The Golden Gate Railroad Museum (GGRM) wants to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day holiday.   There will be no workday at Schellville on Saturday November 27, 2021  because our museum’s staff has more than earned a weekend off.   The GGRM’s volunteers have been running at double speed ever since our rebuilt Westinghouse cross-compound air compressor failed to work correctly during the February 20, 2021 Schellville workday.  Our museum’s volunteers diligently worked to unload boxcar #50 at the end of April, and then followed-up by participating in extra mid-week workdays that were necessary to successfully complete the annual inspection of steam locomotive #2472 on October 6 th .  These goals were achieved while simultaneously working on our former Southern Pacific bi-level gallery cars and preparing to move the last five pieces of GGRM rollingstock off of the Niles Canyon Railway.  Based upon all of these accomplishments it is app

  Thanks go to the following GGRM volunteers for completing the final tests and adjustments necessary to make the museum’s F7A locomotives and Harriman era suburban coaches ready for movement to Sonoma County;   Manly Hyde, Scott Vogel, Nico Dacong, David Waterman, Jay King, and Steve Rusconi.   Progress made during the November 6, 2021 workday at the East Sunol Yard of the Niles Canyon Railway.    Adjust the brake linkages of the Harriman era suburban coaches to achieve the correct brake cylinder travel.   Done.   Verify that the brakes on all of the suburban coaches set and release correctly.   Done.   Complete single car testing of the following GGRM rollingstock. #2907 suburban coach   Done. #2143 suburban coach   Done. #2156 suburban coach   Done. Complete terminal air test of the following laced up consist comprised of F7A #6378. F7A #6380, including the #2907, #2143, and #2156 Harriman Subs.   No action taken during the Nov 6 th  workday.   The last five pieces of GGRM rollingst

  The November 13, 2021 Schellville workday was focused on the following items at the Victory Station Yard in Schellville.   Thanks go out to the GGRM volunteers listed below that helped make November 13 th   Schellville workday successful;   Steve Coon, Scott Vogel, Garrett Brisbee, Manly Hyde, Mike Pechner, David Waterman, Peter Schulze, and Nico Dacong.   At the Victory Station Yard worksite: 1.             The GGRM EIC is required to send a text to NWPCo General Manager Ryan Martin when flag and derail protection has been set at the Victory Station Yard and the north leg of the Schellville wye.   Done, Jim Prettyleaf. 2.             Unload Jim P’s pickup truck and correctly store the equipment that was used during the previous workdays at the East Sunol Yards of the Niles Canyon Railway.   Done by Steve Coon Nico Dacong and Manly Hyde. 3.             Place updated FRA Form 3 and FRA Form 5 records in #2472’s cab.   Done by Jim Prettyleaf and David Waterman. 4.             Install t

  The November 20, 2021 GGRM Schellville workday was focused on the following items at the Victory Station Yard and the Sonoma Rail Incorporated storage site.   Steam locomotive #2472 has passed annual inspection, so now GGRM’s volunteer resources will be aimed at completing restoration of the former Southern Pacific bi-level gallery cars stored at Sonoma Rail Incorporated.   Thanks go out to the GGRM volunteers listed below who helped make the November 20 th   Schellville workday successful;   Manly Hyde, Peter Schulze, Ron Vane, Scott Bowdish, Nico Dacong, David Waterman, Steve Coon, Steve Rusconi and Tim Dulin.   At the Victory Station Yard worksite: 1.             The GGRM EIC is required to send a text to NWPCo General Manager Ryan Martin when flag and derail protection has been set at the Victory Station Yard and the north leg of the Schellville wye.   Done Jim Prettyleaf.   2.             Place corrected updated and signed FRA Form 3 record in #2472’s cab.   Done David Waterman.

  The Saturday October 16 th   and Saturday October 23, 2021 Schellville workdays completed the steps needed to lay up steam locomotive #2472 following steam testing, completion of the FRA annual inspection, and the first operation of this locomotive since September of 2015.   Major Milestones:  Thanks to the GGRM Volunteers that have been diligently working for many months steam locomotive #2472 successfully completed the steam test portion of the FRA annual inspection on Wednesday October 6, 2021 and is now fully operational.   Following completion of the October 6 th  annual inspection #2472 received permission from SMART and successfully completed test operations on the central track of the GGRM storage yard in Schellville. On October 11, 2021 the GGRM CMO sent an email to the local District 7 FRA Inspectors to formally request a one year extension to #2472’s boiler time.  If this request for extension is granted we will not be required to retube #2472’s boiler until June 1 of 2023