robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I belong to the Orange Empire Railway Museum/aka Southern California Railway Museum in the operations department. As I get older and a sometimes bad leg I no longer do much operating but I do the announcer job at major events.

I will start with our operational steamer - Ventura County #2 - VC2 works one weekend a month 9 months a year and for some special events like the annual Steam Punk festival hosted at the museum. The hottest summer months are for the maintenance guys and because the steam crew is allergic to falling over from heat prostration. On the edge of the desert where the museum is located they get over heated even in our "winter".

(Download)

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I sure would like to see this unit run.
It goes on the list!
Pat

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Nice work!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

thank you

Stephan G

(That's a sympathico bead of sweat)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thanks
Not on the steam crew. I have ratings for motorman on about 5 types of streetcars, conductor on all classes of streetcars, was a passenger conductor on trains but the FRA has changed the rules on the museum so now I can only be "Assistant Conductor" since I don't also have brakeman quals and to get that I need hearing (loss and tinnitus from loud noises in Nam and elsewhere) and vision rating plus the training I didn't get (couldn't do the getting on and off a moving train due to bad knee etc). Oh well, I enjoy being the announcer for big events. I keep getting asked "How come you come over clearly and understandable when some of the other announcers don't?" 34 years of practice - that is how long I worked as a classroom teacher in Los Angeles - you learn to speak so they understand you or you do a LOT of repeating.

I will now post a picture I did in Dec 2014 of one of the steam crew. Title will be "The Oiler".

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Very nice.

Stephan G

I think I still have my "Motorman" certification somewhere in my paperwork, from 2001. Should have stuck it in my hat. And I definitely can empathize with the rest.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thank You

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Just checked mt cards in my wallet. Qualified on 5 cars by number in three different classes. I used to have quals on another car in a different class but after almost 60 years at the museum it got pulled for complete restoration. Since the work is done by volunteers and often on a zero budget (beg for parts or materials as you go) with our volunteer machinists having to make many parts - restoration can take 5-10 years in some cases.

Tommy II Loc: Northern Illinois

Wow! I love that shot.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Thank you very much. Glad you liked it.