Topics

1

General Discussion / Modeling wooden reefer

« on: October 25, 2015, 09:28:49 PM »

I'm doing some S gauge Swift reefers from plans in Model Railroader's soft cover 1954 HO book "Build Your Own Model Cars and Locos" that I've had 55 years and never built anything from it.
Would it be prototype to have scribed wood on the bottom on these wooden real life cars and which direction should the boards be running?

2

Museum Discussion / Please tell me the RR's typeface again

« on: January 22, 2015, 05:31:04 AM »

My project to build a storage shed that, from the front, looks akin to a vertically sheathed boxcar is almost finished. Some time ago I asked for the typeface used in your equipment for WW&F RR. I believe the answer was Caslon but I can't remember. If it was that, I'm in trouble because I don't have that on my computer. If it is, what is close?

3

General Discussion / I like that cottage red

« on: December 30, 2014, 08:59:23 PM »

Having completed three sides of my storage shed over the past 4 or 5 years, I finally got around to starting on the front. I had to buy a new router, a half inch collet model and make an MDF router table but today a did the tongue and groove routing on the 6 1x6s that, for the past 2-3 years, have been drying on the floor of the water heater, freezer room off the garage. Today, shortly before Ace Hardware closed, I dashed over there for the Benjamin Moore cottage red in high gloss latex. That is a beautiful color. Glad I asked about it instead of getting a generic oxide red. Maybe I'll get finished before Monday.

4

General Discussion / Atlanta's streetcars are a hit

« on: November 25, 2014, 10:08:03 PM »

Headline I wrote sounds good but the truth is that in a couple of days of testing the new system that runs from Tedium to Enoui, Atlanta's fine motorists have already slammed into the new street cars twice, trying to beat them to a side street. Doesn't look promising except to lawyers. And the system doesn't even go anywhere anyone would want to go.

5

Museum Discussion / Smithy additions

« on: February 05, 2014, 10:04:47 AM »

Congratulations on getting the two new machines for your blacksmith shop. What else would the well-appointed 2-foot gauge railroad blacksmith or machine shop have had that you don't now possess. PS, sorry I'm late on my dues. Will send them by tomorrow.

6

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / WW&F logo type

« on: June 05, 2013, 11:17:47 PM »

What typeface does the WW&F use on boxcars, etc. and can stencils be purchased at an office supply shop? If it is freelanced, is there a type which is approximate?

7

Museum Discussion / Work songs

« on: April 17, 2013, 11:18:48 PM »

What songs or chants do the gandy dancers sing as they move the rail into position?

8

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / U of Maine sure kicked my alma mater's hiney

« on: November 13, 2012, 11:41:53 AM »

Glad I wasn't there. Of course if I had been in Maine, I would surely have been in Alna. It was the last game for Georgia State University Head Football Coach Bill Curry, who is retiring. When he became head coach of Georgia Tech, he joined our church. And proceeded to make my father hold a grudge for years because he and his wife sat down in the spot my parents had occupied for many years. Pop always let little things bug him. He was glad to see Bill go to the University of Alabama so he could reclaim their  seats.
When I was sports editor of the GSU student newspaper, The Signal, all we had was soccer. I would have been happy to have had a 1-10 football program.

9

Museum Discussion / Maine Tourism Participation

« on: June 03, 2012, 07:07:17 PM »

 Did I read someone's post which stated that the museum has not associated with the state's tourism group? Wherever that is, that is where you should be making tracks to, forgive my pun. The only real reason the museum is in place is to operate for people and the only real reason to go south toward Wiscassett is to get closer to the major highway which attracts more "spur of the moment" decisions by tourists to take the train. The cheapest way to get more riders would be to be more closely aligned with the tourism department of the state (and here I stand corrected if I misread the post).
 Alvin Toffler said in "Future Shock" that as the world becomes more technical and changing we cling to things of the past, which might include such things as riding the train/trolley. The world doesn't seem to be getting any simpler so I'm pretty sure that the museum's pool of potential visitors will only grow. But the most important thing would be getting them to Alna Station. We need more things like Wayne's 2007 article in Trains which is why I'm here. I imagine others joined after reading this fine piece. He fired our imaginations. Your biggest bang for the buck is going to be getting people already in Maine whether they are natives or visitors, though. And this is where the tourism department can really help.

10

Museum Discussion / map of Wiscassett

« on: June 03, 2012, 06:37:48 PM »

Is there a simple map of Wiscassett, or could someone draw one, that shows where the milk wagon is. What railroad(s) use the diamond behind the WW&F track?

11

General Discussion / Boxcar color

« on: February 21, 2012, 11:40:20 PM »

I'm building a junk building underneath my son's elevated play house that at age 20, he has long since outgrown. So I've decided to make the lower floor look like a vertically sheathed boxcar. What shade of brown or oxide red do you use and can it be obtained at a hardware store? Exterior latex or oil based?

12

General Discussion / a "Hello" to Zack Wyllie from an Atlantan

« on: January 29, 2012, 04:30:33 PM »

With my family out of town today, I drove 40 miles to Atlanta to attend the church into which I was born. Afterward, I was chatting with a couple which had lived and attended there for 30 years. But they are natives of Maine. When I told the wife that I was  member of the Museum, she said she knew Zack. Her name is Kristin Stred and she said to say "Hello" to him.

13

Museum Discussion / Can old boilers be fixed?

« on: December 17, 2011, 01:26:23 AM »

Suppose the boiler of a locomotive fails to pass an ultrasonic thickness test (UTT). Can more metal be welded on at those areas?

14

General Discussion / Cranky North Carolineans

« on: October 26, 2011, 11:01:20 AM »

Wayne, those North Carolineans who are going to trespass on the branch line being re-opened are really a bunch of NIMBYs aren't they?

15

Museum Discussion / No. 9's horsepower

« on: June 14, 2011, 11:56:44 PM »

Does anyone know how much HP No. 9 should have when completed? Traction effort?