W.W.&F. Discussion Forum

WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on May 01, 2024, 05:40:39 AM

Title: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 01, 2024, 05:40:39 AM
Anticipated work for Saturday, May 4: Star Wars Day, and Annual Meeting Day

* Tie and Dine: replacing ties along the main line. Work train leaves at 8am.
* Platform work
* Boxcar 56
* Annual meeting: 2pm at the Alna Meetinghouse
* Evening dinner train: 4pm departure.  Note that this train will be the only one of the day, annual meeting attendees are welcome.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 04, 2024, 04:50:53 PM
Work done on Saturday May 4:

* Tie & Dine - Work was done by Humason Trestle, and replacing ties in front of the platform.
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel and Jay were working on truck brakes.
* Computer work - I had some success with what I was trying to do.
* Tour guide - Mike was giving tours to various visitors
* Annual Meeting - everyone running got elected.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Ed Lecuyer on May 04, 2024, 06:50:37 PM
Also:
A "Dinner Train" was run to Alna Center for volunteers and members. Thanks to Cindy and Stewart for bringing pizza to the pavilion and serving it to the passengers.
As part of the dinner train, a "freight" movement ran to AC to deliver the tables, chairs and other supplies for the Mother's Day Tea occurring next Saturday.
Paint Prep occurred on Coach 8.
Trim was painted and replaced on the Engine House.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on May 05, 2024, 01:40:18 PM
Anticipated Work
Week of May 6, 2024

Monday:
Organize buildings container, prep for XCart assembly.

Tuesday:
Coach 8 painting
Coach 8 truck swap preparation
Coach 9 siding work
Build11 possible (pending Harold’s availability)
Switching operations (Dan)
VBrake Pot Work (pending Jonathan’s availability)

Wednesday:
Brake Engineering Meeting
Build11 possible
Coach 9 siding
Loco 9 work possible
XCart assembly staging

Thursday:
XCart work
ML&M support work

Platform work is possible all week pending Brendan’s availability.

Help is always welcome,
Jason
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Bill Reidy on May 05, 2024, 03:10:42 PM
A few images from yesterday morning, Saturday, May 4 -- Tie & Dine tie replacement and tamping work from around Humason Brook trestle to around milepost 6.

Pulling one of two expired ties for replacement just south of the trestle.
(https://i.imgur.com/7fXut5F.jpg)

Pulling the other expired tie.
(https://i.imgur.com/dtaDYf9.jpg)

After tie replacement, the track was jacked and levelled prior to tamping.  Dan checks the level.
(https://i.imgur.com/iL62tqo.jpg)

Tamper Big Joe (car No. 1008) was used.  Dave operated it.
(https://i.imgur.com/lgyUZ5z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ghbM2zP.jpg)

Dave tamping just north of the bridge, as other volunteers replace ties closer to MP 6.
(https://i.imgur.com/v3Cc9ms.jpg)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Jeff Schumaker on May 06, 2024, 09:40:54 AM
I see quite a few younger volunteers in the crew. That's great.

Jeff
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Ed Lecuyer on May 06, 2024, 09:43:32 AM
I see quite a few younger volunteers in the crew. That's great.

Dan has become a great ambassador for attracting a younger generation of preservationists to the railroad. That coupled with a few targeted outreach/recruitment events (such as the "Tie and Dine") has yielded a healthy crop of new talent.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Bill Reidy on May 06, 2024, 10:49:14 AM
I see quite a few younger volunteers in the crew. That's great.

Dan has become a great ambassador for attracting a younger generation of preservationists to the railroad. That coupled with a few targeted outreach/recruitment events (such as the "Tie and Dine") has yielded a healthy crop of new talent.

It's a pleasure to see a new generation join the WW&F family.   A great group of people.  The WW&F is in good hands.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 08, 2024, 05:40:59 AM
Anticipated work for Saturday May 11:

* Mother Day Tea trains
* Sheepscot platform work
* Boxcar 56
* Machine shop work
* Grounds work
* Mid-afternoon the board is meeting offsite with another party
* Board meeting at 4 (or after the afore mentioned meeting exits if later) in Percival house.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Mike Fox on May 11, 2024, 04:44:04 PM
Excavator Cart parts showed up this, and some test fitting was done

(https://i.postimg.cc/qRs6xSyY/20240511-133140.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/h407zFSQ/20240511-132949.jpg)

The old seat was replaced in the backhoe today as well.

