W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Volunteers => Topic started by: Stephen Lennox on November 02, 2020, 09:56:45 AM
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Anticipated work for Tuesday, 3 and Wednesday, 4 November 2020
Tuesday:
* Trout Brook switch, complete installation of of the switch stand
adjustment and spiking.
* Box car #56 prep for movement.
* Shop work
* Electric Building (pending)
* Vehicle repair (pending)
* Archives and gift shop
* Campus clean up and Dump run.
Wednesday:
* Trout Brook switch, finish spiking and clean up.
* Box car #56
* Shop work
* Campus clean up
Note: Deer Season is under way, wearing blaze orange is recommended.
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Anticipated work for Saturday November 7.
The first Saturday of November is typically a day when we go volunteer for another group. In many past years that was the Albion Historical Society's Albion station. This year we're going to the SR&RL Museum in Phillips. We'll be helping construct track in their car barn. Weather should be relatively balmy! I can't specify when to show up, but my guess is somewhere between 9 and 10. Neither can I tell you whether to bring your lunch or not, but if you don't then Downtown Phillips is not far away.
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Fred says he plans on leaving Sheepscot at 7. I plan on arriving in Phillips about 7:30. Temps should be in the 50's (expecting 60s in Portland) so it will make for a pleasant day.
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Photos, please. Wish I could be there, but I'll be working Saturday.
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Also on Saturday (actually all week - already underway), our friends at Maine Narrow Gauge in Portland are also hosting a track work party. Volunteers are needed as they are replacing 500 ties, and associated track work.
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Also on Saturday (actually all week - already underway), our friends at Maine Narrow Gauge in Portland are also hosting a track work party. Volunteers are needed as they are replacing 500 ties, and associated track work.
Thanks for the plug, Ed.
MNG will also be working Friday and Sunday if any of you wanna get in a little bit at both places. Monson 3 will be out and about all weekend.
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On Sat. you can bring your own lunch if you want to, However I'm buying pizza's An I have 5o bags of chips and 45 bottles of water. Zack is also bring snacks. We'll have plenty of food.
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 3-4 November 2020
Tuesday:
* Trout Brook switch, all switch parts attached, adjusted, checked and spiking continues.
* Shop work continues with work being performed on the vacuum brake stand.
* Electric building work continues with rafters attached.
* Archives and gift shop work on going.
* Campus clean up and dump run.
Wednesday:
* Trout Brook switch completed. Final checks, west guard rail added and the entire switch spiked in.
Future ballasting and lining expected to be done in the spring and a small platform is to be built on the east side of the switch to ease the switch operator’s movements.
Switch awaits “Starts” target and paint work.
* Tamper returned to the TOM.
* Coach #9 assembly continues.
* Shop work continues on brake stand, shop machine up dates continue.
* Electric building work continued with a variety of things to include various fascia boarding.
Note: A reminder for Saturdays Sandy River Trip, see you there.
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You guys have done amazing work on the switch. Congratulations on finishing it up....
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Another great report and a fantastic looking switch you guys have built.
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What a marvelous switch. If we put the track up the hill to the west it would make a great runaway track. Just a thought... ;)
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Thank you so much for the report and well done you all. Cold and snow can come by now you are thru with this switch.
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The switch looks fantastic. So, what's next?
Jeff S.
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Jeff: you heard Alain in the message above yours - cold and snow!
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Thursday, Nov. 5th -
Power house - a full day was spent on the electric service building. The roof framing and trim were completed (rake and shadow boards) and the building is ready for the metal roof to be installed this weekend.
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A metal roof for an electrical building???
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Should keep the photographers off it..
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The metal roof is part of the Faraday cage.
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The roof will be just in time for all that cold and snow that Alain is predicting.
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The metal roof is part of the Faraday cage.
Very effective - no Faradays have been seen running around.
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Our trains aren't the only things with conductors..😁
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Should keep the photographers off it..
They'll get a charge out of it, if they don't. 8)
Jeff S.
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Oh no! We're about to be PUNished again.
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Didn't you mean "PUNishED" ?? I know I'm going to be sent to "time out" for a while, but it was sure fun to pun this week. Keeps me Grounded ... ;)
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If you are going to SR&RL tomorrow, make sure you have your masks. The Governor has mandated masks state wide starting today. Indoors and outdoors regardless of social distancing.
