Kevin laying out the crossover between the Alpine & Lumber Camp routes
November 21th 2019 Operations Council Meeting Minutes
Meeting opened at 12:37 pm
The attending PV&A RR team gave a warm welcome back to Glenn !
Finance Report - Kevin: We have $2,454.90 in the bank, so will have to be very conservative in spending until the end of the year. There are no Accounts Receivable, and we have 64 members.
Project Status Reports:
Lumber Camp Return Loop -
Bridge Welding - Bill: This section will be completed welding today, Bruce will prep and paint it on Saturday This will be installed first week of December. We’ll need all hands to wrestle into place, even though it will be easier than the last one.
The final steel section will be designed empirically; i.e. where does the foundation go, how to support upper section with one pier and steel apron to hold the ballast from going down hill, as we have done before on the Summit.
Foundations - Bruce: Boards have been stacked on the truss bridge so the bent foundations can be dug.we may dig this weekend. Need to make rebar cages for the bent foundations.
Right-of-Way Grading & Track laying - Kevin: Track was laid from the summit to a siding switch before the end of the camelback bridge section. Half of the siding was also laid. The track was ballasted from the summit almost to that switch before we ran out. Mike to refill the gravel bin in afternoon. We need to fabricate an X crossing for the lumber camp loop and the descending caboose loop ROW near the end of the camelback bridge section.
Bob noted that we may need to update the Track Needs Table; and will revise the map layout later.
Making track panels - Carl noted that with the plastic ties we need to predrill for the screws, which must be installed vertically, not angled.
Steel Decking and Small Redwood Trestle at Lumber Camp Bridge - Mike: Ken, Russ, Randy and Mike have the planking laid and screwed down in running bond style (except at the two angled joints between sections, where there must be butt joints) to the ends of the installed steel sections. Bruce is working on the foundations for the wood trestle. We have a layout plan to include the switch exiting from the steel bridge. We will fabricate special wood bents to go under the switch. Also make an abutment at the end of the ballasted track portion of the loop.
Caboose Redwood Trestle - Ken: Randy has moved some dirt to fill in the outrigger base divots.
Caboose Loop extension. (formerly Pioneer Route) BOD has been working with the family to report on progress and success of our recent projects - on time and within budget; some funded by membership. We are planning on resuming the continuation of the Caboose route soon and pledged to complete it within 3 years from the re-start. This will be another exciting project to add to this great and interesting railroad. At the end of this we will resume the track restoration project with plastic ties to produce a railroad that can live on for 50 years..
Little Buildings - (Ron) - nothing new
2020 Elections; If any members have an interest in applying for office, please let a board member know. Otherwise, the current officers have agreed to stand for election, which will be held in January.
Dues; $100 for locals; $50 for distance members - no change for 2020. We agreed to add a family membership option for immediate family members for $150. Contact Kevin if you need more information on this new plan. Thanks to Dee for suggesting this.
Run Days - This weekend - early ! Solid fuels allowed; so watering required. No workday access during Thanksgiving week.
December run 12/28,29 Bruce proposed a pot-luck Polar Express night run, weather permitting. We can run earlier in the evening since the sun sets 4:30. Lights ! Rides! Food ! Unique Photography ! Fun ! Dinner will take place rain or shine.
Meeting ended at 1:15 pm