Repairs for RRRR No. 10

Progress on Erie C330 was put on the back burner when Tri-State volunteers discovered some significant damage that needed immediate repairs in the Raritan River 10.

The 10 has been a part of the Tri-State collection since 1986. The caboose was restored by volunteers in 2013. However, insufficient repairs made by Conrail have recently warranted further repair to the caboose. After its last excursion, volunteers found minor evidence of water leaking through the roof. In late October, volunteers found that minor evidence was a result of a major problem. Water entering the roof had caused significant rot between the roof and ceiling.

Several factors contributed to this. The caboose was built with a lap seam roof, meaning each panel overlaps the one next to it, leaving a seam through which water can enter. The caboose's original construction had fabric and fiberglass insulation which was pinned to the inside of the roof. This meant moisture could get trapped against the ceiling. Such a design would be a code violation in a residential home for that reason. Also, several patched (and leaking) holes were also found, which were presumably repaired by Conrail — during an era where longevity of repairs was far from a priority.

Tri-State volunteers made quick work of removing the old ceiling and fiberglass insulation. The plan will be to replace the ceiling with original construction and like materials, modifying the insulation so the same issues do not come about again. This work will be done over the winter so the caboose can be ready to roll in the Spring.

Erik Stenzel grinds off rusted screw heads to remove the rotten ceiling panels.

Matt Herman unscrewing wood panels which were used to replace the ceiling in part of the caboose which caught fire in the Conrail era.

Pete Van Seggern and Laura take down a section of the ceiling.

At the end of the day, volunteers had a whole ceiling section down.

A hole through the ceiling, which was presumably repaired by Conrail, is part of major cause of how water is entering the roof.

Volunteers covered the roof to keep water out until repairs can be made.

Railroad Museum [for a day]

Tri-State's last public appearance for 2017 was at the United Railroad Historical Society of NJ's "Railroad Museum [for a day]". The event, which was held on Sunday, September 25, served as a showcase for not only the URHS collection, but Tri-State's as well. Tri-State shares space with URHS in Boonton yard, which is leased from NJ Transit.

Tri-State's M&E 19 and cabooses were half of the open exhibits at the event, and Tri-State's volunteers had the opportunity to display their hard work to the public. Check out the photos of the event below! (Hover over for captions).

19 and Tri-State's cabooses headed back to Boonton on the tail end of Norfolk Souther H-02, seen here in Mountain View, NJ. Photo: Russel Sullivan

The star lineup for the event: CNJ 1524, M&E 19, and New York Central 4083.

19 was open for cab tours. Here is Dennis Livesey's view of the helm of our Alco.

Volunteers Steve Falco and Bill Talmadge on the end of the Raritan River 10. Photo by Mark Forman

The like-new Lackawanna 896, open and on display. Photo by Mark Forman

Tri-State member Mark Krisanda brought his Studebaker police car to show off. Photo by Mark Forman

Volunteer Bill Bossert holding down the fort in M&E 19. Photo by Mark Forman

Some of Tri-State's volunteer force in glowing sun reflection off of the Century Green NYC 4083. Photo by Marc Glucksman

Lackwanna 896's "Second Restoration"

The first of Tri-State's three operating cabooses to be refurbished, DL&W 896, has fared well since it was fully-restored more than 20 years ago. Its high-quality DuPont Centauri paint job was applied by a professional automotive painter and has stood up well to the weather. That, coupled with its fully-restored interior, working oil lamps and coal stove, and like-new replica upholstery, has made it the crown jewel of Tri-State's collection for the past two decades.

However, as for anything stored outside, nature takes its toll. Before 896 hit the road in September, it was time for some improvements. 896's windows, roof, trucks, and under-frame were starting to show their age, which is to be expected after years of hauling passengers. All of that was addressed this summer.

