News from Flying Yankee Restoration Group, Inc.

Flying Yankee Restoration Group, Inc. Newsletter

November, 2010

Bob Rolanda and Mike Goodin installing some of the missing windows of the Flying Yankee during the weatherproofing now in progress. There will be a few more pictures and a more specific report of the progress being made by Ben Clark and his crew at the Plymouth & Lincoln (Hobo) Railroad, Lincoln, NH.

May we all remember Bob Morrell and remember his dream for the Flying Yankee. Happy Thanksgiving to all and special thanks to the Morrell family and their belief and faith in fullfilling this dream.*

*Picture of Bob Morrell from tape on 1 of 4 monitors donated to FY by Operation Life Saver through FY Board Member, Dick Towle. This is in "B" car.

Special thanks also to Brenda Clark, Ben Clark, and Jennifer Clark-Franz, for all their assistance through out the past years with Open Houses, special functions, assisting with spectators, etc. They and their whole crew have been an invaluable asset to the Flying Yankee and the restoration effort.

Happy Thanksgiving to Dick Hamilton and his family. After many many years of service to the restoration of the Flying Yankee, Dick is taking some personal time. We wish him all the best and look forward to his return. Dick has served selflessly not only as the Flying Yankee Board of Director's Chairman, but is also largely responsible for the restoration or the "Old Man Of The Mountain". Enjoy your Holidays and we will keep you continually up to date.

ONE MAN'S DREAM OF AND FOR THE FLYING YANKEE

MAY IT BE FULFILLED

The FlyingYankee is in my dreams

and will always be there, so it seems,

such are the vagaries of life's schemes

especially when pursuing themes.

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I have ridden trains in several nations,

and many more in imagination.

What a wonderful creation

to take me to my destination.

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What a splendid historic project

Poem submitted and written by: to rebuild this famous object.

Ron Hann, New Zealand I hope that it will gain respect

and have the desired effect.

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To regain the first idea,

and to do it without fear

Ron is a Free Lance Travel of shedding the inevitable tear,

Photographer who has never seen, would could e'er be more sincere??

nor does expect he ever will, ***********************************

the Flying Yankee. However, as you Like so many of life's aims

can read from his poem, he dreams of and although we aren't to blame,

the day that the Flying Yankee once these objects must remain just names,

again plys the rails across the US. to we who view from our domains.

From This

To This

THE WEATHERPROOFING IS WELL UNDERWAY. WINDOWS ARE BEING REPAIRED AND REPLACED. DOORS ARE BEING MOUNTED. THE ROOF IS BEING RESEALED. THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO PERMANENTLY REMOVE THE "TENT" SOMETIME IN MAY WITH A CELEBRATION. A CELEBRATION TO BRING THE FLYING YANKEE OUT FROM "HIDING" AND BACK TO ITS GLORIOUS STREAMLINED VISABILITY.

The last article of this newsletter (as promised) you will find a write up of what has been done thus far and is still being done. You will also find some pictures of same. We plan to keep you updated with each newsletter with both pictures and the progress being made. For any questions and or information, please email us or phone the office.

email: flyingyankee@usa.net phone: 603-661-3317

CONTINUED RESTORATION & ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE FLYING YANKEE

The following is a proposed schedule of work concerning the continued restoration of the Flying Yankee based at the Hobo (Plymouth & Lincoln) Railroad, Lincoln, NH. Ben Clark (President of the P&L) is the Prime Contractor for the continued restoration of the Flying Yankee.

WEATHERPROOFING: Work was begun about the second week of October 2010 and is coming along nicely. The State of New Hampshire's Governor's Council approved financing from the Federal Transportation monies provided to the State of NH. Estimated time for completion is 15 weeks. Estimated cost is $61,400.00, providing any unforseen problems.

AIR BRAKE SYSTEM & INSTALLATION: Estimated start to finish time is 18 weeks. Estimated cost including design, installation, and testing is $66,000.00.

COUPLER SYSTEM: Estimated start to finish time is 21 weeks. Estimated cost including obtaining couplers, design, FRA approval, and installation is $82,500.00.

