W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Work and Events => Topic started by: Mike Fox on December 18, 2014, 06:03:30 PM
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We just had a free plug on WMTW 8 for our museum and Victorian Christmas. Someone from Alna sent in a photo to their "U Local" page on their website. It is of #10 crossing Janes Way southbound in the snow. Also included was a brief history of the railroad. Thanks to the one who sent it in
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Here is a link to the photo (I hope).
http://ulocal.wmtw.com/mediadetail/21126451-WW (http://ulocal.wmtw.com/mediadetail/21126451-WW)
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Zack said that the museum was mentioned on WCSH Ch.6 last night. The piece was on the 207 local news magazine program. Did anyone see it?
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try
http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/207/2014/12/18/doin-tha-thangs/20617135/ (http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/207/2014/12/18/doin-tha-thangs/20617135/)
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"The narrow gauge in Wiscasset". Hopefully not too many go looking for Maine Eastern.
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How much snow is on the ground up there? Do we need to wear boots?
Richard Symmes
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Not much snow mostly bare ground.
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Thanks! We'll put on work boots just in case. See you there!
Richard
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I hope there was a good turnout.
Jeff S.
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More than 1300 people. We ran some 5 car trains. Crowds were lined into the street. Everyone seemed to go away happy.
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Many people had a hand in making today a success and preparations went back over a week. Here's a quick list:
* Steam - The shop crew, including Jason, Gordon, Jonathan, Brendan, Bob L. and Eric worked hours on reworking #10's exhaust nozzles and stack extension. The modifications helped #10 pull fully loaded 5 car trains.
* Parking - Brendan spent the better part of a day marking off the parking lot. Fred and crew worked hard parking as many autos as possible in the new and old lots.
* Safety - Josh Recave spent a day+ repairing our outdoor lighting so that most areas would have safety when darkness came (early this time of year).
* Food - Many people including Annie, Cindy, Gail, Stephen P., Dawn, Dave C., Kathy, Nancy, Sue, Jane, Jeanne, Jamie and Beth provided food, snacks and desert for the visitors and crews.
* Atmosphere - Fred, Steve Z., Brendan and Mike who cut wood for the AC bonfire.
* Comm - Brendan and John Mc. for rewiring the railroad mag phone system for reliable comm between Sheepscot and AC.
* Comfort - Zack finished the air exchanger system for the restroom building.
* Visitor Direction - Bob L. made signs for car capacity and for the donation cans at Sheepscot and AC.
* Joy - Steve Z. had direct contact with Santa, arranging for a long visit to AC.
* Smiles - Eric S. spent much of Friday setting up his live steam layout on the east side of the shop for everyone to enjoy while waiting for the next train.
That is as much as a tired brain can come up with tonight. Sorry if I missed anyone. Please add a post if I did!
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Did he get to sit on Santa's lap? *ducks* :D
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Sounds like slam-dunk city.
Super well done!
Can't wait for the vids.
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Regarding photogs - Kevin Madore was there, as was Matthew "Lost Tracks of Time" Malkevitch and Hansel "Downeast Rail Productions" Fardon, plus our own Stephen Hussar of course. Should see some really good pictures soon.
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Brendan was also being a shutter bug yesterday, and I know one of his shots was magazine front page quality. Perfect lighting, perfect setting (southbound by the water tower) and perfect temps for Bullet Bob to open the cylinder cocks..
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Stewart,
You forgot the train crew that brought everyone to Santa safely! Those five car trains didn't run themselves (or by elves).
Dave
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Thanks again, to all the local volunteers who work so hard to put on the Victorian Christmas event. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Fred L. Kuhns
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Hi Dave,
The recap was mostly highlighting things that were done in the week(s) prior to the event. Of course much work was done on Saturday by everyone, from food service to parking attendants to the gift shop to the train crew and AC crew. Yes, the train crew had a looooonng day and so did Santa, picking up kids all day. Everyone who worked at AC was some spent after working outside for 8 hours. What made it all enjoyable were the hundreds of happy visitors we met. For me it was good conversations with folks who gathered around the bonfire, many first time visitors. I've never heard so many "thank yous". Many were surprised to hear that we are all volunteers. Everyone I spoke to said how wonderful Victorian Christmas is and it's great that we to hold such an event each year. Yes, I was pretty tired by 4:30 but I would do it again in a second!
