W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on March 30, 2011, 06:06:15 AM
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Anticipated work for April 2:
* Sounds like it may snow on April 1, so some snow clearing will be in order
* It's time to assemble ballots for mailing, for the annual meeting in May. We'll have all the pieces. Anyone and everyone welcome to help. There's over a thousand envelopes to stuff.
* There's a train show in Gray
* Tree cutting? Likely.
* #9 work? Probably
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As James mentioned - The Narrow gauge train show will be held in Gray this Saturday. John Robertson has asked that any members arriving at the show between 8:00 and 8:30 help set up the museum tables. Help will also be needed to man the tables during the day.
The weather service has advised that a Nor'easter will move in Thursday afternoon bringing a rain/snow mix along the coast. Inland towns will receive up to 6" of snow through Friday afternoon. This is no April fools joke. As has been noted before, March in Maine comes in like a lion and goes out like ... a lion.
Saturday's forecast is for clouds, wind and temps around 40.
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Ah, finally I get an answer I've long been waiting for. Guess I'll go to the narrow gauge show instead. Sorry guys. :( But building my new On30 layout of Sheepscot has me needing a few things. Well, ok, a lot of things. :) Dont worry, I'll be down again soon. I was going to come down this weekend, but now that I know about the train show, I must say I'll go there and support the museum, and spend some money that I dont really have. lol.
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April is a snow month. As is May on occasion. Anyone desiring to shovel snow this time of year should seek help at the local psychiatrist. I myself am hoping it rains. ;D
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Work done on April 2:
* Six people sorted, stuffed, and stamped ballots and envelopes for mailing. Please fill them out and return them! (along with a nice donation ;))
* Coach 8 was moved to the team track for "Oily" to oil around this week.
* The casting which will unite #9's forward and rear frames was brought into Bay 2.
* Some snow was shoveled, mostly off the platform.
* Steward, John R, Bob G, Marcel, Joe, Dawn, and Cliff represented the WW&F at the Gray train show. Almost more people there than at the WW&F!
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The Gray show went well. We sold a fair amount of things, probably as much to other dealers as to the public. T shirts and books were good sellers. There were three good sized layouts. One had a stone cutting shed that had dual-gauge track in front that reminded me of the track at the coal shed at Bridgton Jct. A reporter and cameraman were there in the afternon, filming the layouts and interviewing a few exhibitors including one of the contest winners. The two foot groups included Boothbay, SR&RL and MNG.
Stewart
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Did the show actually last till 4?
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Yes, One fellow packed up around 3 but most stayed open til 4.
Stewart
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Oh. Any body come in to take a look around, or was it pretty quiet after Dawn and I left? When we left at 2:45 there were only vendors, and layout members left. It was deserted.
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Thank you to the volunteers who moved Coach 8 last weekend. Weather forecast looks good for Wed. 4/6 so I plan to go to Sheepscot then and hope to do the journal boxes for four cars.
Oily
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Anticipated work for April 9:
* Board meeting Friday evening
* Alna VFD members will be taking a ride up the line in the morning, to scout out places to stage an emergency drill
* #9 frame work is likely
* Fred wants to walk the ROW to cut downed trees and clean up downed limbs
* It would be nice if someone were to dig out the tamper and make sure the air compressor is in working order
The Alna VFD has a ham supper Saturday night at the fire station. Come out and support them!
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Work done on April 9:
* Dana wanted to go up line to get rail (for the new siding) and look for new timbers to replace the south AC switch stand timbers, but the diesel's batteries were dead. So the morning was spent charging them up.
* Zack and Bob G worked to jack up #9's old boiler to get the truck underneath out. Eventually that happened.
* Because the diesel was down, I fired up the Brookville (behind Coach 3 in the shop), got hooked up, and pushed it and Car 103 out to the mainline. Then we got the two flatcars hooked up and moved out of the way. Then all the stuff on track 7 got moved, so that #9's rear truck could be moved. Then everything (except the flatcars) were moved back.
* In the PM the diesel started, so with the hydraulic crane attached to the flatcar a train went north to get rail. A piece of the crane failed after 3 rails, meaning it could not lift any more rails. So the train returned, then put the flatcars back, and put Coach 3 and Car 103 back.
* Jason and others worked on #9's new frame, with Ed G machining supporting pieces.
