September 2019 Track Construction

[Dana Deering]

Great work, everyone!  The weather is looking good for Saturday!  My plan is to have the entire east rail spiked and every fourth tie spiked to gauge so that when the crew arrives on the Friday of the FWW the west rail can be spiked while the gantry crew puts out the next cycle.  I don't anticipate any problems getting the 280 feet done.  See you tomorrow.

[Mike Fox]

Thank you Bill. I and others always appreciate your photo essay. Location 11 is just North of where I had the Kubota parked, which didn't make your photos. Location 10 is under the 52.

The next cycle (next Tuesday/Wednesday) will put the track beyond Location 11.

[Jeff Schumaker]

How many cycles do you plan to lay before FWW?

Jeff S.

[Fred Morse]

As far as I know 1 More. We can never tell about the weather on fall W.W.E.

[Ed Lecuyer]

A total of seven crane cycles will get us to within 200' of Route 218.

Cycles 1 & 2 are being laid (but not completely spiked) before FWW so to allow spiking to begin behind the rail train.

Cycles 3 & 4 are scheduled to be laid while cycles 1 & 2 will be spiked on Friday of FWW.

Cycles 5 & 6 are scheduled to be laid while cycles 3 & 4 will be spiked on Saturday of FWW. (This will bring the railhead over Trout Brook). A special run with #9 over the bridge (photo op, thanks, etc.) is planned.

Cycle 7 is scheduled to be laid while cycles 5 & 6 will be spiked on Sunday of FWW.

Cycle 7 will be spiked, and site cleaned up, etc. on Monday of FWW. A special run with #9 to the End of Track (photo op, thanks, etc.) is planned.


Of course this is just a plan. As Fred pointed out, if the weather doesn't cooperate fully, things could get shifted around a bit.

[Dana Deering]

So we will be working on cycle 1 tomorrow with cycle 2 put down next week?

[Ed Lecuyer]

That is correct.
Cycle 2 will not need any spiking prior to Friday of the FWW.

[Dana Deering]

Perfect!  Thanks.

[Bill Reidy]

Cycle 2 will not need any spiking prior to Friday of the FWW.

Are more insta-track units being prepared?  We used all available on cycle 1 Wednesday.  If cycle 2 is not safety spiked in advance, we'll either need new insta-track or will have to wait as used units are freed up by spiking on Friday of FWW.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Yes, we’re preparing new instatrack, for the express purpose of not needing to spike cycle 2 prior to work weekend.  These instatrack are of a different design so they may be used on the bridge.

See ya
Jason

[Bill Baskerville]

Now I am curious, is there a picture available of the new design?

[Jason M Lamontagne]

It’s just a pipe clamp with a spacer cut to the width between 60#rail bases at correct gauge.

See ya
Jason

[Bill Baskerville]

That makes sense.  It is designed to fit between the bridge timbers, which are also the ties.

[Paul Uhland]

I'm picturing  full-blast, Kansas transcon tracklaying, Maine version!

Guys, take it easy on Miss Kitty and Sam while  hoop-de-dooing at the Long Branch Saloon. 
Hate to see Marshall Dillon, Festus and Newly throw y'all in the Dodge City hoosegow!!   

Ya got track to lay!!! 

[John McNamara]

It’s just a pipe clamp with a spacer cut to the width between 60#rail bases at correct gauge.

See ya
Jason

Is there a provision to prevent rail roll?