2024 Photos
aka
The Silt Ring
The searchlight signal to guard the tunnel block is almost finished. It is a simple on or off light, so there is no concern about colorblind persons. The light is a 12 volt Harbor Freight 2" diameter trailer brake light, and it is bright. The lamp visor and housing is a chunk of 2" PVC and a 2" PVC cap, and the lamp fits perfectly. The disk target is the lid from a 2.5 gallon paint can which I found at Home Depot for $1.78. The mast is 1" PVC, epoxied to the lamp housing. The mold for the Sakrete base came from Dollar Tree. It will be located so you can see if from the water tower, probably between the telltale and the "Got brakes?" hose.
Denis
8/28 water delivery
1000 gallons delivered
About 600 available
8/24 Workday
Steve and Ed prepare water pump
The early shift complete cement block placement
The last sections are placed
All sections are on the track
Next, the sections will be joined
8/20 Cistern Lining
CS and EH cleaning bricks for the punp.
Did you ever want to know what the cistern pump looks like?
Cistern wall with new lining
RH takes the workers for a victory lap after lining the cistern
8/10/24 Potluck/Twilight Run
Dave and Nan take a spin on the Goose
Lots of good food for the Pot Luck
(insert Pot Joke Here)
Nan and Jeanette before the food
Rick and Jimmy tuning up Susan II
Susan II runs!
Gather around and I’ll spin y’all a yarn or two.
The yard
7/31/24 WEDNESDAY
There is a problem with the water supply.
The cistern which is fed by roof runoff from is low.
CS “Volunteered” to clean out the cistern!
EH monitors CS (not shown) in the cistern.
RH (no relation) “Boy am I glad I didn’t draw the short straw!”
7/27/24 Workday
All of the roof panels are on the tunnel sections
All of the blocks are in place and the
tunnel floor has been leveled.
Not shown in the 7/27/24 pictures, everyone who
attended! Good work everyone.
Cinder Sniffers July 2024 Insect Olympics
JB showing great form in the Hornet Elimination Round
JB 1
Hornets 0
7/21/24
Impromptu Run
76 degrees and no traffic on Rt 1!
EH and RH (no relation) taking a spin.
DS and the Goose (No relation)
RH photobombs DS
DUCK!
7/1024 WEDNESDAY!
The Tunnel Project is getting glose!
most of the ballast is down. We will be
ready for more sections soon.
What is a carburetor screw doing on a
picnic table? It belongs in the tractor!
CS, EH and RH (no relation) remove the head
from the tractor engine. Somehow, a screw from the
carburetor ended up in the combustion chamber!
Fortunately, the engine was not damaged.
The errant screw made a LOT of noise! It sounded
as if the engine was shot. RH quickly stopped the
engine which prevented catastrophic damage.
5/25/24 Work Day
DL prepares another section for transport.
4 sections on the track!
5/22/24
DS counting screws.
(Time to get that boy out of the sun!)
When would one EVER use plane geometry?
When you want to square up a tunnel section.
It’s an isosceles trapezoid
of course!
EH ordered new 1/4" stainless steel bead chain
to replace the ropes in the telltale that didn't weather well.
Now the telltale will be able to tell its story for years.
The squirrels will have to find something else to gnaw.
April 27, 2024 WORKDAY
Tunnel Progress!
The first completed section was
moved from the temporary site to the
excavation using a riding car.
A few limbs and posts were in the way.
Some limbs required drastic measures
All was going well until……
(The crew has much experience in re railing cars)
Then it was time to carry the section.
Were there any sore muscles on Sunday?
Ballast is spread
(Notice the tunnel section is on its way)
The end is in sight!
Perfect!
(ie Railroad level)
First train through the first section!
Back row James Balmer, Denis Larrick, Jaxton Andres, Jerry Andres, Chuck Balmer,
Steve Chromik, Don Frozina, Ed Habel
Front row Rick Weber, Jim Keith
Not pictured Bill Mense, Julie Balmer and Dave Sams
Dearborn County’s finest!
The first tunnel section is in place thanks to
a hard working crew.
April 8, 2024 Eclipse at the track
3:05PM sunlight is not as strong and colors are off.
3:08PM 100% Venus is lower in the tree
3:09PM it was dark!
Venus!
March 23 2024 Workday
Progress was made on the Tunnel Project
DF and DH cut the rebar
DS helps DF look busy
JB,EH,DL,CB (related)and PE completed the excavation.
The dirt cooperated! Digging went well.
PE drove from Tennessee to participate!
A good day’s work!
Next up, cement blocks and rebar.
Section framework completed and the project
is fully funded!
Not pictured RH and JB(related)
March 20 2024 at the track
DL continues the 420 month inspection
Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths
planted many years ago
It was a bit cold but several carloads
of visitors made it.
1/1/24 First Snowdrops Ever!
The first appearance of the green
Hummingbird! The red one is in
another picture. They were a hit!
Thanks Rick!
The Goose will soon be in it’s
10th year at the track.
Grandpa and Craig learning how to
drive the Red Hummingbird.
Craig can just barely reach the floor!
Annual visitors
He has the hang of it!
Hummingbird builder Rick instructing
visitor.
Craig riding Rick
Craig even had time to ride his Dad around.