W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on May 29, 2024, 05:50:02 AM
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Anticipated work for Saturday, June 1:
* Email cutover day: John Orminski is cutting over our mail to Microsoft. Onsite help will be available from Ed and I, with John available remotely. Anyone that has an @wwfry.org account will need to change their settings in order to get email from the new source. Postponed.
* Lower the freight shed: As of a few days ago, Brendan's plan to was lower the freight shed on Saturday in order to take advantage of many people on the jacks to lower in unison. Once that's done we can start building the platform between the freight shed and station (to give access to the gift shop again) and by the tracks.
* Train crew training: Pete is running a day of crew training to advance people.
* Grounds work
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Any Grounds work will be done before or after the lowering of the Freight Shed.
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Work done on Saturday June 1:
* Platform project: The freight shed/gift shop was successfully lowered this morning with nobody losing any fingers. After clean up/organization of the loose timbers, Brendan and Joe removed the temporary long beams under the shed. Then Brendan dumped large rock in each bay on trackside. While he did that, Zack cut stringers to length for the first set on the trackside, and after Brendan was done I built the first section of stringers. Brendan and I continued on the second and third sections.
* Train crew training: Pete spent time training a good sized crew of trainees.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel was putting some almost finishing touches on the boxcar.
* Archives: Linda and Cody were doing some scanning.
* Gardening: We had a new volunteer, Wilma, doing some gardening.
* School Charter: HC2 was delivered to AC to be used during a school charter on Tuesday.
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Also, a little organizing of the storage area was done, building a short dual gauge track to store wheel sets
(https://i.postimg.cc/QCJGHhVc/20240601-131703.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/v8rdPLXD/20240601-135708.jpg)
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What are those odd looking wheel sets behind the work flat?
Jeff
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There are 3 standard gauge Fairmont axles and wheels alternating with the 2'wheels. I did it that way to save space.
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Crew Call
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Ballasting and Tamping
Dan will be leading an effort to ballast and ramp a short segment of main track in Sheepscot Yard tomorrow, and would love some help.
If this effort is successful we plan to place SS platform back in service for this Saturday.
Please come if you can!
Thanks
Jason
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Anticipated work for Saturday, June 9:
* Public trains.
* Finishing touches on the Sheepscot platform.
* Boxcar 56
* Loco 11 work
* BOD Meeting (4:00pm)
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Dan and crew have been busy getting the mainline repairs in-place to allow the platform to be re-opened as soon as it is ready.
Jason sent over these photos of the newly-reinstalled switch.
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...And the repaired main line (many new ties, jacked, leveled, and aligned.)
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Yesterday- Dan, new volunteer Ben and I replaced the head blocks on the SS South Switch, and reinstalled and readjusted the stand.
Today, Dan and I ballasted 60’, tamped about 100’ of main which was 1” out of level, retamped a slight out of level in front of the new platform, dressed the new ballast after tamping, and blew fire-hazard pine needles away from the main.
Big thanks to Dan for prioritizing this in support of the platform reopening, which should be soon (based on Brendan’s schedule).
Jason
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Working on some more bench seating for the Pavilion. These are to replace a couple of seats in use now. Some all new benches will also be constructed to increase capacity.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wjJymRfs/20240606-192914.jpg)
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Cup holders?
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Cup holders?
Since you asked, I have cup holders for the spray car and 52 to install next week. Right now they are with me in NY, halfway between VA and Alna. They will go well with the new seats I am bringing for 51 and 52. Fifty-two will get a new fireman’s side seat, both hinged so one can access the battery box.
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Rotatable seats for 52?
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Rotatable seats for 52?
I'd like those kind of seats you see on South African steam locomotives that allow you to sit half outside the cab.
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I'd like those kind of seats you see on South African steam locomotives that allow you to sit half outside the cab.
Not a bad idea considering how wide our rolling stock is compared to the width of 52, but then all the controls would need to be redone.
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Rotatable seats for 52?
The engineers seat is adjustable up/down, fore/aft and rotates. There are no arm rests on these two seats so the engineer can slide across to the fireman’s side seat. This is sometimes necessary such as when shuffling cars into/from the car barn.
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I'd like those kind of seats you see on South African steam locomotives that allow you to sit half outside the cab.
Not a bad idea considering how wide our rolling stock is compared to the width of 52, but then all the controls would need to be redone.
Bill is right in the need for more visibility. I have thought about how to widen the cab, but James is also correct in that the controls would need to be moved.
Hence, a major project requiring significant downtime.
