Topics

1

Massachusetts' Two Footers / Boston Globe article

« on: December 23, 2023, 01:24:09 PM »

All,
Nice (though not totally accurate) article on Edaville in today’s Boston Globe. Photos on page 1, article on B2.
Dave

2

Museum Discussion / Amherst Railway Society 2023 Grant

« on: July 03, 2023, 04:44:16 PM »

All,
It is with great pleasure that inform you that the WW&F Ry Museum will receive one of the 2023 Amherst Railway Society grants for 2023. It is a $2,000.00 award for outfitting the new Archives Room with archival quality storage equipment. We are humbled by the generosity and faith of the ARS in our mission. Thank you to President John Sacerdote, the ARS Board and its many members.
Make plans now to attend the 2024 Amherst Railway Society train show at the Big E in West Springfield, MA - America’s largest and greatest train show. See you there!
Dave

3

Volunteers / November 2022 Work Reports

« on: October 30, 2022, 12:40:31 PM »

All,
Just a reminder that our now annual work day in Phillips is next Saturday, November 5, 2022. We plan to leave Sheepscot at 7:30 a.m. Sharon has requested a count for lunch purposes. As those who have attended previously, lunch alone is worth the ride. Please post here if you plan on attending. Hope to see you that day.
Dave

4

Museum Discussion / Needed-photos of the Museum and it’s members for a book

« on: August 11, 2022, 10:45:27 AM »

All,
We have been approached by Arcadia Publishing about doing a book for them. Since the original railroad has been covered in many books we have decided that it will be about the Museum itself. As such, we are looking for photographs mainly since the Humason Brook bridge was completed. That was about the time everyone started going digital. Linda has many photos prior that time.
If you have any and would like to see them published in our book, please submit them to Linda Zollers at archivist@wwfry.org with a copy to bill.reidy@wwfry.org; Gail.buczkowski@gmail.com; and David.buczkowski@wwfry.org. We will be covering all areas of the Museum - shop work, buildings, track work, operations, gift shop - everything. We especially want photos of people both familiar and not so familiar. Please be sure to include your name, date of photo and location. Please also identify anyone in the photos. You will also probably be asked to sign a permission form by Arcadia. Please note well that you will retain ownership of your photos. Send as many as you would like. Make sure to send high res versions suitable for publishing. You will also receive credit in the book. There will be extra credit for photos of me looking like I’m actually doing something productive.
Thanks.
Dave

5

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Head Tide Church Bridge

« on: May 22, 2022, 11:57:09 AM »

All,
I was approached by a friend writing a history of the Head Tide Church. Specifically he was inquiring about the bridge that once connected Head Tide Church Road to Route 218. I know it was of wooden construction and was built during the Peck years (1907 to 1915). Does anyone know how long it lasted? I couldn’t find anything more in Vol. One of Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks,
Dave

6

Work and Events / 2021 Fall Work Weekend (or not)

« on: August 26, 2021, 07:56:14 PM »

Fellow WW&F Friends and Family;

After careful consideration of the continuing COVID-19 crisis, the Delta variant and the potential harm to our treasured volunteers, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to once again replace the Fall Work Weekend. As we did this past Spring, a series of individual, themed work days will be scheduled throughout autumn. The first work day will be October 9, followed by October 30, November 13 and 20. Each day will have a specific task that will be addressed such as spiking rail at Trout Brook or at Sheepscot. Please keep your eyes on this space for more details.

If you are planning to attend one of these work days and travelling “from away”, the Board is requiring that you be fully vaccinated or have had a negative Covid test within 48 hours of your arrival. Be prepared to show proof if asked by a Board member or other authorized person. Please also note that the Museum will be adhering to state and federal mask, capacity and distancing mandates. Note also that sleeping accommodations will not be available in the Percival House. Meals will probably also not be provided so you should plan accordingly.

We are disappointed that these changes are again necessary but remain optimistic that if we all act responsibly, we will get through this and again gather together for work weekends.

Respectfully,

Dave

7

Work and Events / Albion Day 2018

« on: October 12, 2018, 12:11:34 PM »

All;
I called Phil Dow, president of the Albion Historical Society, the other night to see what he has planned for this year's Albion Day. Much to my surprise he said there was nothing that need being done! The yard had been weed whacked, the locomotive has been painted a nice shade of black (we discussed pin striping vs. flames) and he doesn't have any track supplies such as ties or rail. So, it is with some reluctance that I am cancelling the 2018 Albion Day for lack of activities to keep us busy. Hopefully we'll have something to do next year.
By way of thanks, Phil wants to bring three generations of the Dow family to help us out sometime in November. As Jason has an active November calendar I'm sure we can find something for them to do.
Dave

8

Work and Events / Albion Day 2017

« on: October 02, 2017, 01:36:06 PM »

