W.W.&F. Discussion Forum

WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: James Patten on December 31, 2014, 07:07:51 AM

Title: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on December 31, 2014, 07:07:51 AM
Tomorrow marks the beginning of 2015 - the 26th year of the Museum, and 30 years since Harry bought the WW&F assets from the Winter Scientific Institutes.

This year, in addition to my weekly postings about what I think will happen at the Museum on the weekends, I've asked Jason to post what he believes will occur during the subsequent week.  With Jason now working nearly every day at the WW&F, there are a number of volunteers that are helping out with #9 (or other projects), at least 3 out of the 5 week days.  It's sizable enough that I think it deserves posting about so people can plan for it.

Anticipated work for Saturday, January 3, 2015:

* North Car Barn - continue on the wall purlins.
* Loco 9
* Store inventory - time to count inventory for the year-end books.  Maybe we should go to a fiscal year starting in May so that I can do this in warm weather.

So far, little if any snow on the ground, although that may change Saturday night/Sunday.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Paul Uhland on December 31, 2014, 06:59:38 PM
James...You could never post too much WW&F work info or pics, the more the merrier!
Happy New Year.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Jonathan B. Smith on January 01, 2015, 06:54:13 AM
The additional posting from Jason announcing intended non Saturday work will be most welcome.
I've often learned of WW&F doings after the fact for which I could have lent a hand had I been more aware.
Increasing the level of intra-Museum communication is a worth while resolution in the New Year.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 01, 2015, 09:10:46 AM
There will also be a little prep for Springfield.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Stewart "Start" Rhine on January 03, 2015, 06:17:49 PM
Work done Saturday, January 3rd 2015 -

* Gift Shop - James spent some quality time in the deep freeze doing the store inventory.

* Car Storage Building - Zack, Steve Z. and crew installed purlins on the west wall and set guide planks for the south wall (these tie into the roof trusses)  With another storm coming, the crew covered the stack of roof trusses to keep the snow and ice off of them.

* Grounds - Brendan cut up a fallen tree and stacked the wood in the locomotive wood shed.

* Big E Show - Mike took more measurements of the railcar and prepared some rail for the display track.

* Kitchen - A nice lunch was prepared by Cindy, it was tough leaving the warm house after a good meal!
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 03, 2015, 06:20:42 PM
Store inventory: I have to also thank JB and his friend Laura for helping out.  I was also there yesterday (Friday) and started the counting, yesterday it was in the 30s, today in the upper teens!
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 03, 2015, 08:07:39 PM
Upper teens? Yeah I guess 17 or 18 is upper teens.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on January 06, 2015, 07:53:38 AM
This week:

Monday, yesterday, we removed No 10's rear truck and, subsequently, rear springs in order to order replacements.  We also dug out an old spare spring for No 52 to do the same with those.  We arranged a hydraulic jack with a pressure gauge to weigh no 10's back end, and spent some time calculating the additional load due to coal and water.  Eric, Jonathan and myself joined by Brendan and Zack in the afternoon.  EDIT:  oh, and I was there...

Tuesday:  preparing and sending off email inquiries for both springs and a potential source for vacuum diaphragms.  A little shop clean up then a machining project on no 9 (crosshead guide attachment).

Wednesday:  X-head guide continuing.  

Thursday:  Cold.  Going to Top of Mountain to install guard rails...  Kidding!  Continue X-head guides.  Piston/ bore measurements to prepare for ordering rings.

Sorry this wasn't posted sooner!  (James, pestering is good!)

See ya
Jason
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 07, 2015, 07:20:54 AM
Anticipated work for weekend of Jan 10:

Friday 9th: Board meeting at 4:30
Saturday 10th:
* Car barn
* #9/#10
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 10, 2015, 07:33:54 PM
Work done on Jan 10:

* Car barn - more perlins, on the south wall.
* Trees - Fred and Steve cut some hard woods at the west side of the parking lot for steam loco fire ups.  The tractor deposited the loads near the wood shed.
* #9 - Wes was starting work on insulating the boiler.  Talk was had about the jacketing.  Some work on the cross heads.
* #10 - Work on piping, and on re-installing the whistle lever from the summer.
* Excavator - Mike was tooling around on the woods track, making it more level and moving around timber in the way.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 10, 2015, 09:28:30 PM
WW&F at rest

(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/WWampFundercover_zps26a93701.jpg)


Here is a shot of the first sheet of insulation. Of note, this insulation was all donated from a boat yard through one of our members years ago.

