February 2015 Work Planning

[Brendan Barry]

We could really use a blacksmith cone if anybody has one.

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

It is a Farrier's anvil - almost new condition.
Have a portable forge (coal)(12v blower) that has not been used in 40 years.
The problem it is in MN.

I will see if I can get it to NH this Summer.

Carl

[Philip Marshall]

Blacksmith's mandrel cones are hard to come by. I don't have one but I will keep my eyes open.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Feb 14:

* Snow: With the coming storm Zack thought it might be a good idea to get the snow off the ramp to the house (it hadn't been shoveled yet this year).  So Fred, myself, Dwight and JB worked at clearing that.  Under the eaves the snow was humped over my head.  Later in the day Brendan was busily working with the tractor to move snow from one pile to another to give more room to plow the 2ish feet expected tomorrow.
* Kubota: Mike put the part back that he took out last week.
* Basement: Zack finished up the drywall for the basement entrance.  Dwight finished up stuffing styrofoam boards into the spaces between first floor joists and the outside wall.
* Loco 9: Jason rented a floor polisher to start polishing up the cast iron sheets.  We also bought a hand-held one for finish work.  Meanwhile work continued on insulation around the boiler.
* Light repairs: Stewart contorted himself to remove blown bulbs from the light shades on the ends of the car shop.  The snow blows up into the shades, melts around the bulb, and blows it.  It wasn't easy.
* Archives: Linda worked on archives.

[Wayne Laepple]

Carl,

I hope you meant ME.

Cheers -- Wayne

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Wayne no it is MN

But anvil has been appropriated. Still have other "stuff".

I am 45 min west of Twin Cities airport if someone is coming to area
let me know so we can meet.

Carl

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 21:

* Percival house basement
* Snow moving
* Whitefield Lion's Club Train and Dollhouse Show at the Augusta (ME) Armory.
* Loco 9 (but no Jason)
* Also need volunteers to move cabinets from storage to the Museum

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Work done on Saturday, February 21st -

* Archives - A crew of 4 volunteers traveled to Nobleboro to get two donated steel cabinets (one file and one map) for the archive room.  Once back to Sheepscot, the crew of Steve Z., Start, J.B. and Dwight removed a small 2 drawer cabinet from the archive room and replaced it with the new 4 drawer cabinet.  They also removed the unused closet doors making more room to access the shelves.  The map cabinet was put in the cellar for now.  Linda worked on the archival material for the next 3 hours.  She really likes her new cabinet.

* Percival House - Dwight cleaned the floor and Zack and crew moved the table saw from the restroom porch into the cellar.  Fred cleared more snow from the front ramp.

* Restroom Building - Fred shoveled a lot of snow from the porch to get to the table saw which was buried in snow under a tarp.  Fred also cleared a path to the propane tank.

* #9 Greg spent much time polishing the iron sheets for the boiler jacket.  They look better with each application.

* Kitchen + News - The crew made a nice chicken corn potato chowder which really hit the spot on a cold day.  While everyone was dining Steve Z. announced a wonderful gift from volunteer, Julius Stuck's estate.  Julius passed away last year, he not only supported the railroad with many volunteer hours but he left $5,000 in his will to continue our mission of restoring Maine's history.  We all miss Julius and we appreciate his thoughtfulness in caring about the museum.   To honor his memory, a beautiful portrait of Julius was unveiled to the group.  The portrait, taken by Matthew M. will be hung in the Alna Center depot.   

* Garage - Mike continued his repair work on the Kubota excavator.

* Train Show - James and John R. staffed the museum's table at the Augusta train show.

[James Patten]

We did very well at the Augusta Train show, taking in more than $400.  That's the most we've done since I've been treasurer.  The crew was myself, John R, and Marcel.

There were several families that stopped by the table that have ridden on our railroad, many of them during Victorian Christmas but a few that get out during the summer too.  One mother and daughter mentioned that they avidly watch us on Facebook, awaiting news about #9's restoration.  Lots of people asking about #9 getting back under steam again.

[Mike Fox]

The Kubota was exercised Saturday afternoon. Did some snow removal with it. Then tucked it away and started the next project. Figuring what is needed to mount the mower.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

One more note relating to garage work.  Every month we start the railroad's 1930 Ford truck to charge the battery and keep the oil up in the engine.  This week the truck started right up and ran well for 10 minutes.  Not bad with temps in the single digits.  We wonder how many of today's autos will still be running in 85 years.

[Paul Uhland]

Good to see you snow stalwarts doing what you can amidst those brutal, nonstop NE  blizzards.  The Elna weather posts show a letup and "warming" this coming week,hopefully. #9 work photos always appreciated.
Here in New Mexico we always can use more moisture.
It's true...life's not fair.   

[Paul Uhland]

Also, how about some pics of the house basement, museum work?
Work is fascinating...love to watch it and its results constantly! 

[John McNamara]

Here in New Mexico we always can use more moisture.

If only there some economical and practical way of shipping snow, I'm sure those of us in the Northeast would be happy to ship some (lots) to our friends in the Southwest.

[Ken Fleming]

I see if I can get a blacksmith cone from my blacksmith/rail fan buddies here in Lancaster County.  B-T-W, their Horning (Black Bumper) Menonite brother visited us last year, so they well know who we are.  They only travel by train and told Wayne and I that they are planning a visit to the museum to provide input for building a blacksmith shop.  They have a monster machine shop, all run by hydraulics and lighted by gas lights.  They also built a 15" gauge railroad behind their shop using a hand-powered engine.  Neat.


Several blaksmith cones currently on eBay.  (2/22/2015)