Messages

1

Volunteers / Re: December 2023 Work Reports

« on: December 06, 2023, 07:42:31 AM »

Work week of December 4, 2023

I apologize I forgot to post this earlier.

Monday:
 I worked on improved brick arch crossmembers.
Bob L worked on loco 9’s smokebox and we made a plan to change sand in the sander.
Brendan worked on enginehouse door hinges.

Tuesday:
Steve L, Brian W, Leon W, Adam Fletcher changed a tie near ML&M crossing, inspected and cleared crossings from SS to ToM.
I retrieved vacuum brake components (from Lewiston) for Jerry and Carlos to install on trucks.
Jerry and Carlos continued the vacuum brake install on coach 3’s (current south) truck.
I removed the relevant parts of the prototype brick arch frame and welded new members as needed.
Brendan began building a new door.
Eric and Ron continued painting dark green with Epifanes Jason’s counsel.

Wednesday
Jason and Bob will install the revised brick arch, then remove old sand from box.
Eric and Ron will paint 1/2 day.
Brendan will likely continue door assembly.
Harold may be in to work on no 11 rear truck.

Thursday
Bob and Roger may load new sand if it comes.
Brendan enginehouse doors likely.
I’ll be working on a cad project.

2

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 9 - Official Work Thread

« on: November 28, 2023, 06:58:40 PM »

Roger has put in some long hard hours with me- he’s really an everything kind of guy.  I’d have been lost on this project without him.

Gordon assisted with design and machined the nozzles and nozzle sleeves.

Wes machined the blast pipe tubes.

Harold made a stack centering fixture.

Jerry and Carlos helped complete the brick arch frame. 

EDIT: Bob L also helped with the brick arch frame.

Thanks to Brian at ML&M for constant advice and idea verification, as well as specialized tooling.

Thanks to Joe Monty for forwarding a video of efforts at a German narrow gauge steam railroad which inspired the brick arch approach.  We’ve recently learned that B&SR 8 and possibly other Maine two foot locomotives were built with brick arches.  This will help combustion gas flow substantially.

We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

3

Volunteers / Re: November 2023 Work Reports

« on: November 27, 2023, 03:47:10 PM »

Anticipated work
Week of November 26, 2023

Monday-Wednesday:
Completion of repairs and modifications to Loco 9, followed by load testing on Wednesday.  Mods include new nozzles and blast pipe, and a brick arch, in an effort to ease the load on the boiler as the Mountain has proven hard on it.  (Help is welcome Tuesday/ Wednesday.  Dan is conducting the test train Wednesday)

Tuesday/ Wednesday:
Coach 9
Build11 machining

Tuesday:
GE53 work possible (pending volunteer availability)

4

Volunteers / Re: November 2023 Work Reports

« on: November 12, 2023, 08:49:54 PM »

Anticipated Work
Week of November 13, 2023

Monday- Wednesday:
Build11, including frame crosstie and rear truck work

Tuesday- Wednesday:
Coach 9

Tuesday:
Loco 52 prepare for winter work
Flatcar canopy work possible

Tuesday- Thursday:
Loco 9 repairs and mods.

Monday- Thursday:
Enginehouse work likely

Once again I’d appreciate help with loco 9- please let me know.  I’m sure the other crews would also appreciate help.  Thanks for help last week to Steve P for helping with loco 9, Dan for helping with a tamping job in the north yard, and Brian W for checking antifreeze values in various pieces of rr equipment.  Wes, Gordon and Roger all helped with loco 9 mods as well. 

Thanks
Jason

5

Work and Events / Winter 2024 Photo Event Prep

« on: November 06, 2023, 08:52:40 AM »

Hi folks,

We are holding a photography event in early February, 2024.  A critical piece of success is brush cutting at several key locations, including Albee’s field, Top of Mountain, Humason trestle, rosewood, and possibly others. 

Is anyone reading this interested in leading and or helping with this effort?  We should try to accomplish this in November and December.

Thanks
Jason

6

Volunteers / Re: November 2023 Work Reports

« on: November 05, 2023, 06:40:00 PM »

Anticipated Work
Week of November 5, 2023

Monday:
Build11, V Brake, Loco 9 Repair, Office Work
Enginehouse doors (if Brendan is on site)
Enginehouse exterior work possible

Tuesday:
J&S Truck/ Coach 3 Truck work
Coach 9 work
Enginehouse work possible
Loco 11 machine shop work
Flatcar Canopy work likely

Wednesday:
Coach 9 work
Enginehouse work possible
Loco 11 machine shop work

At least one day this week will be a loco 9 maintenance day.  Help would be appreciated- let me know if you’re available and interested.

There’s some relatively minor track lifts to perform around Sheepscot Yard.  If interested and available please let me know.

Thanks
Jason

7

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

« on: November 01, 2023, 04:39:23 PM »

Hi John,

Re: heat loss vs ambient temperature: of course.  Within the context of the current discussion I was merely pointing out that the room heating effect of the hot standby system is indeed tangible.

Thanks,
Jason

8

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

« on: November 01, 2023, 12:59:57 PM »

Prior to implementing the hot standby system, we carefully measured the heat loss from No 9's boiler for the purpose of sizing the hot standby system.

No 9's boiler (in operating condition, with insulation, etc) loses 31,400 BTU/Hr when maintained at 170 degrees F.  That heat loss goes into the room housing No 9, and is replenished by the hot standby system.