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As some of you likely know we are making a little forward progress on 53, in particular making the project more practical and executable.
At present we plan to retain 52 even with 53 available. With that, a few of us have discussed an extended overhaul period for 52, including a full tear down to frames so multiple transmission leaks can be addressed. We also discussed reinstalling the widened cab as envisioned some years ago. The widened cab would require some rework of the control stand, to which we have given some thought; it isn’t fully thought out yet.
Timelines not determined of course..
See ya
Jason
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Work done on Saturday June 8:
* First train out of the rebuilt platform - the 11 AM. All other trains arrived/left from it too. As Bill commented, "it's now a long walk to the gift shop". Today the Mason's also had their super secret meeting at Alna Center.
* Machine shop - Quentin was machining axles.
* Excavator car - Jason had me fit some pieces together for welding.
* Alna Center - Mike was delivering seats
* Board meeting
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Anticipated Work
Week of June 10, 2024
Monday:
Build11 full session, mainly focused on rear truck completion
The wheel and truck team, Jerry and Carlos, plan to join Build11 to mount rear truck wheels
XCart component machining will continue.
Platform work is expected.
Tuesday:
Vac Brake Meeting (pending confirmation of availabilities)
Build11 continues.
Platform work continues.
XCart continues.
Ops: Dan will likely be in for track inspection, switching and the like.
No truck work since J&C will be in on Monday instead
Coach 9 Siding
Wednesday:
Platform
XCart
Coach 9 Siding
Thursday:
Platform
XCart
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Anticipated work for Saturday, June 15:
* Fathers Day trains to TOM for a barbeque - train continues on to Trout Brook.
* Remaining touches on Sheepscot platform
* Loco 11
* Boxcar 56
* Grounds work
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Somebody else will need to give a report, as I was busy on engine crew today. I did notice that Marcel was working on 56, and Dan was working on building crates for 56.
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Work Accomplished, Saturday, June 15:
* BBQ Trains - two sold out trains for a BBQ at SeaLyon Farm. 11am train had 110 passengers (many not going to the BBQ.)
* Box Car 56 - Marcel is putting on the finishing touches, while Dan outfit it with freight crates.
* Food - Nancy made awesome beef and chicken kabobs.
* AC - Mike did some maintenance at Alna Center.
* Ties - Dave, Dan, and others picked up some ties that were donated.
* Platform - Stewart was touching up areas around Sheepscot station and the freight shed that needed a patching of paint.
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In the “other projects” department, Bullet Bob and I finished the Fire/Spray car. It is now ready for summer fire watch as needed.
Before someone asks. In the “trivia department” a cup holder was added. One also appeared in 52.
Mounting plates for the new seats for 51 and 52 were cut from stock and all reside above the shop until my return in July.
Bill
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Work Accomplished, Sunday June 16:
Model T Railcar Ramble: 3 of 5 trips ran; two were annulled due to a problem ultimately diagnosed to the distributor. Handcar rides in the yard were offered instead.
Sheepscot Platform: Stewart continues to touch up areas needing paint.
Boxcar 56: Marcel is putting finishing touches on it, preparing for numbering.
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Anticipated Work
Week of June 17, 2024
Monday:
XCart Wheelset Machining
Prep for Enginehouse work
Tuesday:
Switching related to Enginehouse clearing for ceiling work
Truck brake work
Vacuum pot assembly
Coach 9 Siding
Build11 Truck Work
XCart continues
Wednesday:
Enginehouse ceiling work prep
Coach 9
Build11 truck
Loco 9 mainenance
Thursday:
Enginehouse ceiling
Loco 9 maintenance back-up
XCart
Friday:
Enginehouse ceiling
Loco 9 back up
XCart
This week should see the XCart on its own wheels.
Wherever you spend this week- please be careful outside with the extreme heat indices expected Wednesday through Friday.
Thanks
Jason
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My maintenance at the Pavilion was painting the seats of the benches. I had only intended to do a few but did most of them..they look very clean now. Just 2 left to do at some point. I had other things to get done so did not get to them. Plus my back was saying woah...
(https://i.postimg.cc/9F76YNR1/20240615-092429.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VkP3GBXw/20240615-101247.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Jz3S9DQk/20240615-101251.jpg)
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Nice job Mike! Looks great!
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Looking great Mike!
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Nice work, Mike.
Will just the seats be painted?
Jeff
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Yes, except the older ones that came painted. I am building 6 new ones that just the seats are painted on.
