1312 E. La Mesa St. Yuma, Arizona President Officers Leonard Houpt Vice President Chuck Finnila Secretary Kent Corcoran Sr. Treasurer Ginny Hinkel Rebuilding Yuma s Railroad Heritage Train Master Track Superintendent Yard Master Safety Committee Dale Giles Kent Corcoran Sr. Vacant Vacant Public Rides will be provided on the 2d and 4 th Sundays of the month from March until the end of May. The train departs at 12:00 noon and retires at 4:00pm In the late 1800 s Outlaws found it profitable to rob trains for a living. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern had the honor of being held up by two well known gangs. The James-Younger Gang robbed St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern on January 31, 1874 at Gads Hill in Wayne County, Missouri. 19 years later, the Dalton Gang held up the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern on November 3, 1893 at Olyphant, Arkansas. Being waylaid by two famed outlaw gangs became a Badge of Honor for the railroad. Now most every excursion train has a point where bandits stop the train in an attempt to rob the passengers and crew. Pg6