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The mask requirement is anywhere public and started the 4th. Unless you are on your own property. But using your head, staying socially distant, and frequent disinfecting hands will help too. She had to make a blanket order for the whole state, no matter the local population.
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Al and Mikes statements above make good sense.
For some additional perspective on this the school I teach at in Dresden (next to Alna)has been doing remote learning for the past 2 weeks due to a COVID case within the school. Despite Dresden’s low population, people come from other places or work places where the virus is more prevalent.
Since we all travel from many places to get to the railway and don’t live in a generally isolated community, taking extra precautions makes sense so we don’t transmit the virus from one community to another.
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I fully agree with you Mike but when I see how things go out here I wonder if people still know how to use their head.
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Super Saturday - WW&F crews worked at 3 locations: Alna, Portland and Phillips.
- Phillips - WW&F volunteers helped the SR&RL build track to the new car barn (watch for a separate report).
- Portland - WW&F volunteers helped Maine Narrow Gauge rebuild parts of their mainline (watch for a separate report).
- Alna - (1) The metal roof was installed on the new electric distribution building and the staging removed. Interior work included covering soffit openings with 1" stock. A period correct door and casing was repaired for use on the building. (2) Shop: the 24" Prentice lathe was removed from it's location in bay 3, partially disassembled and loaded onto the trailer of a fellow who purchased it. (3) Boxcar 56 was moved from the parking lot and set on trucks on the run through track. The work is in preparation for the car coming into the shop for restoration/rebuilding as the WW&F tool car. (4) The railroad mag phone line received some repair up near Top of the Mountain.
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And a good time was had by all (I hope)!
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Others can fill in where I missed, but here is the report from Phillips. I arrived at 7:15..
Driving in the access road, you are greeted by the Sandy River. Here we are looking at where the center pier used to be of the covered bridge.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wjCvmz9z/1107200719-HDR.jpg)
This is looking at the remnants of the center pier while looking at the south abutment.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fRtyyyn5/1107200720-HDR.jpg)
Now to the before hand pictures. The Car Barn itself is very impressive. This is how it looked at 7:30am.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Wb4hRS5B/1107200733a-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7YQbq7cf/1107200733-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/MZ5vrgm0/1107200734.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0jVjMJyX/1107200734a.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NMw5WcnD/1107200734b.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1Xm43KsN/1107200734-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3rFvQkYv/1107200735.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bNY2yqwF/1107200735a.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/C1Hz02Tg/1107200735b.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VNtJG6K5/1107200736-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZy3LfQj/1107200737-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XqLGfzQ8/1107200739-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KY3M6Q8G/1107200740-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nzvQzzmN/1107200813.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Z5MNsXZs/1107200814.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/RFrH4fWc/1107200814a.jpg)
Then we got to work.
While a crew was inside the car barn spiking the track in there, we tackled the switch. I had started early with Sharon, and got the points to meet the diverging rail, so we could spike it. Here is James spiking the frog.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXPKmDqC/1107201015a-HDR.jpg)
And here we are a little bit later
(https://i.postimg.cc/66rd6HLT/1107201047-HDR.jpg)
The guys inside kept pounding away, Fred and Zack were behind the roundhouse cutting wet ties (which were much easier to drive a spike into that when they are dry) and one of the guys (Eric) was hauling them over with his tractor.
(https://i.postimg.cc/m2VCCtns/1107201436a.jpg)
James taking a break
(https://i.postimg.cc/q7Nsk4jd/1107201203.jpg)
2:30 this afternoon, we were very close to getting the rails in the building tied to the main.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XYJF8nMy/1107201435-HDR.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3NFpLRJ2/1107201436.jpg)
Inside is spiked every other tie as requested. Eventual plans are to finish spiking these.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gJR3ZsCS/1107201437.jpg)
More rail was installed in the center stall and spiked.
(https://i.postimg.cc/MGgyHNFf/1107201437a.jpg)
We finished just after 3. Laying 154 feet of track, spiking the switch, and spiking the track inside the building. A very productive day.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kXCvxrXx/1107201511b.jpg)
Our crew consisted of (in no particular order) myself, James P., Steve L., Mark C., Ken Berlo, Brian W., Fred, Zack, Freds son-in-law Barry, Linda, Carlos and Jerry Steinke, Jay B, J. B. Smith and Dave B. I feel I am forgetting someone...
Throughout the day we had several volunteers from SR&RL helping, and I can not name them all. Melvin and Scott came in early and got things ready for us. Eric brought his tractor, Sharon and the other SR&RL guys (and gals) were there helping as much as possible. I apologize if I missed anyone.
