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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
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