W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Work and Events => Topic started by: Jason M Lamontagne on July 30, 2019, 06:48:06 AM
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Hello all,
If you are planning on attending this year’s (2019) FWW as a general track crew aid, and are able and willing to spike, please let us know here.
We have a hefty track laying goal this fall, with spiking being the major crew need. The full intention is to retain hand spiking, for the community it builds amongst our volunteers, a demonstration and means of preserving this part of railroading’s past, and for improved quality.
There was mention made of not spiking all weekend. A request: if you’re physically able but lack stamina for constant spiking, spend your days on the spiking crew anyway. Rotation is critical. Spend your off-spiking time on a nipping bar, or getting a drink. Pick someone who is spiking and cheer them on! The camaraderie is the source of the fun- it takes a village to make it happen.
Ive been meaning to post this- but Dana’s valid concerns are a timely kick in the butt. Spiking this much track won’t just happen. We can’t collectively leave it to “the spikers” and assume all will be well.
Friday, in particular, followed by Sunday, Monday and Saturday are the spiking crew pinch needs. Please consider this the priority.
We’d like to address the concern with 3 concise efforts: preplanning, largely on this forum, so we can come to understand how many folks are coming with different work disciplines, including spiking, in mind. Second we plan to have a coordinator stationed such that incoming volunteers can be directed. Lastly we plan to make a concerted effort to keep the shop crew minimized.
In particular, the tank car project, if it proceeds will likely be carried out by four or so specific volunteers by invite. In this way, other volunteers can feel welcome to peak in to see the progress, but can clearly understand that the work need is not in the shop. This isn’t meant to keep it exclusive- simply efficient, and a way of keeping the focus where the greatest crew need is.
If this goes as planned- we may well be blowing No 9’s whistle by the shoulder of Rt 218 by the end of the weekend...
Ed, feel free to reposition this post as appropriate.
Thanks Dana, and thank you crew,
Jason
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I would expect that getting the track down to 218 will mark the commencement of a reasonably lengthy period of calm consolidation.
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I do plan to attend on Fri., Sat. and Sun. I will try doing spiking when I can but my hands do not seem to last long in gripping hammer after a few. I do have experience from last year working with the gantry system and laying rail.
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Thank you, Jason! It's OK if you can't spike all of the time. We set up spiking teams and you can rotate jobs within the team (nipping ties vs. spiking) or you can rotate out of spiking for a while and do some other task. There are a lot of non spiking jobs that help keep the spiking teams moving. Any and all help will be used and appreciated! (We try to have fun, too.)
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I'll be at FWW Fri-Mon. I have never driven spikes in the past, but over the years I have plenty of experience with the operating end of a splitting maul. :P Having said that, in recent years, I have mostly used a hydraulic splitter. 8)
I already expect that I will need to rotate to a pinch bar operator periodically.
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I was hoping to help on the rail laying machine again this year, as I did last year. I can do some spiking too, but I shouldn't do too much (ie, should rotate). Friday, Saturday and Monday, and if there's a prep day during the week before I'd like to be involved with that.
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My spiking days are limited, but I do plan on arriving the day before the FWW (Thursday) to help set up. I will be there all four days.
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I'm planning on Fri - Mon. May be able to do Thurs also. I'd like to work on the track laying end as I did Sat of last fall; placing ties, installing and removing insta-track. I'll also do my part and bang a few spikes plus anything else that needs doing at the railhead.
Here's to seeing and hearing #9 at Rt 218 this fall! We can do it!
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That's great, so far, guys! Remember that there are other tasks besides the actual hammer swinging that are part of the overall spiking process. One that has been mentioned is the placing of ties, another is setting that inside spike on the east rail so we can get the east rail spiked down ahead of the gauging and finish spiking crews. That is a vital task. Moving insta-tracks, making sure we have spikes, etc. Also, there should be more tools so that we can have a greater number of spiking crews. I've heard a rumor that Leon Weeks is making us several new spike nippers. More spiking crews could mean less spiking per crew and fewer worn out spikers! If we all pull together I think we can make the goal. Once we get the process flowing I think we can get 500 feet per day. The big challenge will be Monday when we historically lose folks who have to travel.