It was great for us to work together in a way they definately need help with, labor.
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Looks like a very successful day at Phillips. Congrats on a job well done.
Jeff S.
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FYI, i drove by today to see what was happening, as reported in detail earlier. I was concerned that noone was wearing a mask (despite Gov. Mills new directive), so I did not stop, as much as I wanted to.
That clearly qualified as a public space under the new directive, so can we be more diligent about wearing masks while on the railroad?
Thanks
Bob
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Thanks, Mike. Great report. Wish I could have been there. Got done with work at 10, so I would have gotten there at best around 2, about an hour before work ended.
That car barn is impressive.
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Well done, everyone. Keep those masks on. We don't want to lose anyone.
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(4) The railroad mag phone line received some repair up near Top of the Mountain.
Working in the Shop at Sheepscot Station, Alan Downey received a mag phone call from Top of the Mountain, "loud and clear." We are now ready (telephonic-ally at least) for Steam & Sleighs.
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Mike,
Fred’s son-in-law’s name is Barry. It was Eric on the tractor, not Bill. A great time was had by all. The Sandy River crew did a great job preparing for us and seeing that there was something for everyone to do. The “Have track tools, will travel” WW&F track crew did itself proud today. I received a couple of heartfelt thank you’s from SRRL folks.
We had very good mask compliance today in Phillips but not 100%. I was disappointed to learn that compliance was so poor at Sheepscot. This needs to change.
Finally, if there are any complaints about spiking in the Phillips car barn it’s Carlos’ fault.😉
Dave
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Fixed. Thanks Dave. I started taking notes but stopped shortly after I started.
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I don’t have any photos of the work done in Portland on Saturday but there were four of us from the WW&F working there. It was myself, Dan Malkowski, Bryce Weeks, and James Nobilini. There were also a number of folks from other railroads there. We worked spiking in the new ties and
gauging track. James was running the crew and we managed to get all of the new ties
spiked and got the mainline reconnected. I am hoping that Dan or Bryce can post some photos and add anything I have missed.
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Anticipated work Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November 2020.
Tuesday:
* Sheepscot campus clean up to include rearranging various
equipment and material.
* Shop work, vacuum brake work.
* Electrical building (power house) work pending.
* Vehicle repair (pending)
* Archives and gift shop.
* Dump run
* Ballasting TOM cradles (pending)
Wednesday:
* Sheepcot campus clean up
* TOM switching winter prep.
* Shop work
* Ballasting TOM cradles (pending)
Notes: Left out from last week Brookville work started.
Masks, state requirements have been changed.
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Up date for Tuesday 10 November 2020
* Prep and ready three flats for stone ballast for loading anytime Tuesday.
* Finish moving Box car #56 into machine shop for rebuild.
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Jeff loading ballast at Alna Center this afternoon.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_2745.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/bbarry74/a/5eea03cf-9481-491b-9315-6b0eef26b083/p/0d042e93-a55b-4ff5-b2a7-acb973f0905d)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/s5/bbarry74/IMG_2753.JPG?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/bbarry74/a/5eea03cf-9481-491b-9315-6b0eef26b083/p/8dac2f6e-74b5-4d14-ba0b-ad7dad00d046)
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Anticipated work for Saturday November 14:
* Pavilion: work to stabilize it.
* Vehicle repairs
* Machine shop
* 2021 planning meeting at 3
* Board meeting at 4
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Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 10-11 November 2020
Tuesday:
* Box Car #56, 2nd truck was added and the box car was moved into
bay three of the Machine shop.
* The Brookville was moved out so Jay could steam clean and assess
repairs and parts needed.
* Flat cars #34, #118 and #126 was cleared of benches and debris, side
boards added and moved to AC for the loading of ballast.
* Locomotive #9 vacuum brake stand work continued.
* Electric building work continues with trim and painting.
* Dump run.
Wednesday:
* Ballast moved to the cradles at the TOM. Both cradles were ballasted
and then lifted and tamped. Photo’s attached.
* Locomotive #9 and steam crew in service for water treatment, moving
the Phillps and Rangely coach to ML&MW, plus horse training at AC.
(This will get questions)
* Window repair under way.
* Coach #9 assembly continues (frame work)
* Various shop projects continue.
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OK, I'll go for it. Telll me about "horse training at AC."
