Railtown 1897 Offers Behind-the-Scenes Shop Tours every Tuesday Morning!

Visitors Will See the Famous Sierra No. 3 Up-Close & Personal Plus Learn About Current Projects Underway

 Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (SHP) will now offer special, behind-the-scenes Shop Tours on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon on an ongoing basis beginning March 26, 2013. Interested visitors will be treated to an up-close and personal view of routine maintenance and specialized work happening on current projects in the historic Roundhouse as well as in the Tri-Dam shop (a Cold War-era machine shop used to repair, replace or service parts for operating equipment, cars, steam and diesel locomotives). Keep in mind, parts for steam engines — and sometimes vintage diesel locomotives — cannot be purchased and must be manufactured on-site making Railtown 1897 SHP one of the most accessible places around to watch this specialized work being performed.  Along with educating visitors about our fascinating rail history, maintaining and repairing steam engines and diesels is an important part of the mission of Railtown 1897 SHP.

The weekly two-hour Shop Tours begin with a brief slide show that provides background of current projects to date.   After the video, a knowledgeable volunteer host will guide visitors to the historic shops to meet and ask questions of skilled paid and volunteer staff who are actively working on projects and activities that keep the historic shops alive.

Open daily, Railtown 1897 SHP Shop Tours are included with Park admission, which is as follows: $5 for adults, $3 for youths ages 6-17 and free for children five and under.  More information about the Shop Tours or Railtown 1897 SHP is available by calling 209-984-3953 or visiting http://www.railtown1897.org.

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The Sierra No. 3 and Santa are set to make an historic appearance in Sonora on December 1st!

Tuolumne County’s most famous movie star will make her first appearance in twenty years in Sonora on December 1st

Come see the Sierra No. 3 lit for the holidays, and with Santa on board!

Sonora, Calif. – On December 1^st, for one night only, The Sonora and Twain Harte Rotary Clubs and the Kiwanis Club of Sonora in cooperation with Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, the Sierra Northern Railway, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, J.S. West, and Sierra Pacific Industries will bring “movie star” Railtown’s Engine No. 3 to Sonora to say “Thank You!” to the community for helping “Keep Railtown Rolling” and to show off the recent restoration of this historic locomotive.

The event will be held in front of the Tuolumne General Hospital (Hospital and Washington Streets) from 5 to 8 pm.

For the first time since 1992, the Sierra No. 3 will make an appearance in Sonora, on Saturday December 1^st from 5 until 8PM, at S. Washington Street and Hospital Road.  Visitors will have the opportunity to climb aboard and visit with Santa while the train is in Sonora.  Hot Chocolate, carolers and lots of holiday lights will be part of the free event. Parking is available in the Tuolumne General Parking lot.

Thank You Tuolumne County

The Sonora and Twain Harte Rotary Clubs have joined together for this unique event as a way to thank the people of Tuolumne County for stepping up to help ‘Keep Railtown Rolling’.  Members from the community donated thousands of dollars in 2012 to support the park which was threatened with closure this year for the third time in 10 years.  The last operating weekend for train rides at Railtown will be December 15^th & 16^th, and will be pulled by the Sierra No. 3, with Santa on Board!

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2012 Santa Trains at Railtown!

“Santa’s Starlight Express” and “Santa By Daylight”

The Sierra No. 3 will be on display in front of the freight shed on Friday & Saturday November 23rd & 24th, and will be pulling the train on Sunday, November 25th.

Santa is taking some time out of his busy schedule to make special daytime and nighttime appearances at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park  this holiday season.  Special train rides with Santa will operate over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend (November 23, 24 & 25) and again the weekend before Christmas (December 15 & 16).  Advance tickets to ride with Santa are available now but seating is limited so don’t delay!

 Nighttime Rides Aboard “Santa’s Starlight Express”

For two nights only — on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24 — visitors are encouraged to bundle up and join Santa and his musical friends for two lighted Christmas trains departing at 5:30 and 7 p.m.   

 The special train rides — lighted and filled with the music and magic of Christmas — will get visitors in the holiday spirit with live holiday music, hot chocolate,  and caroling on the train.  Santa will arrive at the station aboard the Sierra No. 3, then join riders on a train of festively lit cars pulled by a vintage diesel.  Every child will have plenty of time to whisper their wishes to Santa as he and his elves make their way through the train, accompanied by live music onboard, while hot chocolate is served to all.   

 Tickets for the nighttime rides aboard “Santa’s Starlight Expre ss” are $24 for adults, $12 for youths, and free for children 2 and under (traveling on a lap).  Discounts are applied to members. 

Santa, hot chocolate, smiling faces, live music and lots of good memories!

