Equipment

Our Roster When the Twin Forks chapter was formed in 1996 its charter members created a mission statement that included obtaining railway equipment to preserve and restore. We got our wish in the year 2000 when we obtained ex-Long Island Rail Road N-5 cabin car #1. #1 is currently stored in Hicksville awaiting restoration. A year later we obtained ex-LIRR Jordan Spreader W-93. On May 4th 2003, the chapter trippled its equipment total by acquiring former LIRR hacks C-60, C-63 and C-64 and former MTA maintenance of way flat #110. See photos below. These pieces are a fine addition to our collection. The hacks are in excellent shape structurally but they do need cosmetic work which we have been slowly working on. In addition to the equipment that came out we also obtained a pair of Alco locomotive trucks which are placed atop the flatcar. All of our equipment with the exception of Caboose #1 is located in Riverhead across from the Riverhead railroad station. The full consist of new equipment arrives on May 4th

ex-LIRR Jordan Sreader W-93 Jordan Spreader W-93 is a donation from the Long Island Rail Road. The spreader was built in October 1948 by the O.F. Jordan Company in East Chicago Indiana. She spent her entire long and illustrious career on the LIRR working in her prime element as a ballast spreader, grading the right of way and also being pressed into snowplow duties on more than a few occasions. Although she is in excellent shape and is still a fully functional piece of equipment that needs little work, she still requires work on her finish, headlight, and a few other cosmetic items. Restoration of W93 will begin in 2007. ex-LIRR Caboose #1 Caboose #1 was obtained in 2000 and needs a great deal of work as she sat derelict on the LIRR for a number of years before being obtained by Twin Forks. Currently stored in Hicksville, it is unlikely that she will ever ride the rails again. Our hope is to at least restore her interior and exterior cosmetically, so future generations can see what she looked like when she proudly rode the rails for the LIRR! Along with Caboose #1, Twin forks also owns 3 other cabooses, C-60, C-63 and C-64. "Caboose Row" in Riverhead. C-60 Caboose C-60 was built in 1961 by the International Railway Car Company. C-60 is interesting as it is a "flatside" meaning it has no cupola or bay window. C-60 is in very good shape and has been the focus of Caboose Day. In 2005 the interior was professionally sandblasted by No-Chem Stripping. 2006 featured major strides on C-60, as the interior is almost fully finished in as deleivered appearence. Exterior wise C-60 is progressing. C-60 is expected to be fully completed in spring of 2008. For more info about working on C60 please see the work sessions page. C-63 & C-64 Cabooses C-63 and C-64 are N22 class Bay Window type Cabooses. Bolth C-63 and C-64 were built in 1963. Currently, C-64 is used as our tool car, and C-64 is stored for future restoration. Photo by Paul Strubeck C63 in Riverhead. Photo by Rich Gorddard MTA 110 MTA 110 is an original Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway flatcar. This car was built in 1923 and was modified many times over its life, even being lengthened. We recieved this car along with its load of Alco trucks in May 2003. In 2006 members primed her for a future repaint back into ATSF colors. Willys Jeep Hi-Rail Truck In 2003, The Twin Forks Chapter acquired an interesting piece of equipment. We took possession of a Willies Jeep. What is so special about this Willies? Well to begin with, it was a specially truck designed by Fairmont Rail Motors of Fairmont, Minnesota, for special Railway applications. Originally, this truck was built for the United States Navy, and used as a Hi-Rail truck for Railway Maintenance on the tracks at the Naval Base in San Diego, California. The Hi-Rail truck, (so named because it could run on tracks or the highway), upon retirement, was purchased by Anhesier-Busch and used at Busch Gardens in Willamsburg, VA. At Busch Gardens, it was used to move the Monorail cars in and out of the shop area at the Willamsburg location. The truck went through many modifications over the years. For example, out riggers were added so that shop personnel could ride on the outside of the Willies while moving the Monorail cars around. The axles, both front and rear, were extended for use with the Monorails. The Hi-Rail gear, which would allow the truck to ride on top of the rails was also removed some time before we received the truck as a donation. After Busch Gardens retired the truck, an employee at Busch Gardens acquired the tuck for his own collection. Mr. Michael Patrick of Hampton, VA contacted the chapter and offered it to us as a donation. The Chapter agreed to accept the truck, with both parties acknowledging that we will do our best to give her a good home. To date, The Railroad Museum of Long Island, has been gracious enough to allow the chapter to store the Hi-Rail on the Museum grounds at their Riverhead Location. Please see our projects page for more information on how you can lend a hand on restoring this very rare piece of equipment. Left: The builders Plate of the Hi-Rail. Right: The Hi-Rail before leaving Virginia. Photos by Rich Gorddard © 2002-2008 Twin Forks Chapter National Railway Historical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.