FEBRUARY

February 27

Had a good crew yesterday with some hardcore bus folks. Lots of other activities kept some others away. On the property yesterday were Ben, Freddy, Bev, BT, Jim and his nephew Danny, Stephen, Meghan, Josh and a new volunteer Ben from the NRV. We got the Richmond 309(005) to White Tire for new rubber, picked up the Orion at Abbott Bus Lines thanks to John Thompson and after 6 engine stopping episodes, Shelburne got it to Cummins-Atlantic! It definitely needs some help! We were going to pick up the Richmond 418 (012) at Virginia Truck Center but they were closed. We need to get that to M&W Fire this soon if we can. Jim and Danny evaluated the Silversides engines and have determined that both engines turn ( are not frozen) Ben and Bev worked with them on looking over each coach and the best one may be the original one by the fence. There is major damage to the new one in the rear that would be very difficult to fix. We do have lots of interchangable parts and need to wait till warmer weather to do that kind of work. Josh worked on getting a plan for the next workday March 20th and we all hope for warmer weather. Thanks to all who could be there. We will take a look at Wednesday later as we have not been meeting  due to the cold and need to stay well. If the temperature is moderate we will plan to get together unless we have falling weather.

February 8

Had a great worknight last Wednesday. Mel Ayers, Mike Grega, Darren Moulder, Freddy Donaher, Lewis Armistead, Jim Hamlin, Ed Stinson, Kenny Brooks and Bev Fitzpatrick.  The group was raring to go and got a lot accomplished. Buses were started and run, we got the snow plow out  (had to move the Mack bus with the wrecker) got the plow on our pickup and we are ready for the weather!  Mel got more info on the computer, and Darren had the title signed to get tags for the Volvo. Mel has now gotten the tags so we will be able to use it soon. Drivers need to remember to drop trip sheets in Mel's Mail (BOX) after each trip now that Harry got it installed. Grega got the TMC RTS started but we likely need new batteries for that bus. Jim Hamlin is a great mechanic and we are really fortunate to have him as part of our group. Thanks Jim for all your skills. He almost moved the plow by himself. Between he and Darren, most anything can be done at the Buseum! A great night and we appreciate all the help!

JANUARY

January 31

Thanks to Kenny Brooks and Lewis Armistead for their faithful service this morning. They got to the barn at 7:30 am and neither the RTS or the BT would start. That meant they had to get the Grumman and the Gillig out to use for the Episcopal Diocese. All buses had windshields covered in ice, the Grumman never raised up in the front but they got the job done. These coaches really know how to go in snow and performed wonderfully. Bev did finally get the BT running but it took 30 minutes before the accelerator would work. Frozen air-lines possibly. It finally would run so Bev traded it to Lewis for the Grumman and bumped my way back to the barn. Thanks to both of them for incredible service.

We had good trips on Friday night with Joe Kennedy, Lewis Armistead and Bev Fitzpatrick carrying lots of folks and getting back to the barn just as the snow was starting to stick. Each year these have been good trips for us but the weather has sometimes been an issue on this particular weekend.

January 24

On hand were BT, Ben, Bev, Harry, Jim, Mike,  Josh, Freddy, Kenny, Mark and Karen.  Mike and Josh spent the morning in the shed continuing our clean up of that area. Kenny worked in the last parts room back filling shelves with parts, unpacking parts and organizing all the stuff Josh was bringing him. We unloaded the panels that Mike sent with the Service Truck and put them in place in that room as well.

Jim, Ben and Kenny also worked on the Richmond 309(005) and found that we had bad part keeping it from running. Jim is a great mechanic and found the problem, got  the old part off and perhaps we can get it back on Wednesday night .Jim also found a bad sending unit on the Blacksburg RTS(032 that kept the oil gauge from working. He showed it to Josh and guess what, Josh found it in our parts. He is getting us organized and we are so appreciative for all his and the BT teams help.

Ben and Mike worked on the BT(021) bus and it now has incredible heat thanks to those two guys. Harry was all over the place putting fluids in and getting buses ready for the Episcopal Diocese trips on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Josh bought lunch for everyone and we had a great time.

We agreed that we need to get John Garnand to go back to Bill at the body shop and see if we cannot get the Mack (006) in this spring for sandblasting and painting. And, we have ordered tires for the Richmond 309(005), the AB&W(011) and the Gillig(023). They will be here in about 2 weeks and we will have to get them down there in a series of moves.

BT, Josh and Bev went to the VMT and got the forklift cage back so we can now work on the roof in the shed to get it fixed. Thanks for everyone’s help yesterday and for continuing to assist us as we grow this museum into the best of its kind in the US. We have a great crew!