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Campers
Jeffrey Porte, Andy Morris, and Stephen Mliczek learn the fine points
of inspecting the under side of a steam locomotive from Kevin Bose,
one of the mechanics in the roundhouse at Steamtown. |
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Mike Oprisko
shows campers Joe Katta, Heather Klausner, and Noah McAdam the location
of the ash pan on the locomotive. The roundhouse crew must clean
this one area on a daily basis. The locomotive is in the Steamtown
shop for it 91 day inspection. |
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Camper Andy
Morris carefully examines the first drive axel from the drop pit
at the Steamtown roundhouse as part of the RailCamp experience.
Andy is one of the 24 teenagers attending RailCamp at the Steamtown
National Park in Scranton, Pennsylvania. RailCamp is a joint project
of the National Railway Historical Society and the National Park
Service. |
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Andy Morris
and Jeff Porte are checking the journal supporting one of the driving
wheels on Canadian Pacific locomotive 2317 at Steamtown. The RailCamp
experience gives teenagers the chance to see a first class railroad
restoration program in action. |
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Mike Oprisko,
one of the roundhouse mechanics, shows RailCampers Noah McAdam and
Justin Franz the journal box on Canadian Pacific locomotive 2317
at Steamtown. Oprisko is telling the campers that this area they
must inspect carefully on a daily basis. |
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One
of the activities at RailCamp is a visit to a coalmine as the railroads
and mines in the Scranton area had a close relationship. Alex Haines,
Jeff Porte, and Josh Bradford ride to the surface in a mine car
towed by a cable system. |
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Park Ranger,
Ken Ganz shows the RailCamp students the interior of a steam locomotive
boiler in the back shop at Steamtown National Park in Scranton,
Pennsylvania. Ganz is demonstrating effective techniques to interpret
historical information to visitors at a museum. Some of the RailCamp
participants are in the foreground. |
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RailCamp
Counselor Marty O'Rourke discusses emergency evacuation procedures
with an interested group of campers in the dorm. O'Rourke is one
of the members of the National Railway Historical Society who gives
his own time to help young people learn about the preservation of
railroad history. |
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The big
activity on Wednesday was a trip to Binghamton, New York and a visit
to the classification yard operated by Canadian Pacific. The Railroad
hosted the visit and provided the lunch. Canadian Pacific employees
stressed safety, careers in railroading, operations, and maintenance
of lines and equipment. The visit included an inspection of the
yard. Alex and Will Haines lead the line of campers as they move
through the yard while inspecting operations. |
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On Wednesday
evening, the RailCampers attended a baseball game where the Scranton-Wilkes
Barons played. This activity followed a trip to Binghamton, New
York to visit the Canadian Pacific yard. The Barons won the game.
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Moses
Johnson uses a grinder to remove excess metal following cutting
from a metal plate. The grinder process was one of the time consuming
steps in the process. Moses displays good safety techniques using
safety goggles, special welding gloves, a welding jacket, and a
hard hat. |
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Thursday's
project was to make an Engine silhouette in the machine shop. The
first step to prepare a base for the engine silhouette involved
punching a hole in the base for the rivet. Ryan Mack uses a power
punch to punch a hole in the metal which will serve as the base
of the project. |
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After punching
a hole in the base, Andy Morris uses a power drill and a counter-sink
tool to taper the hole in the metal. This will permit the rivet
to expend and hold the silhouette in place. Steamtown mechanic Ray
Libby supervises Andy as he works with the power tool. |
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After heating
the rivet with an acetylene torch to red-hot status, Andy completes
the riveting process by hammering the end of the rivet flat with
a hammer. Andy will complete the process by grinding off the excess
metal. When the silhouette is finished, Andy will complete the project
by welding the silhouette to the base. |
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Stephen
Mliczek has completed the erection of his silhouette and now performs
the final step, spray-painting the project. Steamtown mechanic Barb
Klobucar and Colin Camarillo watch closely as Steve completes the
painting process. |
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Two youngsters
picked the right day to come to Steamtown. RailCamper Ryan Mack
helps the two youngsters get the feel of running a hand-pumped railcar
at Steamtown. The two boys came upon the campers using the car and
Ryan offered the future campers a chance pump the car and travel
down the tracks. |
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Heather
Klausner operates the diesel locomotive under close supervision.
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Steve
Barry, Managing Editor of Railfan
& Railroad Magazine, gives instruction on Rail Photography. |
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Practicing
the skills that the instructors provided, Erica Famini directs the
engineer to make switching moves on a simulated railroad using model
trains. The engineer cannot see the train and must rely entirely
on the oral directions from Erica. |
