Topics

1

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad / Phillips views

« on: November 05, 2022, 06:50:48 PM »

Scenes around Phillips today, with some before shots..

Phillips Historical Society has this 1890 Image of "Ambleside" and the houses next to it.



I took this today 132 years later...



Station 1900



122 years later..



Flat car in for rebuilding, again..the car barn will help not to repeat this again.





And this stone culvert still functioning ad intended, 100 years later.





Station and platform work looks complete.

2

Museum Discussion / 2022 Annual Fund Drive

« on: September 23, 2022, 05:56:43 AM »

The 2022 Annual Fund Drive is off to a great start. We have received donations (as of Monday) from over 100 members. I will leave the dollar amount a mystery and save that for the Newsletter. Cindy has done an excellent job picking up the museum mail, sorting it, and recording donations so she can make the bank deposits, then I enter the donations in the database. This time of year I spend about an hour and a half to 2 hours a night 5 nights a week entering information or doing other membership duties. Makes for a busy four or 5 weeks of it, but it is a necessary behind the scene job..

3

Work and Events / Mountain Extension Cleanup

« on: June 22, 2022, 10:45:57 AM »

Please join me on July 16th for a last clean up of the Mountain Extension. We will be renting a wood chipper and cutting at least 2 trees that are very close to the tracks. We should leave Sheepscot about 8:30, and will return after the arrival of the first afternoon train at Top of the Mountain, which should be a southbound departure about 2pm, or we could work later if we feel like or have more to do, we just have to decide that prior to the first northbound revenue train.

4

Museum Discussion / Station Names, Abbreviation and Mileposts

« on: April 18, 2022, 11:39:30 AM »

For reference, Pete Stevens supplied this photo of current trackage with yard limits, station locations, crossing locations, water crossings (by mile from Wiscasset) and any abbreviations currently used.

5

Volunteers / Rescinding of Mask Use at Sheepscot

« on: March 07, 2022, 09:25:12 AM »

One note. With the transmission rate of the virus currently at medium for the state, masking is now optional at the museum. As always, if you are sick or have potentially been exposed, please either stay home or use extra precautions while at the museum. Our volunteers are our number one asset..

6

Museum Discussion / "The Roundhouse" podcast about the WW&F

« on: January 19, 2022, 10:24:11 PM »

For those who would like to listen, this is a podcast that was done recently about our museum. Steve Piwowarski tells about the history of the museum and a little of Maine Two Foot history, and recent high points of the museum. 58 minutes long, but give a listen.

https://theroundhousepodcast.com/?powerpress_pinw=2060-podcast

7

General Discussion / Conway Scenic 7470

« on: January 02, 2022, 07:05:13 PM »

Conway Scenic suffered a setback in their steam program this morning. After several months of repairs to get the locomotive into operation, it was fired up and tested on 12/30. This morning at about 6am, a cab fire caused by what they think was a fault in the radio, charger or battery, damaged the cab and gauges. The fire got hot enough to cause the spring in the whistle to let go and the whistle started blowing. This woke Brian F., who was sleeping nearby and he was able to call 911. The fire department is right next door so the fire was quickly extinguished.

Damage are said to be to the cab and gauges, and reported minor damage to the enginehouse. Photos and story available on Conway Scenics Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ConwayScenicRailroad/

8

Other Narrow Gauge / Rockport Lime Company

« on: September 16, 2021, 05:45:07 AM »

The last remaining locomotive from the Rockport Lime Company is going to be cosmetically (my words) restored.

https://knox.villagesoup.com/2021/09/08/historic-locomotive-undergoes-restoration/

9

Work and Events / Mountain Extension Workday 8/14/21

« on: July 30, 2021, 03:55:54 PM »

I would like to try a work day on Saturday 8/14. This will be a clean up geared toward the opening on the extension next year.

Work will primarily be brush cutting and blade trimming from TOM to Fossel Rd. This area was cut many years ago, and only weedwhacked once. Now the bushes need to be cut with a powersaw. Brush can be hid in the woods, or loaded onto a flat and moved to FosselI for chipping or burning later. I expect we will finish this quickly, and then will be up to us where to go from there.

