Messages

1

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

« on: October 21, 2025, 03:54:22 PM »

The Library of Congress has many Sanborn maps available online at http://loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps

Searching on Mechanic Falls Maine I see several hits.

EDIT:  I missed Mark's post earlier this afternoon.  Thanks, Mark.

2

Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2025

« on: October 12, 2025, 07:20:19 PM »

A few trackwork photos from today, Sunday, October 12th, 2025, finishing up the track replacement south of Humason.

Dana checking the level of the west rail.


Dan checking the level between the west and east rails.


The Australian tamper Wilmar was then used to tamp the new track.


The end result.




Lunchtime at Sheepscot!


Brendan loads ballast on flatcar No. 118 as Annie and Steve reshingle the Alna Center station roof.


Dressing the shoulders late in the afternoon.

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Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2025

« on: October 11, 2025, 08:37:14 PM »

A few trackwork photos Saturday, October 11th, 2025.  After the last of the new track was spiked this morning, Dan led a lining crew.




Maine Locomotive and Machine No. 11 towing SAR ballast wagon No. 2806 as it begins a stone drop run.


Ballast was loaded at Alna Center.  In these photos, we see WW&F No. 9 with flatcar No. 118 on the main, while MLM No. 11 is with SAR ballast wagon No. 2806 on the siding.






Sunday will feature jacking, more lining, tamping and more stone drops.

4

Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2025

« on: October 10, 2025, 08:55:16 PM »

Some photos from today (Friday, October 10th).

The day started in the 20s.  Earlier this week, the temperature had hit 80 degrees.


A view early in the day showing the cleaned and regraded right-of-way.


The following views will be familiar to folks who followed the Mountain Extension construction a few years ago -- the same sequence of steps were used today to rebuild the track south of Humason.  Unloading a tie bundle from the gantry train:


...and placing the ties out on the ROW.


Next comes an east rail...


...followed by a west rail...


...and the installation of "instatrack" temporary gauging blocks to hold the gauge as the rail gantry train advanced northward.


The last rails reached Humason Brook trestle during lunchtime.


The afternoon was spent spiking the relaid track.




At the end of today, about 100 feet of track remained to be spiked.  That work is planned tomorrow, along with ballasting.
 

5

Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2025

« on: September 28, 2025, 02:37:21 PM »

While in Sheepscot yesterday, Linda asked that I post a reminder of her request for assistance in cleaning out and organizing the basement of the Percival House during Saturday of Fall Work Weekend.  Start time 9 a.m., per Ed's earlier notice.

6

Volunteers / Re: September 2025 Work Reports

« on: September 27, 2025, 08:58:24 PM »

While Mike was working, I took a few photos.  It was the least I could do...

Mike making final adjustments at 8.18 a.m. in advance of the pour, as pointing out by Bryce.


Nick A. and Nick S. assist with the setting of the last form board at the entrance to the future coal bin at 8.38.  The cement truck arrived within minutes after this photo.


The pour begins at 8.50.


At 8.57, the cement work was well underway.  Several helped spread the cement, as Dan and Brian floated the surface.


Mike, Dan and Nick S. finishing up the pour work at 9.14.


...and that was how the day started.  Soon after, folks were moving on to other projects, like the start of bundling ties for the planned track rebuild of the main south of Humason during Fall Work Weekend.  Bryce and Dan led the crew.




Jason performed an inspection of the gantry assembly, since it has largely been in storage at Sheepscot since the completion of the Mountain Extension.  The gantry will be back in use during Fall Work Weekend.  Jason discussed the details of his inspection.


Dan finished the morning by leading a crew unloading dirt from flatcars 118 and 126, to make them available for pumpkin and work trains in October.  One of the cars being unloaded by the Barn 1 switch.


And the other was unloaded just before lunch on the ramp track near the north end of the car barn.


This only covers a portion of the work done today.  One last photo, showing the updated public message board outside the restroom building.  2026 events are now appearing...

7

Volunteers / Re: August 2025 work reports

« on: September 08, 2025, 06:12:02 PM »

Congratulations, Cody!

8

Volunteers / Re: August 2025 work reports

« on: August 16, 2025, 07:20:50 PM »

Some of the activity today, Saturday, August 16th:

-- Public trains were run with the diesel (No. 52) due to high fire danger.  I understand an email announcing the power switch was sent out to ticketholders in advance; only a few cancelled.  A lower key day versus the Annual Picnic last weekend, but we still had over 100 passengers I understand.  I enjoyed talking with many families while I worked on the public sign board.  I believe Dan Malkowski was 52's engineer, J. B. Smith conductor, and Pete Stevens brakeman.  Ed was gatekeeper.
-- Steve P. and Annie B. hosted the ice cream, dolls and plushies event at Alna Center.  Their boys helped, too.
-- Zack Wyllie and others were giving short tours in the shop.
-- Early in the day Nick Anderson was cleaning out No. 9's smokebox.  Nick Simoneau may have been helping as well.
-- Linda and Bruce were busy in the Archives.  Marcel was cleaning up a bit from last weekend's successful yard sale.
-- Cindy, Joan and Jim were busy in the gift shop.
-- Nancy and Cody made a nice lunch of burgers, tortellini, salad and deserts.
-- The public signboard as it looked when I left:



It was a wee bit painful listing today (mid-August) our December event -- the year is marching on.  That said, the folks who have planned this year's events have done a terrific job.

