Author Topic: September 2016 Work Planning  (Read 43165 times)

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #15 on: September 05, 2016, 04:53:32 PM »
Work done Monday, Sept. 5th -

Day #3 of convention week.

* Turntable - The track crew got the rest of the turntable lead lifted, lined and tamped including the common bay 4 switch.  After the track was final checked for cross level, a test run was made down to the pit by RC4.  Everything went well but the last 30' of track will remain blue flagged for now due to low overhead wires.

* 21 Campaign - Steve P. did much cleaning of #10 and setting up displays about the boiler project.  It looks great!

* Convention - More NNGC guests today.  Touring was made easier by Steve P. making signs for each project such as boxcar 67 and the turntable.  The dining hall in the Percival house cellar was set up for Friday's bus tour group to have lunch.

* R-O-W - The cutting crew, including Mike & Joe Fox and Leon Weeks cleared weeds/brush along the main at Albees field to prepare for Thursday's photographers special.  Mike ran rowmow along the mainline.

* TOM - One set of grade stakes was removed so only the 10 degree curved grade remained.  This makes  it easier to explain the TOM work to passengers.

* Schedule - Trains will run each day this week between 12 noon and 4 pm on an as needed basis.  This means that as soon as there is a group of passengers assembled, the train will leave.  Today's consist was freight and each run featured a photo run-by at AC.  Tuesday will be a mixed train, Weds will be a passenger run, Thursday's trains and special evening trip will have a different mixed consist. On Friday the convention bus tour comes through with a lunch stop, shop tour and steam train trip.

 Jason notes that we are open to requests and will try to meet them to our ability.
 
« Last Edit: September 05, 2016, 07:08:21 PM by Stewart "Start" Rhine »

Mike Fox

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #16 on: September 05, 2016, 06:23:24 PM »
Dave,
It was. Broke a bolt which was no big deal, but lost a bushing in the process, and I did not have as spare. So some Goldenrods were spared today. Bushings will be located and plenty of spares will be in the box under the seat.
Mike
Doing way too much to list...

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #17 on: September 06, 2016, 06:12:59 PM »
Work done Tuesday, Sept. 6th -

Day #4 of convention week.

* Turntable - A bit more tamping was done on the turntable lead so some rolling stock could be put there.  More wood preservative was applied to the main stringers.  Steve P. set a sign on the culvert railing explaining the turntable project.

* Convention - More NNGC visitors showed up including people from Australia and some model railroad dealers who wanted to see the WW&F before setting up their tables at the Civic Center tomorrow morning. 

* Boxcar #67 - Zack did more work on the side wall cap rails.

* Trains - Today was mixed train day and #9 pulled flatcar 126 with a load of stone followed by coach 8.  Photos will be posted soon.

* Yard - Some switching took place to set things up for the passenger train on Weds and the riveting machine demonstration on Thursday.

* Roundhouse - Track lines and building wall locations were measured off and grade stakes set to show where the structure will go. 

James Patten

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #18 on: September 06, 2016, 06:22:41 PM »
In addition, Vermont Wandering Steve has been putting together some large format posters for various things for the Convention.  And I've been packing up material for the convention, mainly for displays and the bus tour since John R took the merchandise earlier in the week.

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #19 on: September 06, 2016, 07:59:14 PM »
A footnote on train operations -

Starting at 12 noon each day, the steam train goes out when a group of passengers has been assembled.  The train runs to TOM and detrains passengers to photograph the locomotive run around move.  When the engine is on the south end, the train runs to AC and again detrains passengers to photograph a run-by.  The railcar follows the steam train only as far as AC and goes in the hole to be clear of the southbound train.  RC4 passengers join the photo line with steam train passengers to shoot the train as it works through on the main with the railcar on the siding.  Railcar passengers are treated to a photo stop at Humson Brook trestle on the way back to Sheepscot.   

This arrangement is subject to change but the AC train meet for section 1 & 2 works well.

James Patten

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #20 on: September 07, 2016, 05:43:38 AM »
Anticipated work for the remainder of the week:

More of the same!  Convention actually starts today at 6 PM, and runs through till Saturday noon.

* Afternoon train operations until Friday, normal operations on the weekend.
* Riveting demonstration on #9's old boiler and smokebox on Thursday afternoon.
* Evening photo session Thursday
* Turntable
* Boxcar 67
* Manning the table at the Convention

Note: there's no board meeting on Friday this week, we'll have it next week.

