March 2013 Work Planning

[Steve Zuppa]

Itchy and Scratchy installed the cellulose in the attic this morning. The tile guy will be starting the walls on Tuesday 4/2/13.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

This week -

At least 12 members worked on a number of projects including:

Ballots - Steve and Kathy spent at least a day loading BoD election ballots to be mailed out to members.

#9 - Among other things, work on milling the cylinder end caps.  Leon installed all 3 boiler stand off bands for the boiler jacket.

Restrooms - As Steve mentioned, Blown-in insulation was installed in the attic.  The job included putting gaurds on the backboxes for the ceiling lights and adding weather stripping around the attic hatch.

Clean up - The 2X6's near the garage were moved and restacked with dry sticks.  The annual Spring process of getting the stone out of the grass and off the passing track started.

Sheepscot Station - The "new" antique door received it's top coat of green paint to be ready for the work weekend.

Easter Prep - Linda made food for the Saturday volunteers at Sheepscot and Alna Center.  Zack cleaned and partially filled the water tank.  The bunny crew finished loading the eggs and baskets.  There will be over 3,500 eggs for the hunt this year.

Track and crossings - An inspection trip was run Friday with the railcar.  Sheepscot Mills crossing was muddy and needed a lot of cleaning.  The fields at AC are snow free and dried up fairly well in the last couple of days.

[Steve Smith]

The 2X6's near the garage were moved and restacked with dry sticks.

Stewart, what do you mean by garage?

Great news that the fields at Alna Center are snow free! Please Mother Nature, keep it that way,OK?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Thanks for catching that Steve.  I left out a word, should have written "garage site".  That's the area which is n/w of the restroom building along the north edge of the parking lot.

Thanks!

Stewart

[Bill Reidy]

That's good news Alna Center is snow free- I still have some snow in my front yard here just southwest of Boston!

At least we have crocus in bloom.

- Bill

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday March 30:

* Easter Eggspress: We had 575 riders in 5 trips.  Nobody went away without any eggs.  Because of the crowds we did the motive power swaps.  Everyone seemed happy.
* Restrooms: Zack and Leon picked up the tile and delivered it.  Tiler comes on Tuesday.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Due to the extra train, the AC crew had to go into the reserve supply of eggs.  Close to 4,000 eggs were given out.  Thanks to Josh B. for bringing extra eggs, Don & Jeanne S. for getting two extra gift baskets to award the kids who found the gold eggs and Troop 1152 of the Girl Scouts of Maine who had three of their girls helping at Alna Center.  The rest of the Girl Scouts set up a table at Sheepscot, selling over 100 boxes of cookies.  I spoke to a number of people who came to the railroad for the first time. There were also a number of regular passengers that we last saw at Victorian Christmas, some come to most of our special events.  Everyone I spoke to said it was a great day.  

Many thanks to the kitchen crew that sent up sandwiches, chowder, beverages, pies and cake.  AC station was like a restaurant!

[John McNamara]

Close to 4,000 eggs were given out. 

That's close to 333 dozen eggs! Where did we get that many?

Also, 575 paying passengers must be a new record - great news!

Anyone ready to write it up for the next WW&F Newsletter ?  Thanks!

[Marcel Levesque]

333 dozen eggs.......................the rumor mill has it that the chickens are very, very tired!

[Steve Smith]

Marcel, according to the little meter thingy that shows at the left of the posts, that was your first. Well, it may have been a long time coming, but when it did, it was a dandy!

[James Patten]

It was about 425 paying passengers and 150 or so 3 and under.  Yes, that is a record, by about 200 people.  I hope this a foreshadowing of the coming season!