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Get in shape now..218 is 2400 feet from the end of track...That puts you beyond the yellow saw horse I built. This amount of track laying will not be repeated for some time..
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Planned estimated track length is 2014' if I remember correctly. Give or take a few feet.
I won't know my availability to the days of but hope to be right there spiking if at all possible. Last Fall went very well with an extremely well organized part from Dana who helped ensure the groups of guys spikef as efficiently as possible. This is goal is 100% achievable with everyones help.
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As has been my practice over the past several years, I will remind Jason as the FWW approaches that I am "at his service" and will do whatever task he assigns.
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I plan to be there for the full FWW to help out where needed. Here’s hoping Lightning and Co. will be there to set the pace. New folks should jump right in by asking the track boss where they can help.
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Hi, All:
I'm not your spike man, but have rotated through the other spike team positions for a couple of work weekends. I'll be up Fri. - Mon., doing what I can, wherever needed. I'll try to be available to help with picking rail and other prep work, late Aug. and Sept. See you on the Narrow Gauge!
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I will be around for two days during FWW. I can't spike (don't even know how), but am happy to help at the rail laying end as I did last year.
Bob
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I hope to make it up for two days. Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday. I'm not very accurate, but I do enjoy the work. Really looking forward to this big push!
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I'm planning to be there for at least part of the weekend (which days I'm not sure yet) and look forward to spiking.
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The perennial challenge we have on the work weekends is delegating labor to the projects
DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!
I think that is our biggest limitation. When someone "shows up" for a Work Weekend, far too often they aren't plugged into where the needs are.
We could do pre-signups like the Friends of the C&TS - but I'm not sure that fits our "culture". Instead, let's ALL make an effort to help direct our new friends to find the correct place to work. If in doubt, see the Dispatcher, who is usually in the Sheepscot Station house and, in theory, knows where the workers are needed. Just directing people who "look lost" to the dispatcher is a huge help that we can all do.
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Here’s hoping Lightning and Co. will be there to set the pace.
Current weather forecast is for Lightning (and Thunder) all four days... ;)
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Seeing as there will be a lot of people who did the work last year it seems like there is a very good chance of rail being laid quickly. Will there be any staging of any ballast cars to follow the spiking crew?
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There may be. We have to finish the section at the bridge before December, which includes ballast. Tamping would be great too, but I think we will be ok without it. It is the constructing in a shoreland zone we need to be most concerned with. Maintenance, like tamping, we can do any time, as long as we are not disturbing the soil, in my translation of the ordinance.
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I'd be pleasantly surprised if any ballasting were to get done. Best to focus on getting the track down. You can never count on things going as planned and if it rains that will slow progress down considerably because you work slower in the rain and it is more dangerous. 500 feet per day for 4 days is a lot of track per day.
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As requested in Jason's post that originated this thread I am planning on attending FWW arriving Friday afternoon and departing after succession of operations on Monday. I'm not a spike driver (one eye = bad aim) but can do other things like I did last FWW; Set out ties, remove/install insta-track, mark ties for spike placement.... etc. In other words do what is needed and rotate between jobs.
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This is all very encouraging! I'm feeling more confident about reaching our goal as I read the responses. And with Thunder and Lightning spiking up a storm, how could we not make it? :)
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I think that is our biggest limitation. When someone "shows up" for a Work Weekend, far too often they aren't plugged into where the needs are.
We could do pre-signups like the Friends of the C&TS - but I'm not sure that fits our "culture". Instead, let's ALL make an effort to help direct our new friends to find the correct place to work. If in doubt, see the Dispatcher, who is usually in the Sheepscot Station house and, in theory, knows where the workers are needed. Just directing people who "look lost" to the dispatcher is a huge help that we can all do.
Having the dispatcher send volunteers to where they can help is a great idea. Let's make sure it happens.
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I'm expecting to be there with maul in hand Fri-Mon (somebody has do do half of Dana's job setting gauge spikes for him).
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Maybe this has been considered in the way past, but could that first spike be started in the ties while still at Sheepscot? The ties could then be delivered ready to lay out and aligned to the guide string.
Dave Crow
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I hope to join in the fun, but depends on the electrical needs.. Our electrician has requested some conduit be bried between the new Electrical building and the car barn extension..
