ORdeR BOaRd - Midwest Central Railroad

Midwest Central Railroad
Order Board
Distributed to Friends and Members of the MCRR
December 2008
Midwest Haunted Rails 2008
Costume contest
Ticket booth for Haunted Rails wristbands
Midwest Central Railroad Board of Directors accepts a contribution of $10,000 from
John Wilke for the fund to rebuild the No. 2 engine.

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Midwest Central Railroad
ORDER BOARD
Distributed to Friends and Members of the MCRR
Midwest Central
Railroad
ORDER BOARD
Membership Volunteer Hour Awards
presented at Old Threshers Reunion 2008
Editor
Amy K. Frantz
1317 East Monroe Street
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-3404
akfrantz@iowatelecom.net
Treasurer
Jerry Crouch
311 North Maple Street
New London, IA 52645
The Order Board is a newsletter
of the Midwest Central Railroad.
Photos and articles may be submitted
to the Midwest Central
Railroad office or to the Editor.
The Order Board reserves the
right to edit for length and clarity.
Any opinions expressed are
those of the author and may or
may not reflect the opinion of
the Board of Directors.
The Midwest Central Railroad
was incorporated in 1960 as a
non-profit educational organization,
dedicated to the preservation
and operation of narrow
gauge steam powered railroad
equipment. Donations of cash
or materials are welcomed and
are tax-deductible under section
501(c)3 of the federal tax code.
50 hour
Allen Philbrick
Cassie Krebill
Brian Young
Christopher Krebill
Cody Remington
Dennis Franzen
Etta Boese
Eugene Boese
Janet Russell
John Wilke
John Gallahue
Josh Crouch
Judy Bartholow
Lee Rajala
Linda Franzen
Linda Rippeteau
Marcus Lane
Steve Rippeteau
Taylor Lewman
C.W. Wall
Jordan Miyoshi
100 Hour
Anita Northup
Conrad Gregg
Kim Weaver
Ralph Nedrow
Roger Robb
500 Hour
Brian Bacher
Dustin Bachtell
Elliot Hamilton
*****
If you have articles,
photographs, or
story ideas for the
next issue of the
Order Board, please
send them to the
newsletter Editor.
Ticket booth for Midwest Haunted Rails wristbands

Midwest Central Railroad
ORDER BOARD
Distributed to Friends and Members of the MCRR
Page
From the President’s Desk
Just wanted to let you all know that after almost 48
years the Westside Lumber Engine 9 original front
number plate has come home.
This number plate was stolen from the front of the
nine sometime between 1960 and 1966 prior to the
MCRR purchasing the engine.
After its discovery earlier this year by Jesse and
Griffin, I got to work with the owner to negotiate its
return to its rightful place on the front of the engine
to which it belongs.
Now we need to locate her original bell.
Matt Crull
President, Midwest Central Railroad

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Midwest Central Railroad
ORDER BOARD
Distributed to Friends and Members of the MCRR
MCRR’s Rolling Stock is Ready to Roll! - by Elliot Hamilton
Before the beginning of Reunion ‘08 the rolling
stock of the MCRR received its annual clean-up and
clean-out.
a shower in the back! Everything has been tightened,
patched, and repaired to bring it to the high standard
expected of our rolling stock.
Over several weekends in May and June, the conductors
(primarily) and shop staff (secondarily)
started work on the passenger cars in order to have
them sparkling clean for the riders. After the shop
staff pulled the train out of the MCRR’s South
Station, the conductors went to work on the details.
It is surprising how much dust collects just sitting in
the South Station. Of course, the extra dirt tracked
into the cars during Ghost Train and North Pole
Express needed removal. The conductors noticed
that numerous step stands were nearly junk from
years of use. Many of the stands were disassembled
with the intentions of new tops to be fabricated,
installed, and painted.
The cars were “converted” to their summer status by
removing the end doors. North Pole Express riders
appreciate that the wind and snow can be kept out of
the cars. OTR riders appreciate the extra circulation
-- and the conductors appreciate the free flowing
walking areas -- by the door removal. The conductors
also appreciate the weight lifting workout provided
by taking them down!
Another problem plaguing the cars was the windows
would either stay open when they should be closed
or stay closed when they should be open. Most if not
all of the cars will be fitted with simple key locks
which will keep the windows in a designated position:
either up or down. I’m not sure how they found
hundreds of keyed-alike window locks, but the
resourcefulness of the MCRR staff came through.
Not shown in the accompanying pictures is the work
being done on one of the cabooses. The steps to the
cupola and the grab rails were almost ready to come
out in someone’s hand. During a rain, one could take
The staff inspects the stairs leading into a coach.
MCRR Board member Bernie checking the fit of the
window lock installation.
Checking the window outside trim.

Midwest Central Railroad
ORDER BOARD
Distributed to Friends and Members of the MCRR
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Checking the window inside trim.
The little Vulcan Iron Works gasoline switcher can
pull lots of cars with a skilled engineer.
Sweeping the dirt and dust from the car’s end
platform.
Moving the step stands to the work area.
Two conductor staff discuss the door removal.
Sweeping between the seats.

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Midwest Central Railroad
ORDER BOARD
Distributed to Friends and Members of the MCRR
Removing the tops from the step stands.
Sometimes a little hammer work makes the
difference.
Midwest Central Railroad
P.O. Box 102
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
PRST STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MOUNT PLEASANT
IOWA
PERMIT NUMBER 25