NOVEMBER

This is turning out to be another great month. Mel took on the broken RTS, not only getting a donation to fix the exhaust, but getting it back on along with a new power steering cable—enabled with the help of John Thompson. It is now running again. Mow we need to work on a power steering leak that Lewis has found in the steering box up front and on the wedge brakes on the right rear. Martin Hutchinson is working to help us get some of those parts and others from CTS in Charlottesville.

 We have been notified that we will be receiving a 1948 Mack Diesel from Hampton. It is in the colors of the old Community Rapid Transit and we hope it has all the seats in it. We are to be notified soon about coordination on getting it set to come to Roanoke.

 Work continues on the 102 with Russ as our main man. All wheels have been unfrozen, providing brake movement all the way around. Mel is checking on what’s required to get the seats sandblasted and fixed. Our immediate goal is to get the 102 running and operable—making it easier to get it in a garage and up on a lift. Then find out what we needs to be done underneath.

 We completed our first trip for the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau the week of the 8th. Joe and Bev worked a lunch-time crowd from the Baptist General Association of Virginia taking them from the Civic Center to Downtown during the convention meetings. We carried about 150 folks. We’ve had several requests for holiday trips and need both drivers and volunteers for loading and unloading.

Thanks to Charlie Mitchell of the Greater Richmond Transit Company, we have a new windshield for the Metro. The passenger side window on the front is getting some cloudiness needs to replacing soon. Richmond has been so great to us and we are most grateful.

OCTOBER

For October, it was events, events, and events. Two Saturday nights found us facing the unknown with the Franklin County Historical Society’s Ghosts and More event in Rocky Mount. The buses were packed and the ghosts were out in full force.

 There were also trips for the Art Museum of Western Virginia’s Board of Directors meeting at Va Tech, the Heart Association’s annual Heart walk (with board member Ed Stinson doing double duty-participating in the walk—and helping CC&T at the same time), and a trip for the Cartedge Foundation. And more events are scheduled for November.

 Special thanks to the drivers: Kenny, Joe, Bev, and BT Fitzpatrick. And to everyone who worked so hard to keep the buses running including: Wayne, BT, Lewis, and Russ.

 The RTS suffered an exhaust failure at Explore during one of the events. We got the RTS back home, but it has a broken exhaust line right at the manifold. We have a leaking hydraulic line (power steering) that was damaged by the exhaust that must be replaced. Hopefully we can get this fixed soon.

 Russ has the 102 running, and sounding great. We are coming along on that bus and hope to get tags for it soon so it will be more mobile for future work.

 October’s last workday was fantastic. Mark, BT, Russ, Freddy and Lewis did some great work. The grounds look better than ever. We’ve cleaned the shed emptied by the folks that were renting that space.

We hope you were able to come out to see the Pumpkin, and help a good cause. Saturday, October 23rd was the 2nd Annual Car and Truck show at Tanglewood Mall. All proceeds went to Slam Dunkan's Children's Charities. We had fun. We hope you did too.