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A bit more from today -
Fred sorted and cut 25 ties from the pile in the parking lot. Most of the 5 footers were loaded in the back of the Model A truck so they can be unloaded on the grade for the spur on the work weekend. The 3 foot sections were used as blocking under #9's old boiler and frame.
Dana and I uncovered, checked and started Big Joe. We ran the compresser for about 10 minutes and all checked out ok.
Stewart
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Glad to know Big Joe started. If I can make it next weekend, we should also get the firecar ready. Getting dry around here.
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Today, 4/10
Gordon and Rick spent a good part of the day working on #9's rear frame. The cross members and center casting got most of the attention. A couple of smaller projects got some work too.
Steve Smith inspected and oiled the bearings on all the in-door rolling stock.
I did a little work on the new telephone system, bay 3 extension.
Stewart
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Here's some pictures of the mating of the frame casting to the rear frame. Ric Sisson worked most of Saturday and Sunday preparing the casting to fit tightly on the frame which meant a lot of grinding to match various surfaces. I was actually involved with a repair to the railcar, so this was all Ric's work.
On Saturday the bolster cross members were welded, machined square, and drilled to fit to the frame. This will be dry-fit bolted together once all is in proper alignment.
Here Ric is shimming the casting into place for a test fit:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_ie4qLGwNObw/TaMFwtaxU_I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/gKfEbp9EEv8/s400/IMG_0950.JPG)
Lookin' Good!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_ie4qLGwNObw/TaMFxc-TwBI/AAAAAAAAA1U/RYaZeSg4qQE/s400/IMG_0952.JPG)
View from the tank end:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_ie4qLGwNObw/TaMFx9sbEiI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/SQH_0WfiTm0/s400/IMG_0953.JPG)
A close up:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_ie4qLGwNObw/TaMFyNluyJI/AAAAAAAAA1c/9BcbmuWlmUM/s400/IMG_0949.JPG)
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Excellent!! And thanks for the great pics, Gordon!
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Awesome!
Amazing to see it in place and to remember not so long ago it was no more than a CAD drawing!
Glad to see all the machine-work is finally done. I bet things will move forward a lot faster now! ;)
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Well... the machine work may be done on the casting- but the machine work is far from over. There'll be machine work on the forward frame, and on dozens of attachments to the frame and boiler. In fact machine work will still account for the majority if required time for the No 9 project.
As a very small example- the rear frame casting requires 24 custom-machined "fitted" bolts to be made in our own shop- after the precise reamed holes are created. We'll need well over 100 fitted (i.e. custom machined) bolts for the entire frame and attachment portion of the project.
There's plenty left to do- but the frame finally coming together is a major step forward and will serve to push us along that much faster!
Regards,
jason
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Anticipated work weekend of April 16:
* #9 work - frame, holes from smokebox to boiler, etc
* #10 work - Need to finish up the ashpan modifications before next weekend (and anything else that needs happening with the engine)
* ROW - Fred wants to take a crew and clean up alongside the ROW of any downed limbs, etc (although it looked pretty good last weekend).
* Track - at the very least, need to put bolts in the AC south switch stand to the timbers before next weekend.
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Busy day at Sheepscot on Saturday April 16. Hopefully I'll get everything in.
* Fred, Steve and Joe went out with the Brookville and 1197 and got the remaining 3 pieces of rail that Dana had wanted last week. On the way back they stopped and cleared branches out of the way of trimmers in summer.
* Zack spent the day grinding and fitting on #9's frame casting. At the end of the day he had one side fitting pretty good. He suspended the frame casting from the Bay 2 crane rails, so it was easy to move around.
* Railcar rear axle. A few weeks ago the railcar came to a grinding halt, just outside the shop. Turns out a nut inside the rear axle gear worked itself off some time ago then somehow got thrown into the gears. Bad things happened. John M spent time getting parts out, Ed G and I worked on making some new pieces.
* #10 ashpan. Joe, Jason, Brendan, and others worked on the ashpan, making pieces and shaping metal. Looks like there will be something functional for next weekend.
* Passengers. Some passengers showed up and got rides.
* Crane. New pieces for the crane pieces that failed last weekend were made up by Ed G, and put together by Fred. I helped Fred carry the thing around.
* We drained the water from the Bay 4 pit (most of it, anyway).
