W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: Dana Deering on August 02, 2011, 05:24:16 AM
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Is there any interest in a track work day on Friday 8/12? That is the day before the picnic weekend. I'll plan on it if there is enough availability. I would need 5 or 6 people to make it work.
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I was planning on being there on 8/12 and doing just that - so, yes.
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Dana;
I plan to be at the Museum on 8/12 maybe with the Other Fred as well. See you then.
Dave
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I'll be there.
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Anticipated work weekend of Aug 6:
* #9 reassembly work.
* This is the first Saturday of the month, previously dedicated to track work. However I'm on the locomotive Saturday and cannot run a crew. Can someone step forward and do it?
* Picnic prep (which is next week).
* Big Joe work (if nobody is using it)?
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James,
Will any of this work be continuing on Sunday the 7th or is only Saturday a work day?
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I plan to be on hand Sunday, the 7th.
Can't make it the 5th or 6th.
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[Moderator's Note]
Previously, I discouraged the sort of "who is coming/who is available" in the monthly work planning thread; instead strictly reserving that thread to work planned and a report of what was accomplished. This was modeled after a similar posting series used by a volunteer railroad in New York, as well as the old "WW&F Spy Report" email list.
After some thought, I think it is permissible to add workman requests and "shout outs" of availability to this thread. The example of a track work crew coming together for Friday, Aug. 12th being a good example. However, do be aware that not every member (crew leader) checks this forum with extreme fervor (if at all.) Also, not all volunteers read its pages.
That having been said, please do not clutter the monthly work planning thread with banter about what we should/should not do, questions about the operation, suggestions, etc. Those items will be moved to their own threads.
Thanks,
-Ed
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Will any of this work be continuing on Sunday the 7th or is only Saturday a work day?
It will continue on Sunday if there's anyone to supervise the work. If nothing else, weed whacking will be available.
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I will be arriving late (for me) Saturday due to my work schedule. This leaves out track work.
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I plan to come up early on the 12th and stay the weekend, so yes I would like to join the track work crew.
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Work done on Aug 7:
* During the week, a few extra loads of fill were brought in.
* Also during the week, somebody (probably Leon) did some more brush cutting.
* Jason got one of the forward frame pieces attached to the frame casting this past week.
* Zack mounted the rear beam on the back of the frame. Both of these are on #9.
* A neighbor has cleaned us out of junk tie ends.
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Some of the tie ends, but not all.
Also Fred lugged more bridge pieces in today with help from Dave B., myself and possibly others. Nice walk.
On a side note to that, and to make people use the trail, I looked at a beam today along the trail. In the area of a derailment. This beam was 2 2x6s attached somehow, with bolts going down through. Nails have all been bent over. Fred thinks this could have been part of a flatcar.
I also moved a pile of ties to the House Track. Got them out of the parking area.
Still looking for the wheels.
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By the way, if we do have track work, what time will it be at?
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Anticipated work weekend of Aug 13:
* Friday is a track crew day, led by Dana. Don't know what time he's going out.
* Also a board meeting at 4:30.
* Saturday and Sunday is the annual picnic - so not a great deal of actual work will get done. Instead, it's a day to show members and visitors around, and enjoy the festivities. Sue Longo and Bob Gabriel are leading up the food services.
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So far this week Dwight has cut a path from end of track to trout brook. the third walking path bridge has been built and my trimmer and the railroad trimmer both have new clutches, more fill is still being hauled in and Jeff V. has left him dozer off to work with tomorrow.
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Work done weekend of Aug 13:
* Friday Dana took out a track crew. Unfortunately Big Joe decided not to cooperate. It had continual electrical issues, primarily with the lift mechanism. So ultimately about 1 rail length got tamped. Guess it's time for Mike and Brendan to complete the hydraulic conversion.
* Saturday was the first day of the annual picnic. Didn't seem quite as well attended as last year. Last year it seemed that most trains went out full (on a three car train). Not so full this year.
* Also the first day of a new time table, the biggest change is the addition of a regular railcar trip, 5 minutes departure behind the regular train from Sheepscot.
* Zack worked on parts of #9's frame.
* Sue and the crew worked hard at cooking and serving food.
* Sounded like Jeff Verney will start pushing dirt around tomorrow (Sunday).
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May not have been as well attended as last year as there was an Air show of sorts at Wiscasset Airport. They were supposed to have some WWII vintage aircraft, a B-25, P51, Zero and P40
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Some of us got to see both attractions. WW&F until 3:30pm and airshow over Boothbay Harbor at 5pm. ;D
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There also was an airshow at Pease with the Thunderbirds performing. It was heavily promoted and there were traffic warnings. We came through there at 9 AM and had no problem. It may have put some people off.
We had a good time in spite of the low turnout. We also checked out the train displays at Freeport. They had the Amtrak 40th Anniversary train on display, along with the PanAm business train (minus the "sisters") and their newly painted GP-9 #77 in a Boston & Maine maroon and gold livery. They will be there today also, from 10 to 4. Worth seeing.
Richard
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Picnic weekend but there was some work done. Zack drilled and mounted the 4 safety chain hooks on #9's tail frame. Jeff Verney pushed out all the fill dirt in the new parking lot, it looks great. He also did some feather work on the edge of the new fill at the roundhouse site.