There are still a few trees I'd like to remove and some clean up down the Mountain, but that can happen later if we don't get to it.

Hope to see you there..

10

Work and Events / New to us work truck

« on: March 15, 2021, 08:34:18 AM »

As the museum continues to grow, it is not without pains. A lot of items get handled, moved, relocated, hauled and what not.

For years, we have had the Dodge pickup, generously donated by Fred. Recently, it has spent more time not running than being useable. I hope to have solved this issue.



We have purchased this 2004 Ford F350 with 50,000 miles. V-10 with an automatic transmission, 4 wheel drive, dumping platform body with a lift gate. It will be a great utility truck for us, and make shuffling anything easier. Brendan is already talking about lettering the doors.

11

Work and Events / Case Loader

« on: January 29, 2021, 05:48:27 PM »

Repairs have been ongoing since last spring to the loader. It started with a broken fuel injector line, then it was decided to do the brakes. It was torn down rather quickly in June or July, and has sat waiting for parts then work to be completed.

Since I did not take it apart, I really did not want to put it together, but wanted it done. So, I have tried to work on it when I could, today being a great day to do so because no one was there to talk with or help with other projects.

Last week, I completed the front end. Notice the space heater. It was only about 10 degrees and this ran for a few hours to get the chill off.



The back end looked like this at the start.



Knuckle installed, then the backing plate, and the relined brakes.







Bearing assembly.



The nut has a roll pin that goes blindly into the hole on the back of the outer ring of the planetary.





No go..



Got it..



Tire is on to get the proper torque on the bearings. Supposed to be 13 foot pounds, but I converted it to inch to get a more accurate setting.



All that is left is to fill the rear end with oil, bleed the brakes, install a new tie rod end if I can get one, and put on the tires.

12

Work and Events / Steam and Saws 2021

« on: January 02, 2021, 07:22:38 PM »

Today was the first Steam and Saws for 2021. Due to the weather and the cancellation of Steam and Sleighs, we cut at Alna Center.

We took our time starting, but here is a few pictures of before.



Brian is clearing our fire area



And this is after. We had James and Dave helping in the morning, and were visited by Fred then  Steve & Annie P. with their little Johnny in the afternoon. They toasted marshmallows on the fire. And Dave came by for the final inspection, followed by Zack to check on our progress.

13

General Discussion / Back Cove Trestle

« on: November 23, 2020, 07:37:06 AM »

The southern part of the Back Cove Trestle that runs between Portlands East End and the B&M Beans plant will be demolished. It has become a hazard to boaters as it continues to deteriorate, loosing pieces into the water.

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/22/state-to-demolish-part-of-historic-train-trestle-in-portland/

Maine Narrow Gauge RR tracks end at the West end (RR south) and they had expressed thoughts of regauging and crossing it.

Here are a couple of Google images. The first is a picture of the south end, the second being the overall trestle. MNGRR is to the right, the B&M plant is on the left.





And here is a video shot in 2019, that really shows some of the deterioration.

https://youtu.be/mfkPivtHEVk

14

Work and Events / B&SR Box Car 56 - Official Work Thread

« on: October 27, 2020, 08:19:49 AM »

Here is a couple of shots of Box Car 56 while in service. Notice the hinges for the livestock doors.

Images are property of Gary Kohler, and used with his permission. He has recently done a Power Point presentation, and until it becomes book for can be found for purchase here. http://www.portlandlocomotiveworks.com/product/bridgton-saco-river-railroad-a-presentation/

15

Volunteers / 2019 Volunteer Hours

« on: July 07, 2020, 08:30:07 AM »

The State of Maine has published their list of 2019 Volunteer hours, for those of us who live within it's borders, or, as one I have noticed, volunteered in a specific town, even though the volunteer hails from out of state.. It is broken down by Maine towns, in alphabetical order. It should be no suprise who is on the list, as there are several of us there every Saturday, as well as putting time in during the week either on site or remotely.

 This page should be free to view, but they do have an article limit, so if you view any other stories, you may not get the whole list.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2020/07/06/volunteer-maine-recognizes-395-of-maines-dedicated-volunteers-on-maine-volunteer-rolls-of-honor/