MHS Ag Day 2015

Ag day this year was May 1st and was kinda light, but one of the pieces of equipment featured a 1901 Cagney under air pressure. The Cagney kinda stole the show a few times but we did have the family tractor there, pictured with the Cagney. Many people saw the Cagney for the first time and the Kinsley 4 chime whistle mounted on the top was used at one point to change stations. There may not have been many tractors, but it was certainly a lot of fun for everyone involved.

MHS Senior Sam McCutcheon poses with his train - Photo by Nick Forbes pic.twitter.com/P6AoY5tYxo

— Round Table Media (@MHSRTNews) May 1, 2015

The Roundhouse Podcast

A few weeks ago, Nick Ozark came to see the Blue Mountain Railroad, for those of you who don't know, he is the host of a series of train simulator reviews called At the Railyard, and the podcast, The Roundhouse. In episode 14 of The Roundhouse, the Blue Mountain Railroad was featured in addition to a few other railroads. Below is a link to the podcast, and I suggest you check it out.

http://theroundhousepodcast.com/

In Other news,

Sometime soon, more videos of the Cagney are expected to be released, and some potential tweaks to the website, as well as potentially a social media page in the near future....

The 2015 run season begins!

A hydrostatic test was completed on Sunday, the Cagney passed and we test fired her. The Cagney ran well but took a while to get up to pressure. This marks the beginning of the 2015 run season and expect an increase in activity on the website and the Cagney.

Summary of the Altoona trip, 12-30-2014

On the 30th of December 2014, some of us took a trip to Altoona. We paid a visit to the famous Horseshoe Curve, the footbridge in downtown Altoona and then to a crossing in Cresson. We saw a lot of trains and had a lot of fun. While at the curve, we found out the the NS veterans Unit, NS6920, was on her way east. We caught the 6920 at the crossing in Cresson, and then chased it to Altoona and beat it there by quite a bit. She then passed by us and we were getting ready to head out afterwards when this helper pair rolled by and gave us a great show and a great way to end the trip. Video provided by Jimmy Lambert, photo by Sam McCutcheon

Two way meet at Horseshoe Curve

Winterized

The Braddock Heights Cagney was winterized on Sunday, November 2, 2014. The Boiler was drained of water, the smokebox and flues were cleaned and vacuumed, the firebox was emptied of ash and the Cagney was put in its trailer for the winter. For those who don't know, winterizing is done to prepare the engine for winter and prevent water in the boiler from freezing and cracking, much like pipes in a home. The smokebox and firebox were cleared to prevent the acidic ash and soot from corroding the firebox or smokebox. Next spring before the engine is run, a hydrostatic test must be done on the locomotive to ensure safe operation for the next year. A hydrostatic test consists of filling the boiler with water and pressurizing it to 1 1/2 times the normal operating pressure of 125 psi. The use of water makes checking for leaks easier and safer in the event of failure and there isn't a chance of the crown sheet melting in the event of failure. After the boiler passes the test, the 2015 run season will begin, otherwise, necessary work will be done to the locomotive to ensure the safe operation of the locomotive.

Halloween Steam Success

The Braddock Heights Cagney ran on October 31, 2014 and was a great success. We mounted a battery powered headlight on the front of the engine, green class lights (they were placed more like ditch lights), cab lights and two flashing red rear lights. The engine didn't complain and ran very well, many people came and rode the engine and there were no injuries. It was a tad chilly but didn't affect the Blue Mt Railway. A video will be uploaded sometime soon and we hope to make this a yearly tradition.