* Fred cut up 25 more ties.
* Fred and a crew went up to Head Tide to see about putting bridges for walkers over the large washouts on the ROW between HT and 218.
* John R brought in a new Great Falls Model RR Club video of last year's Victorian Christmas. We'll likely sell it in the gift shop in the near future.
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James, I read that Fred was thinking of building walking bridges over washouts between HT and route 218. Sounds like a great idea, is there any new information on the ROW between Top Of Mountain , Carlton Brook, and route 218. Thanks again for your weekly up dates. Fred L. Kuhns
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I hope Fred saves me some ties to paint. Its a job I can handle. LOL
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I didn't read about the switch stand getting repaired. Still out of service or is it ready for next weekend?
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I don't think it got repaired.
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It didn't get repaired on Saturday. Both timbers are split pretty bad, and I believe I heard a verdict of just bolts alone not being able to hold the switch down properly, so there was talk of using a steel plate under the ties to help, but idk if this is actually going to be done by this saturday or not. However we did grab three more rails to be used on the new spur to the future car barn, picked up down trees along the row, and looked at the switch to see what it would take to fix it.
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We searched the whole railroad trying to find two ten or eleven foot timbers for the switch repair and came up empty. Since then more snow has melted so maybe there are a couple on the top of the hill at AC. The switch can't be repaired until we get the timbers. That shouldn't affect the work weekend too much since we could use the north switch for getting stone. Thanks for getting the other three rails. We'll need to get joint bars and then the rails will have to be cropped and drilled before we install them on the siding (they have bad ends but can be used if shortened). Then we'll need to make a compromise joint so we can lay the 40 lb rail the rest of the way. Oh, there is some light rail still bolted together up near Davis Curve. I want to leave them bolted together and carefully drag them down to the siding so we can install them as a unit and not worry about unbolting them. So just leave them where they are for now and leave them connected. I won't be up on Saturday as we're having my grandson's birthday party that day. This was done so I could be there for the whole work weekend so I won't be back until Friday 4/29.
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Anticipated work for April 23:
* The Alna VFD wasn't able to make it for the line trip on the 9th, so they're going to do it the 23rd, in the morning.
* Easter trains. We need help with train crew, kiddie control, crowd control.
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This week at Sheepscot -
- Steve Z. ran an inspection trip Thursday because there was a rain storm with high winds earlier in the week. There were no blow downs and the railroad is in good shape.
- Zack cleaned the silt out and filled the water tank.
- A new ABC fire extinguisher was installed in the cab of the AA truck. It's on the passenger side above the back of the seat.
Spring has officially arrived. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano ... the porta pot has returned to Sheepscot.
Stewart
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Work done on April 23:
* The Alna VFD fire chief came at 9, and he and I took a trip up the line, afterward we sat down to talk about drills. We're going to schedule a simple one, probably in May (date to be determined).
* Ed G was working on a piece for the railcar rear axle
* Zack put some boards on the AC south switch ties to make sure the points stayed lined for the main.
* Zack was working on #9's frame
* I think Red and Brendan were looking at hole drilling in #9's smokebox
* Fred cut up some more ties
* Jason and Roger were #10 crew.
* Due to the weather it was decided to have egg hunts at Sheepscot, and only to haul one coach. Because of the AC switch the train was going to pull one way and push back. First two trips were full, third trip about 2/3 full, last trip almost empty. Lots of people were working behind the scenes to make it all work.
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...oh yeah, there were Moose too 8)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/moose_AlnaMEsm.jpg)
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Great shot Stephen! We watched that fella run around in the field across from the shop. Ya know, we've talked about putting rail in south of Cross Road ... well, the grade now has moose tracks.
Stewart
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Nice shot...thanks
Now my wife will believe there are moose in the area!
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Here are few more from Saturday's festivities...everyone had fun in spite of the dreary weather!
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/EastertrainatTrask_sm.jpg)
No 10 and coach 8 at Trask crossing...
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/Mikified1vertsm.jpg)\
making "Mikifications" to the ashpan handle...
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/Easter2011facesearsbwsm.jpg)
Easter faces in the rain...on a train...
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/ashpanhandleMikifiedsm.jpg)
"Mikified"
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/Easter2011Alyson_painting_Nate_sm.jpg)
Alyson amazes Nate with her artistic ability...seriously!
