April 2013 work planning

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday April 6:

* Restrooms: Inspecting the tile job!  If done, I don't know how long it will be before Zack is ready for installation of toilets etc.
* #9
* Property clean up.  There's some trees north of AC that fell across the tracks which we need to cut up.

[Mike Fox]

More Big Joe work also. I have a few more things to do to get it ready for the work weekend.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

This Week -

#9 - Among the projects, more work on the driving gear.

Restrooms - The tile contractor has the wall tile done (except for grout) in both rooms.

Sheepscot Station - Two days of warm sunny weather allowed the back and north end to be painted.  A few rotten clap boards were pulled off the front to see what condition the underlayment and sills are in.

Freight House - The south end was cleaned and some of the new latex paint was tried.

Yard/Grounds - A general clean up was started.  About a dozen broken plastic buckets went to the dump.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday April 6:

* Restrooms: Steve and Zack got the countertops.
* Sheepscot Station: Stewart did some more exploratory surgery on the west wall.  He also painted the new door.
* Telephones: John M spent many hours trying to find the source of a phone problem north of Alna Center.
* Big Joe: Mike brought Big Joe into the machine shop (for Mike's comfort) and removed the self-drive mechanism, and attached a horn for movements.
* #9: More work on #9.
* Tractor: John R and I spent time on the new tractor, practicing back-dragging.

[John McNamara]

* Telephones: John M spent many hours trying to find the source of a phone problem north of Alna Center.

Two problems found and fixed. A falling tree had sheered a phone terminal off its post, and a lightning strike had fried a lightning protector at Allbee's Crossing. Also, I removed the big green telephone box at the north end and am taking it home for repair. Vandals damaged the box but not the phone. Evidently they were very curious what was in the box and pried their way in. I think maybe we should leave the box unlocked and paint "WW&F Railway Telephone" on the front. ("Move along; nothing to see here.")
-John

[Fred Morse]

First, the phone line was the clearest I've ever heard it. Three cheers for John M. Second the air horn was plenty loud, it sounds like the shill whistle that is used when a crew is going to dynamite. I hope people won't think were making a new roadbed.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday April 13:

* Board meeting (Friday evening)
* #9
* Big Joe test run: the plan is to jack and tamp the low spot in front of Bay 4, and depending on ambition also jacking the Bay 4/track 7 switch (when the ground is soft, the snowplow will catch the Bay 3 track, which is higher than the switch).

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The Alna VFD will have their HAM & BEAN SUPPER Saturday.  The event starts at 4:30.  The menu includes ham, baked beans, salads, rolls, home made pies, coffee and milk.  There will be a pie auction and 50/50 raffle.  $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Stewart

[Dana Deering]

James,

     I am planning to come up this weekend 4/13 so I'll be able to help out with the yard track, Big Joe, etc.  I would also like to bring some rail from Albee's down to Sheepscot to have it ready to work on during the Work Weekend.

Dana

[Dave Buczkowski]

James and Dana;
HWMNBN and I will be making an appearance on Saturday so we can help you and Dana with Big Joe and Dana's rail.
Dave

[Bill Reidy]

I see once again HWMNBN is volunteered for a work assignment!

[Mike Fox]

Also someone should put an eye to the run around/bay 1 switch area. There is a low spot there that caused the trouble there this winter.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

This Week -

#9 - Jonathan lapped the seats on the back cylinder covers and he and Jason installed the studs and covers .  The crosshead guides were then test mounted.  One fits fairly well, the other will need work to get it back to standards.

Restrooms - The tile contractor set all the tile and grouted most of it.

Sheepscot Station - The back side and north end were cleaned and painted.  The front clapboards were removed on both sides of the door, revealing much rot in the plywood and 2X6 stringer.  These will be replaced on the work weekend when we install new clap boards.  With the beautiful new restroom building, the other buildings look a bit tired.  The station turned 20 this year so it's a good time to fix it up.

Freight House - The side door received a new (antique) latch and knob to keep the door closed without locking it.  The south end was cleaned and painted and the "Tickets" metal sign holder got new anti-rust paint.

Big Joe -  The rusty cover on the hydraulic power unit was cleaned and painted.  This prevents rusty water from dripping down onto the gasoline tank that sits below the power unit.

Stewart

[James Patten]

Work done on April 13, 2013:

* We jacked and tamped first in front of Bay 4, then on the switch from Bay 4 lead and Track 7.  We broke Big Joe, but breaking it actually helped make it work better on the switch (we broke one of the gear bars that help work the in-and-out).
* After lunch Dana took a crew up to bring back rail, and used the crane car to move the rail from ground to car.  This was the first extended trip of the crane.
* #10 was steamed up for testing of injectors.
* The tractor removed the well house and put it on the rubbish pile (it was getting decrepit).
* The tile setting in the restrooms are done.  Looks really nice (from the door anyway).  Very echo-y now.

[Steve Smith]

James, I guess you are referring to one of the racks of the rack-and-pinion drive for varying the lateral spacing between the tampers, right?

Is the rack readily removable for either repair or replacement? I'm wondering what are the implications for Big Joe's availability for track weekend.