W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on December 04, 2019, 07:11:28 AM
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 7 ("A day that will live in infamy"):
* Car barn extension
* Tank car 14
* Training trips: Jason has some train trips planned for training crew.
* Pavilion: No concrete pouring, but Mike's hopeful to move materials up there.
* Board meeting @ 4 - because next week is VC.
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Work done on Saturday Dec 7:
* Tank 14: the tank was lifted off the car so that some of the holes for the pipes could be adjusted, so that the tank could sit more level.
* Alna Center: Mike cut two more trees down and chopped them up, Fred and Dwight loaded the Dodge truck with wood, which was unloaded at Sheepscot by Al, Dave, and I. Then Mike got the loader going and stacked the stone piles high. The kids are going to have great fun on the piles next weekend! In the afternoon, Dave, Bill, Dwight and I got the tent posts from Alna Center and brought them back.
* Switching: The tank car was switched over to Bay 3; Loco 10 which was in 3 was moved to outside of Bay 2. The tent posts were erected over 10, and the tent roof put over it. This is temporary until some room opens up.
* Board meeting.
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I was a bit concerned to hear of No 10 being moved outside. Do we know how long this will be for?
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Well...the tank car needs lettering (bay 3), Bay 2 is needed for Coach 9 construction. After Christmas MNG's #7 arrives for the Winter photo shoot and stays until sometime in February, and it's in bay 3. The parlor car can't leave bay 1 until the car barn is completely enclosed. Best guess, 10 will be outside until Feb.
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As added WW&F projects mounted this year, a photo shoot, Victorian Christmas and other runs, combined with work on visiting equipment, I started to get an uneasy, ominous feeling that the deadly OVERLOAD!! word would disrupt planned ops.
I hope I'm wrong.
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I think we've done pretty well considering the OVERLOAD we still have. We never did get any of the cut wood off the mountain this year and there are still some piles of brush pretty close to the track. I hope we get the brush out before we use to many steam engines there. Now with track there any wood coming out will be by train. At least we won't be cutting trees or clearing land this winter. The only outside Big project outside is the car barn.
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At least we won't be cutting trees or clearing land this winter.
That's what worries me, Fred. How will we keep you out of trouble this winter if you're not cutting trees? ::)
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Well, there are a few trees left to go on the Mountain. If Fred gets bored enough..plus we could always go to TOM..
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He could cut into 1-foot lengths. ;D
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At least we won't be cutting trees or clearing land this winter.
That's what worries me, Fred. How will we keep you out of trouble this winter if you're not cutting trees? ::)
Plenty of wood to cut up, once it's brought in off the mountain, I'm guessing.
Jeff S.
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 14
* Victorian Christmas - all hands on deck, make sure to wear your raingear.
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Randy and I got the last load of firewood from Alna Center this morning.
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Go Fred, what a guy!
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 14
* Victorian Christmas - all hands on deck, make sure to wear your raingear.
The weather forecast for Saturday is getting worse. Rain suits if you have them.
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Well...the tank car needs lettering (bay 3), Bay 2 is needed for Coach 9 construction. After Christmas MNG's #7 arrives for the Winter photo shoot and stays until sometime in February, and it's in bay 3. The parlor car can't leave bay 1 until the car barn is completely enclosed. Best guess, 10 will be outside until Feb.
Be sure not to let the vandals get to #10 while you guys are at it
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#10 is already safe back inside the shop building.
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Does anyone drive by the campus after hours or at night to make sure the grounds are OK?
As you all might've heard, Abq is in the midst of a serious crime wave, are over one hundred cops short, almost 80 murders this year, a record; breakins, robberies galore, etc.
Just got a new express bus line going in town along Central Avenue, old US66. So far in two weeks, six new articulated buses in their own lanes have been rammed by confused drivers.
Hope your area is quieter. And smarter.
Good luck this weekend, weather or not.
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There hasn't been a murder in Alna all year.
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Paul,
We have guard Moose, better than any junkyard dog! ;)
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Alna is very safe and we (rarely) have issues.
There are folks keeping an eye on the campus basically 24-7.
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John, don't forget the local ducktectives that live in the fire pond..
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Most of the "murdering" up that way happens on Karaoke Night. ;) :-*
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There was a neat photo here on the Forum of a guard moose comparing notes with the ducktectives at the pond.🤗
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God bless those animals!
Ours stay in the closeby mountains, except for hungry bears that come down into town to raid dumpstsers.
Send your mooses our way. ;)
I don't EVER plan to mess with mean meese. ;D
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December 14 Victorian Christmas report:
Despite heavy rain in the morning (lightening up considerably by the end of the day), we had over 500 people. At Alna Center, Santa Claus came to the people rather than people to him, by getting on the train and walking through each car. Lots of smiling kids.
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A very good day on the Sheepscot Valley Narrow Gauge. Many happy families despite the driving rain today (Humason Brook was impressive). I heard a passenger count of 574.
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Great news!
Congrats.
