One Project at a Time

We rarely accomplish spectacular gains at the engine house. We tend to measure a successful weekend by the number of small projects the crew was able to finish. We've learned over the years that the Diamond & Caldor No. 4 is being assembled one piece at a time.

Progress is marked one tie at a time. Until we complete renovation of the Four-spot, we'll have to settle for small, measurable accomplishments. Visually, you don't see much progress from week to week unless you're intimate with the project.

FABRICATING THE OIL TANK LID

We like to see sparks in the engine house! That means someone is working. On a typical Saturday six or seven volunteers gather at the engine house to work on three major projects, which include the Shay, the flatcar and Arnold.

Dale Mace is cleaning the weld on the dip stick for the oil tank. Since Dale joined the project in January 2006, he's become one of the most valuable team members. His skill as a welder and metal fabricator is in much demand during this phase of the restoration of the locomotive.

Jacob Karoly watches Dale install the locking clasp to the new lid for the oil tank. Jacob has been asking me if he can learn to weld. My first response was, "In time ..."

Then on Saturday, Jacob and Dale hit it off. Dale had a helper and Jacob will be able to learn a thing or two about working with metals in the coming months.

Base Lake Bulletin

It's always nice to read unsolicited publicity in the community. This piece was published in the April 2007 issue of the Bass Lake Bulletin. The Bass Lake Community is situated along Bass Lake Road in Western El Dorado County.

Association president John E. Thompson wrote the following in his monthly president's message:

All you railroad fans may be interested to know that the El Dorado County Museum also houses the El Dorado Western Railroad Foundation, a group of railroad buffs that are restoring several rail cars of the old narrow-gauge Diamond & Caldor Railway. It was primarily a logging railroad, but it was also licensed to haul passengers and freight. The group is comprised of volunteers dedicated to creating an historically accurate logging railroad facility, through research and restoration, in the county.

Thompson also mentioned the efforts of the El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association to develop an excursion train from Folsom eastward toward Placerville.

A Quick Visit to the Ione Railfair

We found an eclectic collection of speeder cars at the Ione Railfair today. Among the cars present this afternoon was the Weyerhaeuser Vail Speeder No. 30. The trolley is owned and operated by Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association.

The FEDS operate the Folsom Railroad Museum at 198 Wool Street, Folsom, California.

The annual event is held ajacient to the old Southern Pacific depot and yard at the south end of Ione. The Recreational Railroad Coalition sponsored the railfair for the second year. The depot is also the western terminus of the Amador Foothills Railroad, which runs east for about 11 miles to Martel.

The Extra Board

The Extra Board is a regular feature in The Dispatcher. We featured retired machinist and volunteer Sam Thompson in the winter 2007 issue ...

One would suppose that a logging railroad doesn’t need a rocket scientist. After all, rolling logs to the mill takes men with brawn, not guys who wear lab coats.

But I know one retired “senior engineering associate” who’s been rebuilding Shay engines for years. Sam Thompson might correct you if you call him a rocket scientist. But any guy who machined parts for his aerospace industry has the brainpower to turn a 75-pound cast-iron billet into the middle eccentric on the Shay’s drive shaft.

A logging railroad may not need a rocket scientist. But machining precision parts makes you one in my book. And for the record, Sam wears a blue denim apron in the shop.

2007 Ione Railfair this Weekend

Keith and I are planning on visiting the 2007 Ione Railfair this Saturday after the workday at the engine house.

Here's the add for the railfair from the DiscoverLiveSteam website:

2007 IONE RAILFAIR & MOW Expo.

May 12-13, 2007

Ione Railyard
339 South Mill Street
Ione, California

Ione is the western terminus of the Amador Foothills Railroad.

Antique "speeders" will be featured along with other, rarely seen and no longer used, mechanical muscles of the nations railroads. See these pieces of railroad history move on the rails of the historic AFRR.

A Skagit car, a track mobile and a Whitcomb locomotive have been invited to participate in displays and/or demonstrations in their natural habitat, the railroad tracks of Amador County.

There is no charge or entry fee to see these historic old machines in action. Owners of rehabilitated speeders will participate in a series of excursions eastbound and return in their privately owned track inspection machines.

A Living History presentation will be made with former employees of the railroad in cooperation with the Amador Historic Society. Railroad history buffs will find this particularly interesting and informative. A special railroad media presentation will be made using video.

The "Hobo Camp" for RV dry camping has been arranged again at trackside. A $10.00 fee will be charged for this unique opportunity. RV parking is available in the "Hobo Camp" to all who wish to live in recreational vehicle civilized comfort in the center of the RailFair for the weekend of the event.

For additional information contact Dave Balestreri, 916-531-7536 or Larry Bowler 916-686-5950.

Put a Lid on It

Doug Youngberg (left) and Keith Berry consult over the remaining details in the design and construction of a replacement oil tank lid for the Diamond & Caldor No. 4 Shay.

Doug made the long trip down from his new home in Oregon to consult with Keith on several key projects. Despite his distance from Placerville, Doug remains active with the El Dorado Western. He plans to work on projects in his new shop for the locomotive once it's set up. Doug serves on the board of directors.

Digital Locomotive

My intent today was to work on the railway's newsletter inside the museum while the crew worked in the engine house. Since the research room was closed, I brought the laptop inside the engine house and typed while manning the mag drill for Sam Thompson.

Barring any interruptions, I should be able to give museum director Mary Cory the completed newsletter by the end of the week. Mary can have it printed and in the mail by May 18.

Join the effort to restore the Diamond & Caldor No. 4 today

To join our effort to renovate the Diamond & Caldor No. 4 Shay locomotive and to build and operate an El Dorado County Logging and Railroad Museum, send $35 (check or money order) for individual membership to:

EDWRF
PO Box 3517
Diamond Springs, CA 95619

Family membership costs $60, corporate $100 and life membership is $500 for individual or family and $1,000 for a business. Annual membership runs from January to December.

Won't you please join our effort for the 2007 renovation season and help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of the D&C No. 4 Shay?