January 2026 work reports

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for January 3, 2026:

* STEAM TRAIN SNOW DAY!! "pop up" public operation - train to ToM at 11am & 12:45pm.
* Snow clean up
* Machine shop/Loco 11

[Ed Lecuyer]

Also, Christmas decorations need to be taken down at Sheepscot and Alna Center (I think...)

[Earl Leavitt]

 Volunteer crews who currently have projects underway in the machine shop are respectfully requested to tidy up their work areas in anticipation of visitors this coming Saturday. Please help us put our best foot forward while we show folks the various projects and explain just what we're all about!

[Bill Reidy]

A few photos from yesterday, Saturday, January 3rd.

Conductor Dan looking dapper.


Conductor Dan's dapper hat.  The conductor's badge is based on a W&Q prototype.


The crew preparing No. 9 for the day's service.  Left-to-right Nick Anderson, Jonathan St. Mary (in the far side of 9's cab), Roger Whitney and Nick Simoneau.


Jason reviewing the vacuum brake system with train crew volunteers.  The crew is viewing the gauges on both sides of the door at the end of combine No. 8:  the left gauge is for the car's vacuum reservoir, and the right gauge for the train service line.


Dan leading a crew meeting at the start of the day.


The last public train of the day returning to Sheepscot.

[Gordon Cook]

Dapper Dan?
Doubledown Dapper?
Is he More than Dapper?
Is that even possible?

[John Kokas]

Dan is rising in the ranks.  Now he gets to sport multiple hats for all his duties 

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Jan 10:

* Loco 11 work in Machine shop
* Vacuum brake testing?
* Gift shop inventorying
* Board meeting at 3 - and there will be executive session at the end.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Jan 10:

* Inventory: I counted the boxes in the Percival basement, while Cindy had a large crew helping her in the gift shop.  Hopefully it's done!
* Show packing: Bill R packed his minivan with boxes for the Springfield show.
* Loco 10: Dan was busy on the stack of #10.
* Loco 11: I'm sure Earle was doing something on it
* Board meeting

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Jan 17:

* Public train day/vacuum brake testing (I assume)
* Store inventory?
* Machine shop/Loco 11

[James Patten]

Work done on Sat Jan 17 (partial list because I didn't get there until after noon).

* Pop up steam train day - the second trip seemed well attended, Ed said the day got good social media buzz.
* Inventory - Marcel and Cindy with a slight assist by me mostly finished the inventorying.
* Loco 10 - smokebox looks ready to go to Springfield.
* and of course Nancy made lunch.

[Mike Fox]

[Joe Fox]

The vacuum brakes worked very well today, and from an opinion of operating traditional air brakes, the service rate performed in a similar manner to that of traditional brakes. It was great to experience all of this first hand, and see all the hard work many have helped with perform really well. Truly a huge and amazing accomplishment of engineering.

[Jeff Schumaker]

Great photos, Mike.

Jeff

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for the weekend of Jan 24 - 25:

* West Springfield train show - The WW&F will have a substantial presence there, with several tables in the Young(?) building.  Friday evening setup, the event is both Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday evening breakdown.
* Back at the ranch, there won't be many of us.

[Bill Reidy]

The WW&F show tables at the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show will be in section 76 of the Young Building, right inside the main entrance.  Show hours:
       9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 24th
     10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, January 25th.
Show information at https://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/