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Since the Dispatcher will be quite busy, especially in the early part of the day, getting several trains heading out and so forth, perhaps another person should be tasked with directing folks to locations where they can be most useful. Since most volunteers will walk by the chalkboard on the restroom building porch, the "work dispatcher" should be there, rather than in the station. Alternatively, the work dispatcher could also be at the station or even at the shop. The point is to allow the Train Dispatcher to concentrate his full attention on the trains.
In connection with this, if the various crew leaders can estimate how many workers they might need in advance, the work dispatcher could keep track of how many folks are at each job to most efficiently distribute the volunteer workers.
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The problem is the initial track crew size at the 8-8:30 departure on Friday and Sunday ends up being our crew size for the day, give or take 5-10. Saturdays gets much better by 10a.m. We really need people willing to literally push folks up north. Rather they come up to work or watch, there are many tasks to be done.
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As I've said, motivating enough volunteer workers to do heavy labor under the 'time gun' without driving them away is difficult.
Yes, the enjoyment, camaraderie and satisfaction of doing needed trackwork here sounds strong and certainly eases the work effort, per the small amount of spike banging, tie lugging and creosote smoke-hazed trimming I've done.
How to get consistent, unpaid,"full days work" through the whole weekend?
A tough one.
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[Moderator's Note]
Parts of the B&SR Tank 14 restoration thread have been merged into this one, as they pertain specifically to the Fall Work Weekend.
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Since the Dispatcher will be quite busy, especially in the early part of the day, getting several trains heading out and so forth, perhaps another person should be tasked with directing folks to locations where they can be most useful. Since most volunteers will walk by the chalkboard on the restroom building porch, the "work dispatcher" should be there, rather than in the station. Alternatively, the work dispatcher could also be at the station or even at the shop. The point is to allow the Train Dispatcher to concentrate his full attention on the trains.
In connection with this, if the various crew leaders can estimate how many workers they might need in advance, the work dispatcher could keep track of how many folks are at each job to most efficiently distribute the volunteer workers.
While this is a good idea, I'm not sure we have someone who could serve in such a role (unless someone would like to step forward???)
That said, as in the past, I will likely end up being train dispatcher for one, more, or all of the days. Most of the time, the dispatcher's job is quite boring, so there is plenty of time to "dispatch" crews. But, as you said, the dispatcher is tied to the Sheepscot Station office.
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Someone requested the dates for FWW. It is October 11 - 14, the weekend formerly known as Columbus Day Weekend, now called (in Maine) Indigenous People's Day Weekend.
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Train ops and track construction definitely need to be kept separate, from safety and production standpoints, passenger and crew safety being the top concern of the dispatcher, efficient and timely track work production the prime responsibility of a firm, active, head labor overseer, done in time limits set.
Next.
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Hi Paul -
Yes. Which is what we do. Typically I, Jeff S. or Jason L. serve as Dispatcher at Sheepscot station - managing train control, crew needs, etc. The work crews operate separately under the direction of a designated crew leader. For track work, this is usually Dana D. or Joe F.
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Joe Fox will have primary authority over all of the track work because he is Roadmaster. I will be in charge of the spiking crew and will be working under Joe's direction. I know I will be at the railhead all four days so I don't see who is down at Sheepscot but I think we've got everyone on the same page and those in charge of other projects down there will be helping to direct labor to where it is most needed (which will be the railhead this fall). We're all volunteers so there won't be any press gangs running around...although...now that I've said it... :)
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It's official...
I will be dispatcher at SS for all four days of the 2019 FWW. I will be happy to tell anyone where to go. :-)
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I think youz guyz are fired up!! ;D ;D ;D
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Ed
Anywhere but Home.
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Jason's talked about the boulder or the rock as the limit of track laying. Well here's a visual reference for everyone.
Looking north:
(https://i.imgur.com/sN8qS4I.png)
Looking south:
(https://i.imgur.com/rtnEvRX.png)
There's plans to shave some of it off, but I'm not sure what the particulars are or where the centerlines are. Rick S was up this weekend, so he may be surveying this week.
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How often will trains be running to the work area? I have family members that won’t be able to get there before 9:00 on Saturday morning
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It will be nice to see the Johnson family again!
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How often will trains be running to the work area?
