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Volunteers / Re: January 2025 work reports
« on: January 21, 2025, 08:23:14 PM »
Another Thank You to Dan and Bryce !!
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Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: A Holiday Present for all us kids at heart
« on: December 26, 2024, 08:07:09 PM »
I think the lesson is that we all have to shovel faster!
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Volunteers / Re: December 2024 Work Reports
« on: December 26, 2024, 08:06:22 PM »
Hey, who are all those young(er) people in those videos?
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Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / A Holiday Present for all us kids at heart
« on: December 22, 2024, 08:50:01 PM »
For every one with a soft spot for trains, music, stories, and cartoons, here's a well crafted animation to enjoy.
https://youtu.be/l8mScKWj3kQ?si=Gz_bOl8tz5Pt1xqf
https://youtu.be/l8mScKWj3kQ?si=Gz_bOl8tz5Pt1xqf
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Volunteers / Re: August 2024 work reports
« on: August 25, 2024, 08:39:09 AM »
It's great to see the trailer coming along. It was a long term project and the persistence and hard work is appreciated.
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Museum Discussion / Re: Reviews, Thank You's, and Messages of Encouragement
« on: August 07, 2024, 07:35:09 PM »
We alway strive in both personnel and equipment for the most authentic Maine experience. 
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Volunteers / Re: May 2024 work reports
« on: May 26, 2024, 10:34:06 AM »
Internal combustion engines still use 'plain bearings' for the crankshaft, complete with a babbit coating on the bearing shells.
The babbit coating provides a soft surface that won't damage the shaft when it is stationary or slowly rotating on startup.
The secret is that an oil film develops between the two parts as the shaft or axle rotates in the bearing and that film prevents metal to metal contact.
In an ICE the oil is carried to the bearings by a pump system, while in a railroad journal bearing the oil is carried by the waste packed into the oil cellar and is pushed up against the axle. Hence the need to regularly inspect, re-pack, and oil journal bearings.
The babbit coating provides a soft surface that won't damage the shaft when it is stationary or slowly rotating on startup.
The secret is that an oil film develops between the two parts as the shaft or axle rotates in the bearing and that film prevents metal to metal contact.
In an ICE the oil is carried to the bearings by a pump system, while in a railroad journal bearing the oil is carried by the waste packed into the oil cellar and is pushed up against the axle. Hence the need to regularly inspect, re-pack, and oil journal bearings.
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Work and Events / Re: WW&F MoW1018 Excavator Cart- Official Work Thread
« on: May 17, 2024, 12:46:55 PM »
For those of you who may be confused ( as I was) I believe that it is being assembled upside down.
I had to go back and look at the assembly drawing earlier in the thread.
I had to go back and look at the assembly drawing earlier in the thread.
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Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« on: April 11, 2024, 11:06:11 AM »
Many thanks, guys. And also thanks to the EBT and donor for the vacuum pots.
I have been working for the past couple of weeks on finalizing the design of the driver brakes for No. 11. As you can see in the builders photo, No. 7 had a very funky vacuum brake design with the vacuum pots facing backwards under the cab and pulling on the brake rigging with outside links running around the ashpan and under the frame.
Also note the round vacuum brake "muffler" on top of the cab. This quiets the noise from the escaping steam from the brake ejector when the brakes are applied. We will be replicating all these 'features' of the original.
Having the actual pots that we will be using lets me accurately design the parts so we can create and add the supporting components to the frame while we have good access.
In the next couple of weeks I hope to finish this and publish a note on the final design and the reasons for its unorthodox configuration.
I have been working for the past couple of weeks on finalizing the design of the driver brakes for No. 11. As you can see in the builders photo, No. 7 had a very funky vacuum brake design with the vacuum pots facing backwards under the cab and pulling on the brake rigging with outside links running around the ashpan and under the frame.
Also note the round vacuum brake "muffler" on top of the cab. This quiets the noise from the escaping steam from the brake ejector when the brakes are applied. We will be replicating all these 'features' of the original.
Having the actual pots that we will be using lets me accurately design the parts so we can create and add the supporting components to the frame while we have good access.
In the next couple of weeks I hope to finish this and publish a note on the final design and the reasons for its unorthodox configuration.
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Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: Event Suggestion
« on: March 24, 2024, 08:15:38 PM »
Thanks, Ed, for the clarification. I didn't want to get something started that wasn't appropriate.
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Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: Event Suggestion
« on: March 24, 2024, 01:22:46 PM »
To be clear, this was a tongue in cheek suggestion. I believe we have a blanket 'No Alcohol on Campus' rule.
There are several gin distilleries in Maine now.
Any gin named "Piston" has to be good. I wonder how they infuse the coal... or maybe I don't want to know.
They do look like they're having so much fun!
There are several gin distilleries in Maine now.
Any gin named "Piston" has to be good. I wonder how they infuse the coal... or maybe I don't want to know.
They do look like they're having so much fun!
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Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Event Suggestion
« on: March 24, 2024, 11:30:39 AM »
I know this may violate the rules, but I couldn't resist;
https://svr.co.uk/event/gin-trains-3/2024-05-11/
I'm not sure how enthusiastic I would be about coal infused gin, though.
https://svr.co.uk/event/gin-trains-3/2024-05-11/
I'm not sure how enthusiastic I would be about coal infused gin, though.
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Work and Events / Re: Sheepscot Passenger Platform Reconstruction - Official Work Thread
« on: March 22, 2024, 03:44:14 PM »
That's quite a long platform! Wonderful!!
Great work as always. Let's hope the temperatures get more spring-like soon.
Great work as always. Let's hope the temperatures get more spring-like soon.
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Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« on: March 07, 2024, 07:19:06 PM »
Sorry, they are still packed on the pallets, so a clearer picture isn't available.
We're sending everything over to Mountain Machine in Auburn so we had not planned to uncrate them.
They will machine and assemble the lead and main drive axle assemblies.
We're sending everything over to Mountain Machine in Auburn so we had not planned to uncrate them.
They will machine and assemble the lead and main drive axle assemblies.
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Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread
« on: March 02, 2024, 12:27:26 PM »
The notations are the result of x-ray inspection of the castings to insure there were no areas that were porous or otherwise weak.
The issues found were small and not in critical stress areas and the castings passed all the tests that we required for acceptance. We don't think the sand inclusions will affect any machined areas of the parts.
We're really pleased with the quality and response of this foundry, located in Springfield, MA.
The issues found were small and not in critical stress areas and the castings passed all the tests that we required for acceptance. We don't think the sand inclusions will affect any machined areas of the parts.
We're really pleased with the quality and response of this foundry, located in Springfield, MA.