Start
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AMEN to all of this. When our party arrived from Massachusetts at about 11:30 and turned into Cross Road, we could not believe the number of cars lining the street. All the way down the hill and up the next, and out of sight. We were lucky and got waved into a space in the parking lot which just had been vacated. Upon getting out of the car, we saw the line of waiting passengers stretching the entire length of the station platform, down the ramp, and along the roadside almost to the Percival house. Never before have we seen that many people at any of the past events! We had to wait for 3 or 4 trains to come and go before seriously considering getting in the line. Despite the size of the crowd, everyone was patient and there was no shoving or cutting in as the train arrived for the next run. The platform is pretty narrow, and people were trying to enter the gift shop as well as wait for the train, so it made for some crowding at arrival and departure time. Refreshments were waiting inside, so the interior was usually packed with people, elbow to elbow. I think it probably was at peak capacity. Many volunteers behind the counter kept track of sales, refilled snack trays, etc. It was "organized bedlam", but again, there were no incidents or lost tempers from what we could see. Everyone was in a holiday spirit. A few drinks were spilled by kids getting bumped trying to negoitate the tight space, but no other problems. At Alna Center, the same spirit of Christmas prevailed. Kids could make clothespin ornaments in the station, see Santa, or ride the "wagon" sleigh ride. The weather was perfect. All in all: A+.
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The first 5 car train was handled by the 52, and had 197 patrons on board, the train crew, and myself as engineer. That was the heaviest train for the day, with the next count being around 185. I had my doubts, as we were navigating cockeyed curve, #10 would have handled the train. It was heavy, with coach 3 showing a noticeable sag, as it always does when loaded. So, 52 followed 2 or 3 of the steam runs, at restricted speed as "stall protection". Stopping south of the south whistle post at Trask, I could watch the train make it to Alna Center, then 52 would hi-ball it back to Sheepscot to clear the line for the train to return. Not once did the #10 need assistance.
The operating plan worked very well, alternating locomotives between trips, giving the steam locomotive a chance to service the locomotive. The locomotive that took the train North would run around at Alna Center and bring the train back to Sheepscot, pulling all the way to the end of the platform. The next departing locomotive would then couple onto the North end of the train, and take the train to Alna Center, and repeating the process again.
The crew did an excellent job. Everyone was in place and did what was needed to have great day.
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It was great seeing old friends yesterday, as well as making new.
Thank you to every person involved in making Victorian Christmas 2014 a magical experience.
It just keeps gets bigger and better each year.
A Very Merry Christmas to everyone!
Matthew
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Just think, next year #9 and #10 will be the motive power!
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Does anyone have the total passenger count for the event? It seems to me that someone mentioned 1297, but I've forgotten what the tally was for the regular trains (10:30 to 3:30) and what the tally was for the after-4 special. Thanks!
-John
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Regular runs 1297. IIRC, 29 on the after dark special.
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Number10 coming into Sheepscot
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc1.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc3.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc2.jpg)
Grampa elf bringing us north behind 52.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc4.jpg)
Santa
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc6.jpg)
10 running around at Alna Center
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc7.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc8.jpg)
Heading south with 5 cars.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/2014vc10.jpg)
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Folks,
I had a grand time yesterday, running around trying to capture all of what was going on. I suspect that between Stephen, Matthew, Hansel, Brendan and myself, we probably had pretty good coverage of all of the events. Interestingly, some of the coolest images were captured as the sun was going down and the crew was getting ready for that last run to Alna Center.
I shot a lot of stuff, so rather than tie up a lot of forum space, let me direct to you to my Flickr Page, where you can browse and click on anything that might look interesting to you.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/112261457@N06/sets/72157649879285405/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/112261457@N06/sets/72157649879285405/)
Once again, the museum crew did an awesome job with this event. This place is special. Stuff happens here that happens nowhere else. Thanks for everything you do for the preservation of this piece of our history, and also for everything you do for the community!
/Kevin
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Great images and video work all around. Well done!
And a huge thanks and well done to the volunteers who made the entire Victorian Christmas event a resounding success.
Merry Christmas to all, and a better New Year ahead!
