Rockhill Furnace Work Session: May 1-2, 2004

The fifth Rockhill work session took place Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2. On Saturday, 14 FEBT volunteers were joined by 21 members of the track crew from the Bucksgahuda & Western 2-foot railroad in northern Pennsylvania, making it our largest session ever. Twelve FEBT volunteers continued the work on Sunday.

The FEBT participants were:
Back row: (l to r) Bob Goldby, Lee Rainey, Tom Kuzub, Bill Meltreder, Jim Bacon, Dave Phillips, John Morgan
Front row: (l to r) Bud Goldby, Charlie Wootton, Bill Adams, Dick Ullery, Barbara Morgan.
Not present for the photo: Shawn Stauffer, Bob Harris, Richard Culp, Richard Dew, Reggie Arford

The Bucksgahuda & Western crew included Bill Bauer, Jim Schart Jr, Arthur Martin, Bruce Forester, Chris Forester, Tony Weber, Janice Bauer, Tom Bauer, Mike Bauer, Brian Schart, Joel Williams, Glen Buttorf, Todd Hunter, Jim Smithbauer, Bill Hoehn, Tom Martino, Mel Goldy, Fred Bauer, Greg Bauer, Brian Fleming, and Mary Pat Fleming

Track Work

We have to start by recognizing the fantastic job done by the visiting track crew. These highly skilled track workers brought their own hand tools and backhoe. Their equipment included a special tie-removing fixture that was new even to our professional railroaders, but which was amazingly effective. The Bucksgahuda & Western crew attacked the two car shop tracks like a swarm of gophers, keeping Shawn Stauffer of the FEBT and Dan Gilliland of the railroad busy with cutting ties and delivering other supplies. The B&W score at the end of the day was over 80 ties replaced, a job that would have taken the FEBT crew several weekends. Needless to say, everyone was very impressed.

Brush Clearing, Boiler House, Glass Supply

Meanwhile, the FEBT crew was also busy. Richard Culp and Richard Dew continued their excellent work in Jordan Run, clearing more brush to help control the erosion. John Morgan and Jim Bacon pushed forward with the brick repairs at the top of the Boiler House roof, and Bob and Bud Goldby spent Sunday salvaging additional glass.

Caboose 28

Caboose 28 was a major project throughout the weekend. The Morgans, the Goldys and Dave Phillips completed the priming of all the milled caboose sheathing on Saturday. Bill Adams and Tom Kozub documented the original covering of the caboose roof, and then Tom and Lee Rainey removed the old roof. Bill Adams, Charlie Wootton, Bill Meltreder, Bob Harris and Reggie Arford worked on the end platforms of the caboose. On Sunday, Lee Rainey and Dick Phillips continued the installation of the sheathing.

Next Session

The next Rockhill work session will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23. See you there!

Lee Rainey,
Rockhill Restoration Coordinator

You can view other photos of this work session at Bill Adams' EBT Pictorial.