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This years VC turned out really well, we all acknowledge the train crews frequently, but how about a shout out to those that stood in the rain all day long. Mark and his crew handling parking, Mike, Dwight and Zack manning the switches all day, Bob and his crew keeping the hot drinks and snacks going, the gift shop crew and of course the Dispatching and Alan getting everbody through the ticket lines with a smile. Oops cookies from volunteers and Cindy (Stewart, did you get any).
Needles to say Santa and Dick. I hope I haven't left anyone out.
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Steve, you forgot Dave, Jason and Alan. Dave was greeting everyone as they arrived, and helping people from their cars. Jason was dispatching, quite often I could see him on the platform in the rain. And Alan looked wet when I saw him..
But, I think most of us would gladly do it again.
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Alna Center station agent John McNamara kept this conductor in line. And yes, Jason looked very wet out on the Sheepscot platform yesterday.
All in all a great, if very damp, day.
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I have a huge amount of respect for the WW&F folks who slogged through yesterday. Having worked in similar conditions on the railroad in my working life, I know how difficult it can be. I played a very small part in last year's VC, where I was able to see in person how hard everyone worked to make the entire event nothing but enjoyable for the visitors. A heartfelt well done and thank you to everyone!
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Ditto on multiple levels - shame that VC wasn't last weekend...………. All we need now is a Christmas Tree farm along the line.
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Glad to hear that the attendance was good, in spite of the weather.
Jeff S.
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Can't believe I forgot to mention Ed Lecuyer. Like many of our recent special events, he put together the operating plan for Saturday. Very patient person, especially with grousing conductors like myself.
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I fully agree with Wayne about the rain that makes things more difficult and hasardous on the railroad at every level but despite those dreary weather conditions you have managed to stay afloat, dare I say it, and made Victorian Christmas successful once more. Santa and all the big and little riders that braved that downpour, wont soon forget the dedicated volunteers that warmly welcomed them on that big occasion. Well done you all !
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I was overwhelmed with how everyone went the extra mile to make it a pleasant experience for our guests. Not a frown to be seen anywhere- nothing but smiles. Many, many of our guests told me how much they appreciate that we do this. They noted the drenched volunteers still smiling after a long day with awe. I couldn’t have been any prouder (or wetter). Thanks to all who made the day a success.
Dave
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I was surprised by all the Thank Yous we received as people were detraining after returning to Sheepscot. But one passengers comment stood out to me when she said we "made some magic happen".
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It is certainly a wonderful event you guys put on every year. Thank all of you for doing all the hard work to make it a reality!
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Not to forget Laura Rochette working the table where nearly 100 Christmas ornaments were made by young artists to take home
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Not to forget Laura Rochette working the table where nearly 100 Christmas ornaments were made by young artists to take home
That is a great addition to Victorian Christmas. I hope it continues.
Jeff S.
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 21:
* Car barn extension
* Pavilion
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Work done on Saturday Dec 21:
* Tank car 14: Zack drilled a large hole in the end buffer beam for a pipe coming out of the tank. Zack and Brendan were also working on brakes.
* Car barn: Fred emptied the truck of the lumber for the barn off to the side. Later in the day Stewart was climbing around adding cross braces to the roof trusses (which the roof sheets will be attached to).
* Pavilion/yard clean up: Mike spent the morning rescuing various pavilion pieces from various spots in the yard, loading them on the white dump truck and taking them to Alna Center. He brought up the forks for the Dean excavator and put them on that, and used that to unload. In the afternoon he rescued more lumber from behind the garage and brought it up by the trusses.
* Coal pile: MNG donated a half-load of coal this past week for the photo events; this coal was moved to onto the pile and the tarp covered it as best we could.
* Machine shop: James N and Bryce were up to something in the machine shop.
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James,
James N. and Bryce are Always Up To Something. ::)
Jeff S.
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Brendan, Stewart, and I worked on the car barn today!
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We did the same today also. Merry Christmas everyone,have an great time!
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No coal for Fred--he's been a good boy this year! Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to all - and if Santa did bring anyone any coal, please make sure it finds its way to the WW&F!
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 28:
* Car barn extension
* Coach 9
* Tank car 14
* Pavilion
* Gift shop inventory time
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Merry Christmas all,
We’ve been actively working on the vacuum brake controller too. It’s close to completion; we’ll finish it then move back to flanging. Vacuum brake cylinders are also near completion- that’s Jonathan’s effort. Once he’s done the crew will install them on coach 3.
Jason
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More work done on the car barn today.
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More work done on the car barn today.
The Christmas Crew has gotten a lot done in the last 3 days. Yes, they worked on Christmas Eve and part of the day on Christmas.
There are photos of the progress on the WW&F Facebook page.
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Work done on Saturday Dec 28:
* Pavilion: In the morning the eight posts were put up, then we found one broken and took it down and put another up in its place. I wasn't there for the afternoon.
* Tank car 14: Zack finished attaching the timbers surrounding the tank, then started working on the tie-downs.
* Inventory counting: Between Cindy, Linda, and me we got most of it.
* Car barn extension: Stewart was climbing around in the rafters, working on the overhang and other lumber on the upper wall.