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 2008 Elderhostel Program


Elfuns from across the country met under Montana's Big Sky in September for the Elderhostel project "Working on the Railroad".The railroad is a major tourist attraction during the summer in Gold Rush Era territory.
Site of the weeklong Elfun-Elderhostel service adventure was the colorful community of Virginia City (population 141) and nearby Nevada City, which is about one picturesque mile down the railroad track from Virginia City.

Living in historic restored coal miner's cabins, the Elfuns cleaned and winterized Old No. 12, one of only two working steam engines in the country,  They also built an open passenger car that will go into service next summer.

The "sitting car" will be for tourists riding the Grand Virginia City-Nevada City Line, which runs slightly over a mile between mounds of rock and dirt left years ago by miners dredging for gold along a nearby creek. The Elfuns worked on the rail car right up to their hour of departure, including designing and fabricating wooden and metal braces.  Another group polished locomotive brass and generally spiffed up Old Engine No. 12 as it was prepared for its storage barn during the long Montana winter.

The volunteers then worked in the museum, dusting and covering the impressive collection of player pianos and period musical instruments for the winter months.

Another major accomplishment was installing a floor to cover the stones between the tracks inside the engine barn.  In the words of Buzz Hope, "The most challenging part of this besides us old-timers having to bend over and straighten up, or sit down and get up was designing and laying the stringers to which the planking was nailed."

The floor is now installed, it's level enough to have a square dance around the engine, and the GE Elfuns are all mighty proud of their week of camaraderie and accomplishment in this preserved area of what was once the Wild West.

Click here to see more pictures from the 2008 Montana Trip
Photos provided by Wally and Barbara Baker