It is planned that work trains will depart Sheepscot Station for TOM and EOT at 7:30am and 9:00am on Thursday - Monday.
On Thursday & Monday, shuttle trains will run as-needed, including the most-important lunch train.
On Saturday & Sunday, regular passenger trains will depart Sheepscot for TOM at 10:30am, 10:55*, 12:00, 12:25, 1:30, 1:55, and 3pm.
*meets work train at TOM for Lunch.
This schedule is subject to change based on crew and equipment availability.
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Is that a bolder or a ledge rock? I know sometimes you can't tell the difference right off.
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Ledge. Strata is running the right way to break it apart with a hammer. I have found one the same size we use at work that I know will do the job easily.
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Jason and I agreed on an alignment Wednesday that leaves the rock/ledge intact. :)
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[Moderator's Note]
A discussion regarding the name of the station that abuts Midcoast Conservancy's Trout Brook Preserve at Route 218 in Alna, Maine has been split (and combined with related conversations) at:
http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic,43.0.html (http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic,43.0.html)
Note that this is a "Members-Only" discussion. If you have input, please become a WW&F Museum member!
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Jason and I agreed on an alignment Wednesday that leaves the rock/ledge intact. :)
Good. I pound on enough rock during the week. But was ready to get rid of that..
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I sense, with satisfaction, that the best preservationist instincts have come to the fore. That rock or ledge must have seen many a train pass by and I am happy to think that it will see some more. Destruction of something like that is irreversible.
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I'll be up saturday thru monday and bringing a friend that can swing a spike maul. My back prevents me from doing too much of that
Rick
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I will be there all 4 days for spiking and lining im sure Joe or whoever is in charge will have me spiking with the crew. I'll see you all there!
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I am leaving Nashville Tn tomorrow and after a brief stop in Charlottesville Va to wash briefs and pick up the Little Free Library’s I should be in Sheepscot by late morning Thursday.
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Flying into Manchester Wednesday 12:30 pm. Arriving at the museum sometime in the afternoon.
Jeff S.
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Bernie and I hope to arrive between 3 and 4 on Thursday.
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I plan to be at the museum Friday and Saturday.
Is Ship's Chow Hall still open?
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Is Ship's Chow Hall still open?
Last time I drove by a few weeks ago they were. I think it's for sale if you're looking to go into the restaurant business.
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Will Nancy be doing breakfast on any days this FWW?
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I know where to put the new Trigs when I arrive on Thursday. Does anyone know where Steve P. wants the two Free Little Library's stored?
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Nancy will be doing breakfast Sat - Mon.
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Ditto of Wayne & Bernie, arriving Thurs. 3-4 pm - of course contingent upon Hartford and Boston traffic.
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Crews, Foreman and Volunteers Needed
Centerline and Tie Location. Rick Sisson. 3.
Rail Laying. Jason Lamontagne. 10-12.
Spiking. Dana Deering. 15-30.
Joint Tightening. TBD. 2-4.
Tie Bundling (ToM). Jay Barta. 4-6.
ToM Agent. Wayne Laepple.
Dispatcher Ed Lecuyer
Pumpkin train management: Ed Lecuyer
Sheepscot Crowd Handling (3): Ed Lecuyer
Parking: Al Michelis. (3) [and signs].
SS Material Loading: Brendan Barry
Lunch Nancy Weeks 5-8
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volunteer for rail laying
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Thanks Joseph, all,
The rail laying crew is, necessarily, a fairly tightly controlled unit. This is the success of the system: that everyone had a job and does the same thing each time. For that, we largely use the regular team members in critical positions on this crew, and ask others to stand back during much of the operation. There is, however, leeway during certain portions of the cycle- particularly tie laying. All in all- the crew will need the help, but please don’t be overly tempted by this crew, as the spiking crew will need a solid corps all weekend to make this work.
Thanks,
Jason
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Sign me up for joint tightening crew. All days as required.
Harold
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I'll go for joints also. As long as my joints hold together - I'll take my Advil before I show up...….. 8)
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I'll work with Dana's crew spiking etc. Be there Friday through Monday.
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not a problem Jason did it last year
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On Saturday and Sunday, I'll be working with Matthew, Edward, and Joseph to connect up and test the segments of magneto telephone line that Mike Fox installed. We hope to get over the bridge.
