Messages

1

Volunteers / Re: October 2024 work reports

« on: October 04, 2024, 08:21:28 PM »

The platform railings on 320 finally received some attention today. No difference visually, so a photo would be of little use. Suffice it to say that Dan fairly shouted with joy upon discovering they were fixed.

And all the people shouted, "Amen!" (Or at least the train crew members...)

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Moderator Announcements / Re: NEWSLETTERS!!!

« on: October 01, 2024, 09:43:23 PM »

Some of the newsletters are just scans.

ALL of the Newsletters have been OCR'd (optical character recognition) so that they can be searched and even copied/pasted from. As Ben noted, he helped get that project done and it has been extremely valuable for a variety of reasons.

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Moderator Announcements / Re: NEWSLETTERS!!!

« on: October 01, 2024, 07:57:55 PM »

Are the Newsletter archives searchable in any fashion?

Unfortunately, no. A manual search is required.

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Museum Discussion / Re: How did you hear of the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum?

« on: October 01, 2024, 02:04:14 PM »

That page isn't available it seems.

Reminder, here is how to access the Newsletter archive:

1. Visit: https://wwfry.org/newsletters/

2. Enter the 4-digit passcode familiar to all WW&F "regulars". Those who are museum members who do not know the passcode can message me (or find it at: https://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic,4422.0.html )

3. The entire collection of Newsletters is posted, including the March/April 2002 edition, which does include a nice photo of the coal crew.

I have attached said photo, below.

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Museum Discussion / Re: How did you hear of the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum?

« on: September 25, 2024, 10:21:11 AM »

In the summer of 1995, my wife (who was "with child" - Emily) and I took a vacation to Hermit Island and stopped in Wiscasset for a train ride on the Maine Coast Railroad. At that time, there was a simple flyer promoting the WW&F and "RR Book for Sale" - Big Dreams and Little Wheels. During the trip I picked up the flyer (passed on getting the book) and made the connection between the pilings in Wiscasset and the narrow gauge RR I had some vague knowledge of. After the train trip my wife agreed to try to see the WW&F Museum.

At 97 Cross Road, the track ran about as far as the tank is today, the first 3 stalls of the shop were completed, Sheepscot station was built, and Harry's House was in plain sight. However, there was no one there. Yet, even then, I got the 6th sense that this was something special, and I should keep an eye on it.

I then followed the WW&F website religiously, eventually logging my first volunteer hours several years later (with Emily at my side). Eventually I started moderating this forum and assisting with grant applications (as I was "from away" and could only occasionally make the trek from Groton, Mass to Sheepscot), and the rest is history.

6

Museum Discussion / Re: Reviews, Thank You's, and Messages of Encouragement

« on: September 18, 2024, 10:57:58 PM »

5-Stars on Google:

Beautifully restored steam train. Nice ride. Friendly people. Nice gift shop. Could not have been any better!

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Museum Discussion / Re: Finding the WW&F on Facebook

« on: September 17, 2024, 10:20:09 AM »

ONE MILLION MINUTES!!

The Aug. 29th Facebook post has been viewed a cumulative total of 1,009,892 minutes (and climbing.) That means the collective Internet has been watching loco 9 spin on the Sheepscot turntable for over 700 days!

Posts like these boost our page likes and overall presence on Facebook, which helps our outreach (worldwide), ticket sales, and fundraising efforts. For example, 450 new people have "liked" the WW&F Facebook page in the last 30 days, making our page more "liked" than all other Maine railroad attractions or similar museums; and the 6th most popular in all of New England.

Great job Team WW&F.

8

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

« on: September 11, 2024, 08:40:48 PM »

BUILD LOCOMOTIVE 11 - Major Pledged Donation Received!

Today, we are pleased to announce a major donation towards the completion of WW&F Locomotive 11, a new-build reconstruction of WW&F no. 7, which was scrapped in the 1930s.



Two lifetime fans of the Maine two-footers, Gordon Fay and George Bartholomew, have pledged $15,000 to get the Build 11 project on track for completion. This means that we only need $2800 to make our 2024 fundraising goal! More importantly, we can now start outsourcing some of the work, allowing us to complete the locomotive sooner.

How can you help?


The Build 11 challenge coin ($11 donation) is available in person at our gift shop or online at: https://giftshop.wwfry.org/product/challenge-coin/661?cs=true

Or want a REAL challenge? Sign up to volunteer on the project! We are in need of additional craftsmen and machinists to help fabricate and assemble the locomotive. Inquire at info@wwfry.org or come by our open house on Saturday, Sept. 14th at 10am.



Author Michael Torreson has donated 200 SIGNED copies of his book: "Maine's Two-Footer Railroads: The Linwood Moody Collection" to be sold in our gift shop (online or in person) with 100% of the proceeds going to fund locomotive no. 11!