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Do we need to pony up anything to get the horse training ??? 8)
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John, a new horse team is going to be used for the winter ops at Sea Lyon farm, the steam crew met them at Alna Center for an introduction to #9, the steam, the noise and of course the whistle. Hence the training for the horse team.
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John, a new horse team is going to be used for the winter ops at Sea Lyon farm, the steam crew met them at Alna Center for an introduction to #9, the steam, the noise and of course the whistle. Hence the training for the horse team.
I suspected as much. Civil war re-enactors who work with horses (either for cavalry or artillery) spend a lot of time "bomb proofing" their horses.
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Very wise move .........
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She had her horses out a few weeks ago, having them walk around AC as the train was passing through. I walked over and talked with Linda to see the horses. One she was very skiddish. The more "training" with the horses the better.
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Do we need to pony up anything to get the horse training ??? 8)
Neigh!
Jeff S. ::)
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Do we need to pony up anything to get the horse training ??? 8)
Neigh!
Jeff S. ::)
Good one Jeff. Glad to know you haven't as yet developed a hitch in your giddy-up.
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Don't worry Bill, Jeff keeps a tight rein on things ;)
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Work done on Saturday November 14:
* Pavilion: The siding on the ends of the trusses both sides were put on.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel was busy removing the roofing.
* Grounds organizing: Alan was cleaning up and consolidating objects in the parking lot and near the storage box.
* Electrical building: Stewart finished shingling the east wall.
* ROW clean up: Fred was weed whacking south of Cross road.
* Bridge inspection: the bridge inspector came by and inspected our bridges.
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How did the inspection go?
Jeff S.
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Additions to Nov 14 work accomplished:
1. The bridges passed inspection for use as intended
2. First time volunteer Nicole assisted in the clean up of #56 roofing removed by Marcel
3. Steve P inspected all signage SS to TOM for repair/replacement
4. Steve P, Nicole & jbs collected/removed a dozen dead ties from the SS to TOM ROW
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Tuesday:
* TOM, track lining in one location, then 2 small lifts and ballast the north and south approach
to the northern crib/cradle and finish tamping.
* Electric building
* Small engine repair/Brookville (pending)
* Campus clean up and dump run.
* Archives/Gift shop
* Shop work
Wednesday:
* Campus clean up to include prep for the second container coming in.
* Breakwater School Charter
* Coach #9 assembly (pending)
* Shop work
* Ballasting Trout Brook switch (pending)
Note: Don’t forget your mask.
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Anticipated work for Saturday, November 21st.
* Special trains - the Sandy River Special trains will run at 11 am, 1 pm and possibly 3 pm if enough tickets are sold.
* Event pavilion - work will continue on bracing and trim.
* Boxcar 56 - removing rotten wood.
* Power house - shingles & window installation.
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Work completed Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 November 2020
Tuesday:
* Work planned change to Campus clean up to include moving switch
stands from the parking lot and clean up in the location for the
new storage container.
* Shop work on the vacuum brake stand continues and pipe cutting.
* Vehicle repair included further work on the Brookville transmission.
* Campus clean up (Fred) continues cutting brush.
* Electric building shingling.
* Gift shop
Wednesday:
* Breakwater School Charter/visit to include Campus tour of the
grounds, machine shop, car barn and ride to the TOM.
* Shop work on vacuum stand and pipe cutting continues.
* Yard switching, Box cars from loading ramp to MS lead #3
* Electric building work continues.
* Archives
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Anticipated Operations for Saturday, November 21st:
11:00am: Sandy River Surprise (featuring #9 backdated as SRRL 6 and two "red" P&R Coaches) - (SOLD OUT)
1:00pm: Sandy River Surprise (featuring #9 backdated as SRRL 6 and two "red" P&R Coaches) - (5 tickets available*)
3:00pm: Sandy River Surprise - Unlikely to run, since the 11 & 1 trains have not (yet?) sold out.
* As of 11/19/2020 at 11pm.
Extra assistance is always appreciated - contact crewcaller@traincrew.wwfry.org to sign up, or learn how to be qualified.
We ESPECIALLY need folks to fill a "Gatekeeper" position - which requires basic computer/tablet/phone skills and a knack for dealing with the public.
(Train handling qualifications are NOT required to assist as Gatekeeper.)
Sandy River Surprise trains are limited to 20 passengers (no more than 15 per car) and all tickets must be purchased in advance.
