Messages

1

Volunteers / Re: January 2023 Work Reports

« on: January 31, 2023, 11:17:18 AM »

I want to personally thank each one of you who volunteered your time and energy to help make the WW&F's table at this year's Railroad Hobby Show a success. There were many great conversations with potential visitors and volunteers and a great time was had by all.

Looking forward to next year and bringing some new ideas to fruition that were floated by convention volunteers.

2

Volunteers / Re: 2023 Amherst Railroad Hobby Show - Volunteers Needed *SIGN UP HERE*

« on: January 13, 2023, 10:34:15 AM »

Hello All,

Just a reminder that the ARS Railroad Hobby Show is upcoming on the 28th and 29th of this month. We have had a good response of people who will be helping at the show and are looking forward to attending

There are some slots that would still be great to fill, so if you plan on attending and could help out, sign up. Also, if you'd like to help but see a time slot filled on the sign up, come by and help out anyway! The more the merrier!

Basically, we hang out at the tables, sell merchandise related to the WW&F and act as ambassadors trying to encourage visitors, new volunteers, and new memberships, etc.

If you've already signed up, look for new information either here or via email in the upcoming days.

Best,
Steve

3

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: New WW&F Song...

« on: December 17, 2022, 02:46:35 PM »

The meter of Fred's poem does fit with the melody of Jingle Bell's verse. 

4

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: OMG! You can get Moxie in PA......

« on: November 22, 2022, 03:51:11 PM »

Locally (to Alna) the Moxie bottled by Orca is available at the Sheepscot General Store & Farm (98 Townhouse Road, Whitefield) about 15 minutes from Sheepscot.

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Volunteers / 2023 Amherst Railroad Hobby Show - Volunteers Needed *SIGN UP HERE*

« on: November 11, 2022, 09:38:50 AM »

Hello All!

In an attempt to be proactive, I've set up a sign-up for the Amherst Railroad Society's Railroad Hobby Show at the 'Big E' in West Springfield, MA.
The show is being held on Saturday January 28 and Sunday January 29. Setup happens Friday afternoon/night 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.

Sign up here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DAEAA22A7FAC16-2023

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

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Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: Sheepscot Railway Village

« on: September 21, 2022, 06:42:51 PM »

I think some might find the conditions of tenancy on said land to be at odds with their way of life.

7

Volunteers / Re: September 2022 Work Reports

« on: September 15, 2022, 11:21:56 AM »

Wow, I just drove through and was able to see first hand. Not only was I able to drive in; I was able to turn around with the trailer in the lot! Thank you guys so much- it’s a huge improvement; paired with the improvements in the back, this will go a long way to improving the situation.

Best,
Steve

8

Volunteers / Re: July 2022 Work Projects

« on: August 01, 2022, 09:04:40 PM »

I want to point out that while I did install those new signs (and remove old ones), the new signs were actually made and painted by Eric Schade, who was kind enough to take them on. Earlier this year Nicole Orminski, Johnny and I built and 2 new station signs, one of which is for Top of Mountain- and will be installed at a later date.

Another new pedestrian crossing sign is underway for the trail crossing just inside of the Trout Brook S Yard Limit- to be installed later this week.

Best,
Steve

9

Volunteers / Re: July 2022 Work Projects

« on: July 28, 2022, 08:56:18 PM »

Awesome work Bill! These will be a great addition.

10

Volunteers / Re: WMTW Visits the WW&F July 2nd

« on: June 27, 2022, 09:04:44 AM »

I know I’ll be on hand at 5. I was hoping some other early birds might drop in. Look forward to seeing hearing from anyone who’ll be able to make it.

11

Volunteers / WMTW Visits the WW&F July 2nd

« on: June 25, 2022, 10:58:20 PM »

Hi All,

I wanted to give everyone a heads up that WMTW, the Portland ABC affiliate, will be visiting the Museum Saturday July 2nd from 5 AM to 8AM. The format is to carry out 5-6 short, live interviews which are interspersed between the morning news segments. They are interested in getting interviews with our volunteers, showing the projects we have going on, what we are up to, etc.

This is great, 4th of July weekend coverage for us, and with lots of great things happening at the Museum, it should be a great piece for us. If you plan on being around, maybe give me a heads up so I can confirm that we will actually have enough people on site in the 5-8 window to help them accomplish their goals.

Best,
Steve

12

Museum Discussion / Re: Photographs requested for an updated WW&F website!

