W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on February 01, 2023, 06:46:59 AM
-
Anticipated work for Saturday, February 4.
* Vehicle repair - the dozer might start to get reassembled.
* Shop work
* Archives work
This was to be the first weekend of Steam & Sleighs, but this Saturday's trains were canceled due to very cold temperatures and sub-zero wind chills. Outdoor work on this day won't be a good idea.
-
Depending on the actual temperature, garage work might not happen either. Would take forever to heat up enough to be some what comfortable..
-
I'll be staying home feeding my wood stove on Saturday!
Stay warm and safe everyone.
Brian W.
-
No work done on Saturday Feb 4. It was too cold: about -5 when I showed up at 9:30, plus with stiff winds forecasters were calling for wind chills in the -20s or worse.
I did some paperwork, took a look at Loco 11 progress, then went home.
-
You know it's bad when I stay home. I woke to -20 with the wind blowing making it well into the -30s. I did a little computer work.
-
I awoke early this morning to no power and -14. I started the wood stove going to keep the temperature up. At 6 it was still -14 and the generator wouldn't start. The oil in it was like molasses. Fortunately the power was back at 8:30 so I didn't need it.
-
For what's it's worth, I was up at 5 this morning for work. At my home on the Route 128 belt southwest of Boston, outside temperature was -11. One of the few Saturdays due to work I was happier staying at home than taking the trip to Sheepscot.
My online IT work went well, despite a power failure to our neighborhood shortly before 8 a.m. Fortunately we have a generator and a reliant ISP provider, which kept me online. Our electric utility outage lasted about 90 minutes. Minor inconvenience compared to other families in New England today.
-
Yesterday minus 20 - today was only minus 10.
Did you see Mt Washington?
97 MPH sustained wind -- minus 108 windchill, lowest ever recorded.
Minus 70 windchill feeding cows was bad enough. And I was 40+ years younger than now.
-
Did you see Mt Washington?
Yes, I could see it from my house if I cut a few trees, but the trees offer protection from the wind and provide some shade so they will stay.
-
Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 7-8 February 2023
* Passenger car truck rebuild
* Vacuum brakes (pending)
* Coach #9 assembly/build
* Engine house
* Freight station canopy
Winter Operations prep
Note: Winter trains begin this Saturday….sign up and beat the rush volunteers!
-
Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 11:
* First day of Steam & Sleighs. Ground help needed.
* Engine house construction
* Vehicle repair
* Burning at Top of Mountain
* Board meeting @ 4.
-
Brian W. and I will be at TOM cutting and burning, kind of entertainment for the guests. Anyone that wants to help, don't wear your Sunday best.
-
Brian W. and I will be at TOM cutting and burning, kind of entertainment for the guests. Anyone that wants to help, don't wear your Sunday best.
Hoping to join you. What time are you leaving Sheepscot?
-
Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 7-8 February 2023
Tuesday:
* Freight station canopy prep continued. (Brendan, Steve Lx, Brian W, Steve Lt, Paul R)
* Passenger car truck rebuild continued. (Carlos, Jerry)
* Coach #9 assembly/build continues (Eric)
* Locomotive #9, fired and test run to TOM. (Roger, Wes C, Dan)
* Track inspection, crossing clean out, switches checked. (Steve Lx, Brian W, Steve Lt)
* Engine House shingling and trim boards. (Stewart)
* Shop clean up (Fred)
* Gift shop/Mail on going (Cindy R)
* Archive work continues (Linda)
Wednesday:
* Coach #9 assembly continued (Eric, new volunter)
* Locomotive #9 maintenance (Roger, Wes C)
* Vacuum brake work continues (Jason, Jonathan)
* Car inspections (Joe Fox)
* SS clean up (Brendan)
NOTE: #52 must be plugged in at the end of the work day, insure the extension cord is also plugged into the bay #4 electrical outlet.
-
Brian W. and I will be at TOM cutting and burning, kind of entertainment for the guests. Anyone that wants to help, don't wear your Sunday best.
Hoping to join you. What time are you leaving Sheepscot?
I have gotten permission from Don to park at his place and he said he would give us a ride in if we want. I hope to leave Sheepscot at 8:30
-
(https://i.postimg.cc/Vvqhd1m2/0211230855.jpg)
Before cutting
(https://i.postimg.cc/MTjNJV46/0211230946.jpg)
We had some snow
(https://i.postimg.cc/8cQ3psQh/0211231404-HDR.jpg)
Dave admiring our work.
-
Work done on Saturday Feb 11:
* Cutting at ToM: Mike and crew did some cutting and burning at ToM.
* Steam & Sleighs: Well patronized (and well staffed) trains.
* Jason was entrance interviewing.
* Marcel was working on Boxcar 56.
* Stewart was shingling the engine house west wall.
* Board meeting at 4.
-
What's "entrance interviewing?"
-
What's "entrance interviewing?"
Bless you, John. I had the same question.
-
What's "entrance interviewing?"
