Friends
of Nevada Southern Railway, Inc.
Membership
Meeting
2
February 2012
According to Article V,
Section 1, of the By-Laws a quorum was present to conduct FNSR business.
Motion to approve the minutes of the December meeting was made by Carl Friedrichs and seconded by Roger Himka; unanimously approved.
New member Gerald Lewis and two new Board members, John Orth and Bill Megill, were introduced at the meeting.
Treasurer report:
Chuck Brandt announced that our December income was $3491.68 and expenses were $7420.67 for a net income (loss) for the month of ($3886.04). January income was $1210.27 and expenses were $3161.72 for a net income (loss) of ($1951.45). Details of income and expenses are available from Chuck Brandt upon request.
Standing Committee reports
Training – Tony Bond reported that the January Safety Training session was successful and received good response from those in attendance. The new rulebooks were distributed to those in attendance that had not already received one. He reiterated that after the January hiatus, that everyone should practice care and safety as we start the 2012 season this weekend.
Greg Corbin indicated he would like to schedule more “breakout” sessions with specific positions on the train crew as he did in 2011. Groups will include Car Attendants and Brakemen this year.
Day Out with Thomas Event – Tony Bond and Chuck Brandt discussed the many tasks which have been ongoing during the hiatus. A total of 128 concrete sign bases were poured during the past week with about 14 volunteers joining in the fun of concrete pouring, smoothing, and finishing. The concrete truck arrived just before 10:00 AM and work was completed by 1:30 PM. Site preparation has begun with the addition of large areas of blacktop located for the various event tents. Extension of the concrete in the platform area to accommodate the longer trains will begin in the next week.
Greg Corbin has ordered the necessary track insert panels to widen the pedestrian crossing from the parking lot into the platform area.
Chuck Brandt announced that Saphya Lotery has taken on the coordination of volunteer efforts to locate and assemble the necessary personnel to run the various events and tasks during the two weekends. Greg Corbin mentioned that local college students are interested and may help to furnish some of the needed volunteers.
Tony Bond will be meeting in the next weeks with Boulder City officials to firm up parking arrangements and with numerous vendor candidates for tents, trailers, generators, food, and entertainment.
Chuck Brandt announced that an insurance policy has been obtained for approximately $9800 to cover liability during the operating period of the event.
Marketing and advertising plans include 184,000 stickers attached to the cover page of the R-J, and 2000 initial copies of a tri-fold brochure to be distributed to various businesses, schools, churches around the city. Bill Megill has offered to feature the event in Glaziers Market advertising circulars prior to the event time.
Restoration – Jack Corrick discussed work ongoing during January, including Thomas preparations by Tony Bond, Ed Townes, and “Choo Choo” Greg, Frank Lea on the 3505 caboose interior, and major servicing on the 844 locomotive. Work on the 502/503 open air cars was completed bringing them into conformance with FRA requirements for safety grab bars and markings.
Roger Himka and Bob Freedman have been working on the dining car sliding door mechanism and electronics to restore the door to safe, proper operation.
Membership – Roger Himka announced that we have 172 total public memberships, 109 of which are family memberships, 5 individual, 6 senior individual, and 52 senior family memberships, for a total of 318 members. Of these, 47 were renewals. Among volunteer memberships, 12 are family memberships and 51 are individual memberships.
Calendar Project – Roger West announced that sales of the 2012 calendar went well during the December Santa Trains with several hundred sold during the 3-week event. The project has realized a profit of approximately $1600 already with further sales planned as far as possible into the 2012 operating season.
FNSR Steamers Project – Bill Megill discussed Operating Safety Rules for the live steam operations, which are being prepared based on rules from various other live steam organizations in the Western U.S. He announced that the rulebook should be ready for review by the March Board meeting. Their goal is to be ready to carry passengers on a limited basis by the Train Robbery weekend in March.
Greg Corbin suggested that the FSNR Steamers’ Operating Rules be approved by the State, as has been the procedure for the Operating Rules for the standard NSRM trains.
Everett Bartlett discussed the purchase of new trucks and couplers to prepare cars for passenger operation.
A new water line is being installed to serve the live steam preparation area.
Old Business
Dining Car Restoration – Chuck Brandt announced that the wainscoting treatment under the windows for the dining car restoration project may not be completed until after the Thomas event. Greg Corbin has offered state funds to cover the $800 cost of the project.
New Business
Board Position Open – Chuck Brandt announced that with the resignation of Ed Townes effective at the completion of the December Board meeting, the Board has one open position. The by-laws allow the appointment of someone to fill the position for the remainder of the 2-year term ending in December 2012. Suggestions of names for the position will be considered during the March/April time frame for subsequent appointment.
Greg Corbin
Comments
During the current January hiatus, there was a lot of activity in the4 shop and around the facility. The 844 has received major service after several years of operation. The 601 coach was brought to the shop for the repair of the ceiling panels, though this may be delayed for a few weeks due to availability of the contractor. The TTOS car was moved to the south shop track at the east end of the building in front of the Vanderbilt car on the extended track.
Richie Klein has indicated he intends to resume work on the interior of the Vanderbilt car in anticipation of limited public access for tours through the car in the future.
The February Volunteer Appreciation Dinner this year, scheduled for February 23rd, will be co-sponsored by Glaziers Market, courtesy of Bill Megill and family. Previous dinners have been sponsored by TTOS donations. Greg Corbin announced that TTOS will use their funds this year to paint and refurbish the outside of the TTOS car.
A “mail crane” (the pole beside the track from which the mail bag was grabbed by the hook on the RPO car as trains passed by at speed) was donated by the CA State RR Museum in Sacramento and is currently in Carson City awaiting transport to Boulder City.
Thanks to all the volunteers who participated in the concrete work on the Thomas sign bases during the week. It was an impressive turnout with everyone participating in the success of the project. Many volunteers have participated in the various projects to ready the facilities for the Thomas event. Their contributions are greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Mike Travaglia for his help on all these projects.
Open Discussion
Carl Friedrichs delivered a large quantity pull tabs collected
from cans used at the museum to the Ronald McDonald House for recycling. They
receive 1¢ for each tab for use in their
charitable activities.
Carl also announced that on February 16th, there will be a presentation at the Boulder City museum on early railroad history in southern NV. Contact Carl for more information.
There being no further discussions, the meeting was adjourned at 11:26 AM.
The next meeting will be Mar. 1, 2012 at 11:00 AM.
