June 2011 work planning

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of June 4:

* Track work Saturday: We'll start where we left off on Monday, starting at 7:30 or sooner if possible.  We'll work until 9:30 and then move north.  I've heard Dana say several times he'd like to hit the track north of Albee's Crossing (and some of the joints there are pretty terrible) so we'll do that while trains are running.  Depending on the extent of the work, we may dodge trains or not - depends if only joints need lifting, or if the track itself is severely out of level.  Let me remind everyone that we need at least 3 people to make it work and 5+ to make it work well.
* #9 frame work will continue.
* Trains running both Saturday and Sunday.  Sundays tend to have fewer volunteers but more visitors.
* Zack may be starting soon to work on the restrooms (I don't know).
* I suspect Fred will continue mowing.

[Mike Fox]

One of those Saturdays I can't make it. There was also a joint or two near the field I thought was lower than the rest when I was up there last.

[James Patten]

Work done on June 4:

* Track work: not enough people showed up to help, so I didn't go out.  Too bad because we only ran one train today.  The only track work I did was in front of Sheepscot Station, Stewart and I dug out under the tie with the metal switch plates that hadn't been put in yet, got the tie down enough so that the plate could fit underneath, then spiked them in place.
* #9: Jason worked on getting some custom machined bolts in the frame connecting casting to rear frame.  Leon and I worked on setting up the center casting connector.
* Mowing: Fred mowed up at Head Tide.
* Brigid and Cindy made lunch.  Yumm!

[Craig "Red" Heun]

My apologies for not being as available for work as I originally planned.  My only excuse has 3 words: Work, Wife and House - Red

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

James,

     After you left coach 3 was cleaned (windows washed and floor swept) in preperation for the charter on the 10th.

Stewart

[Mike Fox]

It was work for me. No time for play today.

[Fred Morse]

Sat's Bath Iron Works Free day has been announced today at Bath Iron Works. I hope we get a crowd and maybe some will become volunteers in the future. Last Sat. I think we sold Two tickets.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work weekend of June 11:

* Friday is the Hebron Academy charter.  Teachers and staff from the Academy are coming, and will be given not only train rides, but a full tour of the facilities as well as talks on the history of the WW&F and Maine railroading.  Well over 100 people are expected.  Both steam and diesel will be running.
* Friday evening is the June board meeting.
* Saturday is BIW Day.  Steam will be running.  Hopefully we'll have a crowd.  We'll need tour guides, docents, as well as train crew and gift shop crew.
* Beyond what's happening for BIW, I don't know if much else is happening.  Probably there'll be #9 frame work.
* Sunday I think is a diesel day.

[Phil Christopher]

till what time will steam be running on friday?

[Mike Fox]

Friday is a private charter. Steam scheduled until 4 I believe.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The Hebron group arrives at 11:00 and the first trip will be at 11:20.  There will be a number of trips with 52 and 10.  Engine 10 will pull a mixed train with box 309, flats 118 and 126 and coach 3 in the afternoon.  J. Robertson will dispatch from SS.  Z. Wyllie and D. Sanger will host hand car rides and a switching demonstration at AC, Zack will be the agent.  There will be some light engine moves and the railcar will operate in Sheepscot Yard.  Equipment Seminars will be conducted by S. Zuppa and J. McNamara.  A talk on historic WW&F stations and operations will be presented by F. Morse.  Railroad operating practices and signals will be presented by S. Rhine.   D. Winkley and B. Wittemore will run 52 for train and switching ops.  J. Lamontagne and J. Fox will crew engine 10.  Things should wrap at 4:00.

Stewart

[Wayne Laepple]

Gee, I hope someone takes some photos. A record of this (and Saturday's activities) could be valuable tool when seeking grant funds.

[Mike Fox]

Picked up some scrap rubber today to make wipers for the tamper. Something to clean the stone from the rails. Will be similar to what is found on a speeder.

[James Patten]

Work done Friday & Saturday:

* Friday was the Hebron Academy charter.  About 80 people showed up.  From the sounds of it, everyone enjoyed themselves.  There's talk of returning in the fall with students.
* Saturday was BIW day.  Trains (2 cars) were over 50% capacity for most of the day, plus the railcar went out following.  Fred was busy greeting and showing people around.
* Phil shoveled sand in front of the doghouse, putting in partial ties in the ground.
* Phil and Brigid worked on the garden.
* Mike put the rail wipers on the tamper wheels.
* Jason, Leon, Dwight, and myself worked on #9's frame.  Marcel worked on the cab.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The Hebron Academy group of about 60 arrived right on time.  Steve Z. welcomed them as he stood on the south end of coach 8.  After some brief statements the group was divided into 2 smaller groups.  The first group boarded the steam train for a trip to AC with historic perspectives given by the train crew.  The second group remained at Sheepscot and was divided into 3 smaller groups of about 10 each.  Steve Z., John M. and Stewart R. gave tours and instructive seminars to each group in a specific area of the yard/shop.  After about 15 minutes the groups switched to a different instructor and learned about other aspects of the museum and the history of two-foot gauge railroads in Maine.  Subjects covered were rolling stock (design and use) railroad structures (how they support railroad operations) and track and yard design and it's function.  Model T railcar rides were given through the yard and up to the Yard Limit.  

When the first train came back to SS, the planned lunch break started on schedule.  The visitors gathered for pizza on the covered station platform and around the picnic tables near the house.  When lunch was complete the two groups changed places with the second group taking the steam powered train to AC and the first group having the seminars at Sheepscot.  The steam train's passengers detrained at AC and gathered in the field west of the siding.  Note: Handcar #2 was at AC for visitors to try while they waited.  Engine 10's train returned to SS.   The rest of the visitors at Sheepscot were then taken to AC by a diesel powered train which dropped it's passengers so they could gather in the field with the first group.   All our guests were then arranged in a photo line in the field so they could film #10 arriving at AC with a mixed train of 118, 126, 309 and coach 3.  The guests were thrilled to see the train storm up the grade and there were many positive comments from the crowd.  The next part of the program featured switching moves at AC that left the cut of freight cars on the siding and all the passenger cars on #10's train.  The museum's Model A truck was driven to AC by Stewart who parked it on the Averill Rd as a photo prop.  Stewart stood on the hand car (off the rails) during the switching demonstration and gave a description of the moves and why switching was important to railroad operations.  

With switching complete, the 4 car steam train gave everyone a ride to Eot with extra train crew on board to speak with the visitors about the museum.  The steam train returned everyone to Sheepscot and things wrapped on time with many The Hebron folks telling the crew they had a great day and would come back.  

It was a good day for educators learning about the WW&F and how it served the Sheepscot Valley.

Special thanks to Brad Whittemore for arranging the event.