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Attn: Joint crew, There is a new hand wrench for the joint crew what works just before the spiking crew.
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I hope its a nice 1/2 or 3/4 drive ratchet with a deep socket. A 3-4 foot handle torque wrench would be perfect. Est. 400 ft-lb for our track bolts.
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Those who have physical limitations that prevent direct participation in the track laying, please see me (Ed, Dispatcher.) I have a number of projects that must be done (especially on Friday) around the campus, and there will be folks needed for crowd management/parking/etc. on Saturday and Sunday.
That said, if you can spike or lay rail, GREAT!! Please do that. But if that is not your speed, please see me.
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Ed, As I said elsewhere, I will work the parking lot. A minimum of 3 people will be needed.
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Hi Al, Thanks. I did make a note of that.
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Thanks Al,
Ed, can you edit my post to reflect that?
See ya
Jason
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John and Dwight, the ratchet was preloaded yesterday.
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Do you use lock washers on track bolts?
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Do you use lock washers on track bolts?
Yes.
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re Centerline and Tie Location. Rick Sisson. 3.
I'm pleased to report that centerline and tie location marking is completed through cycle 4 - thanks KB, BS, and JS.
Our assignment can continue after Mike finishes on Saturday.
Rick
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I will be early. Like done before coffee break..
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We have coffee breaks now? I leave for two weeks and everything changes!
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Good morning you all in Alna ! The weather is mendig no much rain expected but saturday early morning. I'm going to follow you on this forum and fb over the weekend. I'm sure you'll achieve the 2000' goal because the works that you are going to carry out have been carefully planned and worked out over the past few weeks and because the sky is the limit to your commitment to rebuild that two-footer. Be sure I'll be part of the bliss when #9 rolls over the bridge. In waiting for that so hoped-for historic moment I wish you all a good and safe FWW.
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Very late to this thread but my friend Chris, his girlfriend, my father and myself will be there Fri-Sun. Chris and I will definitely be on the spiking team as we were last year.
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We have coffee breaks now? I leave for two weeks and everything changes!
Well, when you start before breakfast..
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Some photos from Fall Work Weekend day 1 -- Friday, October 11th:
At the north end of the rail train, a bundle of 14 ties are laid out after delivery from gantry car 126.
(https://i.imgur.com/YErDOGu.jpg)
An east rail is lifted off car 34 for placement north of the train.
(https://i.imgur.com/OIhFelS.jpg)
A new east rail is bolted to the prior rail by James and Jason as the gantry helps hold the rail in place.
(https://i.imgur.com/pX4FTUv.jpg)
Some of James and Jason's handiwork.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZywGudQ.jpg)
A tremendous effort by our spikers today. As the ties and rails were placed north of the train, our spikers closed much of the gap on the new track south of the train.
(https://i.imgur.com/JiGc1s3.jpg)
A view from Trout Brook bridge as the last bundle of ties were placed this afternoon. That milepost 8 sign sure looks nice after sitting in the bay window of the Percival house for the past few years.
(https://i.imgur.com/L2EMvA0.jpg)
The last rail of the day is placed.
(https://i.imgur.com/L5D4XNX.jpg)
A group photo of most of our intrepid tie and rail crew.
(https://i.imgur.com/2tXtTOS.jpg)
And here's most of today's hard-working spiking crew. All the track in the photo and beyond was spiked today.
(https://i.imgur.com/c3kyzs8.jpg)
At the very end of the day, here's car 34 loaded with rail at end of track for tomorrow morning's work. Some of this rail will be placed on Trout Brook bridge in the morning.
(https://i.imgur.com/5PgWXe3.jpg)
And we will be running Pumpkin Trains in conjunction with SeaLyon Farm tomorrow and Sunday. Somebody printed up a couple of these nice timetable posters for Top of the Mountain for the return trip back to Sheepscot.
(https://i.imgur.com/qQyX9qD.jpg)
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^ Nice ^ :)
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Precision Railroading, WW&F Style. Congratulations!
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Thank you Bill for the report of that busy day .Come to think when I joined the WW&F in October 2017 the bridge was in pieces on Sheepscot campus and the place you laid track Friday was a wilderness. That blows my mind.
