flatlandsparky
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Finally aquired a set of Thunderbolt RCM'S!, plus info on the Gordon Nebraska siren changes.

Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:31 pm

Recently work has me traveling through northern Nebraska, and on a trip to Valentine, I pulled into Gordon to eat and noticed the 1003 behind City Hall was down. The same fate happened to the 1000(x)s to the north and west. On a free day I set out to find who was in charge of them, made quick contact, and inquired about purchasing the rcms. I was told the city wasnt sure what they'd do with the old sirens yet (the replacements werent in yet), but gave the guy my number and hoped for the best.

A few months later I pulled into Gordon again wondering if they had their replacements up yet, and to my surprise they installed ASC T-112s at each Thunderbolt site (see miscellaneous siren photos thread)(was betting they'd be 2001-130's!) I called the guy in charge the next day and inquired on the rcms again, we agreed to a cash price, and a few days later on the way back home I picked up my precious's!

I talked to the guy about the upgrades, and he said the phone company replaced the old phone lines with fiber optic, and the city opted to replace the sirens and convert to radio controls instead of getting the components to make the bolts function. He also hinted there were some issues, but I didnt bug him too much on the details. At some point I either need to hunt down or build an AF timer, my AR timer worked for the RCM1 though.

Enough yapping, heres my boxes.
Attachments
20230414_151708.jpg
My testing bench. I didnt take pictures while testing, someone would've had a coniption seeing my "temporary" wiring!
20230414_151708.jpg (2.54 MiB) Viewed 2458 times
20230414_151633.jpg
20230414_151633.jpg (3.04 MiB) Viewed 2458 times
20230414_151534.jpg
20230414_151534.jpg (2.93 MiB) Viewed 2458 times
20230414_134637.jpg
One of the control fuses was blown. Replaced it and energized and the flasher worked fine. Ice cube relays were for the phone line activation. Still need to trace out the wiring and rig up a load of some sort to it. Take note the top hole for the conduit was made with a torch!
20230414_134637.jpg (3.61 MiB) Viewed 2458 times
20230414_134644.jpg
Was set to chopper tap 3, rotator switch was in off positon when received(before pic was taken)
20230414_134644.jpg (3.38 MiB) Viewed 2458 times
Last edited by flatlandsparky on Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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traintraveler
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Re: Finally aquired a set of Thunderbolt RCM'S!, plus info on the Gordon Nebraska siren changes.

Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:58 pm

Very, very cool! Do you plan on buying one of the thunderbolts that was taken down as well?
High Hoods!
Lord knows I can't change
Lord, help me, I can't change
Lord, I can't change
Won't you fly high, free bird, yeah

flatlandsparky
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Location: Colorado

Re: Finally aquired a set of Thunderbolt RCM'S!, plus info on the Gordon Nebraska siren changes.

Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:05 pm

traintraveler wrote:
Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:58 pm
Very, very cool! Do you plan on buying one of the thunderbolts that was taken down as well?
No. I have no room for one. I do have access to 3-phase power but no practical way to move one back and forth!

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Glist
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Re: Finally aquired a set of Thunderbolt RCM'S!, plus info on the Gordon Nebraska siren changes.

Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:20 pm

So the Thunderbolt on the north side of town was removed?
Indiana-based Thunderbolt fanatic who finally heard his first Thunderbolt on October 2nd, 2018.
Owner of The Thunderbolt Siren Map since May 19th, 2021.
All of my siren recordings (Playlist) | Every siren I've documented (Map)

flatlandsparky
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Posts: 408
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 5:22 am
Location: Colorado

Re: Finally aquired a set of Thunderbolt RCM'S!, plus info on the Gordon Nebraska siren changes.

Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:38 am

Glist wrote:
Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:20 pm
So the Thunderbolt on the north side of town was removed?
Yes. All three Thunderbolts in Gordon are removed.

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Glist
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Real Name: Prent
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Location: Monroe County, IN

Re: Finally aquired a set of Thunderbolt RCM'S!, plus info on the Gordon Nebraska siren changes.

Fri Apr 21, 2023 12:24 am

flatlandsparky wrote:
Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:38 am
Glist wrote:
Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:20 pm
So the Thunderbolt on the north side of town was removed?
Yes. All three Thunderbolts in Gordon are removed.
Appreciate the clarity! I'll get to updating the Thunderbolt map.
Indiana-based Thunderbolt fanatic who finally heard his first Thunderbolt on October 2nd, 2018.
Owner of The Thunderbolt Siren Map since May 19th, 2021.
All of my siren recordings (Playlist) | Every siren I've documented (Map)

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