Messages

1

Volunteers / Amherst Show Table Volunteer Sign-Up

« on: January 16, 2026, 06:21:37 PM »

Hi All,

If you're planning on attending the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show as a volunteer, I've created a google form to sign up. Please, even if you've spoken with me, take a moment to sign up. This will help ensure that you get a badge which will cover your admission to the show. Use the link below to indicate your name for the badge and which shifts you plan to work.

https://forms.gle/BPDEh3FYnCs7UpxU9

Best,
Steve

2

Volunteers / Re: Hauling help needed for the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show…

« on: January 10, 2026, 08:59:43 AM »

January 24 & 25, but setup for the show is the afternoon/early evening of 1/23

3

Volunteers / Hauling help needed for the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show…

« on: January 09, 2026, 06:18:20 PM »

Hi All,

Touching base with the larger forum community because we’re in a little bit of a bind:

The locomotive No. 10 work group has been hard at work on getting #10s smokebox ship-shape (locomotive shape?) for the Amherst Railroad Hobby show the weekend of 1/24 & 1/25.

I have a 5x8 utility trailer that we can use to move and display the smokebox on but unfortunately, I no longer have a vehicle with a tow hitch and don’t have a plan at the moment to get one installed on my new vehicle.

If anyone here would be willing to help out with either a vehicle for towing or an offer to tow to Springfield, it would be much appreciated by all. You can reach out to me either here or by emailing me at Stephen.piwowarski@wwfry.org

Best,
Steve Piwowarski

4

Volunteers / Re: November 2025 Work Reports

« on: November 30, 2025, 11:13:15 AM »

Impressive!!!

5

Other Maine Narrow Gauge / Re: Industrial tramway at Mechanic Falls, Maine

« on: October 21, 2025, 04:47:30 PM »

Sanborn fire insurance maps are available for free through the Library of Congress
https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/

6

Volunteers / Re: October 2025 work reports

« on: October 18, 2025, 04:47:32 PM »

West side of the Alna Center roof is now half done. One more day should finish it!

7

General Discussion / Re: MEC Outside Frame Boxcar 35039

« on: October 10, 2025, 02:08:33 AM »

It seems to me that people reading the initial post and others are conflating the idea of preserving a MEC boxcar with the concept that this is an attempt to broaden (no pun intended) the museum’s mission.

Rather, I find that acquiring a single MEC boxcar with the intention of tastefully illustrating cross platform transfer- something that was essential to the form and function of 4/5 of Maine’s two-footers- seems very appropriate. When you want to interpret the function of narrow gauge Railway’s and how they served our society and economy, there is clear value in such a project.

Perhaps people are misplacing the desire to acquire the car as one focused on sentimentality for “saving everything old” or some similar idea, but I think the main purpose here is to enhance our ability to interpret the utilization of narrow gauge Railways.

All this being said, I’d like to consider myself interested, in favor, but cautious about how we proceed. Should we ever acquire more standard gauge rolling stock beyond this car? I’d say that is a resounding no, but the opportunity to acquire one to help tell the story of how these railways worked is a fitting one to pursue and I personally hope we do.

My words are worth little and are easy to spend and spin compared with the time and effort required for this project but if there was a group of people interested in championing this project and bringing it to fruition, and they had the time and skills necessary, then I support them wholeheartedly! I’d wager such an effort would find friends outside of our typical corps of volunteers and may even introduce some new ones to us!

8

General Discussion / Re: MEC Outside Frame Boxcar 35039

« on: October 04, 2025, 07:10:20 PM »

Does that car have cast iron wheels?

I like this idea a lot! I wonder if eventually it becomes part of a cross platform (think Wiscasset transfer yard) type display at a new station location…

9

Volunteers / Re: May 2025 Work Reports

« on: May 05, 2025, 11:24:19 PM »

I would also add that this forum is a discussion forum, not a media outlet. While the line sometimes blurs and we see shades of gray, reporting on the forum tends to be of a more informal nature or directing someone to one of the 'official' news sources.

Think of the forum as more of a 'boots on the ground' approach rather than the more curated news you see in social media or in the newsletter.

Best,
Steve

10

Volunteers / Re: 2025 Rules Class and Volunteer Recruitment

« on: April 02, 2025, 02:56:04 PM »

Hi All,

I just wanted to provide some additional clarification about times and elements of this Saturday's volunteer recruitment event and how it ties in with the rules review and tests:

- 10:00 - 12:00 Tours & General Information
- 12:00-12:30 Lunch
- 12:30-1:45 Joint Safety Class (for all volunteers and new recruits)
- 2:00-3:00 Q&A, tours, try to get people plugged in to projects/make connections with project leaders/department heads.

Let me know if there is anything forgotten in these details or anything that needs to be added!

Best,
Steve

11

Volunteers / Re: February 2025 work reports

« on: February 11, 2025, 06:06:03 PM »

See you Friday! Hopefully we can rouse up some others as well!

12

Volunteers / Re: January 2025 work reports

« on: January 19, 2025, 10:12:44 AM »

Storage of the vast number of things we’ve accumulated over the years to support activities at Alna Center- patio heaters, games, Christmas decorations, extra seating, etc.

Currently these are temporarily stored in Alna Center - which is nearly full!

Best,
Steve

13

Volunteers / 2025 Amherst Railroad Hobby Show - Volunteers Needed *SIGN UP HERE*

« on: December 13, 2024, 11:13:28 PM »

Hello All!

The volunteer sign-up for the Amherst Railroad Society's Railroad Hobby Show at the 'Big E' in West Springfield, MA is now live!

The show is being held on Saturday January 25 and Sunday January 26. Setup happens afternoon/night of Friday the 24th and takedown is immediately following the show at 5PM on Sunday. I've made an attempt to split the days up so people could still help the WW&F at our display and also enjoy the show, but if you need more specific hours or can only give part of a day, we are beggars not choosers, so we'll take whatever you can give.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CAFAF2DA3F9CF8-54039025-railroad

Some of you have already reached out to me (thank you!)

If you've never been, the show is a really fun way to meet folks interested in all-things railroad from around the Northeast, and really, the entire country. If you've already been, you know what I'm talking about!

Thanks for helping get this crewed so we can all go down, spread the good word about the WW&F, see old friends and make new ones and welcome some folks who don't yet know what we're up to in Alna

Best,
Steve

14

Work and Events / Re: So. African Hoppers 2806 and 2807 - Official Work Thread

« on: November 10, 2024, 11:23:39 AM »

As I understand it, the hopper doors are always manually operated by the large, centrally mounted wheel. I believe only the brakes use the vacuum.

Best,
Steve

15

Volunteers / John Seigars' Fire Fundraiser Train

« on: October 24, 2024, 11:06:04 PM »

For those of you who haven't heard, our Cross Road neighbor (not directly next door- rather at the west end of Cross Rd.) John Seigars suffered a tragic house fire earlier this week. His home was a total loss and he lost a great deal of his possessions in the fire as well. John is 83 years old and has often been a good friend to the WW&F and others in town when they needed 'something' as John ran our local scapyard/fix-it shop/mend and repair lot out of his property. He held on to all kinds of things waiting for the right person to come along who needed it.

This Sunday, October 27, we are running a special train as a benefit for John- all proceeds from the train will go to John to help with his recovery from the fire and basic immediate needs.

You can find out more here:
https://wwfry.org/all-activities/fundraising-special/