Messages

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Volunteers / Re: November 2022 Work Reports

« on: November 26, 2022, 08:13:35 PM »

Today - Saturday November 26th:

* Operations - Switching the consist + setting out the SR&RL combine for gift shop duty and running the Christmas Trains to Sea ToM took most of the volunteer time / labor.

* Engine House - The one exception of the day was Fred and Zack adding a bunch more shingles to the west wall.  Zack installed flashing above the last window + the door so shingles could be applied above them. 

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Volunteers / Re: November 2022 Work Reports

« on: November 04, 2022, 06:19:23 PM »

Work on Friday, November 4th -

* Engine House - more shingle work was done on the front wall.

* Store - 4 mail orders were packaged and shipped out.

* Shop - Monson engine 3 is at Sheepscot for its defective tank to be removed. Brendan with some help from Jason accomplished the #3 work first, then they pulled Monson #4's tank so it can be installed on MRR #3. 

* Campus - A car barn clean-up and dump run was made with all the ice & water shield wrap that was left from the engine house roof work.

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Volunteers / Re: October 2022 Work Reports

« on: October 20, 2022, 11:34:24 AM »

Weekly Recap - Some of the progress: Oct. 17th - 21st

Coach 9 - More woodwork + research into what type and colors of paint J&S was using in 1894 when the original coach 2 and 3 were built.

Passenger car trucks - Truck frames and parts were cleaned and painted.

Outreach - A school group was given a tour and train ride on Weds.  Thanks to ML&M we were able to power the train their Engine 1 which is on loan while our #52 is serving MNG in Portland.

RC4 - Paul and crew finished installing the radiator and making some adjustments. A test trip was run to TBS and return.

Campus - Clean up was done over a few days and a dump run was made on Thurs.

Gift Shop - A box full of Two-Foot books was donated. The volumes include a complete set of Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley as well as some hard to find older publications like Sunset on the Sandy River. The books will be inventoried and priced in the next two weeks.   

Archives - Some boxes of older railroad material were donated. The items will be inspected and some put up for sale in the gift shop.

Engine House - Brendan did some measuring and calculating for the next brace beam that spans between the center stall posts.

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Volunteers / Re: October 2022 Work Reports

« on: October 10, 2022, 06:33:58 PM »

Work done on Day 4 of the FWW, Monday October 10th -

* Engine House - Will and Russ finished the soffit strips in the morning but most of the work centered around the east / pit stall.  The stanchion locations were plotted and all 18 of the supports were set in place. Due to equipment problems only some of the rail was placed on the supports in the north end of the stall.  Note: Brendan posted some photos of the work and results in the engine house thread. 

* Campus - Engine ashes were hauled and some trash clean up was started to prepare for a big dump day on Wednesday.
 
* Meals - Nancy (with help from a number of people) did a fantastic job feeding everyone and Monday was no exception. A nice breakfast was served outside and a hot lunch was served in the Percival House.

* Model Train Sale - The event wrapped on Monday with over $2,200 in sales.

* Gift Shop - Sales were good with 2023 calendars and the FWW 25th anniversary shirts topping the favorites list.

Afternoon rain put a stop to most of the work.

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Volunteers / Re: October 2022 Work Reports

« on: October 09, 2022, 08:09:58 PM »

Work done on Day 3 of the FWW, Sunday October 9th -

* Track - The crew did lining work from Albee's Crossing up to ToM.

* Engine 11 - The main frames were brought into the shop (on Saturday) and set out with the tail frame.

* Boxcar 56 - Marcel did some final work to set up for installing the roof.

* Engine House - The rest of the facia boards were put on and the soffit panels were finished thanks to Will and Russ. Some tar paper + the frieze board was installed under the soffit on the east side.

* Trout Brook Station - The paint crew worked on the interior and exterior woodwork.

* Gift Shop - Sales of the 2023 WW&F calendar + the 25th anniversary FWW shirts were strong.

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Volunteers / Re: October 2022 Work Reports

« on: October 07, 2022, 06:24:54 PM »

Work done on Day 1 of the FWW, Friday October 7th -

* Track - One project was track lining and crossing repair at Albee's Crossing.

* Engine 11 - Work on the tail frame including more hot rivets.

* Engine House - Facia / Rake boards were installed on the north side of stalls 1 and 2. Window frames were built for the side and rear windows. Tar paper was purchased for the exterior wall covering.