Rides Aboard “Santa by Daylight”

Popular “Santa By Daylight” train rides also continue this year during daylight hours, on November 23, 24 & 25, and again on December 15 & 16.  Trains run hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Santa will be on board to greet visitors and will be accompanied by wandering minstrel Richard “Tater” Learned.  Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $6 for youths, and free for children 5 and under.

 Advanced tickets are strongly recommended and are available online at www.railtown1897.org or by calling the depot store at 209-984-3953. 

Due to budget-related service reductions, the park is closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays.  Store hours Thursday-Monday are 10-3, with extended evening hours on November 23rd & 24th.

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Revamping the Cincinnati Milling Machine

One of our most useful pieces of equipment went down on us last year.  After many years of faithful service, the transmission gear box failed.   It is one of our new machines, housed in the Tri-Dam building, so most visitors do not see it.  Keep in mind that the term ‘new’ is relative, here.

The Cincinnati #4 Horizonal Mill with Powered Overarm, Circa 1954, is new, in comparison to the machines in our historic belt-driven machine shop, but in 2012, most folks would not consider it new.  This piece of equipment came to us around 1993, from miliary surplus at Rough and Ready Island.  It is heavily used in the shop, for everything from milling the crosshead guides on the No. 3 during restoration, to boring brake adjuster brackets, to re-boring couplers. 

Its a very useful light-duty powered overarm mill.  The overarm is an accessory which essentially converts the horizontal mill into a vertical mill, as needed. 

Our cohorts at the California State Railroad Museum picked up a heavy-duty overarm at the same time we aquired ours, and its been in storage ever since.  This one is about twice as heavy as our old one, but we were able to get our hands on a factory print of the circuitry.  Our district’s amazingly gifted electrician, Steve Spath, rewired the crunchy old motor leads, and designed custom electrically controlled circuitry.  In early February, Steve spent two days with George &  Phil, in the shop, where they installed and tested the new arm.  Just like new!

The old overarm attachment, ready for retirement.

Steve Spath puts finishing touches on the electrical for the "new" overarm attachment.

Voila! The replacemnt arm in position, and ready to go.

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Railtown 1897 Offers Live Music & Excursion Train Rides Labor Day Weekend

 

Starlight Serenaders perform Noon-3 on Saturday and Sunday

With train rides, live music and more, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (SHP) in Jamestown is the place to be this Labor Day Weekend.  Popular excursion train rides will be available all three days (September 3-5) that include special rides behind the famous “Movie Star Locomotive” Sierra No. 3 on Monday only.

Minstrel Dave Rainwater performs on board the trains, Saturday, Sunday & Monday

Live vintage jazz music by the Starlight Serenaders will also be offered from noon to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, and fiddler Dave Rainwater will offer live musical entertainment aboard the trains all three days.  In addition to the special holiday activities, visitors are encouraged to spend the day at Railtown 1897 SHP with picnic and barbecue areas available on the sprawling Roundhouse lawn.

The Sidewinder Express runs Saturday & Sunday

 For those interested in memorable excursion train rides through the scenic Gold Country behind the Shay (also known as the “Sidewinder Express”) or Sierra No. 3 (Monday only), they depart hourly between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.  Excursion train rides include a six-mile, 40-minute roundtrip ride along the rails of the famous “Movie Railroad.” 

The Sierra No. 3 pulls the consist on Monday, Labor Day

All tickets for the excursion train rides aboard “mountain observation cars” are $13 for adults, $6 for youths ages 6-17, and kids five and under are free.  All tickets include Park admission and are available on a first-come, first served basis at the ticket window beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  For Monday train rides behind Sierra No. 3, advance online reservations are recommended by visiting www.railtown1897.org.

 Regular Park admission prices apply — $5 for adults, $3 for youths ages 6-17, and is free for children five and under. Guided tours are also available and are included free with paid admission or excursion train ticket. 

Don't forget to come before the first train (around 9:30) or after the last (around 4:00) to see the roundhouse and turntable in action!

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Santa’s Starlight Tickets go on Sale September 1st!

Santa is taking some time out of his busy schedule to make special daytime and nighttime appearances at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park this holiday season.  Special train rides with Santa will operate over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend (November 25, 26 & 27)  and again the weekend before Christmas (December 17 & 18). Advance tickets to ride with Santa will go on sale September 1^st.

 Nighttime Rides Aboard “Santa’s Starlight Express”

For two nights only — on Friday, November 25th and Saturday, November 26th — visitors are encouraged to bundle up and join Santa and his musical friends for two lighted Christmas trains departing at 5:30 & 7 p.m.   

 The special train rides — lighted and filled with the music and magic of Christmas — will get visitors in the holiday spirit with live holiday music and caroling on and off the train.  Greeted by carolers at the dock, Santa will arrive at the station aboard the Sierra No. 3, then join riders on a train of festively lit cars pulled by the Shay No. 2.  Every child will have plenty of time to whisper their wishes to Santa as he and his elves make their way through the train, accompanied by live music onboard.  Hot apple cider and refreshments will be available for purchase at the depot.    

