W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: Stephen Lennox on November 29, 2020, 07:32:48 PM
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Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 1 and 2 December 2020
Tuesday:
* There is a heavy rain and wind warning for Monday thru Tuesday.
* Shop work, vacuum brake stand, set up for test on Wednesday.
* Small engine repair (Brookville-Pending)
* Electric building (“Start” may have already completed it)
* Trash run
* Campus clean up
Wednesday:
* Full vacuum brake test-in steam with both coaches.
* Hot drain Locomotive #9 for maintenance (Pending)
* Breakwater School Charter
* Small engine repair (pending)
* Archives and gift shop
* Recover Tamper from TOM (pending)
Notes:
* Don’t forget your masks.
* Rules and Standards for Operations
Railroad Operation Requirements (Rules 50-56)
#51 Switch Position (page 19)
C. Yard Switch Position
Yard switches shall be lined against any track which
leads to the interior of a building.
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I like the rule refresher. Many operations do a safety rule of the day by field. For example, transportation, track, mechanical, etc all have different rules, EXCEPT those few that pertain to all said crafts.
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I like the rule refresher. Many operations do a safety rule of the day by field. For example, transportation, track, mechanical, etc all have different rules, EXCEPT those few that pertain to all said crafts.
Safety Rule No.1......don’t eat crackers in bed!
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Totally agree Joe. This could be a long term part of Jason's campaign for the new rules book.
It's a lot easier to absorb one tip at a time to refresh your memory of the rules. This one little tip clearly made sense to me as a work report update.
Steve (and others), you might consider doing this regularly to reinforce safety.
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 5:
* Pavilion - finish the west roofing, start (?) on the end cap boarding.
* Machine shop
* Boxcar 56
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Pavilion work is weather depending..
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We are going to do some work on the Pavilion Friday because of the expected weather Saturday. Any help is welcome.
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 1-2 December 2020
Tuesday:
* Heavy rains and winds
* Shop work, vacuum brake prep for Wednesday.
* Repair work continued on the Brookville
Wednesday:
* Main line checked for storm damage, 1 large spruce removed.
* Breakwater School charter completed in the morning.
* Locomotive #9 Vacuum brake test to include coaches #3 and #8
conducted all afternoon.
* Holiday photo’s etc. taken for marketing.
* Campus clean up, weed whacking
* Archives work continues.
* Electric building (“Start” was working inside building).
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 1-2 December 2020
Wednesday:
* Locomotive #9 Vacuum brake test to include coaches #3 and #8
conducted all afternoon.
Any word of how the brake tests went?
Keith
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Any word of how the brake tests went?
Basically no change in their effectiveness from the prior in-train test.
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 1-2 December 2020
Tuesday:
* Heavy rains and winds
Wednesday:
* Locomotive #9 Vacuum brake test to include coaches #3 and #8
conducted all afternoon.
Here in Appalachia we had about 10 inches of snow.
Vacuum brakes suck!
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Hey Steve, where is your weekly rules tip? Those are valuable.
Ed, you say the vacuum brake test was the same as the first. You don't say if that's good or bad...
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Bob, this is a work in progress with hopes to continue each or every other week.
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OK, here's a rule that bears repeating:
Three Points of Contact on Moving Equipment
When riding, boarding or dismounting moving equipment, a minimum of three points of contact must be maintained at all times, unless sitting. The three points must be two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand.
Sounds easy, right. Well what happens when you are trying to signal when riding a flatcar full of ballast, for example? Be sure to do whatever it takes to comply with the rule.
Ed, you say the vacuum brake test was the same as the first. You don't say if that's good or bad...
Correct. It is not my place to make that judgement.
I will say that further refinements and improvements are planned as the project continues to mature.
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OK, here's a rule that bears repeating:
Three Points of Contact on Moving Equipment
When riding, boarding or dismounting moving equipment, a minimum of three points of contact must be maintained at all times, unless sitting. The three points must be two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand.
Sounds easy, right. Well what happens when you are trying to signal when riding a flatcar full of ballast, for example? Be sure to do whatever it takes to comply with the rule.
Keep in mind that you asked this question. :)
Well, when riding a a flatcar full of ballast, the obvious solution is simply to sit on your butt, then [per the rule you quoted] only that one point of contact [your butt] is required. So you have two hands free to signal ...
::)
... you did ask ... ;D
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Correct!
(Assuming that the brakeman is still visible to the engineer, which he may not be when seated.)