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Mike, will there be a shelter up at Top of the Mountain in the future? I read where passengers can take a tour of the nearby Sea Lyon Farm and I also recall about Dana acquiring a sawmill for that site. Just curious if any structure will be provided for inclement weather operations.
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Bruce, eventually there will be structures at Top of Mountain. A structure to house the sawmill/shingle mill, and a passenger shelter, current thought is to loosely resemble the Wiscasset station. And real platforms.
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Anticipated work for Saturday June 22:
* Public trains, including Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails (with Midcoast Conservancy)
* Enginehouse work is resuming
* Boxcar 56
* Loco 11/other machine shop work
* Grounds work
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Thank you James, that sounds exciting!
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Work done on Saturday June 22:
* Boxcar 56: It was rolled out this afternoon for photos. Marcel has a tiny bit of work left to do on it. Dan was working on door gates and is still working on kitting out the interior. Stewart was also working on bits and pieces for it as well.
* Mike delivered more benches to AC.
* Mike was also working on the dozer.
* In the engine house, Brendan was gathering extra materials to be deposited in the Buildings container.
* Excavator cart: I was doing some filing on pieces to make them fit better.
* Public trains, including a full 1 PM train.
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4 new benches for AC
(https://i.postimg.cc/HWNv92Jt/20240622-080821.jpg)
First patron to use the new ramp to the platform at Sheepscot.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCCj4kvv/20240622-100419.jpg)
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Well done to Marcel and crew on the fantastic restoration of the boxcar. And a great job to Mike on the seating up at Alna Center.
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Anticipated Work
Week of June 24, 2024
Monday:
Enginehouse ceiling possible
Smoke jack design finalizing
XCart wheel work
Tuesday:
Box56 trial ops
Switching/ Ops Staging
Truck brake work
Build11 truck work
Coach 9 siding work
Enginehouse ceiling (not sure Brendan’s schedule)
XCart wheel work
Wednesday
Build11 truck work
Coach 9 siding
XCart wheel work
Enginehouse ceiling possible
Thursday
XCart
Enginehouse ceiling possible
Friday
Enginehouse ceiling possible
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Anticipated work for Saturday June 29:
* Public trains, Civil War re-enactment weekend, and the debut of KC #4 and the use of Boxcar 56 as a "hobo" experience.
* Machine shop/Loco 11
* Engine house work
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To add to what James said, and, hopefully, some weed whacking at Head Tide.
Dave
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Work done on Saturday June 29:
* Civil War re-enactment trains and first running of Boxcar 56 in "hobo" mode. I think 56 is heavier than caboose 320. Good patronage.
* People were in the machine shop but I don't know what they were working on.
* Linda made lunch
* Brendan cleaned up the remaining lumber from the platform project.
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Brian W did some serious cutting and weed whacking at Head Tide. The owner was ecstatic when I sent her photos. There is still much whacking to do though. Many thanks Brian!
Dave
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My passenger count was over 165 for the first two northbound trains. Was in train service yesterday, so I could only take a few photos between operations.
Before the first train at 11 a.m., we see brakeman Dan Malkowski inside B&SR boxcar 56. Yesterday was the first day of the car in public service, providing a hobo experience. Bryce Weeks, Rider Strano and other volunteers joined the public riding the car. Apologies I didn't catch all the volunteer names on the car, but they provided a great experience.
(https://i.imgur.com/c6okDtI.jpg)
WW&F No. 9 was lettered as Kennebec Central No. 4, its previous historic service before the WW&F. Fitting for the "Road to Togus" event, with the 3rd Maine Infantry Company A. Dan or others arranged special KC tickets to Randolph for the event.
(https://i.imgur.com/CnLd8P3.jpg)
Engineer James Patten tends to WW&F No. 9/KC No. 4 at Alna Center on the first return trip from Trout Brook, as the public watches the 3rd Maine Infantry Company A in the field beyond. We had a 20-25 minute dwell time at Alna Center southbound so the public could enjoy the presentation by the infantry company.
(https://i.imgur.com/I5KPnxj.jpg)
Our 3 p.m. train was for railway photographers. We had 15 on board. At Alna Center, scenes were staged with the infantry company.
(https://i.imgur.com/u4O2WGc.jpg)
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Any and all help would be greatly appreciated to finish clearing the ROW at Head Tide to Trout Brook.
We have four blade trimmers, two chainsaws and many hand trimmers as well.
It is a beautiful spot and also part of the railroad's continuing commitment to the public.
Hopefully after this week of the 4th we can get a crew together to do the necessary and neglected maintenance.
Brian