W.W.&F. Discussion Forum

WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on December 30, 2009, 12:02:40 PM

Title: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on December 30, 2009, 12:02:40 PM
Anticipated work for the first saturday of 2010.

Weather forecasts up here are calling for a rather substantial snow storm, starting on Friday and running through until Sunday.  So come early Friday, bring plenty of food and clothing changes, and plan on staying until sometime Sunday (or maybe Monday).  ;D

More chainsawing in the future parking lot is in order.

Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 01, 2010, 08:29:01 AM
The massive snowstorm they were predicting earlier in the week is now not so massive.  Today is a light rain/snow mix, tomorrow there will be snow, heavy at times, but moving in from the east so anyone coming up from the south should be able to get around without too much problem.  Saturday night/Sunday AM the snow ends.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 02, 2010, 08:11:31 PM
This past week Jason was able to do some welding on #9's frame, to get rid of some cracks found earlier in the frame.

It seems that Jason's about the only one able to get any work done at the railroad this week.  Four of us showed up this morning, but I couldn't get anyone interested in doing anything, so we left at 10.

It's been snowing here all day, but a light snow.  It's been snowing off and on since Thursday afternoon, with some rain to mix it up on Friday.  Tonight we're expecting heavier snow.  I just looked out the window and the snow that's coming down is much larger flakes than has been coming down.  So probably about a foot when we're done.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Bill Fortier on January 03, 2010, 12:23:18 AM

Four of us showed up this morning, but I couldn't get anyone interested in doing anything, so we left at 10.


... and I managed to arrive at 11:30. Pooh.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 03, 2010, 09:43:11 PM
Hafta get out of bed a little earlier next time Bill  ;D
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 06, 2010, 07:08:22 AM
Anticipated work for weekend of Jan 9.

Things should be getting back to normal with the holidays behind us and the weather slowly returning to normal.

* Jason wants to do some work on #10 this weekend, I think prepping it for a hydro and for winter storage.
* There'll be chainsawing in the future parking lot.
* The Friday crew may pick up again on working on #51.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 09, 2010, 08:56:31 PM
Work done on Jan 9.

This week, Jonathan and Vern got the Brookville back on its wheels.  The running gear overhaul is winding down, by the looks of it.  Of course it still needs an engine overhaul.  Our electrician, Josh, is also into old engines so he'll be tackling that.

On Saturday:

* We continued cutting west of the house.  We cut down a mighty big pine tree, and left some of it for next Saturday.
* Hans worked on #9 frame.
* Jason and Gordon cleaned out the tubes of #10.
* Later we cleared the tracks on Bay 4, rolled out the engine, and it was drained and pressure washed.  Then Jason proceeded to pressure wash the pit.  This effort succeeded in removing all the debris from the pit (Gordon cleaned out 2 buckets of black matter), and Jason succeeded in getting himself covered in black matter too.
* Bill continued working on his project, which I'm guessing is for #9, involving the small milling machine.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 12, 2010, 02:45:53 PM
Work anticipated for Martin Luther King Jr Weekend (Jan 16 - 18).  BTW I don't know if there'll be anyone at the RR on Monday, but am including it in case anyone is interested in working that day.

* I believe Jason wants to finish up hydro prepping #10 (if it's not already done) and have people do more work on #9's frame.
* Sawing of trees and burning of tree trash west of the house, near the road, for the future parking lot.  We even left some raw material to work with last week (a downed pine).
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 16, 2010, 08:36:51 PM
Work done on weekend of Jan 16

Brookville: The Brookville locomotive is on its wheels (as stated last week) and I noticed new springs under it today.
Loco 9: Lots of stuff on #9 today.  Bill continued his work on firebox door paraphrenalia.  Hans spent the morning cleaning up the frame and the cylinder casting (looks very nice and shiny now).  A ring which ties firebox smokebox to boiler was forced into proper size and is now welded together.
Loco 10: Filled with water to prep for hydro, but ran out of time.
Trees: Thanks to some Massachusetts crews, there were more fire pilers than there were chain sawyers.  The big pine from last week was cleaned up and a number of trees closer to the road were toppled.
Plowing: #52 was fired up and plowed out two yard tracks, so that coach 3 could be pulled out briefly and so that coach 8 could be pulled out for the day.

Weather was very nice today, had to be in the 40s.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Stephen Hussar on January 17, 2010, 07:38:40 PM
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/52plowingyard_sm.jpg)
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Stewart "Start" Rhine on January 18, 2010, 09:31:07 AM
Nice photo Stephen,  Thanks for the post. 
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Duncan Mackiewicz on January 18, 2010, 12:38:56 PM
Ditto that.
Duncan
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 20, 2010, 05:48:49 PM
Expected work for Saturday the 23rd.

Jason has another #9 work day scheduled for Saturday.

More chain sawing, I think near to the road.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 23, 2010, 08:37:59 PM
Work done on Saturday the 23rd.

I wasn't there most of the day, but was able to show up for the last hour to check out what had been done.

There was no chain sawing, as the snow was too deep.  We did get a double whammy earlier this week, so there's at least a foot of new snow on the ground.

As Jason reported in his report, good progress was made on #9 and #10.  When I was there I saw the smokebox had rings inside on both sides.

It appears #51 has had its gas tank removed, allowing unfettered access to the motor.  There's also a new gadget loosely attached, looks like a stubby flute but I suspect it is for oil distribution to axles and maybe chains.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Bill Fortier on January 24, 2010, 12:15:24 AM
It's a "tankless" job:

(http://home.earthlink.net/~wfortier/WW&F/100123_4869-lores.jpg)

Flute thing between first-aid kit and battery:

(http://home.earthlink.net/~wfortier/WW&F/100123_4870-lores.jpg)

Ring-ding:

(http://home.earthlink.net/~wfortier/WW&F/100123_4863-lores.jpg)

If the highlights look strange it's because my camera is going wonky.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 27, 2010, 07:13:39 AM
Anticipated work for weekend of Jan 30.

The big Springfield show is on this weekend, sponsored by the Amherst Railway Society and located at the Big E in West Springfield.  The WW&F and Sandy River both have tables, I can't recall if Boothbay Railway Village does, and don't know if MNG has one or not.  I think it's the biggest train show in the Northeast.  Check it out if you're in the area.

Because of the show, volunteers on the ground at the museum will be rather light this weekend.  My guess is we'll end up working in the basement of the house, stuffing styrofoam into crevices for insulation.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: James Patten on January 31, 2010, 06:30:33 PM
Work done on Jan 30.

Fred was so excited when a couple of extra people showed up that we weren't expecting that he ran right out and cut down a big pine.  During the morning a total of 6 trees were cut and tree trash burned.  After cutting the trees and serving lunch he decided to go home.  I was the last one to leave at about 2.

I checked out the shop and nothing looked different.

I haven't heard how we did at the Amherst show, hopefully someone will report.
Title: Re: January 2010 work planning
Post by: Duncan Mackiewicz on February 01, 2010, 12:38:58 PM
James,
I'm sure a more detailed report will come in from the members manning the tables but I thought we had quite a nice turnout of interested folks as well as members stopping by.  Granted I was one of those stopping by as the tables were well-manned but everything seemed to go well.  The show was bigger than ever with the addition of nearly all of the remaining space in the Mallory Building.
Duncan