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I had been hoping to dig all the cinders out of bay 4 track before snow or freeze, but snow is now tomorrow. If the snow holds off and there’s available help tomorrow morning let’s see if we can get it done. I started last week but working alone only made a dent.
Thanks,
Jason
Ps we’re not worried about the plow right now. This is only a 3-6 storm at most and the ground is still above freezing. We should however get crossing flangeways cleared of mud ASAP.
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Correct!
(Assuming that the brakeman is still visible to the engineer, which he may not be when seated.)
This USUALLY occurs with the ballast car leading the locomotive. Speaking from my experience, being seen has not been a problem.
Jeff S.
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The shipping container got a friend this week. The container delivery truck couldn't get in to where we wanted the container so they left the container in the parking lot. Brian let us use his truck to move the container down next to the woods track.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_2856.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/bbarry74/a/5eea03cf-9481-491b-9315-6b0eef26b083/p/a4c0186e-cd2e-4f44-b4c1-85b45403a27b)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_2857.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/bbarry74/a/5eea03cf-9481-491b-9315-6b0eef26b083/p/eea046e2-4c91-4d65-b261-3af74d26fdaf)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_2860.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/bbarry74/a/5eea03cf-9481-491b-9315-6b0eef26b083/p/ad89ce30-ea9f-425d-99f3-6cffd15a9c9b)
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Not going to put new container parallel to old so with only a roof there will be 3 covered storage areas?
2 will be secure but the other will be at least covered or could be 3 walled.
10 or 12 feet wide?
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The position of the "new" container is optimized to provide a visual barrier to a future "backlot" of misc. parts and outdoor storage. A gate could be installed between the two containers to provide access and a further visual barrier.
The new container is also positioned for a planned re-alignment of the "woods track."
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We could point them WW&F green, and add a logo and slogan. "WW&F Rail, Road, & Air"
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It is planned to be painted to match the other container. Maybe we should find someone that could paint a box car on there.
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Ps we’re not worried about the plow right now. This is only a 3-6 storm at most and the ground is still above freezing. We should however get crossing flangeways cleared of mud ASAP.
Now expecting a Strong Nor'easter with 5-10 inches of heavy wet snow later today, and winds gusting NNE 30-40mph. Plan accordingly.
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Work done Saturday Dec 5 (in the morning)
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel started removing the lower interior siding on the car as units. He got 2 of them done. Zack and Fred cut the vertical rods in half to facilitate removal, some could pushed up through the roof but not many.
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Should have known you had a plan. Just thought parallel would make cheap/inexpensive cover.
Non-period stuff out of sight is good too.
Paint it Camouflage? As Mike says "boxcar" or how about "Freight Shed"
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As long as the Woods Track is where the chicken coops are parked, they will screen the containers from public view.
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What do you call chicken coops Wayne ?
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Unrestored rolling stock.
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Thanks Wayne I see. Out here quite a lot of derelict narrow gauge boxcars have been used as chicken coops or garden shelters. A few of them have been baught and restored to operation by volunteers of tourist railways, somehow those boxcars have flown the coop.
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...somehow those boxcars have flown the coop.
Oh my, even the non-English-speakers are being infected with pun-itis! ;D
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Thanks Wayne I see. Out here quite a lot of derelict narrow gauge boxcars have been used as chicken coops or garden shelters. A few of them have been baught and restored to operation by volunteers of tourist railways, somehow those boxcars have flown the coop.
Guess we better follow their tracks..
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Anticipated work for Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December 2020
Tuesday:
* Track maintenance: Clean out crossing flange ways
Make flange way shovels (pending)
Make switch covers (pending)
* Recover tamper from TOM.
* Shop work… vacuum brake stand
* Small engine repair: various projects
* Campus clean up
* Archives and gift shop
* Dump run
Wednesday:
* Prep winter ops: Assemble plow components
Relocate and mount plow on #52
* Shop work
* Ash clean up on Machine shop lead #4.
* Small engine repair
NOTES:
Rules and Standards of Operations
V. Use of Signals (rules 27-39)
#29. Engineers Acknowledged Signal (page 16)
b. Secure Signals:
Engineers receiving a hand signal indicating Secure from
Movement must acknowledged either as prescribed in rule
14a, bell, verbally, or by repeating the secure hand signal
back to the requesting crew member.
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We could point them WW&F green, and add a logo and slogan. "WW&F Rail, Road, & Air"
I understand the Road & Rail. But what about Air? Are we training homing pigeons? :o
Jeff S.