Cheers -- Wayne Laepple
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Here is my video as seen from Sheepscot
http://youtu.be/lufbzAJavzw (http://youtu.be/lufbzAJavzw)
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I wanted to add my congratulations to everyone at the museum. The success of Saturday was absolutely wonderful for everyone. I know it's been mentioned many times but, from preparation to execution, coordinating that many people without incident is not at all easy.
Special to many of us was the performance of good ol' Number 10, thanks to upgrades from the steam crew. A clean fire and a talented crew were all she needed to get from Sheepscot to AC with 125# on the gauge, trip after trip.
Also, I'd like to add Liz Canella to the volunteer list. She pitched in all day in the kitchen to keep the crews fed and full.
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The record number of people that was being bandied around on Saturday from 2012 was 1275. However, the number I have recorded from that year's VC was 1168. So we beat 2012 by 150 people, counting the twilight run. Maybe "1275" was from when we did Halloween trains, but that would have been over 2 days.
Now if we can just even out the crowds over the day. A plethora of people in the morning and a dearth in the mid afternoon.
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The proven way to "even out the crowds" is to take reservations, even if they are free. Develop an on-line ticket that folks can print off and bring with them. Save some space for walk-ins. You've got 11 months to work out how to do this.
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We can add two more people, J.B.'s friend Laura and her helper (sorry I don't know her name) who worked all day guiding kids through making their own Christmas decorations. AC depot was filled with kids making little Christmas trees with felt and reindeer from clothes pins. I saw so many happy faces on children as they brought their treasures from the depot and stood by the bonfire. Those hand crafted items were very popular and will be nice souvenirs of the day at the WW&F.
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All:
Jonathan StMary is putting a notebook together with notes and details of Victorian Christmas. Each person who helped or worked before or during the event is requested to contact Jonathan and give him information on what they did and what materials were needed. Suggestions for future VC events are welcomed as well.
There has already been an impromptu meeting (this morning) with 7 volunteers who worked on Saturday. Some good ideas were brought up including having car 65 tied down on the siding at AC to provide a new place stage the crafts people. This gives them more room for the kids work table, etc. and clears the depot for better use by the station agent and crew. With 3 locomotives in service there would not be a run around move at AC, making this possible. This is all preliminary and depends on a number of things but it's the type of ideas we are kicking around for next year.
Start
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You guys really make a beautiful event. The videos and stills are great. I don't see a sad face in the crowd!
#10 sounds good and sharp in Hansel's video (great job, by the way!) and the live steamers in Eric's videos almost had me believing half of Maine's two footers had been resurrected!
Thank you for your tremendous efforts!
Merry Christmas to all and a steamy new year!
John (Watching jealously from afar)
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Hi Hansel,
It wouldn't be a push-pull operation. The first move would be a light engine to AC. The first train has a power swap at AC for the return trip. That way there's a locomotive leading each trip in each direction because there are power swaps at AC and Sheepscot.
Start
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Exactly like we did the first Ice Cream social we did. It would work for Christmas with the crowds with 3 locomotives, no less. First locomotive North could stage the car at AC.
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Hi Mike,
I think we would have to take the dairy car up a day earlier so we can build a ramp over the ditch and set the steps and railing at the right height. We have to find a safe way to put heat in the car too. We may need lighting depending on how things work with the windows.
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We have the makings for an interesting night trip picking the car up...
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That was operating plan 3 from this year- since plan 2 was our preference (and what happened), no 3 was our first alternate. It is better than plan 4- two trains, but it pounds locomotives over the track for little reason and, more importantly, gives the engine crews absolutely no down time. That second one was a major concern with this year's operation. It worked out splendidly as it was. 3 engines next year will only require one more person than an all steam operation.
So, Hansel, your idea is an option- but may not be the first option. Someday we could have a 3 engine, all steam rotation!
See ya
Jason
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Hey Hansel,
Ya may not know it but what you suggested is what the EBT did the first couple of years that the line reopened. Engine 12 pulled the consist north to Shirleysburg and #15 ran light in reverse trailing the train. At the north end of operable track, the 12 was cut off and #15 came in to get the train. #12 ran light back to Orbisonia. The operations were because Pennsylvania law required that the locomotive lead the train and not push it.
Just a bit of trivia ...
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The Brits and the Aussies operate trains with an engine on each end fairly often, known as "top and tail." i have no idea why... They keep everything coupled to avoid the possibility of a rear-end collision.