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Rails were across the bridge around 10a.m. this morning.
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Well done you all I can't wait for the pics of the first train that will cross the brook.
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Some pictures from today
First rail to go on the bridge being hoisted off the flatcar on the crane:
(https://i.imgur.com/0lpZihO.png)
The first car of the train on the bridge:
(https://i.imgur.com/wDycIPn.png)
The engine on the bridge. Yes, there's a little generator on it, to recharge batteries.
(https://i.imgur.com/qc1h2Ee.png)
Everything on the north side of the bridge, under the apple tree.
(https://i.imgur.com/xiXCRHL.png)
The track from the south (downhill) approaching the bridge. Apologies for the size, I wanted folks to see the undulations that made it difficult to run a heavy train up the hill.
(https://i.imgur.com/nYmIKJk.png)
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Some photos from Fall Work Weekend day 2 -- Saturday, October 12th. The day started wet but the rain ended about the time we crossed Trout Brook bridge:
8.55 a.m.: The first west rail just touches the southern end of Trout Brook bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/kjQCnkn.jpg)
9.03 a.m.: The first east rail reaches onto the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/ceo2wTm.jpg)
9.08 a.m.: The first full west rail is placed on the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/z668t3o.jpg)
9.11 a.m.: An "insta-track" is applied to hold the gauge until the track is spiked.
(https://i.imgur.com/C4anT9A.jpg)
9.19 a.m.: Next full east rail is put down on the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/kjNSuUO.jpg)
9.38 a.m.: The gantry car is now fully on the bridge. View is looking north.
(https://i.imgur.com/Aq1v2sa.jpg)
9.52 a.m.: Ties are placed north of the bridge as progress pushed north.
(https://i.imgur.com/5t3nleY.jpg)
9.56 a.m.: Last west bridge rail is lowered into place.
(https://i.imgur.com/aoAFLyi.jpg)
10.06 a.m.: Last east bridge rail is in place.
(https://i.imgur.com/At6hIwU.jpg)
10.17 a.m.: Rail train brakeman Dave Buczkowski and the gantry car crew look on as the rail crew works north of the train.
(https://i.imgur.com/b8Iz9lc.jpg)
10.55 a.m.: With the rail train now fully on and across the bridge, the spikers could finish up the track south of the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/azbSzNM.jpg)
After lunch: Some of the spiking crew enjoy a break on the bridge as they await the rail train to progress further north so spiking can start on the north side of the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/B5qmXV5.jpg)
The rail put down and spiked by end of day north of the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/6zNuHmM.jpg)
Beyond the rail train, a view looking south through the last curve before Route 218 toward the rail train. Track will be built here on Sunday.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZPfYarl.jpg)
Turning 180 degrees, the view north through the rest of the curve toward Route 218. Track will be built here on Sunday.
(https://i.imgur.com/KNyD5MM.jpg)
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Thanks so much you both for the pics and report that make me take part in the enjoyment and the proudness of every volunteer that wittnessed this hoped-for historic moment. You did a good job of work despite the poor weather conditions, by now the Road 218 is in sight. Keep on tracking !
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Great photojournalism, Bill Reidy....thank you! And thanks to all the volunteers and donors that made this happen.
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I remember clearing in from 218 through to the bridge many years ago. The brush was so thick you could not see ten feet in front of you as you cleared it all out. I totally missed that curve after the culvert as the ground had been altered a bit by logging. I went straight and suddenly there was a big hill in front of me. Oops! :)
Allan Fisher went around the next day by the brook and found the bridge sight location. We realized the mistake and cleared the rest of the way to the bridge location the next day.
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Got my new, confused computer back on line just in time to see pics of rails spiked across the Grand Trout Brook Bridge in the rain.
Wowsers!
Highest congrats to all you gandy dancers from a solid, "away" WW&F railfan!
The photo work is also excellent!
Gee, after the work session, and the rails say 'hiya' to Rt 218's shoulder, what's left to do? ;D ;D
Fantastic work! Well done.
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Some photos from Fall Work Weekend day 3 -- Sunday, October 13th. The weather was beautiful today:
By 8.44 a.m., we were well underway putting down new ties and rail.