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Great job Steve on including a rules reminder!!
Thanks (and I really miss being with you guys each week)
Bob
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 12:
* Pavilion - mostly the siding
* Boxcar 56
* Trimming Albee's field edges
* Removing ashes from Bay 4 track.
* Board meeting at 3
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We have two projects in dire need of attention prior to hard freeze up:
I am very much asking a Saturday crew to help with these. Saturday will see a high in the 40s.
1. Blade trim the right of way along Albees field. (This is a requisite of a major charter next month).
2. Clear ashes down to top of ties on bay 4 lead. (It is possible this can be done with the new back hoe; if so we’ll know before Saturday and will report here. Even so, some hand work will be required).
We’re up against the clock on these and just haven’t been able to get to them during the week. I’ll be in mid morning or so to help, but if James or anyone else can lead either effort to an earlier start that’d be great.
I’m asking this in the spirit of pulling together to get done what needs to get done for the railroad.
Thanks,
Jason
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1. Blade trim the right of way along Albees field. (This is a requisite of a major charter next month).
Please take careful note of the magphone line that runs along here. Please avoid it - blade trimmers do a great job cutting it!
Thanks,
John M (chief ding-a-ling)
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A new priority Saturday will be clearing Sutter’s crossing of its 4” of mud. Currently frozen, Saturday may be our best or only chance. Then I do hope we can make a dent at albees field. It will require a coordinated effort across multiple days and crews. This effort is in support of a Pete Lerro charter- the first at our railroad. Let’s all band together and show Pete and his guests a great time.
Thanks,
Jason
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 8-9 December 2020
Tuesday:
* Crossings to include Jane’s Way, Sheepscot Mills, Alna Center
and Trask flange ways salted and cleaned out.
* Shop work to include vacuum brake work and out side machine
protection built.
* Kerosene heaters purchased and old ones worked on/repaired.
Wednesday:
* Follow up completing crossings except Sutters Crossing.
Sutters has been salted for clean up on Saturday.
* Vacuum brake work continues.
* Coach #9, assembly continues.
* Snow plow mounted and tested on #52.
* Albees Field surveyed for brush cutting.
NOTES: Sutters Crossing is fouled with ice and frozen mud.
Albee Field cutting Saturday and Tuesday.
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Work done on Saturday Dec 12:
* Car barn: Stewart was repairing the double man doors.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel and Zack were dismantling and gurgling with delight at the condition of the stringers.
* Machine shop: Alan was dismantling the large New Haven lathe.
* Pavilion: A crew started to work on the siding but got pulled away for....
* Crossing clearing and Albee's Field mowing: Mike got to use the new backhoe to facilitate the clearing out of Sutter's Crossing (Brendan brought salt to help finish the job). After lunch a crew of 6 (4 mowers, 2 loppers) cleared 2/3 of the high weeds at Albee's Field.
* Board meeting: Starting at 3, it went long (Dave's fault this time) getting out a bit after 6.
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* The cinders in front of Bay 4 were dug out.
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Anticipated work for Tuesday 15, and Wednesday 16, December 2020.
Tuesday:
* Finish weed whacking along Albee’s Field east and west sides.
Time permitting, continue cutting at Rose Wood and Humason Brook.
* Retrieve Tamper (pending)
* Shop work
* Archives and Gift Shop on going.
Wednesday:
* Presalt all crossings.
* Make up and place switch covers.
* Prep and clean up yards for winter storm.
* Coach #9 assembly (pending)
Notes:
Rules and Standards for Operations
General Rules (Rules A – U)
S. Safety; Following the Safe Course (page #40)
Safety is of first importance. In case of doubt, the safe
course must be followed.
Take the time to ensure safety is maintained.
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Steve, LOVE you putting in Rules Reminders in your report.
I hope everyone else on the Forum appreciates them as much as I do.
Bpb
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I get the feeling that somewhere down the line we're all going to have to take a quiz on this.
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 18:
* Storm clean up ops in AM.
* Pavilion
* Machine shop
* Boxcar 56
* Diesel charter in the late afternoon.
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Planning storm cleanup ops in the late morning Saturday.
Jason
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* Diesel charter in the late afternoon.
Crew is needed for this (Conductor/Brakeman/Trainman.) Qualified crew members can sign up on the Crew Caller sheet.
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I get the feeling that somewhere down the line we're all going to have to take a quiz on this.
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 15-16 December 2020
Tuesday:
* Weed whacking: Albee’s Field east and west sides, Rosewood crossing
and Humason Brook site completed.