Apologies if I missed any other activities underway today.

9

Volunteers / Re: June 2025 Work Reports

« on: June 29, 2025, 11:03:42 AM »

Also on Saturday, June 28th, 64 or so people rode our two public trains of the day, including 5 intrepid hikers and 3 trail guides who braved the wet to explore the Trout Brook Preserve trails.

"It must be Saturday.  It's raining again."

10

General Discussion / Re: First run of the Cumberland & Knox on the Rockland Branch

« on: June 04, 2025, 06:45:36 PM »

The Wiscasset Newspaper ran this article May 29th about the new Rockland Branch operator.

Fair use quotes.  Maine Switching Services is the Cumberland & Knox's parent company:

Return of freight rail runs renews prospect of Wiscasset excursions

Maine Department of Transportation's Rockland rail branch, that includes Wiscasset, is starting to see regular rail traffic again; it's freight and, by fall, might be excursion, too. Wiscasset Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky mentioned the prospect of excursion rail in a May 27 email advising the public to "use caution around the rail line" because, starting May 29, a train would be coming through again, for an estimated two to three trips a week, on freight runs. And the new operator answered Wiscasset Newspaper's questions May 28 about the excursion part.

"We are aiming to begin excursions on the Rockland Branch by fall of this year," Maine Switching Services' government affairs manager, Finn Kelly, said via email. "We would like to have trains ready to roll for the foliage season.

"We have met with the town of Wiscasset to discuss what options are available to build a new station stop. This is a collaboration to create both economic growth and business interest for both the town and the railroad," Kelly said.

The following issue (June 4th) contains this editorial, also written by Susan Johns.  Again, fair use quotes:

Back to the rails

For the last several years, people have only been able to ride the rails off and on in Wiscasset, mostly off, unless they worked on a freight train. It feels like Maine Switching Services' upcoming run at excursions might be the one, though. It has a lot going for it feasibility-wise. So, unless you do not believe in psssenger rail, let's wish them well and maybe hop on board (with a ticket) this fall to show them we want to, and will, ride.

In the meantime, how lucky are we? Just drive next door to Alna, or onto the Boothbay peninsula, and you can already ride. Not to shopping in Bath or Damariscotta or Rockland, but at least time spent at Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum on Alna's Cross Road or Boothbay Railway Village on Route 27 is a walk around and/or ride into history, held together and grown by people who really love the rails and their "ties" to our towns' pasts.

11

Work and Events / Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread

« on: May 10, 2025, 03:26:41 PM »

Wow!

12

Museum Discussion / 30th anniversary -- WW&F boxcar No. 309

« on: May 03, 2025, 08:00:46 PM »

Today (May 3rd, 2025) marks the 30th anniversary of boxcar 309's arrival in Sheepscot from the Ramsdell Farm.  The car arrived at our Museum on May 3rd, 1995.

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Work and Events / Re: Spring Work Weekend - April 25-27, 2025 - Official Thread

« on: April 23, 2025, 04:09:15 PM »

Is Mike's shed painting going to be moved to Sunday?

Right now Friday looks to be the driest day this weekend...

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Work and Events / Re: Spring Work Weekend - April 25-27, 2025 - Official Thread

« on: April 22, 2025, 05:38:31 PM »

It always used to be a 730 departure, then things got "delayed" if the train left at 9 like "the recent norm" almost half the day is gone.

Right.  That's why I replied to Dan's post to emphasize the 7.30 departure time, since that has not been the recent norm.  Let's get back to that.

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Work and Events / Re: Spring Work Weekend - April 25-27, 2025 - Official Thread

« on: April 22, 2025, 04:11:15 PM »

Repeating Dan's point about work train departure time Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

5) Track Work - I would like to point out that my plan for starting will have the train depart Sheepscot at 7:30am each morning.

That's a bit earlier than what has been the norm.

I understand Dan has checked with Nancy, and she will be making breakfasts Saturday and Sunday starting at 6.30 a.m.  For folks who haven't attended a work weekend, Nancy and her crew makes awesome breakfast sandwiches (along with awesome lunches and dinners).