Messages

1

Volunteers / Re: May 2018 Work Planning

« on: May 23, 2018, 07:00:21 PM »

Our schedule for grade and bridge prep will be tight and intense from this point on.  There’ll come a time this summer when we will be calling on extra help, both weekday and Saturdays.

But the results will be most rewarding!

See ya
Jason

2

Work and Events / Re: Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

« on: May 17, 2018, 01:38:37 PM »

The interior sheathing is attached with screws for easy removal, for inspection purposes.

See ya
Jason

3

Volunteers / Re: May 2018 Work Planning

« on: May 05, 2018, 11:25:20 PM »

Wait- if a tie rots 2 miles up the railroad, but no one is there to witness it, did it really....

Maybe it is the messenger’s fault afterall!

4

Volunteers / Re: May 2018 Work Planning

« on: May 03, 2018, 12:45:44 AM »

The compressor and pony motor are working great.  Jay's amenities are pleasant (though I opted out of using the canopy today).  Beyond that we've nothing nice to say about Big Joe right now.  It's heading in the shop to have its tamping and drive mechanisms overhauled.  Failed squeeze function, hose and gasket leaks everywhere, and a variable gauge drive axle due to a missing pin on the re-gauging sleeve.  Right now the new compressor can hold the working pressure at 80 psi; that should be 100 or a little better.  The pressure measurement is a good way to judge the amount of leaks.  That plus noticing all the leaks. 

see ya
Jason

5

Volunteers / Re: May 2018 Work Planning

« on: May 02, 2018, 11:42:29 PM »

Week of May 7-10:  the bridge contractor Tim would like a 4 day work party, Monday to Thursday, in order to brace and sheathe the bridge.  With sheathing, bridge assembly will be essentially complete.

Tim has requested 3 crew members (one Fred) on each day.  Our normal Tuesday Wednesday crew can cover those days.  So- here’s a call for Monday and Thursday!  Can we get commitment from two people for each of these days?

Thank you!
Jason

6

Volunteers / Re: May 2018 Work Planning

« on: May 02, 2018, 11:37:59 PM »

Today we finished the “Eastman Lift,” raising the remaining 180 track feet from where tamping ended just north of the old Davis rail pile, up to the high point.  At its greatest the lift was about 4”.  That high lift area needs dressing.

One more major lift is required on Davis grade- which involves about 200’ of track in the cut, to further ease the height difference onto the new track, and to get these older ties out of the muck.  I believe this needs to wait till the week after next (see next post).

The track off the north end of the new track was already similarly eased on the Sunday of work weekend.

Aside from the last lift, ballast dressing is the major requirement on Davis grade now.

See ya
Jason

7

Work and Events / Re: Spring 2018 Work Weekend

« on: April 25, 2018, 11:48:08 PM »

Tomorrow we are surveying Mountain Ext curves w Rick.  All remaining Davis grade work will be on the weekend.  The major jump start today was intended to allow track laying to consume less of Friday. In turn, this will allow a bonus somewhere- such as removing old ties from ditches, clearing Mike’s path to re-ditch Saturday morning un-encumbered.  The head start may also allow a more though tie changing program further south on Davis grade.  If all else fails, the head start today protects against unexpected delays during the weekend.  In short- we will never run out of work; we’ll do our best to use crew efficiently.

See ya
Jason

8

Volunteers / 2018 Rules Review

« on: April 23, 2018, 07:04:01 PM »

Operating Crew:

This year's principal rules review session will be during dinner on Saturday, April 28, 2018. 

We will hold a secondary session, depending upon attendance at this session.

Following this, individual reviews will need to be held.

Note: attendance at one of these options is required for all operating crew.

Thanks,
Jason

9

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 23, 2018, 07:01:56 PM »

Week of April 23, 2018.  It will be a full one.

Bridge.  Install ice and water shield.  Install cross diagaonals (with Tim).  Host a videographer on Wednesday for a documentary. 

Mountain survey.  Rick will lay out a proposed series of curves through the Pinch Point on the Mountain. 

Prepare rail and joint bars for relaying on Davis grade (Joe, Tuesday).

Dig in a small french drain on rebuild area.

Pre-drill ties if time (Tuesday).

Lay out ties (Wednesday).

Prep tooling for tie changing (possibly digger, or tie removal "ladders").

Friday will be track laying day.

10

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 19, 2018, 12:11:14 AM »

35 lb rail vs 60 lb rail.  Guys who enjoyed destroying railroads vs guys who don’t.  I vote we cheat and allow more helpers than they used back in the day

11

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 18, 2018, 05:05:55 PM »

Crew call for Saturday!

We need period-dressed able-bodied track workers for the rail removal!  While we are "performing" this for the photographers, we also must have all 310 feet removed by the end of the day, ties included, so that Mike can do his machine work on Sunday. 

Most spikes were pulled yesterday.  We left enough to hold it together for a few more trains.

Saturday's track work will begin at 3PM, and continue until finished- which I expect will be 5PM or so.

Please let us know if you can make it.

Thanks,
Jason

12

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 16, 2018, 11:16:03 PM »

Week of April 16, 2018.

The bridge assembly contractor is scheduled to be onsite Tuesday and likely Wednesday.  He may need some help; aside from directly helping him,?we need to cover the floor beams with Ice & Water Shield, and treat the barn boards with flame retardant on the near term.

Tuesday afternoon we will do another scouting survey for track alignment on Location 3.  Next week Rick will be up to take a first pass at laying out a complex reverse curve there, based upon our scout surveys.

Also Tuesday, Joe will be in to prep for track removal this weekend. 

Wednesday we will run a one trip steam charter for a new consortium of local historical societies.

Wednesday we’ll also prep the interior of the shop, and Sheepscot Station, for Stephen Hussar's evening photo sessions coming up this Saturday.

See ya
Jason

13

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 12, 2018, 02:26:49 AM »

Both of you are correct.  Our work today began at the comp joint, which was significantly stiffened during a repair a few years ago, without any further work on the comp joint itself today.  From there, the next rail was cut and leap frogged up 5 lengths.  We’re going to keep a  10 MPH speed restriction through there at least for now, maybe permanently.

See ya
Jason

14

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 12, 2018, 12:32:16 AM »

Depends what you’re into, Bill...

15

Volunteers / Re: April 2018 work planning

« on: April 07, 2018, 07:24:33 PM »

Crew call:  track repair Wednesday April 11, 2018.

We need to make a repair to the north end of Cock Eye Curve.  This work was going to wait till late in or after SWW but an inspection today moved it up the priority list.

A crew of 6-8 would allow the repair to be made properly in the course of 5-6 hours. 

If you can join us, please let us know. 

Also, if you have access to a heavy duty chain come along, it’d be very helpful.

Joe will follow up...

Thanks
Jason