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From: Stan Madyda
Date: Sun, Jun 23, 2024 at 1:26?PM
Subject: [NYCSHS-Members] Update on the NYC Electrics
It has been a while since I posted what is happening with the electrics.??
In early November 2023, we loaded them onto the trailers for movement to Danbury.? From the time we needed to get a plan in place, we worked with Dagen Trucking of Castleton and Flach Rigging of Selkirk.? I can't say enough good things about the relationship we developed and the assistance they gave us.? Many times, we had deadlines from the Port of Albany that had to be met and everytime we came up to another deadline, there was a delay, not of our doing.? Through it all, Dagen and Flach would come out an access whatever had to be done.??
When we had to move the electrics out of the way for construction of a new road in December 2022, Flach and Dagen told us we would have to build up the area around where the electrics were place in order for them to get their equipment in.? This was going to add significant costs to the project, my team and I decided to wait to see what the Port's next move would be with the site.? Located close to the electrics there was an 11 foot high pile of stone, used to compress the ground where building were to go.? We figured at some point, that stone would have to be spread and we were right.? Around the electrics was a three and a half foot base, more than what Flach and Dagen required.? This first link is a video which shows the day everything got loaded onto the Dagen trailers.? The S Motor gave us some trouble since we did not remove all the connections holding the body to the chassis.? My Flach contact said there was no way to see them until they started lifting the body.? The T Motor was not a problem. ?
Dagen had a fair amount of work to catch up on and said they could not deliver anything for several weeks.? This gave me a chance to figure out how to unload everything in Danbury.? Doing my due diligence, I contacted a few crane companies in the Danbury area for quotes.? My gut was telling me to use Flach, but having them come down from Selkirk would incur mobilization costs.? My Dagen contacts warned me that if they arrive in Danbury with the loads and everything was not set up properly, the costs would not be pretty.? I had a call with a crane consultant who advised that the extra costs to get Flach to come from Selkirk would be a good insurance policy.? I presented my findings to the board and they approved hiring Flach for the remainder of the project.? I was elated.
Flach and Dagen came down before Christmas to map out a plan.? Delivery would be right after New Years. Because of a really tight curve entering the DRM yard, they would have to unload in the adjacent commuter parking lot using a gantry crane to transload onto a Self Propelled Modular Transport.? This could negotiate the curve and bring the pieces down to the unloading site.? The S Motor was left in two pieces so we could make repairs to the body and the frame.? The T Motor was reassembled .? Everything went according to plan.? Just one little hiccup occured when the two T Motor truck sections did not align so we could replace the pin.? We were able to figure out what to do in time for the body to be placed.? I later told my Flach contact what had happened and he said they could have helped us out.? Our videographer, Nick Ozorak, was on hand to document the delivery:
Seeing the convoy arrive was for me a pinch me, this is actually happening moment.? I have yet to see any photos of the convoy.? The whole move was kept quiet as we did not want a lot of people getting in the way, especially near the areas where the public could have access.??
Yesterday we started work on the S Motor body taking off the flaking paint with wire brushes.? I would have like to started a little bit earlier, but a number of our volunteers were involved with needed trackwork.? The plan is to get the S Motor body ready for a protective paint job and then start on repairs.? We have to exercise the T Motor a bit and work on the journals and some of the articulation points.? We did have a minor derailment a week or so ago when we were moving her and we are thinking it is still a bit stiff from sitting up in Glenmont.? Three photos are attached.? We did get down to Alco/GE metal.? We also found that some of the rivets are copper and others were actually slotted bolts.??
Funding wise, we did exhaust the money raised and did have to dip into our reserves.? The board agreed to wipe the slate clean and start fresh for 2024.? We have received a $5,000 grant from the NRHS to kick things off.? We have some pledges for this year.? A friend of mine has given me a large collection of HO trains to try to sell with all proceeds going to the electrics.? I have about $1,000 to turn over.? Years ago, the Library/Archives which I also head up, decided to sell duplicate books on Amazon and we became a self funding entity within the museum.? Last year, I turned over $10,000 from accumulated funds to the electrics and this year the treasurer is looking at $15,000 which we have.? The board wonders why I have control over so much money.? Hey, you do the work, you raise money.? Contact me if there are any books you are looking for.? Quite a few from the Northeast and New York Central.??
Stan
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