When a volunteer expresses interest in joining the train crew, regardless of background or experience elsewhere, they sit down with the training officer (currently Jason is filling this role) to go through the basic safety rules, talk through a few things, with the understanding that the candidate will learn the rule book, do their best to adhere to those rules, etc. After passing a Safety test, they then are free to serve as Car Host on any public train, and begin the steps towards Brakeman certification through the Trainman program.
Today, Cullen Maher officially entered the WW&F train crew program. Welcome Cullen!
-
With Cullens background working and volunteering at other organizations, he will be a great addition to the crew roster. Welcome Cullen.
-
Our training program uses a series of consistent benchmarks while the actual course of training is tailored to each individual. The entrance interview helps develop that course. There is also an “exit interview” after training and prior to brakeman certification, where we make connections from the entrance and the training course in ways that can be helpful.
Thanks
Jason
-
What's "entrance interviewing?"
When a volunteer expresses interest in joining the train crew, regardless of background or experience elsewhere, they sit down with the training officer (currently Jason is filling this role) to go through the basic safety rules, talk through a few things, with the understanding that the candidate will learn the rule book, do their best to adhere to those rules, etc. After passing a Safety test, they then are free to serve as Car Host on any public train, and begin the steps towards Brakeman certification through the Trainman program.
Today, Cullen Maher officially entered the WW&F train crew program. Welcome Cullen!
Thanks, Ed.
And welcome, Cullen!
-
Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 14-15 February 2023
* Coach #9 build
* Vacuum brakes
* Passenger car trucks
* #52 maintenance
* Freight station canopy
* Engine house
-
Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 18:
* Steam & Sleighs trains, although there's not much snow around. Ground & crew help needed. At least it will be cold so the mud is frozen.
* ToM cutting
* Engine house work
-
Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 14-15 February 2023
Tuesday:
* Freight station canopy removal and loaded on flat car (photo’s on Discussion and FB pages}
( Brendan, Chesterfield Associates, Brian W, Steve Lt, Steve Lx, Randy, Dan)
* RR ops, switching/movement of canopy in north yeard.
(Jason, Dan, Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W)
* Passenger truck build/vacuum brakes, brake can brackets, linkage universal clevis made/formed
Jerry, Carlos, Jonathan)
* Engine house, shingling continues on west wall (Stewart)
* Shop clean up/stove maintenance (Fred)
* Archives work (Linda)
Wednesday:
* Freight station piling work continues. (Brendan, Chesterfield Associates)
* Engine House west wall shingling (Stewart)
* Admin work (Jason, Steve Lx, Randy, Roger)
* Coach #9 build, interior work continues (Eric, Seth)
-
Work done on Saturday Feb 18:
* Engine house - Stewart and Cody were shingling top rows on the west wall.
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel and Eric were discussing something about it.
* ToM clearing - Mike and Brian, with me for part of the morning, were cutting & burning west of the ToM "station" area.
* Steam & Sleigh trains
-
We managed to clear enough today that we could safely put a Shingle Mill building there this fall. 2 pines left to cut but was only Brian and I after James left, and neither of us had ambition enough to cut them. That, and a couple of wedges so they go where I want.. Fred also rode the first train and walked over for a visit.
(https://i.postimg.cc/90yCFM4w/0218230922a-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/x1nT8K3f/0218230922-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TwzT6mPX/0218231025-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7LLHMwRj/0218231143-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/y63Nb6NH/0218231227b-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xCcdYnyL/0218231358a-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/k4zggzfz/0218231358-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hvmPzsYj/0218231436.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPFGWFJ7/0218231436a.jpg)
Conductor Ed encased in steam..
(https://i.postimg.cc/hG4jy9Xy/0218231549b-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nc7CCV8k/0218231559-HDR.jpg)
-
Last week I was tramping through 554 looking for something, and I discovered 3 cans of paint had been left in the car. I opened them up and they are all cottage cheese. Latex paint can't be frozen, it ruins it.
So that project will need new paint when it gets started again. I took pictures of the mix codes in case someone needs that.
-
Storm Cleanup Friday February 24. If the forecast holds for about 12” snow Wednesday into Thursday, I’ll be in Friday to lead a clearing effort. The usual- plow train to ToM, clear the north yard, all switches, passenger ramp, etc. This is an early crew call- all help appreciated. We will confirm when closer to the action.
Thanks
Jason
-
Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 21-22 February 2023
* Vacuum brake work
* Passenger car truck rebuild
* Coach #9 build
* RR ops, yard switching, rail crane recovery from TOM
* SS campus, various clean up
* Prep for expected snow storm (pending)
-
Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 25:
* Last day of Steam & Sleighs. Looks like there'll be enough snow to actually have sleighs. Help needed for switching and ground crews.
* Cutting & burning at ToM.
-
Don't forget:
Storm Cleanup Friday February 24.
The usual- plow train to ToM, clear the north yard, all switches, passenger ramp, etc.
We'll need some extra help to pull this off so that we can run the trains on Saturday!
Please come help if you are available.