All passengers and crew must adhere to the COVID-19 Policy published at www.wwfry.org/covid
Visit www.wwfry.org/tickets to buy tickets.
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Anticipated work Tuesday and Wednesday 24 and 25 November 2020.
Tuesday:
* TOM, line track just north of the north crib. Slight ballast, lift and tamp
time permitting.
* Switch out box car #67 to ML&MW for roofing.
* Shop work
* Possible arrival of container box, Monday or Tuesday.
(container box has priority of work)
Wednesday:
* No work scheduled.
Note’s: Don’t forget your mask’s.
Looking for volunteers to help Line Track.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Adding to this week's planned work/volunteer schedule:
FRIDAY 11/27
Mike Fox will be leading a crew to "Raise the Roof" on the Event Pavilion.
SATURDAY 11/28
1. Mike Fox will be leading a crew to "Raise the Roof" on the Event Pavilion. (Part II)
2. Steve Lennox will be leading a "Rock the Mountain" crew to ballast the new switch at Trout Brook.
These are "open call" volunteer activities; perfect for inviting new participants.
Details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/381141659799541 (https://www.facebook.com/events/381141659799541)
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Since there was not a formal report for work completed on Saturday, 11/21:
* Sandy River Surprise!
#9, backdated to SR&RL #6 ran to ML&M to retrieve P&R Combine 2 and P&R Coach 4. Then operated 2 sold out ( <15 passengers per car) trains for photographers, families, and invited guests. Runbys occurred at Alna Center, Hummason Brook, and Sutters (1pm trip only). At the end of the day, the cars were spotted on the ramp track for loading. As dusk turned to night, P&R Coach 4 was loaded onto the ML&M flatbed with custom car length extender for the trip to Portland. See Facebook for (lots more) photos.
* Pavilion
Bracing is complete (or nearly so); roof assembly begins FRIDAY 11/27!
* B&SR 56
The siding is almost completely removed. Care is being taken to save as much material as possible. The tar-paper roof did a great job protecting much of the car's structure.
* Electrical Building
Shingling is complete on 3/4 of the building. The front needs the window installed before the shingling can be finished on that side.
* Other, but Equally Important
Gift shop was open and doing business.
Archives were hopping (with new volunteer Nicole helping Linda.)
Please add/correct as needed.
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November 28, we have Rock the Mountain and work on the Pavilion. I'm looking to see who would be coming in to help shovel ballast. At the moment, we re looking at 2 flat cars of ballast.
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I am thinking of coming up for the day. This would be my first "in-person" volunteer session, so I'll happily go where the need is greatest.
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Ballast crew today (see attached photo). I didn't keep track of how many of us there were. We offloaded two flat cars near the Nature Conservancy trail head on Rt219. Something that I noticed with these loads of ballast were some large rocks, 6" or larger, that I did not notice in the previous ballast crews that I've worked on. Had fun. See you all on the next ballast crew.
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Work Report, 11/28:
* Rock the Mountain
A crew of seven unloaded two flatcars of stone at the Trout Brook switch and along the curve leading to it. This was critical to hold the track in-place to avoid the sun kinks and other issues that had developed (and been addressed) over the last 13 months. Welcome and special thanks to new volunteer Ben, new(ish) volunteer Nicole, and occasional volunteer Josh.
* Raise the Roof
The roof on the pavilion is essentially complete, save for the final "trim" panels on the west side. Man, it is a fantastic building that will host great events for many years to come.
* B&SR 56
The siding is completely removed. More disassembly is underway.
*Other Stuff
Work continues in the Archives.
Electrical Building Shingling is complete; window to be installed soon.
Signage along the RoW was evaluated and some action begun.
Turtle Crossings at Trout Brook dug out.
Please add/correct anything I missed.
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But we are missing Steve L.'s excellent summaries of weekday work! Where are you, Steve?
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Where exactly will the turtle crossings be located and what does this entail? I am aware of the reason for them, but not the work involved.
Jeff S.
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Joshua, If you had large stones in the ballast this means the front end operator dug to deep in the ballast pile and scooped the large stones from the gravel under the ballast pile.
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Where exactly will the turtle crossings be located and what does this entail? I am aware of the reason for them, but not the work involved.
Jeff S.
Jeff, My understanding is that the turtle crossing consist of digging out the ballast between two ties so a turtle caught between the rails (usually from a nearby crossing) will drop down and can then get out of the gauge. In walking the track one day working on loose joint bar bolts I found a deceased turtle within the gauge.