(https://i.imgur.com/JKjPZtX.jpg)
Meanwhile, the spiking crew was busy behind the work train, between the train and the north end of Trout Brook bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/jlWU4sJ.jpg)
By 9.11, Route 218 was in sight of the north end of rail, in the far distance.
(https://i.imgur.com/kCjlMv7.jpg)
Today Eric Schade and Steve Lennox handled the gantry car, delivering tie bundles and rails to the crew north of the work train.
(https://i.imgur.com/DOiiBRu.jpg)
A tie bundle delivered.
(https://i.imgur.com/1RiUW2H.jpg)
A rail delivered.
(https://i.imgur.com/zywASap.jpg)
A view of most of the work train. Visible is the gantry on flatcar 126, an empty flatcar (205) that held rail, engine 52, caboose 320, and a yellow work car that trailed our train carrying spiking supplies. Missing is the lead yellow work car that carries the joint bars, track bolts and "insta-track" to temporarily hold the track gauge until spiking. View is at Top of the Mountain at 10.18, as 126 is about to be reloaded with ties bundles, and 205 is about to be swapped out for loaded flat 34.
(https://i.imgur.com/bv6XuTi.jpg)
This year our Museum has started a program to honor longtime volunteers who have made significant contributions to our success. Following dinner last night, the honorees present were recognized: John & Jane Robinson; John McNamara; Dwight Winkley and Roger Whitney. Two honorees could not present last night, so they were recognized by Dave Buczkowski during lunch today: Fred Morse and Zack Wyllie.
(https://i.imgur.com/v1FJ29G.jpg)
A view south looking at the last of today's track put down.
(https://i.imgur.com/pTlf3aw.jpg)
Turning 180 degress, the view toward Route 218.
(https://i.imgur.com/yLC7Alb.jpg)
Late in the day, we unexpectedly needed a delivery of material. WW&F No. 9 handled the task. Here she is north of the bridge. Today was the first time she had crossed Trout Brook in 86+ years.
(https://i.imgur.com/UlNq0Yb.jpg)
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Some photos from the last day of Fall Work Weekend -- Day 4, Monday, October 14th:
Our spiking crew finished up on the track laid the past three days.
(https://i.imgur.com/GMCDQVP.jpg)
But our ties & rail crew laid out more ties and rails today that will require spiking: An additional 140 feet, bringing the weekend's total of new track to over 2,000 feet and our rail head to within 300 feet or so of Route 218. Retired roadmaster Dana Deering (third from left) looks on. Dana directed the spiking this weekend.
(https://i.imgur.com/vrF0iGk.jpg)
Stone ballast was also delivered to both approaches of Trout Brook bridge. No. 9 delivers Maine Narrow Gauge flat 205 loaded with the first load of ballast south of the bridge as Jason Lamontagne directs the move along with Dave Buczkowski.
(https://i.imgur.com/JPp6j57.jpg)
Volunteers start to shovel off ballast from 205 south of the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/gFILMHG.jpg)
Later in the day, No. 9 brought both 205 and WW&F flatcar 118 loaded with ballast. Our volunteers emptied the cars on the north approach to the bridge.
(https://i.imgur.com/UeC4TLW.jpg)
A view of No. 9 on the north side of the bridge as the ballast was unloaded.
(https://i.imgur.com/6jmLdPH.jpg)
Conductor Bill Baskerville of Virginia checks in with dispatcher Ed Lecuyer in Sheepscot 3+ miles away through the phone post just north of the bridge for orders on next train movements. Among much unsung work that has made the Mountain Extension and Fall Work Weekend possible has been the effort to extend our magneto phone system, along with Ed serving as dispatcher the entire weekend. Ed, restricted to his office in Sheepscot station, could not directly see the work as it happened this weekend. John McNamara, along with Mike Fox, Joe Gilbert and others, extended the phone line so it could be available this weekend.
(https://i.imgur.com/zmdp0RO.jpg)
Before I left to return home in Massachusetts, I checked our volunteer log for the weekend. The volunteer counts for the weekend look like records to me:
Friday: 87
Saturday: 117
Sunday: 98
Monday: 52.
Thank you all!