Get your signed copy (for a donation of $24.99) at: https://giftshop.wwfry.org/product/maine-s-2-er-rrs-the-linwood-moody-collection/696

Speaking of signing... sign up to volunteer at the WW&F at:  https://wwfry.org/all-activities/volunteer/

---

The "builder's plate" is like the locomotive's birth certificate. It is typically mounted on the side of the smokebox indicating where and when the locomotive was built. We have replicated WW&F no. 7's builder's plate in two forms to be used as fundraisers for locomotive no. 11.



This mini "builder's plate" is 3-D printed and available for a donation of $110. Get yours by making an online donation at: https://fundrazr.com/perks/6Sur7?ref=ab_a5atn6

Or, if you want something really big...



Our beloved, late Build 11 volunteer, Wayne Laepple oversaw the production of a limited number of full-size cast replica builder's plates of locomotive #7. We still have a VERY FEW of these still available for donations of $1100 (or more.)

Join the "31692 Club" and proudly display this plate in your office, den, or train room. While these can be ordered online at https://fundrazr.com/perks/bSuqf?ref=ab_a5atn6 you can also mail your donation (and avoid us covering the donation processing fees) to WW&F Railway Museum, PO Box 242, Alna, ME 04535. Be sure to indicate your donation is for Build 11 and that you would like a builder's plate.

Not into extra stuff? Be like Gordon and George and donate any amount online at www.build11.org - or use the address above.

Together, we can meet the challenge to accelerate locomotive 11's fabrication and assembly. Thank you for your interest and support!

---

PS: The build 11 team is working on the locomotive THIS WEEK. We'll be posting a work report wrap-up on our Facebook page shortly.

9

Museum Discussion / Re: Reviews, Thank You's, and Messages of Encouragement

« on: September 11, 2024, 05:49:12 PM »

Via email:
Thanks for taking the time with us last Saturday.  The Model A Ford Club, Pine Tree Chapter had a good time.
Attached is the photo album [one of our members] put together.
Thanks again, hope to see you again soon.
https://frank-kennedy.smugmug.com/Wiscasset-Waterville-Farmington-Railway-Museum

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Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 10 - Official Work Thread

« on: September 11, 2024, 12:36:11 PM »

And I think Bill B just got himself assigned to the editorial review team.

I'll drink to that!

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Moderator Announcements / Re: NEWSLETTERS!!!

« on: September 09, 2024, 08:16:54 PM »

The Sept/Oct 2024 Newsletter is posted at https://wwfry.org/newsletters/ (4 digit WW&F Code required; see Membership section if you don't know it.)
The Newsletter is also being emailed to all members whose email address we have on file.

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Museum Discussion / Re: Reviews, Thank You's, and Messages of Encouragement

« on: September 08, 2024, 10:01:07 PM »

5 Stars on Google:
We had a great time on the "A-No.1 Hobo Experience" train ride!

And TripAdvisor:
Hobo experience was so much fun! Felt we really were hopping on and taking a free ride! Cards, music and relaxing. Will be back for more!

And Yelp:
Very informative and fun trip on a narrow gauge railroad! Friendly, knowledgeable staff. You can tell that all the workers there are passionate about the railroad and bringing history alive. Make sure you check out the other buildings to see classic rolling stock and several steam locos that are being built/restored. Nothing like the sound of a steam locomotive chugging up a 4% grade! This would be a great family outing as well.

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Museum Discussion / Re: Sheepscot Station platform shelter

« on: September 03, 2024, 06:40:49 PM »

While nothing has been decided, a Wiscasset-style shelter for the Sheepscot platform is very much under consideration.

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Museum Discussion / Re: Reviews, Thank You's, and Messages of Encouragement

« on: August 31, 2024, 08:51:21 PM »

Thank-you email received:

Good evening!  Back home in Colorado, and before the memories fade, just wanted to thank you and everyone we came in contact with this past Saturday at the WW&F for how gracious and welcome you all made us feel, and how impressive what you and your generations of colleagues have accomplished. 

As one of my fellow travelers observed, what the WW&F organization has built is yet more impressive because, unlike nearly all other rail/historical organizations, the WW&F effort started with nothing but an ex-right-of-way which had become forested.  No equipment.  No facilities.  Zip.  What is equally impressive is that your organization spans all generations.  It is most impressive to see young adults as volunteers wholeheartedly supporting something yet more distant in the past to them than it is to us.

Thanks again for a splendid, most memorable day!  Hope things continue to go well for you all and the WW&F, and you'll see my continuation as a contributor.  Too bad Denver is so far away!

Best - Pete Rickershauser

15

Volunteers / Re: August 2024 work reports

« on: August 31, 2024, 05:29:21 PM »

I didn't see James today, so here's what I saw going on:

* Public Trains - Including the Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails hike, well attended for 11a & 1p; lighter patronage for 3p; lots of happy passengers.
* Smoke Jacks - Both got painted.
* X-Cart "Dave" - Fabrication work.
* Locomotive 10 - Smokebox work; Boiler parts identified.
* Lunch - Meatball subs.

Probably a lot more I missed.