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/Rogerfiredoor1_sm.jpg)
Roger keeps an even fire...
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Stephen,
I assume your visit to my shop has influenced your vocabulary.
Bernie
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It's hilarious that you should mention it Bernie...Jason came up with that one on his own. But after hearing it I did explain the phenomenon you are referring to! ;)
Stephen
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Stephen,
Mine originated with Bob Kimmel when I started putting some of my super-fine finishes on some of CNJ 113's jewelry, parts, and patterns.
Bernie
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Great shots Stephen-- love the perspective of Roger firing, and the kids faces in coach 8. On the first trip shoving back, there were two girls googling at No 10 out the back window of coach 8. Going up Davis Grade, I noticed them take notice of the coupler/chain area between the coach and engine- this was immediately followed by a particular 'chink chink' sound of safety chain scuffing rail. So I stopped, restored the chain connection, and thanked the girls for their attention to detail...
Jason
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Stephen, how many easter eggs did the moose find anyway?
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Stephen,
You have probably heard this at least a million times, but you have a great eye. The pictures of those kids in the window and Roger are really great! Thanks for posting them
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There was also a reporter there from Kennebec Journal
http://www.kjonline.com/news/museum-visitors-ride-rails-on-easter-express_2011-04-23.html (http://www.kjonline.com/news/museum-visitors-ride-rails-on-easter-express_2011-04-23.html)
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Wow. Great pics. I love the one of the 10 with the big cloud of steam. For some reason seeing pics of steam like that have always fascinated me. The other shots are also good, like the detail shot of the ash pan. Looks amazing and so big. :)
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Duncan,
The moose didn't find any eggs ... he was hiding them. Moooove over Easter Bunny, the WW&F has the Easter Moose!
Stewart
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Work for weekend of April 29 - May 1: This is the Spring Work Weekend.
* Stewart's in charge of painting the car shop. As he noted, painting is likely postponed (although it appears Friday & Sat will be sunny/in the 60s)
* Steve Z is charge of the Coach 8 roof repair - although this is going to be postponed too, as it needs to be above 50 at night in order for the adhesive to cure, and it will not be that warm at night.
* Dana's in charge of track work - AC south switch tie replacement, track building for the 'north yard', ballasting, etc. I don't think this will be postponed.
* Jason is in charge of machine shop work: drilling on #9's smokebox, fitting up of #9's frame pieces, work on #10's ashpan, work on the railcar's rear axle.
* Rules review & emergency procedure presentation at 1 on Saturday. Location TBD. Could be upstairs in the car shop, or downstairs in the house, or somewhere else! Even though the emergency procedure presentation is mandatory for conductors, I'd encourage all to see it.
* Sue is in charge of feeding the troops.
* Linda's in charge of the gift shop.
Hope to see y'all there.
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Work done on the weekend of April 29 - May 1. This is a general list and not all-inclusive.
* Coach 8's roof was easily peeled off and the top layer of plywood removed. A new layer of plywood was put on and screwed in. The plywood was given a coating of clear epoxy, then the next day the canvas was applied to the roof and more layers of epoxy were put on. The top layer is red. It could use another layer of epoxy, this will happen on a dry Friday some time. The coach is spending the week inside the machine shop as it requires 50+ degrees to cure.
* The new siding was installed up to the top of the grade and the switch is now in service. Some of the 33# rail from last year that didn't get pulled apart was dragged down and deposited on the siding. The entire siding was given a coating of stone and gravel. No allowance was made for future switches on the siding, I'm guessing ties will get replaced with switch timbers when the time comes.
* The switch timbers on the AC south switch were replaced.
* Loco 9's smokebox holes have all been drilled. The smokebox front was put on, and the headlight and stack were put on for photographs. The cab was given some attention and more of the old paint was removed.
* Machinists Ed G and Bruce M were busy in the machine shop working on pieces for #9 and for the railcar.
* The folks in the kitchen (it's not just ladies anymore) put out great feasts. The Roberts played for us on Saturday evening.
* There were numerous other little projects going on that I did not catch.
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The man behind the camera: Stephen Hussar. Many folks admire Stephen Hussar's documentation of the work we do at the WW&F. Here's a view of Steve at work on Saturday evening:
And here he is imitating a pretzel inside No. 9's smokebox earlier in the day: