2005 was a great year. FEBT contunued their strong support for the railroad and #15 came back to service in September. As in years past, I have created a "Best of 2005" gallery for your convenience. This collection of pages includes the 40 very best photographs that were shot by myself over the past year. This collection of images is to best represent the 2005 season and is not necessarily good photography. The employees and volunteers of the EBT deserve a big round of applause for their hard work in keeping the railroad running day after day.
| June 4 - Opening Day | |
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How often do you see 36" gauge track panels? Materials are staged in the parking lot for the reconstruction of the Meadow Street crossing next to the EBT station. |
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While #14 is out of service, M-7 poses next to the flag pole at the picnic area with a regular passenger train. |
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The skilled welders of JC McHugh Locomotive Crane & Locomotive are busy doing major repairs to one of #14's spokes. |
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FEBT crews are busy rebuilding this side dump hopper for ballast work. The rebuilding is being done with heavier steel than it was origionally built with. |
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While a mason works on the bricks of the boiler house, a group works on the coalbin. They are preparing to demolish the structure to make way for a new reproduction. |
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Daniel brings the train to a stop to allow the brakeman to throw the wye switch. |
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One last photo of the Meadow Street crossing before it is ripped up Monday. |
| July 24 - FEBT Work Session | |
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All that's left to do in the smoke box is to install the screen that helps keep large cinders from blowing out the stack. |
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FEBT members are helping EBT crews install the new boiler jacket on #15. |
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Frank is up on the ladder screwing in brackets that will draw the jacket sheets tight. |
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At one end of the paint shop windows are being painted for the creek side of the building. |
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Hopper 802 is progressing with the installation of slope sheets and some painting. |
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Over at the shop are rebuilt and repainted windows leaning against the buildings waiting for installation. |
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Rebuilding of the coal bin is coming along very well. The two wall frames have been erected and one wall is underway. |
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The previous evening, M-6 operated for the first time in almost 10 years. "All it needed was a clutch adjustment." A couple things will be repaired or replaced before officially returning to service. Big hand to Courtney and Henry. |
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Lee Rainey is hard at work on the overhaul of flatcar 119. |
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A sheet of jacketing is cut to fit the firebox. |
| September 11 - FEBT Work Session | |
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EBT #15's number plate has been repainted. Imagine what one of these would sell for on Ebay. I hope we never find out. |
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JC McHugh is doing the repairs to M-7's blown generator. Her horn is being rebuilt while she's out of serive. |
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There's a lot of activity going on here at the shops. FEBT members are in the process of finishing painting the north wall of the machine shop. |
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Remember what I said about a new coat of paint making a big difference? Doesn't this look nice! |
| September 28 - #15 Returns to Service | |
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A little after 12 noon, #15 backs out of the roundhouse, under her own power, for the first time since October 21, 2001. |
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#15 drifts very quietly past the coal dock and water column during her first test run. |
| October 1-2 - #15 is Painted | |
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An overall shot of #15 at the south end of the coach track. Her new paint is not dry, but is almost finished being applied. |
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#15 is left outside overnight. The number plate is still masked off for touch up tomorrow. The edges of the oil lamp vent on the headlight are now more defined after I chiseled 3/4" of paint off the top of it. |
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#17 is plucked out of the roundhouse for display for the Fall Spectacular. If you've never watched a dead steam locomotive being switched around, you should; though, a live locomotive is always better. As the pistons go in and out, the cylinders make sucking noises. |
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After moving #17 around, #14 now couples to #15 and backs to the inspection pit. #15 will be pushed into #17's stall after some photos are taken before she gets all dirty. |
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#15 is frozen in time on the turntable minus lettering. |
| October 15 - Regular Weekend | |
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#15 is posed on the turntable during a regular weekend. |
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A seven car train returns to Rockhill with #15 at the point. |
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The EBT's "flying devil" speeder made a trip to the grove and back with four motorcars from NARCOA. |
| October 21 - Photographer's Extra | |
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#14 is southbound with empty hoppers while #15 waits at the staion for a trip down the Shade Gap branch. |
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#14 and #15 are parked for lunch. Tom and Roy discuss the afternoon movements. |
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In addition to operating the trains with black locomotives, the station was backdated with old signs and two vehicles. |
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Another shot of #14 and #15 before I had to leave. |
| October 29-30 - Closing Weekend | |
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The blow down valve is near the bottom of the firebox just ahead of the air reservoir under the fireman's side of the cab. There is one on both sides, but it is safer to use the fireman's side valve. |
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Cylinder cocks are open to help steam escape faster. |
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#14 repeats a scene just witnessed yesterday. After adjusting our clocks back the night before, today it is dark when #14 is pushed inside. |
| December 14 - A Cold Winter Day | |
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Today it was extremely cold, but I had to take a few pics anyway. The shop stacks tower 90 feet above the complex. |
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By the time I got back to the car, I couldn't feel my fingers. |
Copyright © 2005-2007 Lance Myers. All rights reserved.
If you'd like to use these pictures, just ask me.