June 2016 Work Planning

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of June 4:

* Top of Mountain Grading
* Boxcar 67
* Turntable
* Brakes
* Tamping inside Car barn bay 1

[James Patten]

Work done Saturday June 4:

* Mike was de-stumping at Top of Mountain clearing
* Today was the first day a vacuum-braked passenger steam train made a trip.  Jason tried to get the system working for the 10 AM trip and could not.  He was successful for the 11.
* Boxcar 67: Zack is waiting for welding.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

* Dairy Car 65 - Rotted wood was replaced on the east side.  The new wood was primed for a top coat on Monday.  West side lettering and number was repainted.  Brendan lined the trailer up with the roundhouse track so the car can go to Wiscasset soon.

[Mike Fox]

Brendan and I spent the afternoon at TOM. Brendan was pulling stumps, I was pushing them. We are almost half way.. Where are they going? Stump row. The pile is 5 feet tall, 8 feet wide, and about 20 feet deep. And well hidden.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Work done Sunday, June 5th -

* TOM - Brendan cleared more stumps before the rain moved in.

* Dairy Car 65 - Top coat paint was applied to the new wood sheathing under the doors and some touch up was done around the numbers.  The car will be ready to roll out of the machine shop this week.

* Trains - Only 4 people rode today, making us wonder (as we have the last couple of years) if being open on Sunday in June is a good idea.  

[Richard Cavalloro]

Maybe this is a stupid question but I'll ask anyway.  I've been following the land clearing at Top of the Mountain.  Is this how the field at Alna was made or was it already a field?

[James Patten]

The field at Alna Center was a field when we got there.  The east side of it has really grown in since we came through, the west side is bushwhacked from time to time.

[Ed Lecuyer]

[Moderator's Note]
The discussion revolving around Sunday/June schedules has been moved to the "Members Only" section of the Forum.

[Wayne Laepple]

If I remember my history correctly, wasn't most of the original WW&F surrounded by fields and pastures?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Wayne,

That's correct.  Old photos verify that there were few areas of woods along the W&Q/WW&F mostly because the trees were used to build homes and furniture.  Whatever trees were not good for construction were often used for firewood.  Clearing gave land owners pasture for livestock or fields for farming.  The vast woodlands we have now have grown back in the last 80+ years. 

[Wayne Laepple]

Which then leads to the question of whether the cleared area will be allowed to grow up in weeds or grass, or will it be kept at least somewhat mowed?

[Dave Buczkowski]

Wayne;
I'd like to see it kept at least partially mowed. I even have an extra riding mower to donate to assist keeping it mowed. Mike has such a deft touch with a bulldozer the field will no doubt end up being very smooth to make for easy mowing.
Dave

[Mike Fox]

We have talked for years about getting a bush hog for the blue tractor, and this would be a good use for it. And with the addition of the equipment trailer we purchased to haul equipment on the tracks, moving it to TOM, Alna Center, or any other place that needs mowing will be easy and quick.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of Saturday June 11

* Board meeting on Friday
* Top of Mountain clearing grading
* Boxcar 67
* Tamping inside car barn bay 1

[Mike Fox]

No TOM for me Saturday. Possibly Sunday morning, unless I have another mission.