December 2010 Work Planning

[John Kokas]

Is it possible to get some pics of the work going on up at Rt. 218?  Haven't seen any in a long time and it would be great to see the progress being made.

[James Patten]

I went for a tour of the area past Rt 218 last weekend and brought my camera, but my batteries were dead (which I discovered when I went to turn it on). 

Work done on Dec 11:

* Zack worked vigilantly at Alna Center, installing the stove piping.
* Gordon brought the Model T distributor(?) that was replaced, and installed it.  At the end of the day a trip was run to the end of the line (a little chilly) and back.  Ran very well.
* Fred, Steve Z, and others took chain saws and worked on clearing downed trees on the side of the ROW.
* Cars were switched around, preparing for the final winter storage scheme after next weekend.
* Jason and others piped up the Sunbeam generator to the locomotive.
* The snowplow was put on 52.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Dec 18:

* Victorian Christmas!  Trains! Santa! Sleighs (maybe)! Everyone have fun!

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

I'll be there,...

...and so will my WOOL SOCKS!

[James Patten]

Work on Dec 18:

* Victorian Christmas. Was. Packed.  First train of two coaches went out full, a little before 10.  The train came back and the platform was full, with people out into the street.  When the train emptied the crew got the caboose and open car, and hauled a four car train the rest of the day.  And each train (at least until I left at 2) was packed, with people still out in the street.  Cars were parked up and down Cross road and out on Rt 218 as well.  We had over 900 people ride - a one day record.  The train was essentially going out as fast as it could turn around.

There was a lot less snow than I thought was going to be there, essentially no snow at all.  That didn't seem to dampen spirits.  Fortunately the sun was out, so it was relatively warm and people could ride in the open car.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

There was some work done today.  Duncan M. installed new doors on the gift shop cabinets.  After we built the bonfire in the lot across from AC station, we lit the large pile of brush that was further south on the WW&F lot.  At one point there were so many people around the bonfire that about 12 visitors went over into the woods and stood around the debris pile!  All the brush was gone by sunset.  Zack finished piping the AC station stove and test fired it early this morning.  The stove burned well for part of the day keeping Santa and his guests warm.  Sheepscot yard was switched at the end of the day and coach 8 was moved into bay 2.  The railcar is on the north end of it.   309 and 320 are in bay 1.  Coach 3, the Brookville and Model A are in bay 3.  Engines 10 and 52 will winter in the shop.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

No 9 is in Bays 1, 2 and 4.  We'll have to pick a part to put in Bay 3...

[Mike Fox]

Jason, I think the cab rolled its way to bay 3 once.

What a blast yesterday was. No time to stop and look around. Plenty of happy faces, and one count had 67 people in coach 8. Talk about cheek to cheek. It was great to stand on the south platform of Coach 8 all day and listen to the 10 work.

First train left just before 11, with 2 full cars (8 & 3) of 79 people.

2nd trip with 4 cars (8, 3, 103, 320) had 140 plus people.

3rd on until the 6th or 7th trip were full, with closer to 150 per trip.

The last trip only had 2 cars (8 & 3) and about 25 people. It was run in the dark, leaving Sheepscot about 4:45, so we had the pleasure of using lanterns and headlights. Cars were illuminated with the kerosene lamps. Always adds something special to the day. The steam in the twilight that trip was awesome. Especially overhead headed north.

[James Patten]

Forgot to mention that Duncan also brought me some office furniture.  Unfortunately one of pieces was about a quarter inch too wide to fit through the door into the office.  Steve should be able to take care of that this week (by disassembling and reassembling the desk).

Don't forget there are parts to #9 (removed long ago) that are between Bays 2 and 3.  Don't know if that counts for being in Bay 3...

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Dec 25:

Dec 25 is Christmas!  Don't expect anyone there.  Actually I may be there for part of the morning, as my wife is working that day.  Otherwise nothing else going on.

[James Patten]

Friday Steve Z and I moved the new desk into the office.  He'd been unable to take it apart, but found that by removing the casters it fit through the door into the office.

Today he and I shuffled things around to get the new furniture where I wanted it.  The old desk (that came with the house) went upstairs.  The rolling table that held the copier can go back to Fred and the kitchen.