We recognized early on that the cost of operating the hot standby system is offset by reducing the cost of heating the room in which it is housed.  However much heat loss is experienced by that room, 31,400 BTU/hr is replenished by the boiler system.  The remaining room heat loss must be accommodated by that room's native heating plant.

Thanks
Jason

9

Volunteers / Re: October 2023 Work Reports

« on: October 23, 2023, 04:37:39 PM »

Anticipated Work
Week of October 23, 2023

(Monday: Brendan worked on hinges and prepared for door mounting; Bob, Josh and I unloaded the first part of an antique jib crane; Bob and Jason met re: No 10; Roger worked on No 9 hot standby and I worked on design for a replacement No 9 nozzle.)

Tuesday:
Dan: switching.
Eric and co: coach 9
Jerry, Carlos, Jason: swap coach 3 trucks
General: Loco 7 will be prepared for transport.  Enginehouse door work to continue.

Wednesday:
Loco 7 departs.
Coach 9 work expected to continue.
Enginehouse work expected to continue.
Build11 begins a new session, focusing on cylinder attachment, frame cross ties, and rear truck.

Thursday:
Build11
Enginehouse
No 9 nozzle design

Friday:
Build11
Enginehouse possible

Feel free to post anything I forgot

Thanks
Jason

10

Volunteers / Re: October 2023 Work Reports

« on: October 20, 2023, 05:21:43 PM »

Accomplishments Week of Oct 16, 2023

Steve Lennox and crew successfully lifted a surface concern on the Mountain- much better!

Eric and crew continued with priming and sanding.  They bid farewell to Lou for the winter season (he promised to come back if we get more cookies)

Jerry and Jason made final preparations to install the J&S trucks.

Wednesday saw an all out effort to host two large school groups, offering tours, hand car rides and two steam trips to Trout Brook Station.

Roger, Bob L and Jason performed maintenance on Loco 9.

Brendan worked on enginehouse door hinges.

Harold machined No 11 components.

While routinely held- I’ll point out that Build11 regularly holds planning meetings by Zoom.  This weeks session welcomed Quentin and Noah to the planning session for next week’s work session.

I apologize if I missed anyone.

Thanks
Jason

11

Volunteers / Re: October 2023 Work Reports

« on: October 15, 2023, 02:56:10 PM »

Anticipated Work
Week of October 16, 2023

Monday:
Track work planning.

Tuesday:
Track lift at “location 9” on the Mountain.  S. Lennox
J&S truck: preparation for coach 3 install.  Jerry and Jason.
Coach 9 work likely.  Eric and Co.
Machining work for no 11 likely: Harold.

Wednesday.
Two back to back school charters, steam.  HELP NEEDED for handcar rides, tours, etc.  please let us know if you can help.  JB is the man for this one. 
Coach 3 truck swap: Jerry, Carlos, Jason  POSTPONED due to limited crew availability for school charters.
Coach 9 work likely.
Machine shop work likely.

Enginehouse door work is possible anytime depending on that crew’s availability.

Note we need more crew for next Saturday’s Pumpkin Trains.  In addition to open slots for the class 2 train, we also need either a gatekeeper or a dispatcher as we’ve recently decided we need to separate those tasks. 

Thanks
Jason

12

Volunteers / Re: October 2023 Work Reports

« on: October 10, 2023, 05:32:52 PM »

Anticipated Work
Week of October 9, 2023

I apologize this slipped.

Eric and team are continuing work on coach 8- including priming.  I’m not sure if it’ll get top coat this week.

Coach 9 work has carried on as well.

Harold has made some tweaks to our new lathe.

Jerry and Carlos are finalizing work on the J&S trucks.  They are scheduled for installation on coach 3 next week.

I saw Stewart working on campus cleanup and trash duty- not trivial after a work weekend.

Other work?

Jason

13

Work and Events / Re: Coach 8 - Official Work Thread

« on: October 10, 2023, 05:30:06 PM »

I’d like to call attention to how gargantuan this undertaking on coach 8 truly has been and continues to be.  We had wondered when there’s be a window to cycle the car through the shop for this work- under conventional thinking it was years away from shop space  opportunity.  Eric recognized the car couldn’t wait that long and hatched this plan to tackle it.  Eric has personally put in an incredible marathon work effort spanning 8 calendar days now.  Today he, Ron, Stewart and perhaps others primed the car.  Congratulations to Eric and team, and thank you for making this happen!

Thanks
Jason

14

Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend 2023 - Official Work thread

« on: October 10, 2023, 05:27:10 PM »

Thank you to all of our 2023 Fall Work Weekend attending and supporting crew members.  What a tremendously productive week and weekend we had!  Sunday evening’s train in memory of Wayne was lovely. 

Just passing on my gratitude for our devoted volunteers..

Jason

15

Volunteers / October 2023 Work Reports

« on: October 01, 2023, 04:48:42 PM »

Anticipated Work
Week of October 1-4, 2023.  (Work Weekend Excluded)

Tuesday:
Truck Work.  Final (re)assembly expected.
Coach 9 work.
Flatcar Canopy (Randy and Jay B).  Canopy on flat 34.

Wednesday:
Track work- prep for Upper/ North Yard work on Saturday of FWW.  On Wednesday we will remove two track panels from Barn 2 lead, due to a significant hump in the roadbed.  Help would be greatly appreciated on Wednesday for this prep work.

Others please feel free to post work plans I missed.

Thanks
Jason
Coach 9 work.

Wednesday-Thursday (and into FWW):
Build11 will focus on cylinder work.