Fall Work Weekend 2025

[Bill Reidy]

Some photos from today (Friday, October 10th).

The day started in the 20s.  Earlier this week, the temperature had hit 80 degrees.


A view early in the day showing the cleaned and regraded right-of-way.


The following views will be familiar to folks who followed the Mountain Extension construction a few years ago -- the same sequence of steps were used today to rebuild the track south of Humason.  Unloading a tie bundle from the gantry train:


...and placing the ties out on the ROW.


Next comes an east rail...


...followed by a west rail...


...and the installation of "instatrack" temporary gauging blocks to hold the gauge as the rail gantry train advanced northward.


The last rails reached Humason Brook trestle during lunchtime.


The afternoon was spent spiking the relaid track.




At the end of today, about 100 feet of track remained to be spiked.  That work is planned tomorrow, along with ballasting.
 

[john d Stone]

Fantastic! Really made quick work of it! I would expect nothing less of the capable WW&F crew! Hopefully I'll be back next year.

[John Kokas]

SWEET !!  Nice to see how the semi-mechanization of track laying has improved productivity over how we used to do it.  Just think of how fast we will be able to lay track on the "Southern Extension" when it comes available.   As an aside,  found out my friends at the FEBT have obtained a battery-electric spiker for the EBT Foundation.  I believe it as made by Milwaukee tools.

[Russ Nelson]

Saturday morning, we had a huge crew. Finished off the spiking, and one Hopper and one flat car of stone before lunch. Lunch. Also did some lining of track, and we are continuing to line track. There'll be another Hopper and another flat car coming down in short order..

[Mike Fox]

Basement got a cleaning





Coal bin was filled, photos by Brendan











As well as #11

[Bill Reidy]

A few trackwork photos Saturday, October 11th, 2025.  After the last of the new track was spiked this morning, Dan led a lining crew.




Maine Locomotive and Machine No. 11 towing SAR ballast wagon No. 2806 as it begins a stone drop run.


Ballast was loaded at Alna Center.  In these photos, we see WW&F No. 9 with flatcar No. 118 on the main, while MLM No. 11 is with SAR ballast wagon No. 2806 on the siding.






Sunday will feature jacking, more lining, tamping and more stone drops.

[Dan Malkowski]

What can I say but Thank You!!! To most the 2025 Fall Work Weekend has come to an end and while I sit here and write, I am astonished by what was accomplish for this weekend. This work weekend brought back a lot of good memories of work weekends of old. With the big track project being the Hummison Brook Track relay with the entirety of the work being to relay the curve leading into the bridge, line and ballast the curve, and then finally level and tamp the curve and adding 3/4 inch of super elevation, all within 3 days before Pumpkin Trains run on Monday.

I want to send out the biggest of thanks to the whole track crew that showed up everyday and made this work weekend a success. This Work Weekend has probably been the best turnout we have had since Covid and that extends further than just the track crew, Sheepscot was once again a lively place of friendship and comradery.

I hope this momentum and anticipation for 2026 Spring Work Weekend continues to build. We have some options to choose from so stay tuned.

[James Patten]

There were a lot of people I don't recall seeing before.  I was told someone's Groom Party were there on Saturday.

[John McNamara]

There were a lot of people I don't recall seeing before.  I was told someone's Groom Party were there on Saturday.

Let's have them build another "wedding shed!"

[Bill Reidy]

A few trackwork photos from today, Sunday, October 12th, 2025, finishing up the track replacement south of Humason.

Dana checking the level of the west rail.


Dan checking the level between the west and east rails.


The Australian tamper Wilmar was then used to tamp the new track.


The end result.




Lunchtime at Sheepscot!


Brendan loads ballast on flatcar No. 118 as Annie and Steve reshingle the Alna Center station roof.


Dressing the shoulders late in the afternoon.

[Christopher Lyons]

Nice work, guys! I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there Sunday to help finish the job.

[Eric Larsen]

Looks like you guys got a lot done. Wish I had time to be there.