April 2011 work planning

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for April 2:

* Sounds like it may snow on April 1, so some snow clearing will be in order
* It's time to assemble ballots for mailing, for the annual meeting in May.  We'll have all the pieces.  Anyone and everyone welcome to help.  There's over a thousand envelopes to stuff.
* There's a train show in Gray
* Tree cutting?  Likely.
* #9 work?  Probably

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

As James mentioned - The Narrow gauge train show will be held in Gray this Saturday.  John Robertson has asked that any members arriving at the show between 8:00 and 8:30 help set up the museum tables.  Help will also be needed to man the tables during the day.

The weather service has advised that a Nor'easter will move in Thursday afternoon bringing a rain/snow mix along the coast.  Inland towns will receive up to 6" of snow through Friday afternoon.  This is no April fools joke.  As has been noted before, March in Maine comes in like a lion and goes out like ... a lion.    

Saturday's forecast is for clouds, wind and temps around 40.

[Joe Fox]

Ah, finally I get an answer I've long been waiting for. Guess I'll go to the narrow gauge show instead. Sorry guys. But building my new On30 layout of Sheepscot has me needing a few things. Well, ok, a lot of things. Dont worry, I'll be down again soon. I was going to come down this weekend, but now that I know about the train show, I must say I'll go there and support the museum, and spend some money that I dont really have. lol.

[Mike Fox]

April is a snow month. As is May on occasion. Anyone desiring to shovel snow this time of year should seek help at the local psychiatrist. I myself am hoping it rains.

[James Patten]

Work done on April 2:

* Six people sorted, stuffed, and stamped ballots and envelopes for mailing.  Please fill them out and return them!  (along with a nice donation  )
* Coach 8 was moved to the team track for "Oily" to oil around this week.
* The casting which will unite #9's forward and rear frames was brought into Bay 2.
* Some snow was shoveled, mostly off the platform.
* Steward, John R, Bob G, Marcel, Joe, Dawn, and Cliff represented the WW&F at the Gray train show.  Almost more people there than at the WW&F!

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The Gray show went well.  We sold a fair amount of things, probably as much to other dealers as to the public.  T shirts and books were good sellers.  There were three good sized layouts.  One had a stone cutting shed that had dual-gauge track in front that reminded me of the track at the coal shed at Bridgton Jct.  A reporter and cameraman were there in the afternon, filming the layouts and interviewing a few exhibitors including one of the contest winners.  The two foot groups included Boothbay, SR&RL and MNG.

Stewart 

[Joe Fox]

Did the show actually last till 4?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Yes,  One fellow packed up around 3 but most stayed open til 4.

Stewart

[Joe Fox]

Oh. Any body come in to take a look around, or was it pretty quiet after Dawn and I left? When we left at 2:45 there were only vendors, and layout members left. It was deserted.

[Steve Smith]

Thank you to the volunteers who moved Coach 8 last weekend. Weather forecast looks good for Wed. 4/6 so I plan to go to Sheepscot then and hope to do the journal boxes for four cars.

Oily

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for April 9:

* Board meeting Friday evening
* Alna VFD members will be taking a ride up the line in the morning, to scout out places to stage an emergency drill
* #9 frame work is likely
* Fred wants to walk the ROW to cut downed trees and clean up downed limbs
* It would be nice if someone were to dig out the tamper and make sure the air compressor is in working order

The Alna VFD has a ham supper Saturday night at the fire station.  Come out and support them!

[James Patten]

Work done on April 9:

* Dana wanted to go up line to get rail (for the new siding) and look for new timbers to replace the south AC switch stand timbers, but the diesel's batteries were dead.  So the morning was spent charging them up.
* Zack and Bob G worked to jack up #9's old boiler to get the truck underneath out.  Eventually that happened.
* Because the diesel was down, I fired up the Brookville (behind Coach 3 in the shop), got hooked up, and pushed it and Car 103 out to the mainline.  Then we got the two flatcars hooked up and moved out of the way.  Then all the stuff on track 7 got moved, so that #9's rear truck could be moved.  Then everything (except the flatcars) were moved back.
* In the PM the diesel started, so with the hydraulic crane attached to the flatcar a train went north to get rail.  A piece of the crane failed after 3 rails, meaning it could not lift any more rails.  So the train returned, then put the flatcars back, and put Coach 3 and Car 103 back.
* Jason and others worked on #9's new frame, with Ed G machining supporting pieces.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

A bit more from today -

Fred sorted and cut 25 ties from the pile in the parking lot.  Most of the 5 footers were loaded in the back of the Model A truck so they can be unloaded on the grade for the spur on the work weekend.  The 3 foot sections were used as blocking under #9's old boiler and frame.

Dana and I uncovered, checked and started Big Joe.  We ran the compresser for about 10 minutes and all checked out ok.

Stewart

[Mike Fox]

Glad to know Big Joe started. If I can make it next weekend, we should also get the firecar ready. Getting dry around here.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Today,  4/10

Gordon and Rick spent a good part of the day working on #9's rear frame.  The cross members and center casting got most of the attention.  A couple of smaller projects got some work too.

Steve Smith inspected and oiled the bearings on all the in-door rolling stock.

I did a little work on the new telephone system, bay 3 extension.

Stewart