W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on June 29, 2011, 06:14:52 AM
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Aniticipated work for weekend of July 2:
* Saturday is the beginning of the summer steam season!
* Fred would like help moving bridge materials to Head Tide cut, and down to the new bridge site, which will be on the ROW over another washout. Don't know if he's planning on building it Saturday or not (I think so).
* I am going to run a track crew, I will plan to work north of Albee's Crossing for the day. I'd like to leave by 7:30. This would be with Big Joe, so actual physical labor will be minimal.
* More work on #9's frame.
* Mowing too
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If you are planning work on the north end of the line, take a chain saw with you. There are two dead trees just past Rosewood crossing on the East side that are leaning towards the ROW - supported only partially by branches of another tree. They probably let go sometime between 6/18 and 6/25. One good gust and they may end up on the tracks.
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Awesome, I'll be up there Friday & Sat-Sunday to help out.
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I'll be there too. Not many of these Saturdays are going to line up for me so I better take it when I can.
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[Moderators Note]
A reminder that the "Work Planning" threads are (supposed) to be kept clean of responses, etc. - unless directly related to the work planned or accomplished. This includes responses of who is planning on attending, unless they have a specific project that they have been tasked with, and need volunteers.
Those looking to be a general volunteer on any given day should send a private message or email to the person(s) they intend to report to on the weekend. Or, just show up, since there is always plenty to do. If in doubt, send a private message or email to James or me.
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Forgot to mention that on Monday, Independence Day, the Museum will not be open but there will be people there for part of the day. We are taking part in the Wiscasset parade that day, using the Model A truck as our prop. The theme is "Wonderful Waterfront" or something to that effect. Since the WW&F dominated the waterfront at one time, that makes us pretty wonderful!
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Thanks for the reminder James.
We'll need help unloading the truck Saturday morning. It's an important job because the foot bridge lumber needs to go to Head Tide and we need the truck empty to set up for the parade. The truck will have large historic photos on the sides showing the Wiscasset water front with the WW&F trestlework and schooners. A banner on the back of the truck will explain the relationship of the narrow gauge and the town. A load of antique crates, barrels and milk cans will be the "freight" in the back to complete the scene.
Stewart
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[Mike's Note]
I post my presence only to allow the planning of the day. Having a plan on what can be accomplished depends on attendance.
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[John's Note]
Knowing that Phil was going to be there today and would probably be willing to help me put a cable in the trestle, I went to the Museum today and we got it done!
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Work done on Saturday July 2:
* Fred, Stewart, Phil, Dave B, and probably others went to Head Tide with more bridge material in the morning. In the afternoon they worked on part of the footings for the bridge.
* Mike, myself, Brad, and Joe, joined later by Phil and Dave, took Big Joe to Albee's Crossing and started working on joints. We got about 150 feet done before the first train. Because we thought we'd be out of gas, we stopped work and went to EOT to wait for the train to leave, then worked on some level problems north of Rosewood. We then went back for lunch. After lunch we put some ballast on the mainline in yard limits, then emptied the rest of the flatcar on the spur.
* Josh worked wiring up the new machine (that Ed G and Brendan delivered earlier this year).
* Brendan delivered hydraulic equipment which is intended for use on Big Joe, to make him self-propelled. Eventually.
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There was some talk between Brenden and myself as to mounting locations for the power unit. He has an excellent location for it we will go with. Then we get to the plumbing. Better save me a spot in Bay 2 this winter!
Little Joe got introduced to the operational side of Big Joe today. He got the hang of it eventually.
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/Big_Joe_and_Little_Joe.jpg)
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Anticipated work for weekend of July 9:
* Friday is a board meeting.
* The following week, 11 - 15, is the work week, which typically consists of grass cutting.
* Fred would like to finish the bridge at Head Tide. After that he'll probably start grass cutting.
* If I have enough people, I'd like to take out a track crew. This would be primarily for lining track, which means we need 5 or more people to be effective.
* #9 frame work
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Work done on Friday and Saturday:
* Friday, Fred finished building the second bridge at Head Tide.
* Jason attempted to rig up one of our lawn mowers so that it could be suspended and be used to mow the ROW next to the track. The mower was one that has been not working well for a while. The results were less than stellar. The mower may be destined for the transfer station.
