What’s New

Open Sundays, 12:30 to 2:30 pm
…. until the end of September … including Fall Fair Sep 14-15, then GhostTrain Oct 25-26 and Santa Train 6-7 December!

Continue reading “Ride the train and hand cars!”

As an interim step to a poured concrete surface, on September 10 we installed some pavers on the most heavily used area of the station

Continue reading “Paving stones for the station”

Some photos of the Shay are below, and a seven-minute video is here

Next: Some metal work at Dan’s shop in late September at 6:30 pm

Ad-hoc work party Thursday, Sep 12

Dan has been busy modifying the out-of-service bench eLoco with the new trucks and controller. Dave and Russ joined him at 10 am Thursday to bring it to the shed and test it. The photo-story is here

We drove the new Bench eLoco most of the way around the track. It works fine: Fast, great regenerative braking.

Dave blew the track of leaves in preparation for fall fair.

Continue reading “Railroad Work Parties”

Plastic ties became too expensive, so, we are back to wood ties for now. Bob cut and donated some 2x2s, and Dan cut up leftover log ends from the Anderson sled project into 2x2s. Then we re-sawed into ties. Dan and Scott cut 120 more a few days later. About 300 now stored in the old shed rafters. More to go – Dan needs his ATV Trailor back, and 2x2s for another few hundred are stored there.

Continue reading “Ghost Train 2023, Oct 28 and 29”

We’re glad the spring weather is here, and the Paradise Valley Railroad looks forward to resuming regular Sunday operations beginning May 7 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm beside the Farmers Market at 4365 McLeod Road.  

Come for a ride on the train or on hand cars! Prices are the same as last year, $2 per ride, except May 14 when Mothers ride free! 

Anyone considering joining the volunteer railroad crew is invited to an information session to be held at the train station at 2:15 pm Sunday, May 7.

What fun to have the Pipe Band on board!

Some other photos of the railroad during the Fall Fair 2022.

We updated our website that shows all our current rolling stock.

We are lucky to have our chief engineer Dan Parsons bring his various steam trains to the PVR. For Fall Fair 2022 he brought his 1/8 scale Shay steam train “ALBERNI PACIFIC #8”, seen in this 8-minute video.

PRFHS Projects
RAILROAD
Task	The Work	Status, next steps,
Top Priority	Organize the donkey skids, Electrical parts for the shed	Dan Dave
Operations – Events	Sundays 12:30 – 2:30, Apr 24 through Sep 25 Next work party: Tues April 26, 6:30 Fathers Day June 19 with Car Club; Fall Fair Sep 23-25 Ghost train Oct 29, 30; Santa train 2 weekends	On track for opening. Semi-handicap car, shed shelving, look at Controller Geoff leading June 19 event Market/car club supportive Fall Fair date decided Santa Dec 10, 11, 17, 18?
Top-priority Maintenance	Track: more test and level; adjust some switch springs Repair: Water wheel balance. Loco: Fix headlight wiring (erratic ground return), Tender: Install switch with led glow light to disconnect battery to avoid accidental discharge All car wheels: Inspect for status, repair or replace as needed (some can be smoothed on the lathe, some by machining/replacing the “Tire” Handicap car: consider larger wheels to improve stability Visible Numbers on the rolling stock	Loco oil was changed, drive puck ok, Dan replaced the Tender compressor switch RMI in Ventura CA has wheels frequent derails, particularly when not fully loaded House numbers on loco and cars
Donkey #1619 project	Build the sled, plan frame/sled integration, plan move, get siting approval, paint/restore as needed, arrange transport equipment, move/install it, make interpretive signs	Siting: FAI/PEPS have approved: site near track Sled: Dan contacting potential chainsaw crew (hoping either Russ Parsons or Julian Welp will lead
Shed; Electricity (lighting, wall plugs, eLoco charging) Wall shelves 3/4 ply;12” x 25’, white 12×16 L-brackets	From Juhli: FAI is bringing power to one plug in the shed. Our job: Ditch digging plus Interior shed work only.	Plan prepared. LED lights nearly $300; Flourescent half that. Which way? Shelving material on site
New semi-handicap car	Build frame and superstructure, install braking-trucks, extend the air-compressor lines, make Kiwanis recognition signs.	Next work: Tues April 26, 6:30
Backup Locomotive: Interim – going electric, so shed electricity a priority Final – our own electric loco	borrowing Dan’s ride-on powered ride-car. Using 4qd Pro-D160 Controller Need two new big batteries – Need two powered trucks, then – Build an 8’ powered flatcar that can eventually become a steam-outline Climax locomotive. – Will use 4qd controller and batteries from the interim; then need a soundcard; and build superstructure	Controller Arrived April 18 https://www.4qd.co.uk/product/pro-160/ Pair of Interstates approx $400 RMI: TRUCK-486, Equalized Truck, 12″ Wheel Base, 5.7″ sprocket Wheels, 1 Hydraulic Motor 2x$1700= $3,400
Add passenger car for when using two locos	Low priority – finish semi-handicap braking car and 2nd loco projects – would need to do Lean-to project
More Plastic Ties for track repairs and later expansion	Order and have shipped to Blaine pickup point and then get volunteer to pick up and deliver to PR.	Have quote $995US for 864 ties from Allen Models of Nevada and $620US from   www.edgelogisticsinc.com for shipping to Blaine. (pallet holds 9 @48 tie boxes per layer. Dan may buy part of order)
Solid surface in station to avoid gravel kicked onto rails. 30’ long’ 3’ between tracks, 12-18’ ouside tracks	Could be a pour, or patio stones, or patio pvc product Stones: 150 sq.ft. X $5/sqft = $750	Discussed Arpil 12 decided too big a project to do it right; will await to when ties need replacing
Add to Model environment, eg water tower	Any models welcome to enhance visual aspect of our ride.	Leif planning to continue water tower development to make it functional.
Narrow Lean-to on the north side of the old shed, for a loco and cars.	New shed becoming full, and need more room when we have more rolling stock. Would connect to the hand-car track near the station.	Only when needed
Gutters for the Station, funnel the water into Leif’s water tower	Do a Plan, procure gutters, install	Nead a Lead
Extended track	The “Gisborne loop” – from our oldest loop over to near Myrtle Road, through the trees, then back through the grove to our oldest loop.	Low priority
Garden railroad for hobbyists and public to enjoy	Full project from scratch; Develop a plan; get permission to use proposed site (grove NW of the Banks shed); procure track, prepare the ground	Need a Lead. Should buy some track now for the diplays in the Quanset at Santa train
TRAIL
Task	The Work	Status, next steps,
Repair Donkey Sign	Restore the 3rd panel to the Donkey info. Assess damage, weld as needed, replace lexan?, install	Broken sign is at Dan Parson’s shop. Assess/plan. Need access to the trail (Sewer project)
Replace rotten deck boards on the Donkey	Measure, plan, Get 3” lumber and fasteners, install
Repair a few interpretive signs.	Artifact signs only; leaving the nature ones for the city to take the lead	Have a list of the signs
Painting and sign repairs.	Choose an artifact and clean/paint it. Repair the worst of the artiifact signs	Need a lead for a painting project and Sign repair
DONE
Restore passenger car by Apr 24	Get bearings, re-assemble trucks, move to park	Done April 12; moved back to park

Christmas drive-by the lights Dec 11-12, 2020

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Continue reading “Events”