* Shop work: repairs to Locomotive #9 continues.
* Locomotive #9, all week is getting a fresh coat of varnish/paint.
(It looks real sharp)
* Archives and gift shop work on going.
* Shop clean up and machine moves continues.
Wednesday:
* Box car #67 recovered from ML&MW, sporting a new tin roof.
* Locomotive #9 repairs on vacuum brake stand continues.
* Shop machines repositioned, Fred’s tractor brought into bay #3
for motor repairs.
* Tamper recovered from TOM.
* 4 switches covered with plywood and marked, crossings salted.
Notes:
Switches: Tower, North yard, TOM run around covered for a test
to help in snow removal.
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So glad that boxcar 67 is finally completed. Great decision to have Brian do that job.
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A picture of the completed #67 would be appreciated. Did the roofing also include the catwalk and end-car handbrake?
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We got about twice as much snow as predicted in Bath- I presume it’s similar in Alna. I’m going in to get started cleaning out the railroad today. I’d appreciate any help. I suspect it can’t get finished today so be prepared for further cleaning ops tomorrow.
Thanks,
Jason
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12 - 15" just north of Bath. A bit more than the 1-3 forecast...
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12 - 15" just north of Bath. A bit more than the 1-3 forecast...
WOW, looks like winter there started with a Big Bang!
M. Nix
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PLOW TRAIN SATURDAY
All hands on deck for a plow train 12/19. We'll need a dedicated (and hearty) crew to clear the line for a charter that afternoon.
Please come, dress warm, and let's play in the snow.
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What time? I will be at AC and take care of that ahead of the train..
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Plans are in flux right now. Regardless, we'll need bodies tomorrow to help clear out the railroad.
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Work done Friday 12/18:
Jason and JB plowed the mainline to ToM. No switches (or sidings) were done at AC or ToM (and were not deemed necessary for tomorrow's operations.)
Turntable and Run-through leads were also plowed.
Remaining tasks for Saturday:
- Shovel out Turntable, turn 52.
- Plow/Shovel out Barn Bay 1 (to retrieve coach 3)
- Plow/Shovel remaining tracks at Sheepscot.
- "2nd Pass" on Mainline if time/crew permits.
- Shovel platforms, loading areas, pathways, etc.
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How much did you get Ed?
Son in Concord NH said he got 30 inches.
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Work done on Saturday Dec 19:
* Pavilion: Mike got most of the south wall done for siding.
* Snow removal: Several of us shoveled around the turntable. Then the run-around siding and the mainline were plowed out, then a cut of cars were moved over to the run-around. Then the crew got the coach for this evening's charter and took a ride to ToM and back.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel and Zack popped the roof off, jacked the floor up and removed the trucks and put it on blocks.
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The boxcar project seems to be moving along. Hopefully, there will be more photos.
Jeff S.
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Also on Saturday -
Two volunteers working for the archive committee traveled to Brunswick to retrieve a 117 year old notice poster. The notice, printed in 1903 advises of a new state law regarding people loitering around railway depots and cars as well as steamship docks. The notice had a tag with "WSC" which is an abbreviation for Wiscasset so the framed notice probably came from the Maine Central station, WW&F depot or the steamship station down by the rail/sail transfer pier. It's an interesting find and nice addition to the WW&F archives.
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Hmmm! A notice like that at Sheepscot might become an enforcement problem. I notice people hanging around (loitering) at the station around train time. Some of them have cameras!
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And also on Saturday the “Carbarn Crew” received a box of summer sausage and cheese from member Owen Beeder. We opened some until Linda came up with the idea of using the rest to make a special Mac and cheese for next Saturday.
When I checked my mailbox at the end of the day I found an 8 1/2 X 11 envelope from Pensacola, FL. It contained a W&Q mortgage certificate with payment coupons. There wasn’t any note only a return address that didn’t match anyone in our records. I will explore further to find out who our Secret Santa might be.
Dave
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Had I known that summer sausage and cheese was so popular I would have sent some from my favorite Wisconsin German Deli, (Usingers). Became familiar with them right after getting married since the wife's family is all from the Milwaukee area and Usingers is an Icon of the German old town area of Milwaukee. I'll keep that in mind for next year.
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Many years ago my wife and I lived in the Allentown, PA area when I worked for Conrail. One day my crew stopped for lunch at a butcher / delicatessen near Bangor, Pennsylvania. In the meat counter there was an item that looked suspiciously like kielbasa. I bought a ring of it to take home for dinner. Ginny boiled it up and served it on noodles.