SIDE TRACK: Estimated start to finish time is 15 weeks. Estimated cost including material and installation is $155,000.00.

RIGGER: Estimated time needed is 2 weeks. Estimated cost is $20,000.00.

The majority of these projects can be carried out simultaneously with others (as long as the funds are available) possibly cutting the overall completion time by 2 months.

The over all estimated cost is $384,900.00. Federal Transportation money in the amount of $61,400.00 provided, through the State of NH Governor's Council will pay for the weatherproofing that is presently underway. The remaining balance of $323,300.00 is the amount of funding/donations the Flying Yankee Restoration Group, Inc. must raise in order to complete the balance of the above work.

My memories of the Flying Yankee are from the 1970's during its stay at Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA. As a child, I would go to play on the Flying Yankee for what seemed minutes to me and was probably an hour to my mom, who would bring a book or something to entertain herself.

I'm sure the Flying Yankee looked a gutted shell along, but I didn't notice this much until I got older. When I did notice, I thought I was noticing further decay rather than attributing this to my increased focus on reality. To my child self the Flying Yankee at Edaville was a dream come true, a real train to play on in a shaded woods on a summer day. I often fantasized that she would be placed in service at Edaville (and that Edaville would add standard gauge track to accommodate her).

I live on the west coast now, but I managed to bring my children to the resurrected Edaville a few years ago. I felt the absence of the Yankee, and am glad to hear it's in good hands. I hope my family and I will get to visit her next year while attending weddings in New Hampshire and Boston.

Submitted by: Harvey Bowen

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Thank you Mr. Bowen for your memories of the Flying Yankee. As you read further in this newsletter, you will see that the present work of weatherproofing is moving along nicely at the Hobo in Lincoln, NH under the direction of Ben Clark. The plan is to have this completed sometime in May 2011 at which time there will be a grand celebration as the "tent" comes down and the Flying Yankee is exposed once again in all its glory. Hopefully you and your family can be present for that event. Everyone will be kept informed as the project proceeds and a final date is announced.

electrical panel B car FY Mike Gooden FY B Car restored

New Electrical Panel- B Car B Car Interior Restored Bob Rolando & Mike Gooden

Installing & weatherproofing

Windows in A Car

AND THE WORK GOES ON - COMING CLOSER TO FRUITION

From under this inglorious cover, it wouldn't appear to most, including ourselves, that there has been much accomplished and that the restoration should be further along than it is. Over the past couple of years the trucks have been completed and are in storage at the Plymouth & Lincoln just waiting for their load. Of course all the seats have been recovered the same as the original and by hand. The Fall of 2008, with the help from Phil Bell donating heavy equipment and some of his crew and assistance and tremendous cooperation from NH Elec. Co-op, separate electrical power was supplied to the Flying Yankee. Having its own electrical power has allowed lighting and heating to be connected as well as the electrical panel pictured above. Funding from the Federal Transportation Authority to the State of New Hampshire gave the Governor's Council of NH the opportunity to provide the Flying Yankee Restoration Group, Inc. $61,400.00 to weatherproof the whole unit. Ben Clark, President of the Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad is the General Contractor and the weatherproofing is moving right along.

The weatherproofing was begun in early October 2010 with order windows that needed to be replaced, installing and weatherproofing all windows. Work on weatherproofing the roof is also well underway. All the doors have been found (we thought we might be missing one) and are being reinstalled as well. The restoration is moving right along and we are looking forward to the continued progress.

At the start of this newsletter we tried to give all of you a clearer picture of the work yet to be done, a schedule, and what it will take to complete this portion. Just imagine this back on the rails again, showing off what was done 75 years ago during The Depression and they are trying so desperately to redo again today. Look at some of the new models and see the similarities. Listen to the talk about "high speed" when the Flying Yankee could travel at 110MPH on the tracks available then. This amazing feat of engineering deserves the chance to "run the ramp" and show off like the grand unit it is. The Flying Yankee will be able to run any rail in the country for Education and Tourism.