(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/WWandF%20Ry/9insulation_zpsef1e2054.jpg)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Fred L. Kuhns on January 11, 2015, 05:20:42 PM
  Mike, The picture of the WW&F at rest is really a great shot of the upper yard under snow.  Thanks  Fred L.Kuhns
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Wayne Laepple on January 11, 2015, 05:35:58 PM
Any new photos of the work on the car house available?
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 11, 2015, 05:50:22 PM
No noticeable changes from the last photos, just some work of the purlins.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 14, 2015, 07:06:39 AM
Anticipated work for Saturday Jan 17:

* Springfield prep
* Tree cutting - I'm sure Fred has some trees in mind
* Loco 9? - No Jason on Saturday
* Car barn - more perlins.

Hopefully Jason will post about his plans for the upcoming week.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Gordon Cook on January 14, 2015, 01:07:42 PM
OK, Even Google didn't help much.
What's a perlin, or purlin? I assume it's not a happy cat?  :D
Please help us non-structural folks to understand.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Stewart "Start" Rhine on January 14, 2015, 01:33:36 PM
Purlins are horizontal braces that run between the posts.  They give you a place to nail the vertical board sheathing.  The shop addition (for one example) has this type of construction.

Start
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 17, 2015, 05:48:35 PM
Work done on Saturday Jan 17:

* Trees - Fred felled 5 trees that were "threatening" to fall on the car barn, plus a few more.  The wood was cut, loaded in the tractor and dropped near the wood shed.
* Phone lines - Mike did some digging to bury phone lines with the Kubota.   Not much because frozen ground + ice on the ground made for tough digging.
* Restrooms - Zack installed two extra storage tanks in the restrooms.  During Christmas there wasn't quite enough pressure in the lines to keep one of the toilets on each side from constantly flushing.  Zack thinks the extra storage will keep the pressure up.
* Shop rearranging - Mike, Stewart, and Brendan moved the air compressor into the boiler room, then rotated the Bridgeport around and put it where the air compressor was.
* Firewood - Firewood had been dumped between Bay 1 track and the run around, and was blocking both.  So Dwight, Hansel, myself, Bill R, and Dave B moved it to a pile north of the wood shed.  Should be enough to keep two steam engines happy in 2015.

My car read 1 degree above zero this morning when I arrived and about 15 when I left this afternoon.  Between my heavy wool socks, long johns, insulated pants, and 3 layers of jackets and heavy hat and hoods I stayed pretty warm when I was outside.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on January 17, 2015, 06:15:45 PM
Planed work week of Jan 19:

Run lubrication lines on no 9.

Continue crosshead pin fitting, crosshead gib fitting, crosshead gib plate fitting.  Measure for and order piston rings. 

Make piston rod bearings. Make jig to pour metallic packing rings.  Maybe pour rings if we get that far.

Do an initial lay out of main rods and develop a repair and fitting plan.  (Proceed with plan).

Probably some other stuff too...

Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Bill Reidy on January 17, 2015, 07:38:27 PM
My car read 1 degree above zero this morning when I arrived...

James arrived before Kielbasa Dave and I did.  When we pulled in the lot at around 7.40, my car read -2.  The lowest temp. we saw on the way up this morning was in the Scarborough area around 6.20:  -5.  A couple of us noticed with the snow on the ground, if we stepped in the heated restroom building for a few moments, then back out onto the concrete floor of the covered entrance, our boots would stick to the floor as the melted snow instantly refroze.

James and I also spent a brief time relearning the alphabet sorting some of the letter sets for the signboard outside the restroom building. 
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Brendan Barry on January 21, 2015, 12:52:53 AM
Couple pictures of the results from last Saturday's activities.

The wood pile in the yard.

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/DSC_0407-1.jpg)

The bridgeport turned around and moved into the air compressors's old location. The air compressor was moved into the boiler room.

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/DSC_0402-2.jpg)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 21, 2015, 07:18:58 AM
Anticipated work for the weekend of January 24-25:

Wednesday
* Mike is showing up this morning at the Museum with a trailer to put the railcar in it, then returning home.

Thursday
* Mike heads to Springfield with the trailer, arriving late morning/early afternoon and will unload the railcar in the Mallory building.  Stewart and others will be there.

Friday
* Springfield show sales table set up.

Saturday
* Day 1 of the Springfield show.
* Loco 9 - Jason will be around working on boiler insulation and other stuff
* Tree cutting - Fred will be around to run the chain saw if anyone's interested.
* Caboose party - Steve Z is overseeing a birthday party in the caboose.  Note that there's no train running!

Sunday
* Day 2 of Springfield.
* At the end of the day the railcar and sales tables are packed up.

Later (Monday?)
* Mike returns the railcar to Sheepscot.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Stewart "Start" Rhine on January 21, 2015, 07:57:00 AM
A bit more on the Big E Show -

* Thursday we will be building a short section of track at our display site and unloading RC4 with ramp track.  Anyone who can help please go to the Mallary building south room, section 142.  Start time depends on when Mike arrives with the truck but should be prior to 10am.  Most of the model layouts are set up in Mallary on Thursday afternoon.