Stewart
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Anticipated work for weekend of Aug 20:
* This is the third Saturday of the month, which must mean it's a #9 weekend. Not sure what's planned, but likely it has something to do with frame work.
* Fred will be mowing.
* If there's anything left over from the picnic, we'll probably have it at lunch.
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If I make it, there will be some Big Joe repairs. Replacing melted wires and testing the alternator again.
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Work done on Aug 20:
* Earlier in the week Jason attached the second forward frame piece to the frame casting.
* More loads of fill were delivered.
* Saturday, I saw John M with a string trimmer
* Zack worked on #9, leveling the frame.
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Anticipated work weekend of Aug 27:
* Mowing
* #9 Frame work
Note that remnants of hurricane Irene may hit the area sometime this weekend (currently forecast for Sunday)
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Big Joe repairs also. I will be there this time. Need to make some temporary repairs to the current set up to keep it working.
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Irene update - The weather service has forecast that the outer bands of the hurricane will work into the Mid Coast region on Saturday. While most of the day will be dry, clouds will build and wind speed will increase through the afternoon. Rain arrives overnight with heavy downpours by daybreak Sunday. Wind gusts up to 74mph will cause trees down and power outages. Low areas will experience flooding from heavy rains and coastal areas will get a storm surge during high tides at 11:00am and 11:00pm. The State Police have advised people to limit travel on Sunday to essential trips only.
Due to the forecast there may be no steam operations on Saturday and the museum may be closed on Sunday. This is not an official announcement from railroad officers, just my take on the situation.
Stewart
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Since all of our lines are on the ground or under the ground, the WW&F Magneto Telephone Depart is confident that there will be no interruptions in service. ;)
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Official word from Zack our superintendent is consistent with Stewart's statement: diesel Saturday, nothing Sunday. Subject to revision, I suppose.
Jason
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FYI... On vacation in Maine this week. Stopped by the Maine Eastern station in Rockland. They have canceled all trains on Sunday because of the storm.
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Work done Aug 27:
* Fred and Dwight did some mowing
* Mike fixed Big Joe's electrical problem
* There was a little bit of rearranging in the shop. I wanted to get Coach 8 under cover (the new roof leaks), so #9's drivers were moved from behind the frame to the extension floor. Then the caboose was shoved in more. Handcar 2 was put outside, leaving room for the railcar in Bay 2 and the coach in the machine shop. Putting handcar 2 outside sparked a search for its cover, which was found on the compressor car. Another search for the cover for the compressor car eventually found it outside near the gasoline shed.
* Jason has started milling work on one half of #9's forward frame. Meanwhile today I reamed out the last 2 holes and Zack got lock washers and nuts on all the bolts for the center casting which sits on the rear truck.
Now we all hunker down and wait for Irene to pass.
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I got Big Joe operational again. There needs to be some rewiring between the alternator and battery still. Some how melted during the last operating session. And probably the alternator needs to be tested. But it will operate now as is.
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How was the visitor count? Anyone dissapointed because of the lack of steam?
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Saturday's visitors numbered about 70 which was more than we expected. The fog burned off and the day became warm and humid. There were quite a few visitors from the Mid Atlantic Region, VA, MD, and PA. A least two families stopped by that had 5 or more kids. I gave tours to some of the family groups, one had 5 red headed boys. There may have been some dissapointment from no steam but we told folks that some of our crew came from MA and that we didn't want them to come to Maine and then have to drive back into the hurricane. Visitors were understanding of the situation and everyone got to see (and in some cases go in the cab of) engine 10. Many said they would be back for the Fall Festival or Victorian Christmas. The railcar ran 5 trips, one was sold out.
Zack completed his project to install a new gas range in the Percival house. It was in service well before noon so our lunch was cooked on it. A couple of us also disconnected the broken dish washer. The old range was put out front (along with the dishwasher) as free for the asking. Both were gone in half an hour. I spoke to the fellow who got the stove and washer, he was real happy to have them.
Hurricane forecast - Computer models have the eye tracking along the western edge of the state so there will be a bit less rain but more wind. A track inspection crew will go out Monday or Tues. We'll check for down trees, erosion, clogged culverts and inspect Humason Brook trestle so everything will be ready for Labor Day weekend.
Stewart
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The broken Microwave Oven was also removed. Put at curbside and had a new owner within a half hour. New microwave oven installed in location of old microwave. Trash and bottle/can baskets moved to under counter where the dishwasher was located.
dwight
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Dright and I finish Albee's crossing and a ways South from there in the afternoon as we were train crew part of the morning and removing items in the kitchen the rest of the time. I bought a new trimmer and have left my older one at the railroad. I put a new clutch in the old one a couple of weeks ago.
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The Irene Report: Irene caused no problems to the railroad. There were some downpours early in the day, but as Irene came ashore at Long Island NY and moved up the Conn. River, dry air got pulled into the system and killed the east side rains. It still blew plenty, but I think the highest gusts around here were probably 50 mph. Steve said that the only problem from the storm was the tent sheltering the lawn mower blew off, and something hit the mower removing a lever handle. A train ride today revealed no issues up the line.
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Amtrak remained shut down all the way to DC today. Glad to know that the WW&F is not so timid.
Richard
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Here's a picture of the Amtrak main at Trenton, NJ.
I don't see why they stopped running trains! :)
Keith