September 1, 2009

As summer winds down we are gearing up for our very busiest time of the year, Fall Foliage season. The equipment is being readied, the windows are being washed, the track is being maintained and the fine employees and volunteers of Conway Scenic Railroad are all working together to provide the general public with a first class experience. Please come and join us as we celebrate this wonderful time of the year.

The FRA locomotive inspector made his inspection of #7470 a couple of days ago and turned up a few routine items that need some attention before the locomotive can operate. We will attend to those items immediately, and I expect that the locomotive will be ready to make her appointed rounds beginning with Railfans’ weekend on September 19 and 20. The locomotive is expected to operate daily through Sunday, October 11. (Editor’s note: Paul’s report was written late last week, prior to his leaving for a few days' vacation. Today, August 31, 2009, we have just completed a more extensive investigation of several areas of the boiler near the mud ring. Based on our findings, we are going ahead with some fairly extensive repairs at this time. Unfortunately, this will preclude us from operating #7470 during the remainder of the regular season. We do expect to operate during one week of the Polar Express and our special excursion with the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts on January 2, 2010.)

We have been testing our General Electric B23-7 locomotive #1943 on the regular Valley train between North Conway and Bartlett over the last couple of weeks and so far the locomotive has only been able to operate under its own power when it is traveling westbound! As soon as it arrives in Bartlett and stops for the switch at the freight house it either shuts down or trips a relay so that it will no longer generate power for traction. The issue apparently is in the cooling system which is not permitting coolant to enter the radiators. Either we have an obstruction of some kind or a problem with the water pump itself. The work to correct this issue will go on as time permits.

There seems to be a prejudice out there among the faithful that favors EMDs over GEs! Our ALCO switcher on the other hand seems to enjoy a very strong group of supporters. Is it the fear that the GEs will bump the FP9’s off the roster? “Hard telling, not knowing” as we say here in New England! To me the 1943, if it performs well, will be a welcome addition to our fleet of locomotives as it will give us a higher horsepower dynamic brake equipped locomotive to make use of. That is not a bad thing to have on a mountain railroad. In addition it has the potential to save the company thousands of dollars in brake shoes, wheel wear and labor that can be used for other things like buying coal and making repairs to #7470. I remember the B23-7s when they were brand-new, working for CONRAIL out of Middleborough, MA. I liked them then, and I like them now! I also like RDCs, FP9s, F7s, GP7s and S-4 ALCO switchers! Isn’t it great that we can have this discussion instead of just contemplating two streaks of rust that used to run up through the Valley? :-)

Be sure to visit the “Photos” section of our website, where there are several new albums in slideshow format. Of particular interest will be the Transformer Move in June, and a new “Vintage” album that’s a work in progress. Many more photos will be added shortly.

I’d to take this opportunity to thank all of the great people who make Conway Scenic what it is today. This includes the people who got it started in the first place and those who came later and helped it to grow into what it is today. The work is ongoing! We all learn, we all teach, we all work hard, and we all have a good time. What more could anyone ask?

As always, thank you for your interest in and support of Conway Scenic Railroad. ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN!

Paul Hallett