* Friday - Dealer and layout set up continues and it's the first open day for the public attending the clinics in Mallary.  If Friday is like last year with the dairy car, it will be very busy with lots of people visiting our exhibit.  

* Saturday and Sunday are the two full days of the show where all 4 buildings are open to the public.  Our gift shop sales tables are in the Young Building, section 78 if anyone is available to help.  We will have a new credit card reader running through a droid phone so it will be  a good experience for the sales team.   The RC4 display will be busy since we are located right next to the main entrance of the Mallary main hall.  The railcar crew plans a few special things such as turning the railcar.  The demonstration may be done at the top of each hour, listen for an announcement over the shows PA system.  

We hope to see many of you there.    
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Duncan Mackiewicz on January 21, 2015, 02:06:43 PM
Stewart,
Thanks for the info. I plan to be there tomorrow to assist in the unloading. I also will be part of the team for the entire weekend at the table site.
Duncan
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: John McNamara on January 21, 2015, 02:19:30 PM
Has anyone tested this "new credit card reader running through a droid phone" and developed a "cheat sheet" for its operation?

-John
Table crew member Saturday and Sunday
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Brendan Barry on January 21, 2015, 07:06:14 PM
Model T being loaded up for trip out to the Big E.

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/DSC_0413.jpg)

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/DSC_0414.jpg)

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/bbarry74/DSC_0419_1.jpg)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 21, 2015, 08:04:54 PM
Looks easy when you see it in the pictures...
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Dave Buczkowski on January 21, 2015, 10:28:19 PM
The photos didn't show the signage on the side of the truck. Is it RowMow Hauling & Rigging, LLC?
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Hansel Fardon on January 22, 2015, 03:30:23 AM
Looks easy when you see it in the pictures...

At least you didn't have to cut the pilot off.  :)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 22, 2015, 05:20:23 AM
RCT (Rail car transport) departed Auburn at 0515
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 22, 2015, 12:22:06 PM
Alna, the Railcar has landed. Over
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Dave Buczkowski on January 22, 2015, 12:31:14 PM
Mike;
Make sure not to go wild in the big city!
Dave
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 22, 2015, 01:01:28 PM
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m573/miketrainnut/Mobile%20Uploads/0122151150_zpsfe982277.jpg)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Gordon Cook on January 23, 2015, 09:13:36 AM
Hmm, wonder what the minimum curvature is is for the railcar?
How about a loop around the fairgrounds next year?
(Only kidding a little!)

 ;)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 23, 2015, 07:45:23 PM
I'll take it for a loop around on the way out and we'll call that good ;)
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 24, 2015, 07:21:31 PM
A fine day at the show. Stewart had an announcement made that the car would be turned at noon, and had about 150 people in attendance. Ryder and Bryce were on hand to provide the effort. Museum table was steady. Enough room for people to browse. I was able to do a bunch of sight seeing, twice actually when Joe showed up and we went around together again. We had about 6 inches of snow for the day. Sunday is expected to be the better of the two days, so attendance will surely improve.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 24, 2015, 10:41:33 PM
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/the_2015_railroad_hobby_show_i.html
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Bill Reidy on January 25, 2015, 05:35:09 PM
Thank you to everyone who arranged and manned our presence at this year's ARS West Springfield show, both sales tables and Model T rail car display.  A big undertaking, greatly appreciated!
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Hansel Fardon on January 25, 2015, 07:03:06 PM
A round of applause for Team Alna!
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 25, 2015, 09:49:19 PM
Successful extraction from the Mallary Complex tonight. 7 or 8 members stayed late and helped with the loading. A big thank you to them. Unloading Monday. The show was attended by almost 14,000 people. Not record braking, but not bad either. And we ran out of Brochures, and captured at least 3 new members..
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 26, 2015, 04:34:47 PM
RC4 is back on home rails. We beat the storm. Thanks to everyone who helped load last night.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Ira Schreiber on January 26, 2015, 04:38:37 PM
Storm? what storm?
It is currently 71* and full sunshine here in Denver.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Dwight Winkley on January 26, 2015, 05:39:09 PM
Any report on what went on at Sheepscot last Saturday the 24th?
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on January 26, 2015, 06:39:54 PM
Zack and I installed pistons/rods and assessed packing glands.

Last week I made and installed the rear cylinder head bearings, and ordered piston rings.  These pistons are built up instead of being cast solid- this means they can be taken apart and the rings installed without having to spread them over the od of the piston.  I plan on doing this in place on the engine, so that Saturday's installation was the one and only for these components.

I wanted a couple thousands clearance from bearing to rod- and a couple thou interference bearing to head- so I bored them 0.004 to 0.005 clear of the rod to allow for a little shrinkage during pressing.  I was pleased that it worked- everything was right enough that we pushed quite a lot of air even without rings.