Paul Uhland

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #21 on: September 07, 2016, 12:06:22 PM »
Start...
Not trying to nitpick, but--SOP to block an OOS track is to plant a 'red board on a stick' between the rails.
I suggest a piece of 2'x2' plywood totally painted Chinese Red, screwed to a 5' length of  pointed 2x2 or a short metal fence post.  ;)

Blue flags/lights are used to prevent parked or disabled equipment from being moved by unauthorized personnel, officially can only be removed by whoever placed it.
It took awhile, but Friends of C&TS now blue flag their rolling stock rebuild projects.
 
Paul Uhland

Mike Fox

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #22 on: September 07, 2016, 12:41:48 PM »
Blue flag was on the cone, putting the cone out of service  ;D. Actually, we normally use red flags on a flag stand. Blue flags are used to put equipment and entire tracks out of service in the yard. Many standard broad gauges do this.

EDIT..

This is from a Trains magazine article

http://trn.trains.com/railroads/abcs-of-railroading/2006/05/blue-flags

Quote
What blue flags signal to workers

A blue flag or signal located between the rails signifies that no rolling stock may move past that point. In fact, no equipment may come within 150 feet of the flag or signal. In yards or service areas where speed is restricted to 10 mph, equipment may come within 50 feet of a blue flag.
« Last Edit: September 07, 2016, 12:47:22 PM by Mike Fox »
Mike
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Ira Schreiber

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #23 on: September 07, 2016, 01:14:32 PM »
This varies from railroad to railroad.
Blue flag = personnel possibly on or under. Stop short  X feet .
Red flag= Stop. In yard service it is absolute. On main line it may be a stop and proceed at restricted speed with permission.

Based on my memory, not fact.

Jason M Lamontagne

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #24 on: September 07, 2016, 02:23:30 PM »
What matters here is what our rules say.  The blue flag Stewart placed does indeed comply with our rulebook.

Jason

Ira Schreiber

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #25 on: September 07, 2016, 03:39:59 PM »
Home road rules ALWAYS supercede other roads rules.

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #26 on: September 07, 2016, 05:44:37 PM »
Work done Wednesday, Sept. 7th -

Day #5 of convention week.

* Turntable - Much progress today with assembling the bridge.  The second set of main stringers were bolted together and the truss rod plates installed.  Three of the cross timbers were set as well.  More stone was spread on the turntable lead but more is needed.

* Convention - Many visitors today, some arriving by shuttle bus.  Shop tours, yard tours, and train rides were popular.  One visitor from England was surprised to see that crews were working on projects during convention week.  We noted that with extra help at Sheepscot it was natural to work on things, especially the turntable.

* Gift shop - Sales were brisk as they have been all week thanks to convention visitors.

* Trains - nearly 100 people rode the train and railcar.  Passengers enjoyed getting photos of the locomotive run around move at TOM, especially the additional moves when RC4 came in and was turned on the siding.  The second meet was southbound at AC when the train stopped to detrain photographers and RC4 came up and took the siding.  RC4 stayed in the hole as #9 did a run-by.  The scene was well received by the guests.

James Patten

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #27 on: September 07, 2016, 07:59:01 PM »
Convention report: John R had already set up the table, so I showed up with some extra display stuff I had to figure out a place to put it all.  Then I had my clinic right off, with enough time to catch John before it started to give instructions about the bus tour on Friday.  The clinic went well, had about 30 or so people in it.  Afterward John looked a little bit overwhelmed.  Hopefully tomorrow will go smoothly.

James Patten

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #28 on: September 08, 2016, 02:10:00 PM »
Convention report: Sales at the table were a bit slow this morning, but a lot of people dropped in to ask about the shuttle bus and to praise us for the great job that we do.

FYI - The Museum bought 20 copies of the Railfan & Railroad magazine that covered all the Two Footers.  Get 'em before they're gone!

Stewart "Start" Rhine

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Re: September 2016 Work Planning
« Reply #29 on: September 08, 2016, 07:03:14 PM »
Work done Thursday, Sept. 8th -

Day #6 of convention week.

* Turntable - More cross timbers were placed on the main stringers and the truss rod caps were drilled.  More ballasting of the turntable track.

* Convention - Many many more visitors rode the trains and railcar, saw the riveting machine demonstration and rode the special evening trip that featured photo stops at TOM and then run-by scenes at AC with the railroad's Model AA truck driving on the Averill Road and then backing up the the boxcar to exchange express items. A one point there were probably over 300 people touring Sheepscot yard and looking through the shop.