Steam Railroading Institute looking for volunteers

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The Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) in Owosso is looking for volunteers to help prepare for this year’s North Pole Express (NPE) season, and in helping to maintain our 1225 Berkshire locomotive, currently under repair. There are plenty of projects to work on with the Backshop crew. We do ask that you be a member (for insurance purposes), with yearly memberships starting at $45 ($20 for students 18 and up). Per our Executive Director, if you do not have a membership, you may volunteer once or twice to “try it out” and then become a member if you’d like to continue.

A list of some of the projects we have been or are currently working on include:
• Cleaning, stocking, and decorating the Passenger Cars
• Washing windows of the Passenger Cars
• Repairing & winterizing water lines
• Body metal repair on #5447 (the Brown Car)
• Wood flooring repairs, painting, and insulation in #5447
• Installed new table tops in #5485 (Big Moose)
• Weeding and cleaning of Turntable pit
• Wire-wheeling 1225’s trailing truck assembly, in preparation for painting
• And many other projects as well

There is always something to do! A typical Saturday (or any day Tuesday through Saturday) for a volunteer could start around 9:30 and end around 5 pm. Bring a lunch - the Bunk car has a refrigerator, microwave, and Keurig coffee maker. And Owosso has all the usual fast food restaurants as well.

If you are interested in any of the above activities, reach out to Aaron Farmer, the Mechanical Manager. Email him at aaronf@michigansteamtrain.com or call (989) 720 – 3951.

Memberships are available at the SRI website: https://michigansteamtrain.charityproud ... hip/Signup

[SW]

Bumped, with a few minor edits.