-
Planning to be there, probably work around Sheepscot like last time.
-
Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 21-22 February 2023
Tuesday:
SS campus: Campus clean to include Engine House, Machine shop, freight station, parking lot.
(Fred, Stewart, Leon, Jarred, Jason, Brendan, Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W, Randy, Dan)
Coach #9: Work continues. (Eric, Ron)
RR Ops: Switching, rail crane returns to SS for unloading, yard switching, storm prep.
(Dan, Steve Lx, Brian W, Steve Lt)
Passenger trucks: Rebuild continues including parts and pieces fabricated for vacuum brakes.
(Jerry, Carlos, Jonathan-off site)
Archives: Work continues (Linda)
Gift shop/mail: Continual/on going (Cindy)
Wednesday:
Engine house: Shingling, 2 windows put in. (Brendan, Stewart, Fred, Zack, Randy)
Archives: Work continues (Linda)
Coach #9: assembly/build continues (Eric)
Trout Brook Station: Maintenance (Brendan, Randy)
Notes: Fred’s birthday party hosted by Sonja, Zack, Linda and attended by everyone. You might ask how old Fred is, you’ll just have to come to the railroad and ask him. Happy Birthday Fred!
-
Work completed Friday 24 February 2023
* Storm clean out, main line, yards, switches, walk ways and ramp plowed/shoveled out.
(Jason, Steve Lx, Ben R)
* Rail crane removed from flat car #34 (Brendan, Chesterfield Associates)
Note: I left at noon, more work have gotten completed.
Saturday Steam and Sleigh… dress for the cold.
-
Rail laying gantrycrane being unloaded from the flat car. Steve L. picture.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/crane.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/crane.jpg)
-
Where did the rail crane end up being stored?
-
West side of the parking lot for the moment.
-
Work done on Saturday Feb 25:
* Cutting and burning - not at ToM, but at Sheepscot. Mike decided due to lack of reliable help to cut north of the west parking lot. When that's cleared he'll push a pile of stumps up against the root ball of a good sized tree that blew over, and push more dirt over.
* Engine house - cleanup of shingles and other wood in the structure, and it was burned in a burn barrel (manned by Cody and Stewart).
* Steam & Sleigh trains - at last some snow for it.
-
Brian could not be there today, and no one could be stuck with me at TOM for the day (never cut alone). So I decided to cut in another spot that needs it. Future parking (more like storage)..My one and only photo today..looking North while standing on the fill we got last year from the ditching of Cross Rd.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NFFbBKLQ/0225231518-HDR.jpg)
-
I finally found a pocket of time to stencil the 12 new skates that I made late last year. When I bring them up for the SWW that should give us a total of 26. Hopefully that will keep us in skates for a while. Perhaps the powers to be around Sheepscot can find a place or two around the campus to build a rack so we will always know where to go and find one. Perhaps one near the South Yard and one near the North Yard. We could always store one or two in Alna, TOM, and TBS.
That would include a place to return them when they are found around the grounds.
-
A couple of photos of Mike at work this afternoon cutting a sugar maple, as James Patten looks on before adding the smaller cut branches to the fire. I joined after lunch, after updating the public signboard outside our restroom building.
(https://i.imgur.com/4DEgF3A.jpg)
Timberrrrrr...
(https://i.imgur.com/GtDWN6n.jpg)
The larger hardwood trunks will be split and used for firing locomotives.
Zack Wyllie, Steve Piwowarski and Brendan Barry soon joined us as the fire died down. They had been busy on other railway work today, along with many others. We enjoyed sharing memories of past years by the fire, while talking about the current times and future. As I was leaving, Brendan remarked about the sweatshirt I was wearing, of the Downeast Model Railroad Association of North Carver, MA--a club both his dad Bill, Brendan and I were members back in the 1980s. A good reminder of the many friends I've met over the years.
-
That was a slow contoled fall. The tree was leaning toward me, but I did want to have it fall that way. We wound up wedging one in that cluster to get it to fall toward the fire. Thanks Bill for the photos.
-
Chip up those sugar maple branches. They make great smoker fire fuel and especially wet chips for smoking. Of course for those who prefer a little sweetness to their meat.
-
Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 28 February, 01 March 2023
* Vacuum brakes
* Yard switching
* Coach #9 build
* Engine house
* Snow storm clean out
* Midcoast Conservancy Meeting
NOTE: There are several snow events forecast this week which may cancel work projects.
-
I'm coming up for both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. What time does the work start on Tuesday?
-
I'm coming up for both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. What time does the work start on Tuesday?
Hi Dante,
Steve Lennox can confirm but the track crew generally starts 7:30 - 8:00 am. It varies depending on the weather and project. The engine house crew starts 8:00 - 9:00 am, again depending on the weather and the type of work. Shop work: Coach 9 / Eric, or truck construction / Carlos. Start time is usually 8:00 - 9:00 am. Other projects could be any time before 9:30 - 10:00. If you're there around 8:00 you can join just about any group.