August 2020 Work Reports

[Roger Cole]

Would telephone/telegraph poles be an option? (even if just for the trouble spots)  ...  Or, are they not authentic to the WW&F?

[Ed Lecuyer]

The WW&F did not have a telegraph system or any lineside poles, save a phone connection between the upper and lower yards in Wiscasset.

[John McNamara]

In addition to the lack of a WW&F prototype, except for the aforementioned upper-lower yard connection, recollection of the "Maine 1998 Ice Storm," coupled with the age profile of our pole-climbers, scotched the pole line idea the last time it arose.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday, August 15:

* Mountain extension track work - led by Joe.  Change out a rail, jack and shovel tamp.
* Pavilion - led by Mike.  Put up header boards.
* Coach 9
* Vehicle repair

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed on Tuesday 11 August and Wednesday 12 August 2020.

Tuesday:

*  Track repair, 13 joint bar bolts cut off and replaced, Steve L, Mark, Randy, Ben, Chuck.
*  Flat car #126 retrieved from Sheepscot Mills.
*  Fred checked for a break in the telephone line at SS campus, none found.
*  Unloaded the large drill press and staged in the machine shop. (don’t know proper name)
*  Clean up and follow up from grand opening, Stuart, Cindy, Linda
*  Dump run, Stuart

Wednesday:
*  Yard switching and car staging,  Steve L, Mark
*  Sprayer maintenance and ready for service, Bob L, Bryce, Dan
*  Repairs continue on Turner Dairy Car, Randy
*  Catherine completes lettering the tank car (It looks great)
*  Roger and Jason up date Locomotive #9 paper work
*  Prep for track detail, 30 ft rail made up,  Mark, Steve L
*  Fred, James N stops by.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Nice recap, Steve. Here's a bit more:

Gift shop mail orders have been brisk this week with a dozen orders shipped in just the last two days.   The 2021 calendar and WW&F face masks are the popular items along with clothing and history books.  The mail room has been so busy that the trash crew was enlisted to help.

We appreciate everyone who supports the museum by purchasing items through the on-line gift shop.

[Tj Saccoccio]

Anticipated work for Saturday, August 15:

* Mountain extension track work - led by Joe.  Change out a rail, jack and shovel tamp.
* Pavilion - led by Mike.  Put up header boards.
* Coach 9
* Vehicle repair

Looking for something to help with on Saturday, any idea what time this track detail is looking to get started?

[James Patten]

If you show up by 8 you should be able to join.

[Tj Saccoccio]

Sounds good, thanks for the info

[Alan Downey]

*  Unloaded the large drill press and staged in the machine shop. (don’t know proper name)

To elaborate on Steve's post, we purchased a radial arm drill from a fab shop in Alna that was closing down. ML&M (Brian and Hannah) helped with the short distance trucking move. The intent of this machine is to replace the large drill press which is currently in the shop. While all of us in the shop love that drill press for it's age and really classy design- it is very tired- and we need something that is more reliable for large drilling operations. The new drill is large, but only slightly larger in footprint than the existing drill (believe it or not), but with a much larger capacity. My plan is to keep the existing drill press in-service until all preparatory electrical work is finished and the new drill can be put in the old one's place. Until then, "Lathe Alley" will be a bit crowded, so I am hoping to execute the changeover relatively soon.

It is a 6' Cincinnati Bickford Super Service Radial for anyone curious.

Thanks again to the crew for the unloading help on Tuesday!

[Keith Taylor]

Alan.....I hope the old large drill press will remain in some capacity.
Those old camelback drill presses are a part of railroad and our railroad’s  history.

Keith

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

My father said "When you see machines you used starting in the trade exhibited in
a museum then you feel old."

[Roger Cole]

I remember many years ago giving my son a 55 Chevy Matchbox car for his collection.  His reply was, "Thanks Dad for the antique car".  Several of my friends had 55 Chevys.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Aug 15:

* Track crew: Joe and crew finally got the rail near MP 8 replaced and spiked.  They then jacked and shovel tamped some of the track on the Mountain.
* Pavilion: Mike and crew got the remaining two posts up, and got all the headers up.
* Machine shop: Alan was working on the new drill press.  It's a massive piece of equipment.
* Archives: Linda had received a box of goodies and was processing them.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

  " * Machine shop: Alan was working on the new drill press.  It's a massive piece of equipment. "

    PHOTOS, PLEASE!!!!