Update: 10/12/08
Greg Vaughn Photo
Greg Vaughn Photo
Greg Vaughn Photo
Photographed by Greg Vaughn, October 11, 2008.
After a long restoration by the UDRRHS, NYO&W Bobber 8206 was given its first trip by a locomotive in many years for rechristening in Arkville, NY by the DURR.
Special Thanks to Ernie Hunt.
Update: 12/1/07
John LaBarre & crew of the U&DRRHS lowered 8206 back on to the track on 11/28/07 at Arkville, NY.
The following is a report from U&DRHS Chapter President, Doug Kadow:
"Please join me in congratulating John LaBarre and his team for their completion of the bobber railing project on Wednesday, 11/28/07 at Arkville – John and his `on site team of the day' (Joe Marsh, Doug Cronk and I ), with some help from the D&U track crew lowered 8206 onto her axles and hand rolled her a few feet – the whole operation went smoothly, prompting me to realize what an incredible job John had done with the underfame, and Steve Lebowitz had done with the overall carpentry. All the sags we saw in the underframe when on her cribbing straightened out once she sat properly on her wheels and the following day, the D&U track crew hand rolled her approximately 150' without much effort through a reverse curve and coupled her to D&U Alco S-4 diesel 5106, where her knuckle locked into 5106's with less than a 2" vertical difference (the caboose is higher, in part because she has yet to be fully outfitted with at least 1000 pounds of gear, including steps, stove, and other hardware)" It is hoped that the 8206 will run at least as far as Halcottsville sometime in spring 2008. Burr HubbellYou can visit the U&DRHS at: http://udrrhs.org/
This project is being sponsored by the
Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society.
At Arkville, the U&DRHS is currently restoring a wooden 4-wheel "bobber" caboose, originally NYO&W 8206, built in O&W's Middletown shops in 1906, and later sold to Unadilla Valley as their No. 51. As of fall, 1997, the exterior superstructure was substantially complete, and restoration of the interior, and of the underframe, springing, and other ironwork - most of which we have - is underway. Much of the work has been financed through a grant from the O&W Historical Society, and a matching grant from the Catskill Revitalization Corp., operators of the Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride; but substantial additional funds are required, and your tax-deductible donation to the "U&DRRHS -Bobber Fund", will be gratefully received. 10/09/06
The K brake assembly is now at Pittsburgh Air Brake, who expect to have it completely restored and operable within a month or so. Full photos and specs of wheels, axles, journals, etc are on the way to Lynn Moedinger at Strasburgh, for estimate of what can be saved, what can be restored, and what must be replaced. We're somewhat limited in how we go about this, because there is NO WAY we will let anything happen to those beautiful pedestals with "NYO&W" cast right into the face ( photo ), so any axle or journal restoration has to fit the existing dimensions.Steve Delibert
U&DRRHSHere are the two photos as of 10/16/97 of the 8206, nicely finished & closed in, cupola on, and painted in a nice ugly pinky-purple-primer (not chosen by the Prez!) to get it throughout he winter. The U&DRHS have discovered a nice little discrepancy in the Official Records regarding this car. Bill Young, the shortline expert, who knows allot about the Unadilla Valley, says that the ICC valuation records show O&W 8192 becoming UV 51, and O&W 8206 becoming UV 50, but as you have seen from our photos, our car is clearly UV 51, while many of the parts (including structural stuff like floor joists and frame members) had the number "8206" stamped into them. Steve Delibert , President -U&DRHS
If you would like more info. or would like to join the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society click here.