 Tickets for the nighttime rides aboard “Santa’s Starlight Express” are $24 for adults, $12 for youths, and free for children 2 and under (traveling in a lap).  Discounts are applied to members. 

 Rides Aboard “Santa by Daylight”

Popular “Santa By Daylight” train rides also continue this year during daylight hours, on November 25, 26 & 27, and again on December 17 & 18.  Trains run hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Santa will be on board to greet visitors and will be accompanied by Railtown’s “Roving Fiddler” Dave Rainwater.  Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $6 for youths, and free for children 5 and under.

 Advanced tickets are strongly recommended and are available online at www.railtown1897.org or by calling the depot store at 209-984-3953. 

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Oil Cup Covers for the No. 3

Like all bearings on the locomotive, the crosshead guides require lubrication.  An oil cup is mounted on the top of each crosshead, and slowly releases oil during operation.  The cup is covered with a brass cap to keep the oil from sloshing out.

While it is difficult to see in this old photo, the oil cup covers in the past have been different than the ones found on the locomotive today. As with many parts, they were interchangable with other locomotives in the roundhouse over the years.

If you look closely, inside the circle, you can see one of the oil caps that was used on the No. 3 for many years– an old, beat-up, thermos cup.

Examples of this type of ingenuity can be found throughout the shops, but we thought the No. 3 deserved better.

 

Volunteer Machinist Tony Stroud duplicated one of the old oil cap covers to replace the thermos cup. In his hands are the oil cup (left) and the new cover.

 

Ta Da! Matching oil cup covers.

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Shared History

Fireman Joe Francis and George Sapp trading stories about the No. 3

One of the fun things about working in a young park (just 28 years old), like ours is that sometimes we get visitors who worked here before it was a park.  In fact, some of the crew who worked here in the diesel era of the Sierra Railroad, and today’s Sierra Northern Railroad, are still around and stop by often just to see what is happening.

Today we had a real treat when former Sierra Engineer Joe Francis stopped by.  Joe lives in Idaho these days, but he grew up around the shops in Jamestown.  In 1946 when Duel in the Sun was being filmed, he was hired on to help with the filming, and the railroad kept him on afterwards.  He worked here for over 34 years, and fired for the likes of Mose Baker, Jim Baker, and worked with Master Mechanic Bill Tremewan.  Jim stood by the No. 3 today, and you could just see the memories flooding back.  He shared some tales of firing on the 18, 22, 34 and other locomotives, and told us about removing the cistern of the No. 3 at some point, to replace the deck boards. 

Jim had good timing for his visit, because we are running the No. 3 tomorrow.  If you are out in the morning, you may see him up in the cab with the crew, taking a trip down “memory rail”. 

Come out and ride the train yourself tomorrow.  If you are at the park in the morning before 10, you can see the crew bring the locomotive onto the turntable, and fill up at the water tank.  Watching the crew at work in and around the historic roundhouse is a wonderful way to make the connection that we are keeping history alive through the trades– maintaining and running the same equipment in the same place, in mostly the same way, today, as Jim and Mose and Bill and so many others over the past century.

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Today at Railtown

 

“Fueling the Railroad” Stationmaster Ron White shows Jr. Volunteers Trevor and Warren how to make coffee.

Fire Patrol set to begin

 

Sierra No. 3 coming into station for the first run

 

And. . . coupling up

Thanks to Jr. Volunteer Trevor for his photos

Also see us on facebook.

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Whistle (while you) Work

The Sierra No. 3 ran on time last year, but there were a few minor details we had to defer.  For example, replacing the water delivery lines to the injector, which were getting very thin in places.  And repairing the whistle.

The iconic whistle from the No. 3, has become raspy over time.  The top is a cast iron five chime whistle, of unknown origin, with a brass base.  The original seat was cast integral with the base, and had become worn over time, as had the valve. 

Our crack team of locomotive artisans (Tony and Joe) got to work over the winter, and a new valve seat and valve were machined and inserted, restoring the “voice of High Noon”.  The locomotive was steamed up today, and we took the opportunity to put it though its paces.  Beautiful!  Hear it for yourself this season. 

Cast Iron 5 chime whistle, valve, pins and lever

The original valve was cast, the replica is machined bronze.

Top view of whistle, with casting number "2557"

Base of the whistle (where it attaches). The original seat was worn, so it was machined out and a new seat pressed in.

The whistle in position on top of steam dome (whistle is on the left--in the steam, safety valve is on the right)

To see a video of the new whistle, see the Railtown facebook page.

The first official opportunity to ride the Sierra No. 3 this season will be Sunday, April 10th on the hour from 11-3, regular ticket prices apply.  Tickets sold at the window on the day of excursion.

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