No 9 has metallic packing, using a United States Packing Gland (that's a brand).  One side is actually usable after reboring.  We'll cast new ones for the remaining side.  Gordon C will likely work though this as we continue with other driving gear concerns.

This week will be a little quiet as I'm home recovering from a surgery.  I believe Jonathan was in today, fitting wrist pins to the crossheads.  Brendan will be in later this week continuing some bay 4 improvements.

We'll also be looking into continuing the boiler jacket processing soon.

See ya
Jason
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Bill Sample on January 26, 2015, 07:11:56 PM
It was nice to have a visit to Maine in West Springfield.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Stewart "Start" Rhine on January 26, 2015, 07:49:36 PM
Good to see you too Bill, as well as many other friends of the WW&F.  The show went well even with the snow Saturday morning.  That kept the crowds down a bit but Sunday afternoon made up for it.  At one point we had a group of people waiting to put their kids in the railcar for photos.  We figure that we had around 250 people try the seats over the 4 day period.  Friday we were busy with vendors and exhibitors looking at the railcar and asking questions.  Saturday brought more vendors as they had time to walk around that morning.  On Sunday the place went nuts and we had at least 6 hours of constant visitors. Conversations ranged from narrow gauge railroad talk to Model T stories.  The kids were a treat as some had big eyes as they climbed into the car.  A couple of boys surprised us as they said things like "this looks like the combination of a car and a train" and "is that a Model T front end?"  

As usual, the Big E was like old home week seeing friends from all over.  The totals were off a little this year but there were 14,217 visitors and 3,800 exhibitors totaling 18,017 people.  The normal is about 22,000.  

The prep for this event started as we were loading the dairy car last year.  The WW&F H&R dept. (Brendan and Mike) discussed what we could bring for 2015 and it was decided to exhibit the railcar.  Much planning went into the project and it would not have happened without Mike Fox.  Mike rented the large truck, drove it to MA and back plus devised a way to load and secure the car.  The scene of Mike and his crew unloading the car on it's display track brought a good sized crowd to the Mallary Building.  Mike along with other members greeted visitors and answered many questions about the car over 4 days.  The questions included the never ending "where's the steering wheel?" to "how old is this?"   Crew members included Dwight, Duncan M., John R., Rider and Bryce.  Demonstrations of turning the car brought good sized crowds, especially on Sunday when the crowd completely surrounded the car.  As the car was returned to it's original position we received a round of applause.  Some of the crew, (Mike especially) had nearly 50 hours of work before, during and after the show.  As we were loading RC4 back on the truck another conversation started ... you guessed it, what will we bring in 2016.

Please see our facebook page for more information..
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Mike Fox on January 26, 2015, 08:37:03 PM
I don't want to take all the credit. One person can not do it all. Several of us contributed to the success of this latest adventure, and all involved deserve a Thank You. I know it was challenging, but yet something else we accomplished with team work, and I for one am very glad we did it.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Jason M Lamontagne on January 26, 2015, 08:42:28 PM
We are a group who thrives on setting challenges and meeting them as a team.  Being part of it is rewarding beyond measure.  Congratulations to everyone who came together to meet this challenge!
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: James Patten on January 28, 2015, 06:04:28 PM
I've been remiss in getting out this Saturday's anticipated work list.  Vacation, you know.  Details on that forthcoming later this week.

* Loco 9 - no Jason.
* Springfield - Putting things back that were taken for the show.
* Snow - 2+ feet to clear out.

I guess the snow probably puts any tree cutting off the radar for a while.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Dave Buczkowski on January 28, 2015, 06:32:26 PM
James,
Glad you're back safely. Speaking of snow, Alna is due for another 4-6 inches Friday night.
Dave
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Fred Morse on January 30, 2015, 06:37:10 AM
Another snowy day, may be late getting there tomorrow. I guess it's all inside work now. There's a little sheetrock to put up in the cellar and some insulating in between rafters on the outside walls. Of course there's always work in bay Four.
Title: Re: January 2015 Work Planning
Post by: Stewart "Start" Rhine on February 01, 2015, 08:54:48 AM
Work done Saturday, Jan 31st -

* Grounds - Much snow removal by our crew, Zack, Brendan and Fred.  Jeff Verney brought his loader and pushed the old snow piles back to make room for more this coming week.  The large machine was handy since some of the piles are over 20ft high.  The yard has over 2' or snow with more on the way Monday.

* #9 - Wes installed more boiler lagging and did test fitting of the boiler jacket templates.

* Shop - Brendan has been building a new work bench where the grinder and belt sander will go.  It is a very solid bench.

* Kitchen - Nancy Weeks made a wonderful lunch of beef stew, hot rolls and home made apple pie.  After lunch she cleaned the kitchen, meeting/dining room and north bathroom.  The place looks great, thanks Nancy!