* Saturday, Fred and Brad started mowing. Brad worked at AC and Fred at Trask's.
* Brendan was working on constructing a frame to mount the hydraulic equipment on Big Joe.
* Stewart and Bob G spent time on the Model T, replacing the manifold and attempted unsuccessfully to get it running.
* Brigid worked in the kitchen then in the garden.
* Loco 9: Jason made bolts for the casting/rear frame mating, while Zack pounded them in. There's a small bend in the frame at a certain point that Jason wanted to remove, so Ed G and I worked to build a jacking system. Ed left mid-day and I continued alone, getting a couple of attempts but had trouble with the jack placement.
A note on the mowing week: Fred says that he'll stop work by 2 each afternoon. And if it rains, he doesn't plan on showing up.
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Kielbasa Dave and I plan to be up on Friday and Saturday for the ROW mowing week. Since KD will occasionally volunteer me for work on the forum, I am pleased to say KD and I plan to work beyond 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Bill
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As James mentioned, this coming week, July 11-15, is Summer Work Week! ;D
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A bit more on the railcar. We had it running a number of times after the new manifold was installed. It would run well for a minute or so then stall for lack of fuel even though the tank was 2/3 full. We checked the gas tank bowl and feed line then took the carburetor apart to check the float. We found a possible problem and new parts will be ordered from Snyder's Antique Auto Parts. The new parts should be on the car by next Friday.
Now, about that new foot bridge at Head Tide -
I heard Fred say "Go up and see it, the grade is real pretty through there". He also mentioned that there may be a troll under the bridge.
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There are now Two foot bridges between 194 and 218, I'll have to rent another troll to take tolls. A person can walk pretty much along that 3/4 mile section of roadbed without any steep washouts where culverts used to be. Very pretty along the river and the very deep fills along the way.
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July Work Week so far -
Fred and Dwight have strimmed the grade from just north of the Rt 218 crossing all the way to Head Tide Road. People can now park at the HT dam and walk the grade through the cut all the way to 218 with ease. The r-o-w is real pretty along the river. (I walked part of the grade Monday and enjoyed it ... but the troll tired to grab my ankle as I crossed the second bridge).
Clearing has been done at Trask's crossing and around AC. Much more needs to be cut.
The east wall of the shop building is being painted yellow to cover the pink primer.
A special train was run today for a group of visitors who showed up at lunch time.
Stewart
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Anticipated work for the weekend of July 16:
* Thursday and Friday are the end of the ROW mowing work week. Looks like decent weather and temperatures. Likely mowing will continue into Saturday.
* This is the third weekend of the month, which is a designated #9 work event.
* We need help with lunches this weekend: Brigid has company, and Cindy is in the giftshop. If you can bring something (or do something) that would be very helpful.
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RE 7/16 lunch.
I'm doing penance by frying bacon + assisting with a Brigid Grand Plan. Sounds like BLTs--shades of Cafe Fred.
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Work done on Saturday July 16
* Friday Fred managed to talk HC Crooker & Sons (contractors on Wiscasset's water pipe replacement project) to dump their diggings from under the streets of town in our backyard! This material will be used as fill for the roundhouse area. So far a half dozen dumpings, some of it really good looking gravel.
* Fred and crew also cut down some of the trees by the picnic tables.
* More work on #9's frame: putting the nuts on all the bolts tying the rear frame to the frame casting, then flipping the frame assembly and drilling holes in the rear truck casting and frame pieces for bolts.
* More bushwhacking, this time at Sheepscot Mills.
* Railcar's operational again, it made two trips on the entire line.
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I'd like to thank the people that helped cut grass this last week. Friday was our biggest crew. Sat. some people cut where the sawmill is. I held off. Posion Ivy!!!
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Today was a bit quiet at the railroad, I think the 90 degree heat kept people at the beach. A couple of things did happen though. Due to the small number of visiters the decision was made to switch the yard after the 3 o'clock train. The railcar was doubled over to the shop, coach 3 was put away and coach 8 was put back on the main to be in the consist of the next train. Engines 10 and 52 were the goats and things went smoothly. The funny thing is that a fellow who has just moved to Newcastle came to Sheepcot just to take pictures and shoot video. He filmed everything we did and told me "Hey, this is great I didn't think I'd see this much action!" He didn't ride the train but said he'd be back in a couple of weeks to take the trip.