Anyway, my thought it to keep No. 52 at Alna Center, cut the road engine off at the south switch and duck into the siding, while No. 52 drops down the main and pulls the train that last hundred feet into the station. Then the steam engine couples to the south end, ready to go. Diesel cuts off and waits until the next trip. Repeat as necessary. Every trip is steam hauled!
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Anyway, my thought it to keep No. 52 at Alna Center, cut the road engine off at the south switch and duck into the siding, while No. 52 drops down the main and pulls the train that last hundred feet into the station. Then the steam engine couples to the south end, ready to go. Diesel cuts off and waits until the next trip. Repeat as necessary. Every trip is steam hauled!
When does steam servicing occur? If the answer is that there's two steamers, do the power swap the same way we do it now, but using two steamers. If there's only one steamer, it will need servicing, hence the present use of 52 as the alternate power.
-John
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It would work the way it does now. No. 9 would arrive back at Sheepscot, and No. 10 would couple to the north end of the train. When No. 10 has cleared out, No. 9 would receive service and take on water, then await No. 10's return. No. 10 would cut away at the south end, and No. 9 would couple to the north end, ready to go. When it has cleared, No. 10 would receive service and take water. Etc., etc., etc.
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I guess the beauty of that scheme is that one does not need the full length of the AC runaround.
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First want to congratulate everyone on putting together an event that has become even more wonderful over the years. Most impressive was that, even considering how excellent it was, we were back at the drawing board this morning reflecting on what went well and what could be improved. What a class act!
I also want to thank all of you who I got to spend time with this weekend-my "family" away from home- spending time with you all was a wonderful Christmas present.
Merry Christmas,
Steve
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Just my opinion, but I think running two steam engines for a free event is a bit much. You are just doubling your operating costs, and in reality, won't gain anything extra out of it. It would be fun and very enjoyable, but with current staffing, very impractical. From my perspective during the peak time there was just enough people to manage the crowd and keep things moving safely.
And has there been any thought on maybe advertising the event is by donation instead of just saying its free?
More food for thought for not just this event, but other big ones such as Easter, is maybe a crew schedule so that any job that needs to be filled is filled and any job to be done is done in advance and not at the last second. This can help us appear more organized.
Overall I think we do very well with these events, but have room for improvement.
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Per Waynes idea, dropping the train on the main for the 52 to grab and finish hauling into the station may lead to confusion among patrons, and add a few minutes to the trip. Not much time but it could add some. Another great idea though, and should be considered.
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A picture taken by one of my coworkers. This was the line about 11 AM, between the first and second 5-car trains.
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I'd like to point out that upon arrival many people were asking where to buy tickets and how much they cost. They were delighted to find out that they were free of charge, as a thank you for the community. What I think it does indicate, is that there is a interest in other events and people are willing to pay for them. This should be explored further.
Steve
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Just my opinion, but I think running two steam engines for a free event is a bit much. You are just doubling your operating costs, and in reality, won't gain anything extra out of it.
Since #9 is 50% bigger than #10, I suspect that the operating costs of running both 9 and 10 would be 2.5X current costs, rather than 2X.
More food for thought for not just this event, but other big ones such as Easter, is maybe a crew schedule so that any job that needs to be filled is filled and any job to be done is done in advance and not at the last second. This can help us appear more organized.
I'm sure that Jason did this, at least for the train crew positions. I know that he and I discussed my role as Alna Center station agent several day in advance, so I expect that most other positions were also anticipated. The 0900 meeting was mostly a refresher course and an opportunity to greet the troops, especially new fathers. ;D
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John, I think Joe might be referring not to operations personnel, but the other volunteers making things happen at VC.
For example, many visitors came away requesting hot beverages at Alna Center because of the extended time spent outside. There was a concern that there would not be enough volunteers to accomplish this but, if it was figured out somewhat ahead of time, it could help make something like that more feasible.
Steve
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For refreshments at Alna Center, perhaps a local Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop could become involved to man a table. A couple of those 10-gallon insulated drink units such as used at football games could be borrowed or rented.
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I would like to continue discussions in the members section
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All,
I posted the Ulocal notice, seemed like a good idea.
As for the refreshments, we went through over 20 gallons of coco, and 12 gallons of cider, its a lot of work.
Merry Christmas to all
jkb