The weather the weekend before was cold in Southern California; the cold snap was the coldest it had been for a while in the entire west. It froze hard one or two nights and the only know damage was a few hose bibs on the north side of a trailer; in the all day shade it provides. John had patrolled the area and found the growing ice patch created by the water leak. A week later as of Monday there still is ice on the ground around the riser. John turned off the water to the campground water supply at the time and a quick removal and plugging of the two bibs on Friday allowed the system to be pressurized again.
I made it up Thursday about nightfall, not as early as I intended but, I had a frozen pipe issue to deal with in Crestline the night before and an injured friend in the hospital to see before my trip could start. Mom and Dad beat me out again. There were no records set on time spent around the fire barrel either that night. It was an early night.
Friday morning was a beautiful clear start to a great day. Each day the weather warmed, each night the moon grew in phase and the winter evenings were breeze free. We unloaded the GE and Dad’s caboose from his truck as well as the rehabbed Flatcar from mine. The freshly oiled deck of the flatcar shone in the sun, and the aroma of Linseed followed the car around the track. The new trucks and framework underneath worked flawlessly all weekend. Another of the Skoglund cars successfully back in display service. We trimmed a pesky Cats Claw bush from alongside the full size caboose so that Gary and Terry could get scaffolding close enough to the caboose to paint it. That Pole-chainsaw has been a useful gadget. Dad and I put together the Westside flat consist and made a steel load trip for the engine house project. Vagabond delivered the steel on his way home Thursday night. With the recent cold weather and the flu going around; propane sales to the locals and supplying oxygen to the hospital has him putting in long days. Thanks for the extra effort Vagabond.
Friday saw Bruce Thompson arrive midday, with Mike after dark. Greg and Becky showed up the usual time and Greg deftly parked the trailer in its spot in one stab as always. Colette made it out just about dark to round things out. As we sat around the fire, in rattles Brendon, Ace and Braden; the new excavator on the trailer behind. The fire in the patio saw plenty of action Friday night it was a good time.
Saturday Greg started work on the Engine House front doorframe project. Alignments to the bays inside were figured out, and the steel for the posts cut to length. Measurements, re-measurements and more measurements to get it just right happened all weekend as the engineering progressed. The mockup was clamped together by Sunday and it looked good. Pieces were then all packed back in the truck for milling, drilling and tapping at home. When it returns we should be able to bolt together and weld from the tabs to allow the beams to be removed individually for more machining come time for the doors to be installed. Mike Thompson found a job putting the finishing touches on guard rails on the two upper trestles. I rearranged the Tedder Shed for more room and easier access, it will be cluttered up in no time. Not much dirt rolled up the hill this weekend as we worked on the little things that needed done; a new alignment block for a steaming bay, for one of the loose ones from many years of service. Cutting up of a big stump so it would fit in the fire, Ace refilled our dirt pile for us so we have many more buckets to schlep up the hill.
Monday morning a sink hole got attention just below the Palmer Bridge before small cabooses and short reefers fell in. Spring running season is approaching, come enjoy the desert.
It was a low key enjoyable weekend, complete with a birthday cake on Saturday night, Colette’s. The weather is unpredictable but it was beautiful this weekend. Standard Gauge Meet February 15-17 coming up next month. Of course, the Narrow Gauge engines can run too. See you there.
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