1
Volunteers / Re: September 2017 work planning
« on: September 23, 2017, 10:58:10 PM »
Congrats to Mike on the culvert work.
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
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2
Volunteers / Re: September 2017 work planning
« on: September 23, 2017, 01:42:57 PM »
I knew you couldn't stay away from the ties, Fred. 
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
3
Museum Discussion / Re: Improved Efficiencies & Mechanization for Track Building?
« on: September 23, 2017, 01:35:59 PM »There are those who try to control situations they are convinced would become better run and easier if, in their limited view, more efficient, quicker ways to work are followed, paying no attention to, in this case, more historically appropriate labor enthusiastically accepted and enjoyed by unpaid volunteers doing the work at a WW&F-acceptable pace who draw strong satisfaction from it as their compensation.
The last thing I'd do is try to "improve" operations of a successful organization from afar by critical advice aimed at its methods, especially when I have never shared their actual work and cared not about WW&F's work history/methods.
Well said, Paul.
Jeff S.
4
Work and Events / Re: 2017 Fall Work Weekend Projects
« on: September 22, 2017, 06:36:16 PM »Nancy Weeks will be serving breakfasts Saturday through Monday. So there's no excuse to not get to the railroad at the crack of dawn!
That's motivation for people to get there early.
Any new projects on the schedule?
Jeff S.
5
General Discussion / Interesting 1890's newpaper observation
« on: September 22, 2017, 06:33:01 PM »
I have been researching the Lewiston Evening Journal online, looking for articles related to the Maine 2-footers. Occasionally, an unrelated article will catch my eye. Today I came across the following observation in the June 22nd, 1891 edition, that gave me a good chuckle.
"The captain of the steam dredge, Ajax, now digging out the river channel near Bath, says a square yard of mud weighs about a ton. That is the real Kennebec article. Political campaigners use a lighter variety."
Jeff S.
"The captain of the steam dredge, Ajax, now digging out the river channel near Bath, says a square yard of mud weighs about a ton. That is the real Kennebec article. Political campaigners use a lighter variety."
Jeff S.
6
Work and Events / Re: 2017 Fall Work Weekend Projects
« on: September 22, 2017, 06:23:28 PM »
Any updates to the FWW schedule?
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
7
Work and Events / Re: Moonlight Extra Train celebrating the Apple Harvest, September 30, 6pm
« on: September 22, 2017, 06:18:52 PM »
A tip of the hat to Steve and his fantastic idea.
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
8
Museum Discussion / Re: Improved Efficiencies & Mechanization for Track Building?
« on: September 22, 2017, 06:16:48 PM »
Alex,
I take it that you've never been up for a fall or spring work weekend. Although shoveling ballast may seem like tedious work, and can be at times, the sense of accomplishment once a section of track has been ballasted, lifted, and aligned completely by manual labor more than compensates for it. You also get an appreciation for the way things were done when the original railroad was built.
Jeff S.
I take it that you've never been up for a fall or spring work weekend. Although shoveling ballast may seem like tedious work, and can be at times, the sense of accomplishment once a section of track has been ballasted, lifted, and aligned completely by manual labor more than compensates for it. You also get an appreciation for the way things were done when the original railroad was built.
Jeff S.
9
Maine Narrow Gauge Museum / Re: B&SR 7
« on: September 20, 2017, 05:59:22 PM »
I second what Mike said.
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
10
Original Railway / Bob cars
« on: September 19, 2017, 04:59:52 PM »
While reading Guy Rtoux's The Next Stop Is Rangeley, I came across the following information.
By July, A.L. Matthews was back on the W.W.F.
"Alexander Matthews of Phillips who has been appointed Superintendent of construction on the Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington R.R. has lately been in Farmington transferring some rolling stock from the narrow gauge systems to this county for building the line between Wiscasset or Weeks Mills and Waterville."
Some of the cars used by the W.W.F. were described in the following article:
"A. L. Matthews has leased from the Phillips & Rangeley Railroad a number of bob cars and shipped them to Wiscasset, Tuesday. They will be used on the new road."
The "bob cars" referred to, I believe, are the disconnect log bunk cars of the P&R, as there is a nice photo of several of them in the book. Unfortunately, due to Mr. Rioux's erratic documentation, the date of the above articles is not mentioned, nor is the source (newspaper?) that they came from.
Has anyone come across information or photos to back up the above statements?
Jeff S.
By July, A.L. Matthews was back on the W.W.F.
"Alexander Matthews of Phillips who has been appointed Superintendent of construction on the Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington R.R. has lately been in Farmington transferring some rolling stock from the narrow gauge systems to this county for building the line between Wiscasset or Weeks Mills and Waterville."
Some of the cars used by the W.W.F. were described in the following article:
"A. L. Matthews has leased from the Phillips & Rangeley Railroad a number of bob cars and shipped them to Wiscasset, Tuesday. They will be used on the new road."
The "bob cars" referred to, I believe, are the disconnect log bunk cars of the P&R, as there is a nice photo of several of them in the book. Unfortunately, due to Mr. Rioux's erratic documentation, the date of the above articles is not mentioned, nor is the source (newspaper?) that they came from.
Has anyone come across information or photos to back up the above statements?
Jeff S.
11
Original Railway / Re: Franklin County Connection - The Surveyed Route
« on: September 19, 2017, 04:05:04 PM »
Fantastic, Paul!
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
12
Museum Discussion / Re: We Want a Feline
« on: September 18, 2017, 03:05:27 PM »
Actually, Paul, that's Boris Badenov.
Jeff S.
Jeff S.
13
Work and Events / Re: Down the Mountain to Trout Brook - Official Work Thread
« on: September 17, 2017, 01:45:28 PM »I decided to re-set the culvert at location 2. I was in too big of a hurry last week. The culvert is in properly, under the direct supervision of Fred.
Maybe we should send Fred with you on every trip up north. It would keep him off the concrete.
Wouldn't that slow Mike down?
14
Museum Discussion / Re: We Want a Feline
« on: September 17, 2017, 01:28:28 PM »Moose and squirrel!
There are already squirrels on the property.
Jeff S.
15
Volunteers / Re: September 2017 work planning
« on: September 17, 2017, 01:24:48 PM »
Congrats to Jonathon and Alan.
Jeff S.
Jeff S.