(https://i.postimg.cc/50dFvbYL/20240511-132127.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/mkTzXjSr/20240511-132021.jpg)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 11, 2024, 07:11:00 PM
Work done on Saturday May 11:

* Mike replaced the seat in the backhoe, which required some fiddling.
* The assembled thing that's part of the excavator cart was done by me, after some grinding of slots.
* New volunteer Gorham was in the machine shop working on boring out something for locomotive 11.
* Marcel was working on 56.
* Mother's Day Tea trains - several people were at Alna Center working to make that happen, not to mention the train crew.
* Board meeting at 4.

And probably other stuff I missed.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on May 13, 2024, 08:45:34 PM
Anticipated Work
Week of May 13, 2024

A day late- I apologize!

Monday: Brendan and Joe worked on the temporary freight shed supports.
Jason (me) worked on XCart assembly, with help from Brendan and Joe.

Tuesday:
VBrake Engineering Meeting
Final prep for coach 8 double truck swap (which is scheduled for next week)
Coach 9 siding
Build11 (if Harold is back)
Dan may have some staging ops planned
Steve P has some sign work planned
Platform/ freight shed work likely

Wednesday:
Coach 9
Platform/ Freight Shed
XCart Assembly is possible in the afternoon

Thursday:
Platform work
ML&M Support
Trail work at Trout Brook (1pm)

Friday:
Set up WWI model display (6pm)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 15, 2024, 09:13:57 AM
Anticipated work for weekend of May 18-19:

* World War I trains both Saturday and Sunday.  WWI reenactors will be at Alna Center fighting off the Germans.
* Vehicle repairs
* Grounds work
* Boxcar 56
* Sheepscot platform work
* A display of Jay Wiley's WWI models will be set up in the Percival House Basement
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 18, 2024, 04:42:16 PM
Work done on Saturday May 18:

* Mike fixed the back hoe.
* Marcel and Kyle were working on Boxcar 56.
* WWI weekend, with re-enactors at Alna Center and guarding Trout Brook Bridge.
* Linda was working in the archives
* Nancy made lunch
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Mike Fox on May 18, 2024, 05:32:15 PM
The WW1 Reneactors weren't the only encampment in Alna Center...intermittent showers had me set up this..when you only have one day a week, you gotta do what you gotta do...

(https://i.postimg.cc/FFJ68pLx/20240518-080601.jpg)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Bill Reidy on May 18, 2024, 06:07:06 PM
* WWI weekend, with re-enactors at Alna Center and guarding Trout Brook Bridge.

Poor Humason gets no love since the opening of the Mountain extension.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Ed Lecuyer on May 19, 2024, 04:38:07 PM
Work done on Sunday May 19:

* WWI weekend, with re-enactors at Alna Center and guarding Trout Brook Bridge.
* Model Planes - Jay Wiley exhibited some of his WWI-era aircraft
* Platform/Mainline - Dan, Nick, & Nick replaced a bunch of ties in front of the new platform - which will allow the track to be put into service as soon as the platform is useable.
* Linda was working in the archives and prepared lunch.

Thanks to all who made the WWI weekend a success. We've agreed that the 3rd weekend in May works well for both groups, so we're already planning an expanded event in 2025.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Dan Malkowski on May 21, 2024, 01:42:05 PM
Anticipated Work for Sunday May 26th,

Start work on Crossing repair at ML&M.
Small crew needed.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Ed Lecuyer on May 21, 2024, 07:05:58 PM
Anticipated Work for Sunday May 26th,

Start work on Crossing repair at ML&M.
Small crew needed.

This work effort will follow Fred's memorial train at 10am. An appropriate tribute to Fred would be do get some hard work done in his honor.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 22, 2024, 05:39:36 AM
Anticipated work for Memorial Day weekend, May 25 - 27:

Saturday
* Public trains, including Ride the Rails to Hike the trails.
* Vehicle maintenance
* Grounds work
* Machine shop
* Platform work

Sunday
* Fred Morse's memorial 10 AM
* ML&M crossing repair begins

Monday
* ML&M crossing repair continues
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Mike Fox on May 22, 2024, 01:35:51 PM
We will be moving the new Kubota to the ML&M crossing Saturday morning before passenger trains to be ready for Sunday. It will be moved back to Sheepscot after grading is complete, which ever day that is (Sunday or Monday) for the continued platform work.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 25, 2024, 05:01:21 PM
Work done on Saturday May 25:

* Mike did some grading in the parking lot of some rough spots.
* Marcel was working on boxcar 56.
* Harold was machining friction bearings for Loco 11 and new trucks.
* Linda (and Cody and I) were setting up new equipment that she acquired, thanks to a grant from Mass Bay RRE.
* Public trains today, plus Pete and I followed on the diesel as fire protection.
* Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails - featured "new James" who assisted the hikers on the train and during the hike (in addition to the Midcoast Conservancy steward who led the hike.)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Keith Taylor on May 25, 2024, 07:40:18 PM
Work done on Saturday May 25:

Harold was machining friction bearings for Loco 11 and new trucks.


