Things started Thursday, Oct. 6th when Gordon and Jonathan steamed up #10 and other volunteers prepared the museum for a private charter. Preparations included cleaning the shop extension and setting up a tent out front for a dining area. Part of bay 3 was used for food service. The charter was for the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce and about 50 visitors came to Sheepscot for an evening train excursion, museum tour and catered food. The business and community leaders were toured through the museum by President Steve Zuppa, Fred Morse and other members. The guests complimented us on our hospitality and said they had a wonderful evening, many said they would be back.
Thursday's event prep got things off the ground for Friday's work because #10 was already hot, the tent was ready for hungry volunteers and bay 3 was cleared to become a car part construction area for the dairy car. As Mike said, all the track was laid friday and ballasted on Saturday. Dana will report on the work. Other projects included completing the shingle work on the house where the dog house was added and stripping bad clap boards from the south end of Sheepscot station. Another crew spent most of the weekend building new car components for the dairy car in bay 3. Engine 10 has a new whistle thanks to the craftsmanship of Bernie Perch. The locomotive now marches through grade crossings with authority.
Friday evening a special freight was run to AC for a night photo shoot by Stephen Hussar. The 3 hour shoot produced some beautiful photographs that showcase the museum's equipment and how the members re-create narrow gauge history. Stephens photographs will be used in WW&F publications and other media to promote the museum.
A special award ceremony was held Saturday evening during supper. This year marks the 15th Fall Work Weekend and the museum gave award pins to members who were at the first Fall Work Weekend in 1997. Honorees in attendance were: Zack Wyllie, Fred Morse, Dana Deering, Stewart Rhine, James Patten and Marcel Levesque. Each member spoke of his memories from that time in the museum's growth. Jason Lamontagne, John McNamara and John Bradbury were not present but later received the special locomotive #9 pins designed by Cindy Rhine.
Sunday saw much work on #9's frame by Rick Sisson, Bernie Perch and Wayne Laepple. The track crew got right to work jacking and tamping the 500' of track at EoT. Big Joe operated well afer Mike Fox spent a good part of Saturday making repairs to the lift mechanism. The track center has been tamped all the way to EoT and the outside will be done Monday. The new track looks great!
Stewart