* Electric Service - New equipment was set up and ditch work was done next to the electric service building.

* Gift Shop - Sales were brisk, especially for the new Fall Work Weekend 25th Anniversary shirts.

* Model Train Sale - The event is going well with solid sales so far.

* Water Tank - A new wireless temperature monitoring system was installed in the Sheepscot tank house. The solar powered censors report heat loss / gain to alert if temps get close to freezing.

* Meals - Nancy set up her portable kitchen and served a wonderful lunch and dinner.

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Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2022 - Official Work Thread

« on: October 06, 2022, 08:32:38 AM »

NOTICE for members coming to the FWW on Friday and Saturday -

There will be a special check in sheet posted next to the sign-in book in the Percival House.  Members who have volunteered for 5 to 15 years are listed.  If you plan on being at the SATURDAY EVENING SUPPER please put a check mark in the box next to your name.

This will be a big help in planning the 25th Anniversary commemoration on Saturday.

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Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2022 - Official Work Thread

« on: October 05, 2022, 10:57:14 AM »

Where do volunteers sign in on Saturday morning?  Will the book be at the Percival House or at AC?

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Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2022 - Official Work Thread

« on: October 04, 2022, 02:10:55 PM »

Do we know how many people have been to every FWW since 1997?

We know who has membership for 25 or more years. As far as FWW attendance - without digging out the old work log books it's pretty much on the honor system as to who has attended every single one. It's probably just a few people.

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Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2022 - Official Work Thread

« on: October 04, 2022, 09:18:57 AM »

SPECIAL 25th Anniversary Fall Work Weekend items -

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the FWW the museum is offering two new shirts.

(1) Special T's marked "WW&FRy 25th FWW October 2022" just arrived. The limited-edition shirts are navy blue and come in sizes from small up to 2X.

(2) The other new shirt is a WW&F "Rebuilding Maine History" navy blue T that features Trout Brook Station on the back in custom artwork by Benton Hayes. The shirts are sizes Medium to 2X.

Both new shirts are priced at $25 each + tax and will be available in the gift shop. 

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Work and Events / Re: Model railroad sale during the fall work weekend

« on: October 04, 2022, 09:00:40 AM »

You have a hobby shop in the basement. Wow.

Jeff S.

And sales may be with cash or credit cards since Linda will be using the Gift Shop digital sales system.

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Work and Events / Re: Engine House - Official Work Thread

« on: October 03, 2022, 11:40:43 AM »

An up-coming part of the roof work is the design, construction and placement of the 3 smoke jacks. The jacks are an integral part of each stall and special framing may be needed where they are installed.

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Volunteers / Re: October 2022 Work Reports

« on: October 02, 2022, 04:37:57 PM »

Work done on Sunday, October 2nd:

* Train operations - A private steam charter ran 11:15 - 12:30. The guests (mostly British) rode SS to TBS and return with a run-by at AC. The group had a shop and campus tour after the ride.

* Gift Shop - Inventory of items to prepare for the FWW 25th Anniversary next weekend. Special 25th Anniversary shirts and other items will be on sale. (Including the Model Train Sale in the Percival House basement).

* Boxcar 56 - Marcel worked on the door roller track cover boards.
 
* Engine House - Brendan began installing the rake and shadow boards on the west edge of the roof.

* Shop - Some clean-up was done to prepare for the steam charter & shop tour on Tuesday.
   

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Museum Discussion / Re: Finding the WW&F on Facebook

« on: August 30, 2022, 06:57:48 AM »

The Great War photo album has been posted on the WW&F FB page.  Thanks to everyone who made the event such a success.

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Volunteers / Re: August 2022 Work Projects

« on: August 19, 2022, 02:57:57 PM »

Work done on Thursday and Friday, August 18th + 19th:

* Coach 9 - Harold worked on the transom panels over the end doors.
* R-O-W - Fred trimmed weeds along the grade south of the Cross Road.
* RC4 - Paul worked on the Model T engine and had a friend help for part of the day.
* TBS - Start installed skirt boards on the north end of the depot and made a set to go on the south end.
* Gift Shop - A number of mail orders were shipped during the week and new clothing stock was picked up from Boothbay.
* Campus - More trash was hauled to the dump on Thursday.
* Memberships - A couple from CT has been following the Mountain Extension progress on Facebook. They are in Maine for a week and stopped at TBS for a look around, then they came to Sheepscot. After a shop tour, they purchased some books in the gift shop and got a life membership.