W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on January 29, 2025, 06:40:27 AM
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Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 1:
* First day of Steam & Sleighs. Help needed.
* Storm cleanup train - it's supposed to snow overnight Friday some, so a plow/flanging cleanup train needs to be run before public trains are run. Help needed.
* Engine house work
* Machine shop
* Grounds work
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We are planning to do some cutting at TOM and have a little fire..carving out a future road
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Anyone who can help dig out the platform and walkways (and extra parking spaces) before we welcome 250 or so visitors on Saturday (starting at 10am) would be MUCH MUCH appreciated.
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I'm intending to be up zero-dark-thirty on Saturday for hand shoveling.
Do we know if our plow contractor will be handling the lots in time that morning, or do we need a contingency plan?
Not asking because I think he's a slacker or anything, I just noticed that it was the next day before this storm was cleared.
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Dave (plow guy) is aware of our situation and intends to plow us first.
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I serviced the snow blower a while ago so it should be all set if it is needed.
Brian W.
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I serviced the snow blower a while ago so it should be all set if it is needed.
Brian W.
Thanks Brian. It ran well for me today. It is definitely needed to clear our new platform!
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Glad to hear it ran well. The only thing I didn't check is if the auger belt needs adjusting. There was no snow when I serviced it so I couldn't test how far it blows snow.
I think it will be ok.
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The plow contractor had electrical issues with his truck and asked me to make sure we were ok with waiting until the next day.
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Glad to hear it ran well. The only thing I didn't check is if the auger belt needs adjusting. There was no snow when I serviced it so I couldn't test how far it blows snow.
I think it will be ok.
It throws the snow as far as it is designed to (which is not very far). A smaller pulley on the auger shaft might help increase the distance. I ended up moving snow twice on the platform because it only throws about 2/3 the width.
The governor does need some attention, but not urgently.
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Work done on Saturday Feb 1:
* Storm cleanup - Dan, Ben, Bryce, and others were up well before dawn to commence clean up around Sheepscot from the storm. After pulling 9 out a plow run was made to TOM and return. Thanks guys.
* Steam & Sleighs - moderately attended.
* Garage cleaning - Mike commenced to start a clean up of the garage (in lieu of tree cutting at TOM, which was canceled for today).
* Archives - Linda needed my help with some CatalogIt issues, which we managed to resolve. She was also quite ecstatic over how much the Archives made at the train show (over $4000).
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Anticipated work for Saturday, Feb 8:
* Second Saturday of Steam & Sleighs. Looks like we are well on our way to selling out.
* Tree cutting, take 2. Mike canceled last week because of new snow falling down our backs, this week the snow is Thursday so we should be fine to cut at TOM.
* Engine house work
* Machine shop
* Board meeting at 4. Randy's running it in the new lightning round format, so it may not last long.
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February 2025 Railroad Snow Removal and Inspection Plan
Thanks to Dan M and Brian Whitney for clearing the railroad this past Monday.
Upcoming weather events and our planned response:
Thursday 2/6/25 afternoon- overnight: Snow 3-5”.
Friday 2/7/25: X52 snow clearing and inspection (Help Wanted!)
Saturday 2/8/25: X9 Public operations
Sunday 2/9/25: Snow 4-6”.
Monday 2/10/25: X52 snow clearing and inspection (Help Wanted!)
Tuesday through Thursday 2/11/25 to 2/13/25: Snow 2-4”.
Friday 2/14/25: X52 snow clearing and inspection (Help Wanted!)
Saturday 2/15/25: X9 Public operations.
Each snow clearing and inspection operation also includes clearing and salting crossing flangeways and blowing/ sweeping all switches required for public operations.
Thanks,
Jason
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Work done on Saturday Feb 8:
* Steam & Sleighs - sold out!
* Top of Mountain - Mike and Brian were cutting for an eventual road from our road on the north side of Fossel property to the Top Of Mountain area. The cutting was from the TOM area.
* Archives
* Board meeting - the public portion was pretty quick, the executive session ran long.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/7YrMLvjY/20250208-103525.jpg)
End of day shots of the cutting. We managed about 150 feet of road clearing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hs00cZC0/20250208-143842.jpg)
From end of cutting looking toward TOM
(https://i.postimg.cc/xjz3Yjx4/20250208-143929.jpg)
Looking toward TOM
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgRwmxS6/20250208-144019.jpg)
Looking at next weeks cutting..
(https://i.postimg.cc/CxFGjGF3/20250208-143904.jpg)
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!!!!!HELP NEEDED!!!!
Ok folks, it's rare when I ask for help but I need it this coming Friday. These past few storms it has only been for the majority Bryce and I taking care of the main line with occasional help from one other person here and there. There is a toll to our own limits and we are slowly wearing down to the point of a burn out.
I am hoping to have a crew of 5-6 people help me on Friday which I get is a weekday but I am to the point of not going out with less than 3 people as seen from plowing today.
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See you Friday! Hopefully we can rouse up some others as well!
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Wish I could help as snow removal is one of my favorite things to do..but that is what I will be doing elsewhere..
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Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 15:
* Last day of Steam & Sleighs trains - sold out! Help wanted for crowd control/train crew.
* Road swamping at Top of Mountain
* Engine house work.
* Machine shop
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I’ve gotten to the point where i think i might be of some use, pushing snow/ice wise. Trouble is I’m not available till just before noon this Friday by which time i reckon you’ll likely be done. Let me know if otherwise is the case and I’ll jump in to lend a hand.
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Work done on Saturday Feb 15:
* Steam & Sleighs - sold out trains. Some of us worked to clean out the flangeways on the run-around track.
* Archives - Mike and I put together shelving for Linda.
* People were in the machine shop giving tours.
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A huge thank you to everyone who helped keep our parking lot, pathways, and rails clear for three solid weeks of Maine winter.
Winter operations are grueling, challenging, and can be "not fun". But then riding the mainline decorated by snow covered trees can make it all worthwhile.
That said, without the tireless effort of Dan Malkowski and Bryce Weeks the rails would have remained snow covered and silent. Thank you for going above and beyond to make our railway safe and enjoyable for our guests, photographers, and fellow volunteers.
Now, let's hope this snow melts before the first Easter Eggspress trains on April 12th!
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Dan and Bryce really have carried the torch for most line clearing, thanks guys.
We’ve had many other under-sung heroes keeping the railroad functional- especially for public ops. Ben Richards, Brendan Barry, the two Nicks, Steve Piwowarski, Ed Lecuyer, Stewart Rhine, and others who all deserve our thanks. So: Thank You all for keeping us going this winter!
Jason
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Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 22:
* Engine house
* Machine shop
* Vehicle repair/garage clean up
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Added to James' list - digging out Dave's Truck.
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Added to James' list - digging out Dave's Truck.
Only after you pay for impoundment fees....
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Oh a wise guy eh?
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Added to James' list - digging out Dave's Truck.
That's why you were asking if I'd be up in Sheepscot Saturday.
The answer is still no.
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I dug it out myself this afternoon. Now I know who my friends are.
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Work done on Saturday Feb 22:
* Vehicle repair: Mike took some parts off the front end loader in order to get replacement parts.
* Loco 10: A crew were working on cleaning up the chassis and parts attached to it.
* New modem: Brendan tried installing a new modem to Spectrum.
* Engine house: Brendan worked on the engine house ceiling
* Archives: Boxes in the basement were moved back to the first floor to make room for a new donation coming.