The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) Road trip to AmTrakJoe's ....

Alrighty then ... Those of you on the text chain know what this is about.

But ...

Within the next 14 days, I will have to make a trip to AmtrakJoe's "Northern ODSS HQ" Compound for a retrieval mission. The object of the retrieval will return to Stovebolt Main HQ under its own power. A few have expressed a desire to go.

I think we may, while at Joe's yard, be able to participate in the reawakening of a sleeping beauty 71-series Detroit in a '60's vintage 359 Peterbilt ... But not sure on that.

This would count towards your annual ODSS membership/seniority points.

We can either all take the train up there, or pool in an ODSS support vehicle (which may limit participation).

Discussion?

I like the train idea. Just need a date unless its this weekend. Otherwise, I bid you adieu.

Probably next weekend. Still have home health care logistics to work out. And we'll still need someone to run us up to the BWI train station. Hambone took me last time ... but he's not exactly close any more ...

What about the great train station at Fredericksburg? I got plenty of parking.

If I had some cash to burn, I would love to by that old Pete!

Joe ... How hard to take train from Fredericksburg vs BWI? And what if Sweet got on a freddyburg ... would that be same train Mike and I would catch at BWI?

Just talked to the train man. He is in radio silence mode. Not by choice, but due to no WiFi nor phone service. Expecting him to get back Monday afternoon. We will talk then. Over an out!

I wonder if a 1-way rental car would be cheaper than three or four of us taking the train ...

Then we could take a tool box ... and start box ...

A quick check on Priceline.com......

One car (type unknown) from Leonardtown MD to Joe's place is about $100.

Final bit of Logistics coming together.... No need for rental car or train. Paul, our Wrenchfest host, will provide transportation via the Potomac Palooza Support Vehicle (the Toyota SUV, aka, the "Ricebolt.")

Tomorrow, we should find out from Philly crew about moving the ... "item" ... from Jersey City to Trenton. So:

Plan A: ODSS Assault Team (Amtrak Joe, 53 Green 1-ton and possibly DJ) retrieves the "item" and relocates it from Jersey City to Trenton (ODSS Northern HQ) one day this week. Then, Saturday, ODSS Retrieval Team leaves Stovebolt HQ at OhDark30 via the aforementioned support vehicle to head to Trenton to relocate the "item" to Stovebolt HQ. Retrieval team tentative roster: John, Paul, George (Sweet), and Ringo (Roache).

Plan B: Should the Assault Team not be able to relocate the item to Trenton this week, ODSS Retrieval Team will proceed directly to Jersey City for item extraction NLT Saturday (preferably before). Should Plan B be implemented prior to Saturday, it is understood that not all ODSSRT members may be available.

BIG thanks and kudos to the Assault Team for the very successful initial reconnaissance and target assessment.

Stand by for further word.

Wait,……… Paul still wants to be associated with us?

Recons were completed last night! Test run proved successful! ( Ok, had to take the kids to Newark airport) anyway it still is considered a test run! Pre-ops were approved and we will depart at xxxxxx ( time was edited to achieve stealth security ). Upon return to Northern ODSS camp, with our bounty, we will communicate on the outcome of our mission!
Jim

I sent Joe a copy of the Driver Daily Inspection ...

Take a good big truck tire gauge with you if you have one...

Good luck!!

I believe there is one a the shop. Let’s hope…..

Phase One is complete. I've had an initial report from the extraction team and all went well.

Evidence is in the picture.

James .... You are THE MAN!!! Of course, I still hate you for having driven the new Stovebolt Mobile HQ before I did, but I will most likely get over it.

Eventually ...

BIG thanks, of course, to the ODSS Northern Contingent (Joe and Jim) for making this happen today.

I don’t want to burst your bubble, but that’s not a Chebby!😁

However, it does look very useful! Have a safe trip!

WHAT????? Joe ......... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She’s a beaut Clark!

Very cool John & Company! I need a copy of that "Daily driver inspection". We Midwest Bolters are gonna give you a run for your money.. Picking up the new Midwest Bolters Field HQ in a week or so. The deal has been made but extraction logistics have to be worked out at the current parking spot so we don't scratch the paint coming out. Although after a good Hot Blast and scuff the Green has got to go..
~Mongo

Mongo, I like’e!

Jim, you ought to post a little on the rescue mission. FIND IT: It was great to hear about it. Some of the boyz would enjoy it. FIX IT: will be epic.

Mongo, totally cool! That'll be a fun project for the MBA. Dan needs something to do. LOL

Mongo -- Attached.

Give me a run for my money??? Well ... the ODSS Northern Contingent has already driven the Stovebolt Mobile HQ from Jersey City, NJ to Morristown, PA via turnpike and Interstate. This weekend, we hope to complete the journey to Southern Maryland. We have boo coo points on the board already ... but ...