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I can barely believe that the FWW has come and gone. My shoulder tells me the it has but any ache or pain is completely worth it as I think about all that was accomplished. I want to thank each and every person who worked on the spiking crew. We had first timers and old hands and everyone worked so hard and it was amazing to see the progress that was made each day. We spiked down an amazing 900 feet (!) on Friday and kept up the momentum right up until the last spike was driven late on Monday morning. Everyone worked great together rain and shine and although we worked hard we had lot of fun, too. I was surprised and impressed by how quickly the bridge disappeared from view once we started spiking on the north side it. Thank you all so much!
I also want to add that without the kitchen crew and those who get the lunches to the crew out on the line, none of this would be possible.
It also great to see friends from farther away who I only get to see twice a year.
Dana
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May 10, 1869 at Promontory Point in far-off Utah comes to mind.
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Among much unsung work that has made the Mountain Extension and Fall Work Weekend possible has been the effort to extend our magneto phone system, along with Ed serving as dispatcher the entire weekend. Ed, restricted to his office in Sheepscot station, could not directly see the work as it happened this weekend. John McNamara, along with Mike Fox, Joe Gilbert and others, extended the phone line so it could be available this weekend.
Thanks for the note, Bill. Other magneto phone workers included Matthew Christoforo, Edward Macon Eubank, and Allan (last name unknown). Many thanks of course to Mike Fox whose excavation made it all possible.
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After reading Dana's post I figured I'd chime in. I'v been a member for a while now and have visited the museum a few times as a "tourist". After speaking with Steve P at Springfield a couple years ago I decided to attend a work weekend. My friend came along. Neither of us had ever done anything like laying track before. The people were friendly and didn't mind showing us how to do the tasks. The work was hard at times but it was actually fun with everyone giving moral support. We're so glad we came up for the weekend I think we'll be up again to see what else we can learn how to do. Thanks to everyone that made it a great first experience!!!!
Rick C
PS Never attended any work project where the food was restaurant quality......LOL
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Glad you made it. You have officially been hooked. There is no other feeling like it..
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The Wiscasset Newspaper posted a very complimentary editorial about us today...
The museum that could
Kudos to the volunteers of Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum for their work in recent years to rebuild locomotive No. 9, replace the bridge at Trout Brook and build more track. That was pretty impressive over the weekend, when all that work converged. And equally impressive was the good-natured manner the volunteers maintained at every turn. They were serious about it, but they were still enjoying their work.
Maybe that’s why they get so much done.
And kudos to the museum for being accessible as always for us to cover their activities in pictures, stories and video. Not every town of about 700 has a public draw like WW&F, and we have been happy to share its story every step of the way.
https://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/article/museum-could/125705
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Thank you so much Bill Reidy for all those pics and captions that have made the far away members and friends enable to follow that exciting weekend as the WW&F fb page for that matter. Congratulations you all for the feat of engeneering you have achieved over those memorable four days. I joined the association in late 2017 and I'm downright awed by what has been completed in hardly two years on the ROW and on the campus as well. According to the Ed todo list a lot of challenges are waiting for you over the next few years and I'm sure you'll meet them easily and that'll be very rewarding and exciting for me to follow and support you on a day to day basis.
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On Monday, at the end of the Fall Work Weekend I made a 13 minute video of the afternoon "Inspection Trip" from the Top of Mountain to the new End of Track. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and the trees were in full fall colors. We went slowly down the mountain as the rails were wet and in places were covered in leaves. The first half where the track is ballasted is the section that was completed last Fall and Spring Work weekends. This weekends section is un-ballasted except around the Moose Trout Brook Bridge where we put down ballast in the environmentally sensitive zone while it is still covered by our permit.
I know the museum has a Drop Box page so if someone could tell me by PM how to log onto it I will up load the video to be posted on the forum and our Facebook page.
All in all, it was a great Work Weekend and it seemed that a good time was had by all. I know I enjoyed renewing friendships and working with a wonderful team of folks to further the aspirations of our Museum and returning railroading to the Sheepscot valley.
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Bill, why not post it on YouTube?
Keith
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Keith, Same issue, I don't know how to post on YouTube.
FWIW, I am still trying to get over my aches and pains from all the activity with a torn knee meniscus. A smarter person would have stayed home, but I was not about to miss participating in a Work Weekend at my favorite Railroad.
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Get well soon Bill.
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Merci Alain