That night both of us had the worst stomach aches and nightmares you could imagine. It was about that time that we found out that “ring bologna” was a heavily spiced garlicky cold cut....and not meant to be served hot!
It was years before either of us could look at the stuff....
Keith
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Keith,
That happened to me years ago with blood sausage. Never been near it since.
Dave
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Dave
Blood sausage in French boudin noir made with pork blood. Outhere we eat also white sausage made of chicken meat bread and milk especially at Christmas.
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Anticipated work for Saturday Dec 26 - the last Saturday of 2020.
* Pavilion - finishing the siding.
* Boxcar 56
* Machine shop
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Work done on Saturday Dec 26:
* Pavilion: the siding got finished, and the bracing too. Mike's got a few more fiddly bits before he will call it done.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel removed both couplers from the carbody. The southside timbering was in much better shape than the northside.
* Inventory: I counted inventory upstairs, while Linda finished in the gift shop.
* Brendan was doing various bits and bobs.
I'm pleased to report that the Dodge truck is running again!
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I'm pleased to report that the Dodge truck is running again!
That was fixed Tuesday morning. I had read in a discussion group about exactly what the trouble was. One poster was very adamant it was the pick up coil. That was about the only ignition related part that wasn't replaced by Brendan and Jay, so I ordered one. I am not sure the motor turned over one revolution before it was running after I was done.
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Thats great. That was the next step after the rotor, cap and ASD replay was the Hall effect sensor aka pickup coil. Was it really roachy?? The rotor was fused to the post and I had to cut it off, and the cap was the worst cap I've seen in anything that was recently running. Really good news!!
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It did not look bad but there were what looked like metal shavings on it. Screws came out without much of a fight, and were not rusty, just one is in a very inconvenient spot.
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I am not sure the motor turned over one revolution before it was running after I was done.
You DO realize you nearly ripped a locomotive sized hole in the space-time continuum with the tense in that sentence... right? :o :-*
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Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 29-30 December 2020
* Prep Locomotive #9 for Saturdays winter operations.
* Retrieve ML&M Caboose #554 from ML&M for winter ops.
* Shop work and shop rearranging.
* Work starts on skid replacement of stationary steam engine.
* Archives, Gift shop and campus clean up on going.
Notes:
Rules and Standards for Operation
XVII Railroad Equipment Rules (Rules 130-135)
134. Grade Crossings for Track and Hand Cars (P-34)
Track cars and hand cars shall approach all road crossings
requiring whistle protection to stop, and shall yield to
vehicular traffic.
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 29-30 December 2020.
Tuesday:
* We had 14 volunteers working various projects.
* Locomotive #9 repairs and up dates including, vacuum brake
stand, water site glass, lubricator, plumbing.
* several machine shop projects.
* Tractor repairs continue
* Brookville repairs and clean up continues.
* Campus clean up, dump run
* Standing steam engine replacement skids started
Wednesday:
* Locomotive #9, fired up, checked over, all up dates work well.
* Coach #9 assembly continues
* Tractor and Brookville repairs continues
* Yard switch work included clearing the main line of rolling stock,
Caboose #554 retrieved from ML&M and staged for Saturdays Ops..
Note:
Happy New Year everybody.
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Thursday 12-31-2020:
* Carlos and Jerry worked on the wheel/axle machine.
* Water tower filled for Saturday.
* Heater in Caboose 554 tested.
* Portable heater for Caboose 320 tested using propane tank.
* Answering Machine checked for messages. Callbacks made and messages dispersed.
* Journals serviced on 554, 320 and Coach 8.
Happy New Year!
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Thanks to the folks who have faithfully reported and illustrated the various projects underway at Sheepscot in the past year. They have been a lifeline for those us from away. They have been so appreciated. Here's hoping that 2021 will see the end of this terrible time and allow us all to meet again at Sheepscot! Happy New Year, everyone!
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I second Wayne . Thank you so much you all for keeping your far away folks posted. Almost everyday I check this forum and fb and it's a real treat for me to follow you and share your daily achievements.
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Ditto, Alain. I must check in every few days to see what youz guys are up to.
BTW, has siding, if any, for the AC pavilion been decided on yet?
The building looks terrif.
Happy New Year.
NM has gotten almost six whole inches of rain this year. The ski areas have finally opened.
Trade ya.
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AMEN...it's often the only connection we can have while trying to stay safe.
Happy New Year!!