Author Topic: WW&F acquires historic locomotive  (Read 10722 times)

Bill Reidy

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WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« on: April 01, 2018, 07:02:16 AM »
WW&F Railway Museum Acquires Historic Locomotive
“It’s perfect for our Mountain Extension,” says CMO Jason Lamontagne



Like a proud new father, WW&F Railway Museum President David Buczkowski stands in front of “Peppersass.”  The museum has acquired the historic locomotive for its Mountain Extension.  WW&F Railway Museum photo.

   The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum announced today it has acquired the Mount Washington Cog Railway’s locomotive No. 1, Peppersass.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
   For the past year, the museum has been working out engineering requirements for its “Mountain Extension,” extending from Top of Mountain down to Route 218 near Head Tide village in Alna, Maine, a distance of about ¾ mile.  With the extension’s steep grade, museum engineers were concerned with the slippery conditions that might be encountered on the completed railway, particularly during the harsh Maine winters that typically extend from September through June.
   “Then Peppersass became available,” said Jason Lamontagne, the museum’s Chief Mechanical Officer, “and it became apparent that a cog railway is the solution.”
   “Peppersass is perfect for our Mountain Extension,” he added.
   The museum and its contractor, ROW MOW Manufacturing, Inc., are now working out plans to rebuild the historic locomotive.
   Mike Fox, President of ROW MOW, estimated his shop can have the locomotive regauged to two feet in about a day.  Renovation of the gearing will take another day.
   One point of contention for the locomotive’s rehabilitation has been the rack system.  As constructed, Peppersass was designed to use the Marsh system, developed by Mount Washington Cog Railway founder Sylvester Marsh in the 1860s.  Fox would like to see the rebuilt Peppersass converted to the more modern Abt system, developed by Swiss engineer Carl Roman Abt in the early 1880s.  Fox believes he can machine the 3,800 feet of Abt rack rail needed for the extension in about one day.
   “The more complicated Marsh (rack rail) would take at least twice as long,” he said.
   Lamontagne is not a fan of the Abt system, however, noting the historic roots of the Marsh’s system in nearby New Hampshire.
   “Old is good,” said Lamontagne.
   Now the museum is looking to fund a new boiler for the locomotive.
   When he first learned of fellow directors’ interest in the locomotive, museum Treasurer James Patten’s initial reaction was “Now what is this going to cost?”  After learning more about the project, Patten has become a fan of the effort, to the point he is now spearheading fundraising efforts.
   “Two years ago, our museum launched the ‘21 Campaign’ to fund new boilers for our existing steam locomotive #10 and planned locomotive #11 (‘10+11=21’),” he said.  The successful campaign has brought in nearly $95,000 in funds for the two locomotives.
   When restored to operation, Peppersass will be assigned the number 12, in keeping with the original railway and museum’s tradition.
   “So we have decided to rebrand the ’21 Campaign’ the ’33 Campaign©’ (‘10+11+12=33®’), Patten said.
   The WW&F Railway Museum will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding in 2019.  To celebrate the museum’s heritage of accomplishments by its can-do corps of volunteers, once number 12 is put into operation the directors plan to rename the locomotive “Fred.”
What–me worry?

Mark Spremulli

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2018, 09:14:36 AM »
 ;D and so it starts
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Stephen Hussar

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2018, 10:15:36 AM »
Wow -miracles DO happen!

Bill Baskerville

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2018, 11:22:21 AM »
Oh boy, oh boy, us gandy dancers get to learn new track laying skills putting down racks on the new mountain extension.

This begs the question of whether or not the racks are installed with spikes in the traditional American method or with bolts a’la the European method. 

One also wonders how the rack is aligned vertically. Is it aligned with opposing shims off the ties?

Perhaps this up offers a business opportunity for the shingle mill making rack alignment shims, not only for the WW&F, but for the Washington Mountain Cog Railway.

Of course we will have to have new track gauges for horizontal alignment of the rack. One must wonder if the track foreman needs to learn a new chant for rack alignment as opposed to rail alignment?

If the rack is not aligned properly and the locomotive skips a cog or three, who gets blamed for being off the rack? The engineer?  The fireman?  Surely not the track gandy dancers.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2018, 11:30:04 AM by Bill Baskerville »
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James Patten

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2018, 11:39:01 AM »
I must have a reputation.

Mike Arnold

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2018, 08:10:14 AM »
It would be more believable if it was one of the old Green Mountain engines!
Mike
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Carl G. Soderstrom

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2018, 10:51:09 PM »
Will it be confined to only The Mountain?
Or could it be use to bring stock from the Machine Shop?
It would be one way to get stock down & up that steep slope. 

Russ Nelson

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2020, 08:41:17 PM »

ALAIN DELASSUS

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #8 on: October 15, 2020, 12:15:43 AM »
.Just got up and gave my usual quick look at the forum and... something's the matter there. I must have slept too long last night or what ...Are we really on April fool's day already ?

Carl G. Soderstrom

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2020, 12:19:37 AM »
Russ

Shouldn't that be #12?

Don't change gauge just add 3rd rail and pocket, then use it as a pusher.  ;D

Rather than cogs use cable gripers like SF Cable Cars -- Mike should be able to do that in a couple of Hrs.

Time warp or "Twilight Zone" Alain
« Last Edit: October 15, 2020, 12:22:07 AM by Carl G. Soderstrom »

Bill Piche

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2020, 09:14:39 AM »
It's number 13. The volunteers that I've ever talked about locomotives agree that 12 is reserved for when we rebuild 6 sometime in the next 30 years.  ;D
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Bill Reidy

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2020, 02:04:42 PM »
It's number 13. The volunteers that I've ever talked about locomotives agree that 12 is reserved for when we rebuild 6 sometime in the next 30 years.  ;D

I thought 13 is reserved for the Beyer Garratt to be built after 12 (6).
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John McNamara

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2020, 02:49:00 PM »

I thought 13 is reserved for the Beyer Garratt to be built after 12 (6).

Built?  I suggested donating a Beyer Garratt, but Jason was very, very un-receptive. :'(

John Kokas

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Re: WW&F acquires historic locomotive
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2020, 03:22:45 PM »
No, #13 is for the South American 2-8-2 Mikado that has already been purchased and is awaiting the line completion from Wiscasset to Sheepscot and the section from 218 to the Head Tide Quarry.  25 Ton narrow gauge hoppers have already been sourced for unit train service.
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