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We had to actually study up on this. I think we had planned one every 100 feet out from the bridge in either direction, for a few hundred feet. I had put some thought into making them, planking the bottom and having a top so foot traffic does not suddenly find a hole in the gauge.but the top has to be partially open so if a turtle becomes trapped in the gauge he has a way out.
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I didn't know the background on this, but figured it would have been thoroughly thought out and planned.
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How about a discreet sign, maybe a yellow can lid with black letters tacked to a tie on each side of the crossing, with the letters T.C. in black. After all, it is considered bad form to be walking in the gauge unless you are inspecting the track.
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How about a discreet sign, maybe a yellow can lid with black letters tacked to a tie on each side of the crossing, with the letters T.C. in black. After all, it is considered bad form to be walking in the gauge unless you are inspecting the track.
Yes.....but will turtles be able to read the sign? ;)
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Universal signage would require a profile picture of a turtle with a green circle around it.
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Turtle Crossings at Trout Brook dug out.
I don't see any reason to be shy (or hide) our turtle crossings. Make them obvious to everyone - paint the top surface of the tie on either side of the turtle crossing with white paint! [Easy and cheap, and post signs as to why the ties are marked.]
That makes it clear to any hikers (or track inspectors) that might otherwise twist an ankle - and helps make clear to Midcoast Conservancy members (our neighbors) that we support their objectives.
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I suggested the small yellow can lid, maybe 3 inches in diameter, as a discreet warning that would not distract from the scene, rather than something like ties painted white. After all, as noted, folks aren't supposed to be walking in the gauge unless they are inspecting or working on the track.
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Very few paying riders are likely to see periodic painted ties. The locomotive is likely to obscure any 'forward' vision. Riders at the end of the train may see some, but is that bad?
Embrace the turtles! 8)
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How about a discreet sign, maybe a yellow can lid with black letters tacked to a tie on each side of the crossing, with the letters T.C. in black. After all, it is considered bad form to be walking in the gauge unless you are inspecting the track.
Yes.....but will turtles be able to read the sign? ;)
You beat me to it, Keith.
Jeff S.
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We had to actually study up on this. I think we had planned one every 100 feet out from the bridge in either direction, for a few hundred feet. I had put some thought into making them, planking the bottom and having a top so foot traffic does not suddenly find a hole in the gauge.but the top has to be partially open so if a turtle becomes trapped in the gauge he has a way out.
Why not just leave ballast closer to the top of the rails in a few places. If the turtle got in it can get out. Unless it is a very unlucky turtle and it happens to decide to cross the rails exactly when the train comes rolling along but then if that is what we are worried about, we need a turtle fence not a turtle crossing. Is this a real thing or just another thread slide joke again? Seriously.....
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It's real. During my railroad career, I found three or four turtles that had gotten trapped in the gauge and died. I also found one that had wedged itself into a switch frog and couldn't back out. It was also defunct. And I also cut a big snapping turtle in two that managed to get itself up on top of the rail and couldn't get off. By the time we realized what it was, there was no stopping.
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Switch looks great. Very well done. As a note, FRA track inspectors frown upon, and may require changing out of painted rails. As paint can hide defects. A simple mark on the rail is one thing, but long paint marks are a big no no to them. Maybe things have changed, or maybe the FRA inspectors I worked with were being sticklers. Just a word of caution should we decide to follow FRA practices.
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Eric, I can tell you that based on all the research we had to do, it is real. And what is amazing is that a 4 inch tall rail will act as a barrier to a turtle and can't get out.
And as far as turtles go, the painted turtle and the snappers were not the issue. There is another turtle which was more endangered where the potential was there for the immediate area around the bridge could be habitat. Remember all that silt fence? That was serving 2 purposes. Keeping silt in and turtles out. Or atleast limiting access. All part of our permit application
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Joe, thanks for that information, we will be more aware when we get back to track inspection.
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And as far as turtles go, the painted turtle and the snappers were not the issue. There is another turtle which was more endangered where the potential was there for the immediate area around the bridge could be habitat.
Blanding's turtle?
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Possibly John. I had been through so many types and habitats by the time we got the permits approved I forget which one we were looking for. As of the date of the permit, none had been spotted in the area.
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Why not just leave ballast closer to the top of the rails in a few places.
This complicates other things, like flanger operations. Jason and I spent part of Saturday specifically digging OUT the gauge in places where the ballast was heavy to address this.