Hi All;
This year's Albion Day (November 4, 2017) conveniently falls on the anniversary of the First Train to Albion in 1895. Perhaps I should tell Phil to bake an anniversary cake for the volunteers. This year will feature the usual weed-whacking and track maintenance but it will have a special twist. Phil would like to do some archeological digging in and around the turntable pit to see if any nice tidbits or knickknacks can be uncovered.
Also, Phil and the AHS have managed to get the Plymouth locomotive started. However, he finds that he needs parts for the Buda engine, especially the carburetor. If any of you have any parts hanging around that you don't need please let me know. I will talk to Phil again about what exactly he needs along with obtaining a bit more information about the engine (like model number). All I remember is that it is a 4 cylinder gas engine.
Finally, please let me know (here or otherwise) if you will be joining us as Phil needs to know how much road kill he'll need for the lunch stew...
Dave

9

Two Footers outside of the US / Trip to Poland

« on: July 27, 2017, 09:23:24 PM »

All,
I'm in the process of planning a trip to Warsaw and Krakow in late September with my son Adam. I understand there are some two footers in Poland. Are any of them near either city - like within a few hours? Any advice you might have would be appreciated. Thanks.
Dave

10

Work and Events / Albion Day 2016

« on: October 25, 2016, 09:07:19 AM »

All;
Make sure to mark your calendars for November 5, 2016 to join us for Albion Day 2016. There should be some track work, ballasting, brush cutting and, perhaps, some painting. As always, Phil and Janet will provide a sumptuous lunch. There also should be a tractor to help move the ballast. We'll meet at Sheepscot about 7:30 a.m. to load tools. I hope to leave for Albion by 8:00 or so. Make sure to wear some blaze orange as it will be hunting season. Please post here if you'll be attending so I can give Phil an estimate for lunch. Thanks!
Dave

11

Work and Events / Albion Day 2015

« on: March 11, 2015, 08:14:47 AM »

Hi All;
It's never too early to start thinking about Albion Day. Despite what the official WW&F calendar says, this year's Albion Day has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 31. I know it's the Maine resident deer hunting day but hopefully the deer will wait until November 1 when the full season starts. This year we hope to complete the siding switch, finish any electrical work and do the usual weed whacking. If it's warm enough maybe Phil will pick up some supplies and we can do some painting on the locomotive. anyway, it's always fun so plan to join us!
Dave

12

Other Narrow Gauge / Swanton Pacific Railroad

« on: March 05, 2015, 12:56:37 PM »

All;
While spending a few days in San Francisco I happened upon the last remaining building from the Panama Pacific Expostion (World's Fair) from 1915. I had seen the Palace of Arts from afar on other visits but had never ventured over to it. It and the gardens surrounding it are magnificant. Noteworthy about my visit was the timing of it. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the exposition. So there was an exhibit at the Palace as well as at the California Historical Society building downtown on Mission Street. I visited both. I had to dig deep into one of the flyers but here's the narrow gauge angle - there was a 19 inch railroad the ran at the fair with at least three steam engines. While I didn't learn much about it I did learn that the locomotives survived and are living at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. You can view them here: http://sprr.calpoly.edu/. Even more interesting was reading their old newsletters. The groups trials and travails are eeerily similar to our own experiences including the need for their own RowMow Mfg. facility. The newsletters also contain a section about the locomotives operation at the exposition sort of like our own Two Foot Musings. I did not get a chance to visit.
Dave

13

Work and Events / Albion Day 2014

« on: September 11, 2014, 08:34:38 AM »

Folks;
It's coming around to that time on the calendar again for Albion Day. This year's visit to Albion is on Saturday November 1. In addition to the usual general clean up and weed whacking we hope to complete the switch onto the siding. With the aid of a very generous benefactor there will be materials to begin (or continue) construction of an engine shed for the AHS locomotive. There may also be work on said locomotive. Also, Phil would like to add some weather protection to the flanger. Phil also has other things that need to be done.
Phil and Carl plan the usual hearty lunch in the station as well as more of their homespum Maine humor.
We'll meet at Sheepscot about 7:30 AM if you'd like to carpool or meet in Albion about 8:30 AM. We always have a good time and have almost always have had cooperative weather. I hope to see many of you that day!
Dave

14

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / "... the country's only two-foot narrow gauge railroad!"

« on: May 23, 2014, 04:55:34 PM »

I sat down to look at the mail after work tonight and opened a letter from the MNGRR by Donnell Carroll enclosing the Annual Report and requesting a donation "To restore the vision of preserving the country's only two-foot narrow gauge railroad!" Underlining added. Who knew? Wonder what those guys in Alna are up to? Do I need stronger glasses?
KD

15

Work and Events / Mitsubishi tractor and backhoe attachment

« on: January 20, 2014, 06:02:52 PM »

The WW&F Hauling & Rigging Dept. should be headed back from my neighborhood with a Mitsubishi tractor (rice paddy version), a rototiller attachment and a backhoe for Fred's tractor through the generosity of my good neighbors, Mark and Mary Gay. It's a 1980 two cylinder diesel based on a John Deere Susie. Brendan thinks the Mitsubishi D1600 should be good for brush cutting once we get an attachment. I'll bet RowMow Mfg. is chomping at the bit for the arrival!
KD