Messages

1

Work and Events / Re: WW&F MoW1018 Excavator Cart- Official Work Thread

« on: May 17, 2024, 12:46:55 PM »

For those of you who may be confused ( as I was) I believe that it is being assembled upside down.
I had to go back and look at the assembly drawing earlier in the thread.

2

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: April 11, 2024, 11:06:11 AM »

Many thanks, guys. And also thanks to the EBT and donor for the vacuum pots.

I have been working for the past couple of weeks on finalizing the design of the driver brakes for No. 11. As you can see in the builders photo, No. 7 had a very funky vacuum brake design with the vacuum pots facing backwards under the cab and pulling on the brake rigging with outside links running around the ashpan and under the frame. 
Also note the round vacuum brake "muffler" on top of the cab. This quiets the noise from the escaping steam from the brake ejector when the brakes are applied.  We will be replicating all these 'features' of the original.
Having the actual pots that we will be using lets me accurately design the parts so we can create and add the supporting components to the frame while we have good access.



In the next couple of weeks I hope to finish this and publish a note on the final design and the reasons for its unorthodox configuration.

3

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: Event Suggestion

« on: March 24, 2024, 08:15:38 PM »

Thanks, Ed, for the clarification. I didn't want to get something started that wasn't appropriate.




 

4

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: Event Suggestion

« on: March 24, 2024, 01:22:46 PM »

To be clear, this was a tongue in cheek suggestion. I believe we have a blanket 'No Alcohol on Campus' rule.

There are several gin distilleries in Maine now. 

Any gin named "Piston" has to be good.  I wonder how they infuse the coal... or maybe I don't want to know.
They do look like they're having so much fun!   

5

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Event Suggestion

« on: March 24, 2024, 11:30:39 AM »

I know this may violate the rules, but I couldn't resist;

https://svr.co.uk/event/gin-trains-3/2024-05-11/

I'm not sure how enthusiastic I would be about coal infused gin, though.

6

Work and Events / Re: Sheepscot Passenger Platform Reconstruction - Official Work Thread

« on: March 22, 2024, 03:44:14 PM »

That's quite a long platform!   Wonderful!!   
Great work as always. Let's hope the temperatures get more spring-like soon.
 

7

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: March 07, 2024, 07:19:06 PM »

Sorry, they are still packed on the pallets, so a clearer picture isn't available.
We're sending everything over to Mountain Machine in Auburn so we had not planned to uncrate them.
They will machine and assemble the lead and main drive axle assemblies.

8

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: March 02, 2024, 12:27:26 PM »

The notations are the result of x-ray inspection of the castings to insure there were no areas that were porous or otherwise weak.
The issues found were small and not in critical stress areas and the castings passed all the tests that we required for acceptance. We don't think the sand inclusions will affect any machined areas of the parts.
We're really pleased with the quality and response of this foundry, located in Springfield, MA.

9

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: February 29, 2024, 09:35:14 PM »

Thank You Brendan !!!

10

Museum Discussion / Re: See Us On MaineLife TV!!

« on: January 29, 2024, 03:16:48 PM »

What Bill said, and nice video and drone shots. I especially liked the long range views.

11

Volunteers / Re: January 2024 Work Reports

« on: January 09, 2024, 08:39:34 AM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1owFQgSPIsY&ab_channel=Tcostello105

12

Volunteers / Re: December 2023 Work Reports

« on: December 14, 2023, 05:08:44 PM »

Was this done so that No 9 could gaze northward and remember when?

13

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: December 12, 2023, 10:02:59 PM »

We are planning on installing that assembly during the January work session.
Holes will to be drilled and tapped in the frame to hold it in place.
Here's a view of the cross tie assembly in the 3D model:


Please note that this model leaves out some of the pins and bolts.
As you can see, the front suspension gets a bit complicated up in the front. Part of the complication was that we made the
front frames deeper in front of the lead drivers, as the original design was not strong enough there for the calculated stresses. This
lowered the crosstie, which caused the lead truck equalizer (the gray-blue piece) to interfere with the cross tie. The cross tie had to move
up vertically to give the equalizer clearance to pivot up and down with the suspension.

14

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: November 27, 2023, 10:23:44 AM »

Due to the holidays and busy schedules, we won't be having a formal No 11 work session in December. However, there will be ongoing work in the machine shop on the front and rear truck assemblies. Members are machining parts in their home workshops for those too.
A complete 3D model of the running gear is coming along that will be animated to confirm that the relationship between all the parts is correct. (And is also fun to watch.)
The drive wheel centers and main cranks are being cast soon, and we will be sending those along to be machined.
The remaining castings are being readied to send out for bid.
With everyone's help, we hope to be able to get wheels under the frame next year, which will be a major milestone.

15

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

« on: October 08, 2023, 10:16:08 AM »

Thank you, Fred, for your never ending dedication to and support of the WW&F Railway.