« on: June 19, 2022, 05:59:20 PM »

Mark, thanks for that question. I've been trying to navigate how to handle this as I've been preparing for these updates. As I look around at various websites in preservation, credit is given in many different ways.

For example, it can be embedded in the image itself, or might contain a watermark. Some sites prevent right clicking. In terms of best visual presentation, a clean image obviously looks best. If every image on the site were to be loaded with watermarks, or credits it could potentially clutter the visual experience for viewers. There are also some more in-depth suggestions for giving credit in a non-visually cluttering ways here:
https://fieldsgraphicdesign.com/wordpress/how-to-credit-stock-photo-nofollow-link-wordpress/#what-your-photo-credit-should-say

I've also noticed some websites, such as EBT's, simply include a disclaimer on the bottom 'all images property of their respective owners.'

I like your suggestion of a link; Perhaps we could have a 'photographers' page on the website that credits photographers who have contributed to the site, along with a 'hallmark' image of theirs from the WW&F, linked to their site, if they have one.

Additional thoughts are welcome!

Best,
Steve

13

Museum Discussion / Photographs requested for an updated WW&F website!

« on: June 19, 2022, 05:23:28 PM »

Hello All,

In the background for the past few years there has been momentum growing around the need for a website updates. During this past year, the situation turned more dire, with our website failing to display properly on some IOS devices.

For our part there had been lots of desire to create a new website from the ground up, but very little labor resource to actually accomplish that goal. Enter FareHarbor, our online booking partner for the past several years. As part of their services, they offer free web development, with the hope that if they optimize their partner's websites, they will generate more bookings, so this is mutually beneficial.

As part of these web updates, I invite our forum readers to submit photographs for possible inclusion on the new website. I cannot guarantee that all photos will be used as it will depend on what submissions we receive.

Specifically, photos of the following would be especially appreciated:

- Capture the atmosphere and environment of the railway
- Show people (both volunteers and visitors alike) interacting with the railway
- Show the railway in a variety of seasons (Especially Winter and Fall)
- Feature some of our current special events
- Share some special detail about the railway

The easiest way for you to get photos to me is by either:
emailing photos to me at stephen.piwowarski@wwfry.org
-or-
if you have a large number of photos you'd like to submit, email me at the same address (stephen.piwowarski@wwfry.org) and I will send you a google drive link where you can add them directly.

Thanks very much,
Steve Piwowarski

14

Volunteers / Re: April 2022 Work Reports

« on: May 02, 2022, 09:17:50 PM »

Thanks everyone who stepped up and joined in to help during weekend, and especially on our Head Tide Trail rehab project. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented me from being directly involved with the lions share of the work, but our wonderful volunteers stepped up to the plate, and got lots done.
- 3 new pedestrian walkways  were built to replace decayed structures.
- 2 old structures were dismantled and removed.
- the right of way was cleared between route 218 and the Midcoast Conservancy access gate.
A huge thanks to everyone who cleared trail on Friday, to Jack, Jon, Ken and Dave  who continued trail work on Saturday and to Dave, Jason, Ben, and Ed who endured a stream of text messaging in my absence to make sure projects found their volunteers. A big thanks to Stan and the fellow who was working with him (whose name I am sorry to say escapes me at the moment) for constructing the new pedestrian walkways.

There is still some work to be competed, like setting walkways on their sills, building connector trails for them, but this project went from ‘when?!’ to obtainable thanks to all of your help. In addition to the great benefit the trail provides to the surrounding community when it is usable, it will provide an additional point of interest when the railway opens to  Trout Brook Station.

Many of you who have walked that section of right of way this weekend probably noticed the lovely white flowers that cover the roadbed just south of Head Tide cut on the fill. Their name had escaped me at the time, but they are called Bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis). A quick read on the plant, which my dad always cultivated in his garden revealed that it can have a poison ivy like effect for some and it’s root has some powerful medical properties.

Best,
Steve

15

Museum Discussion / Re: Reviews, Thank You's, and Messages of Encouragement

« on: February 22, 2022, 11:40:06 PM »

From Diane B. via Tripadvisor:

"Felt like the Dr. Zhivago movie

Feb 2022
Read about this in the newspaper and went prepared for the cold and snowy, muddy conditions with boots. The ticketing was easy. The staff answered our questions and were very friendly. Learning about the trains and the ride, seeing the beautiful Percheron horses, the tasty and reasonable food all served with smiles, the bon fire, the sleigh ride, were all so enjoyable. All of the volunteers and staff have done such a good job in preserving history and the interest in trains."