2015 Fall Work Weekend

[Joe Fox]

Weather depending, I would like to try to cut up enough ties for the work weekend.  this year's piles are easier to cut the last year because there already stacked so it's going three times as fast. I would estimate that was three people we could have  the ones we need cut in a matter of 2 or 3 hours.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

About a dozen people started the FWW today (a day early) working on a number of projects including -

* Upper yard switch frog construction.

* Ties loaded and moved into the car shed.  Some were removed from storage across from the water tank opening up that area.

* Stone added to parts of the inside and around the doors of the car shed.

* Track layout planning for the upper yard. 

* Survey team setting center line stakes for the woods track and car shed lead tracks.

* Temporary crossing built on the spur just north of the car shed.

* Lumber brought inside the car shed for building the upper wall purlins.

* Food shopping and site prep for feeding everyone the next 4 days.

* Machine shop cleaned in preparation for work on #9.

[Mike Fox]

I am bringing a new volunteer Saturday. He is wanting to lay track. I hope you guys leave some for us.

[James Patten]

Some photos from today:

First train in the car barn:


Late afternoon, after the east wall went up:


Shingle crew on the Whitefield Section House:


The results of Mike's landscaping:

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

Ok, so what the heck WAS behind the blank-spot in that photo 4 pages back?

[Paul Uhland]

Pete...work is going so fast that the internet can't keep up!
Onward, WW&Fers! (WOOFers?)
Really appreciate the pics.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

Well, yeah, but....
...someone should have TOLD us by now!

[James Patten]

See my first photo in the series above - you can see a blue-tarped thing in the far middleground.  That's what the blanked-out space was.

[Philip Marshall]

The mystery object is indeed a boxcar -- B&SR No. 67, acquired from the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The Whitefield section house is complete except for the sliding door, flooring (both waiting for lumber) and the handcar ramp which is waiting for the spur track to be raised to correct level.  Oak rails have been cut and will be installed in the floor when the spruce flooring arrives. 

The upper yard is mostly in place although more switch work remains.  The second bay track is connected but not completely in service due to lack of joint bars inside the building.  The shop crew may make new ones this week.  Bay 3 is not in service yet and the woods track has not been built past the bay 3 switch.  Ties have been laid out for about 60' so rail could be set if we have time and crew in the next few weekends.

Volunteers that signed in today totaled 35.

A big thank you to everyone who helped whether for a few hours or 4+ days.  Much was accomplished with larger projects such as locomotive #9, the car shed and section house along with a number of smaller jobs.  It was enjoyable seeing many long time friends as well as meeting new volunteers.  We look forward to seeing you around Sheepscot again soon!

[Dave Buczkowski]

Stewart,
I'll see your "thank you" and raise you! I was totally blown away by the enthusiastic, smiling, hard-working volunteers I saw all over Sheepscot! It was heartening to see all the young volunteers. I hope to see all of them again and soon. The amount of work done is nothing less than amazing. Thank you one and all!
Dave

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Well put Dave.  The great thing about the Fall Work Weekend is that there are projects to fit whatever interest someone has.  The FWW started Columbus Day weekend 1997 with track work and the tradition continued with construction of the upper yard.  It's always a pleasure working with our track foreman Dana Wigwam Deering, and this year didn't disappoint.  With Dana's guidance, setting ties and rail, joining, spiking and lining the new track went well.  Seeing the first train travel over parts of the new yard was exciting!

Meanwhile, the sound of hammers rang from two directions.  There was much progress on the car shed with both sides getting enclosed and the section house with all the walls receiving corner boards and shingles.  

Top that off with #9 having the tank and cab installed and there is much to be proud of.

[Ira Schreiber]

And even one bay on the south end of the car barn was sheathed by Brendan and Ed in the late afternoon.

[Wayne Laepple]

I concur with all the comments about the recent work weekend. I must say, from my perspective, it was probably the most productive and exciting that I've attended. I spent most of my time working on No. 9, both preparing for and participating in mating the cab and tank to the engine, though I did help out on a couple of other projects from time to time. As always, the cooperation and companionability among the volunteers working on the various projects was great to see. Kudoes as well to the kitchen crew who kept us all well fed.

[Brendan Barry]

Work weekend pictures in chronological order from Friday to Monday. Number 9 work weekend pictures will be in the number 9 thread.

Friday



















































Saturday







































































































Sunday

























































Monday