You're on.

To win, you have to drive (on public roads, under its own power, fully legal -- insurance and registration) your bus to KC (or wherever the Stovebolt MWBA Sept meeting will be) in 2025.

If you do not, then I win *if* I drive our bus to Winchester, VA for Tri-State '25. With Charlie on a trailer behind it. And with Miss Peggy on board.

Notice that I am spotting you 14 months. That's because my bus is mechanically driveable now. I have a few hoops to jump through before I can register it as a "Multi-purpose Vehicle" in Maryland (RV). Could I just register it as a charter/school bus? Yes. But the registration, insurance, LLC stuff is expensive and a hassle. I *do* however have the proper license to drive a vehicle with a gross combined weight of 32,000 lbs. which I will still need, BTW, even if registered as an RV.

Bring it!

Looks like you have more of a project on your hands than I do. I'll spot you another 12 months. Make it to '26 and you win.

OH!!! And I just noticed .... I will grant you more bonus points for the VW turn signals!! EXCELLENT!!!

And if you haven't already, you should check out skoolie.net

Miss Peggy, “Dan” is already signed up for the recovery mission. Very much looking forward to helping Steve retrieve and participate in getting it road-worthy!

Arrived safe and sound at Stovebolt HQ. Greeted by Crosby with cold DB’s in hand.

Early start tomorrow!

Mission accomplished. Details soon!

Fast Times at Stovebolt High!
Looks like a solid rig for sure. I think you got a great deal on it. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
Congrats to the the rescue and recovery team for a successful mission.

That’s a long sucker!
I can just see the wheels turning in your head imagining all that you could do with it!
Nice find!

Victor, you just wouldn't believe. But you have the right idea with Doughboy. hint, hint

That looks great can't wait to hear the plans for it!

Plans for the Mobile HQ are multi-layered and phased.

Phase 1 is the "must haves" -- getting it configured to pass inspection to be a multipurpose vehicle (i.e., an RV) rather than a school bus. Primarily that includes removing all the flashy warning stuff that school busses have, repainting it anything other than National School Bus Yellow, and meeting at least 4 of the criteria such as a bed, onboard power supply, A/C and Heat, onboard fresh water, a sink, a galley, a head, etc. Plus other things to make it pass inspection, like securing the batteries, having good tires, fixing all the lights, replacing the windshield wiper blades, fixing floor rust issues, etc.

Phase 2 is making the "nice to have" mods -- additional seating, counters, storage, flooring, Class 5 trailer hitch.

Drove the bus to work today Hit a huge downpour on the way home -- Driver side wiper did great!!

BIG thanks to all who helped make this happen:

The Philly Crew:
AmtrakJoe
1953 Green 1-ton (Jim)
DJ

The SoMD/NoVA Crew:
Paul
Roache
Sweet
Pat Guy (logistical support and standby rescue mission)

You guys rock!!

Oh wow -- found out that the onboard camera system was functioning during the trip to So Maryland. It got the image below. That's me in the driver seat, of course. Mike Roache and Sweet behind me. I think Sweet is the one with the nose problem ...

Bwaaaaa!!!!

You’re too funny!

That's pretty awesome. I love the tie down tracks in the floor do the seats lock in there? Reconfiguring the lay out would be really handy. I've been thinking about putting AD Suburban seat hold downs in a couple places on my bus to allow me to have a couple passenger seats right behind the driver that could be moved around to some other spots.
Mongo

Only one seat was actually fastened to the tracks. The rest were bolted to the floor. Each had to be ground off with an angle grinder. Six bolts per seat, nine seats... Got all that finished yesterday.

The tie down tracks were for the wheelchair ratchet straps. The bus was configured for 4 wheelchairs. The wheelchair occupants then each had a shoulder seat belt that fastened to a similar track on the walls above the windows in each of the four spots. All those tracks have to come up, as does the floor ... eventually. The floor is linoleum over plywood over steel. The tracks are aluminum and show heavy galvanic corrosion from being bolted to the steel floor with steel bolts. So there's probably corrosion of the steel floor and wheel wells that I should deal with before I get too crazy with the interior build out. The tracks also make it somewhat unfriendly for wheel chairs, oddly enough -- they'll catch the front caster wheels on Peg's chair and make it hard/annoying for her to maneuver in there.

That has to be one of the largest two seaters……

Clean up. The neighbor gal (20) looked in the bus yesterday and said, "Bus? Little kids? Yuck!!" John went through a lot of rags (non-returnable, thank you. ), a lot of Mr. Clean-type magic stuff, and a heavy duty scrub brush with a lot of elbow grease. He'll probably have to do it a few more times.