Our grading contractor, Jeff Verney, brought his excavator in to work at the railroad. He did this on one days request. Jeff pushed out the piles of new dirt that were delivered last week. Earlier, Fred had contacted the company working on Federal Street in Wiscasset and asked them if they would deliver the excess dirt to Sheepsot. The agreement was made and the trucks started bringing soil last week. The piles soon took over so Jeff was asked to push them out so the trucks can resume the dirt drop tomorrow. The new fill material is being spread out on the site of the roundhouse.
Stewart
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So what are the plans for next weekend?
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Wait until Wednesday. James will have an idea by then and will post.
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Anticipated work the weekend of July 23:
* ROW Mowing on Friday and Saturday (maybe - it is going to be quite hot and muggy)
* Brigid will working in the garden
* #9 work
We've had delivery of a number of dump truck loads of fill, and a local contractor has been spreading it this week. This may lead to some work in the areas yet to be filled in.
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This week -
More fill dirt has been brought in (see my post from July 17th on page 2 of this thread for details on how the museum got the material). The Crooker trucks are now dumping dirt in the planned parking lot west of the Percival house. They have brought a lot of loads in the last few days. The new fill on the roundhouse site has been graded and a small part of the old hill has been cut back to make room for the turntable lead.
The great wall is done! The longest continuous wall of the shop building is now all yellow. This wall faces the station platform and is seen by visitors as they wait for the train.
A charter for the Healthy Kids organization was run today. Angela Percival arranged the trip with a special / second stop at AC. We ran the standard EoT trip then stopped at AC southbound so the kids could have snack time at the picnic tables. We were out for about 1 hour. The group had a good time and treated the crew to a round of applause when we returned to Sheepscot station.
Stewart
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Work done on Saturday the 23rd:
* #9: Fred and Phil removed the rear beam from #9's original frame, and removed the coupler pocket and angle iron, and brought inside for reinstallation. Zack bought a new timber for the rear beam, and he notched it. At the end of the day he was drilling holes. Also, Ed G worked on separating the two frame pieces from each other.
* Some tie timbers were moved from where they are near the edge of the parking lot and moved elsewhere.
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More tamper parts for self propulsion were acquired today and will be up in Maine next weekend.
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I am planning on some work on Big Joe next weekend. This should fit right in nicely. I'll post a reminder at the end of the week if I can make it.
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Anticipated work for weekend of July 30:
* Weed whacking along the ROW
* Big Joe work
* #9 frame work
* Saturday there's a charter, of sorts, in memory of Brian Gottlieb. His wife, family, and friends are having a get-together at Alna Center in the field during the day.
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Big Joe work Saturday. The grass will be too wet to cut. >:( Atleast in the morning.
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Work done on July 30:
* Leon and Brad have been weed whacking all week. Most of what they did is around Alna Center.
* Earlier in the week, Jason set up the forward frames for #9 to next to the frame casting.
* Zack drilled holes in #9's rear beam, and got the coupler pocket installed.
* Mike moved the BIW joint bars from where they where to just north of the gas shed.
* Brendan and Mike worked on Big Joe, mounting the hydraulic motor.
* The Gottlieb memorial service was well attended.
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Actually all 249 bars are South of the gas house.
Some pics from yesterday.
Zack working on the new beam for the rear of #9
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/NewBeam.jpg)
New Frame is coming together nicely also.
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/Frame.jpg)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/Frame1.jpg)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/frame2.jpg)
And lastly the fill Fred got for us.
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/Roundhouse.jpg)
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Great pictures, thanks Mike!!
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Yes, indeed! Thanks for the photos, Mike. A picture is worth a thousand words.
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There's also about 20 truck loads dumped on the parking lot. The Alna fire station is getting some of the fill also so I don;t know if we will get any more or not.
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The new fill in Mike's photo is the location of the planned roundhouse. Until then, the area makes a great second parking lot that will come in handy during large events such as the Annual Picnic August 13th and 14th.
Stewart
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Unless it is wet Stewart. Then the souls of your boots get thicker from the sticky clay. ;D
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Yes, my boots have soul, they really sing the blues after I step on a hot clinker!
:D