James, technically they are called “plain bearings” the term “friction bearings” was a product of the advertising department of the Timken Company.
Keith
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on May 25, 2024, 07:44:58 PM
Keith is correct- similarly, early rolling element bearings were called “anti-friction bearings.”  It was almost like the PR war against the narrow gauge movement…

Just because you’re plain doesn’t have to mean you’re high friction..

See ya
Jason
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Mike Fox on May 25, 2024, 07:53:14 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/HLHpCjTk/20240525-100150.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/15kmJJT6/20240525-100155.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/bvTqY8vH/20240525-100307.jpg)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: John Scott on May 26, 2024, 05:40:45 AM
Journal bearing brasses?
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Gordon Cook on May 26, 2024, 10:34:06 AM
Internal combustion engines still use 'plain bearings' for the crankshaft, complete with a babbit coating on the bearing shells.
The babbit coating provides a soft surface that won't damage the shaft when it is stationary or slowly rotating on startup.
The secret is that an oil film develops between the two parts as the shaft or axle rotates in the bearing and that film prevents metal to metal contact.
In an ICE the oil is carried to the bearings by a pump system, while in a railroad journal bearing the oil is carried by the waste packed into the oil cellar and is pushed up against the axle. Hence the need to regularly inspect, re-pack, and oil journal bearings.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Keith Taylor on May 26, 2024, 10:43:35 AM
Journal bearing brasses?
Yes
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Mike Fox on May 26, 2024, 04:19:55 PM
ML&M Crossing replacement day 1. Very quick work..

(https://i.postimg.cc/VkqnG8Bb/20240526-131135.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/xdgHQ3Zf/20240526-131139.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/VLbjtMJg/20240526-133232.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/8CTWx0tX/20240526-135753.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/4xkpQdtg/20240526-135831.jpg)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on May 27, 2024, 08:06:33 AM
Anticipated Work
Week of May 27, 2024

Monday: Happy Memorial Day
Brendan is on site for platform work.
There may be a vacuum brake effort.

Tuesday:
ML&M Crossing installation and completion.  Help is encouraged!
Coach 8 truck swap
Coach 9 siding work
Build11 work possible

Wednesday:
ML&M crossing back-up day
SS Platform work
Coach 9 work
Build11 work possible
XCart assembly

Thursday:
ML&M Crossing back-up day
SS Platform work
XCart assembly

Friday:
SS Platform Work

Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: James Patten on May 27, 2024, 01:11:41 PM
Work done Monday May 27:

* Dom and Nick were working on vacuum brake piping.
* Brendan and I demolished the remaining platform between the giftshop and station, and in front of the station.  We discovered the globe at the top of the flagpole is (was) a softball.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Pete "Cosmo" Barrington on May 27, 2024, 09:45:32 PM
  We discovered the globe at the top of the flagpole is (was) a softball.

Just in time for opening day! :-*
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Ed Lecuyer on May 30, 2024, 04:15:35 PM
May 30 - Crossing Replacement at Sheepscot Mills (aka Maine Locomotive and Machine). Big thanks to crew: Dan Malkowski, Brian Whitney, Jay Barta, Joe Lamontagne, Dave Buczkowski, Brendan Barry and Jason Lamontagne.

Photos by Jason and Dan.
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: John McNamara on May 30, 2024, 09:01:28 PM
Gee, our latest technology in one picture: tamper and new Kubota!
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Mike Fox on May 31, 2024, 08:39:43 AM
May 30 - Crossing Replacement at Sheepscot Mills (aka Maine Locomotive and Machine). Big thanks to crew: Dan Malkowski, Brian Whitney, Jay Barta, Joe Lamontagne, Dave Buczkowski, Brendan Barry and Jason Lamontagne.

With crossing removal crew we had Sunday consisting of Dan, Nick A., Nick S., Dom, Bryce and myself (I think I got all of us)
Title: Re: May 2024 work reports
Post by: Brendan Barry on May 31, 2024, 04:08:10 PM
More crossing replacement pics.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_8935.JPG) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_8935.JPG)

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_8938.JPG) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_8938.JPG)

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_8937.JPG) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_8937.JPG)