Tri-State ordered new glass to replace the faded Lexan plastic that came with the window frames when the caboose first restored. Lloyd Leone, Jeff Jargosch, and Richie King took on swapping out and sealing all the new glazing, purchased locally from Snow's Glass in Dover.  It was no simple task. Hours of tedious work were needed to remove the cupola windows and replace the glass once the frames were on the ground. The new "real" glass now stands no chance of fading and is far easier to clean... and you can see out of them.

The radio antenna on the roof had also fallen victim to age. Erik Stenzel re-fabricated a new post for the antenna and welded it back to the roof. It may be a small detail, but when the caboose was built with "RADIO" emblazoned on its sides and cupola, it is an important one.

Kevin Phalon, with some help and equipment from member John Nolan, repainted all of the black on the caboose: trucks, stairs, and under-frame (which was formerly a steam locomotive tender frame).

All of that work, along with a wax job of the whole car body, resulted in 896 looking almost as good as it did 20 years ago. This is all part of Tri-State's commitment to not just high standards of restoration, but high standards of maintenance for the duration of our equipment's life in preservation.

Volunteer Erik Stenzel re-fabricates the rusted radio antenna on the cupola.

Board director Lloyd Leone gently slides the new glazing into the frame.

Treasurer Richie King installs the all-important front-facing cupola windows, through which decades of conductors would have kept an eye on their trains.

The faded Lexan windows before being replaced.

A panoramic view of the new view from the cupola.

Volunteer Jeff Jargosch masks off the car body to repaint the black underneath.

The underside of of 896 prior to painting.

Done painting, after midnight!

The finish product, just prior to departing for Rockaway.

Tri-State at "Celebrate Rocakaway Borough"

Tri-State hosted more than 800 passengers at "Celebrate Rockaway Borough" on September 17. In conjunction with the borough of Rockaway, Tri-State was again invited to provide free caboose rides to visitors of this well-attended annual street fair. Over eight-hundred passengers were carried over the course of fourteen trips.

Following the free trips for visitors, Tri-State hosted a longer excursion for its members, which traversed several miles of the line. The train stopped for photographs at one of the seldom seen bridges over the Rockaway River, near the Route 46 overpass, and at the Rockway River crossing in downtown Rockaway at dusk.

Tri-State's all volunteer crew. Rear L-R: Mike Del Vecchio, Jeff Jargosch, Kevin Phalon, Richie King, Michael Kaplonski, and Jim Hager. Front L-R: Erik Stenzel, Andy Dick, Duncan Mara, John Nolan, Lou Capawana, and Barry Levitt. Absent: Matt Herman.

This was a significant day for Tri-State in many respects. Thanks to the Dover & Rockaway River Railroad, this was Morristown & Erie 19's first time hauling passengers under Tri-State ownership. M&E 19, along with Tri-State's Raritan River 10, Lehigh & New England 580, and Lacakwanna 896, made for a train of exclusively organization-owned equipment. This is a claim that only two organizations in New Jersey, including our own, can make.

Cleaning the C-424

Before and after comparison photos.

Morristown & Erie No. 19 spent nine years, and several sporadic occasions thereafter, in dedicated service at the Bayway Refinery in Linden, NJ. The dirty environment of the east coast oil refiner took its toll on No. 19's appearance. Years of grit and road grime accumulated atop the locomotive's 1988 paint job. The locomotive's bright, glossy red paint soon turned to a chalky, dull pinkish color.

Upon taking receipt of No. 19, and after accepting an invitation to attend RailFest 2017, Tri-State volunteers determined to give the engine a long overdue cleaning. The stubbornness of the Bayway grime necessitated a combination of degreaser, soap and water, scuffing, power washing, and a whole lot of determination. Slowly but surely, and inch by inch, the old red paint began to show itself. A thorough buffing with an industrial grade compound truly breathed new life into the old red paint. 

The locomotive's lettering was also worn and battered from years of exposure to the harsh elements. Tri-State retained Walter Myers, the man who lettered the locomotive in 1988, to touch up the lettering. Myers, a professional sign painter, repainted all of the lettering in a single day... and solely by hand!

We thank all of our dedicated volunteers who made the cleaning of M&E No. 19 possible.