Messages

16

Work and Events / Re: Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

« on: September 17, 2018, 11:37:32 AM »

Mike,

Thanx for your answer.  When I get up there for FWW, I will check it out.

Bern

17

Work and Events / Re: Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

« on: September 16, 2018, 10:19:32 PM »

I have a question about Trout Brook unrelated to the current bridge project.  All the photos show the brook at very low water levels.  When the Mason's wreck occurred, locomotive #4 landed in fairly deep water at least five or more feet deeper than the current level.  Why was the water so deep?  It doesn't appear to be a high flood level and seems quite still.  Was there a dam further down stream?

Bernie

18

Museum Discussion / Re: Useful Stuff on eBay

« on: September 16, 2018, 07:21:38 AM »

Chris,

My guess is that this was our present coach.  It appears to be taken at Edaville.  The end of the other car may be one of the cabooses.  I haven't seen this one in the archives.

Bernie

19

Work and Events / Re: Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

« on: September 10, 2018, 03:55:39 PM »

I have been watching and enjoying this whole bridge project.  I wish I lived closer so I could be more involved with this dynamic railroad.  Nothing surprises me anymore.  You guys just dig in and get it done and immediately initiate another equally difficult project and bring it to a swift conclusion.  I drooled over the photos and videos of the movement of the bridge.  I did not understand at first how it was going to be placed on the site, but all that preparation made it look easy.  When Don & I get up there for the FWW, that is one of the first places I want to visit.  Keep it up and never stop.

Bernie

20

General Discussion / Re: The "Great War" comes to the WW&F

« on: August 13, 2018, 06:12:01 AM »

Kevin,

I agree with Alain above. 

These re-enactors along with others who attempt to recreate the past (like the WW&F, too) help us to remember what is so easily forgotten.  Since I am a believer in reincarnation.  I believe that these guys' souls have carried this history forward to new bodies so that we can at least be reminded again.  Keep it up.

When I was an engineman on the WK&S I felt very much at home in the cabs of the locomotives.  It was like I was there many times before in previous lives.

Kevin,  (and all who planned, photographed, and participated) this was a fantastic presentation.

Bernie

21

Museum Discussion / Re: Useful Stuff on eBay

« on: July 26, 2018, 03:06:39 PM »

I would venture to say that there are multiple copies of most, if not all of the old black and white photos of the WW&FRy in the Archives room.  I have spent work weekends working in the room, going through binders and writing captions for the photos and have seen most.  The only new photos I saw were of the Kennebec Central which I referred to Jeff, and one or two of the Monson.  The old color photos showing up are another matter.


Bernie

22

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

« on: July 20, 2018, 09:48:43 PM »

It looks like a reasonably good fit.

Bernie

23

Museum Discussion / Re: Useful Stuff on eBay

« on: June 22, 2018, 12:31:15 PM »

I believe that some sellers do not want anyone going through their collections for whatever reasons.  Our local library which is in a repurposed former Lehigh Valley Railroad engine house tried to visit a seller who sold them two original blue prints of the building.  Nothing ever happened.  These blue prints are treasured by the group and they paid a princely sum for them and were willing to pay similarly for any more--no luck.  If there are any more, we will have to wait until the seller decides to put them up for bid.  I keep bugging the friend who found them on Ebay to see if he spotted any more.  The blue prints were framed and are on display in the "Engine House" (as the library is called).  I stare at them every time I visit.


Bernie

24

General Discussion / Re: Wiscasset Station Maine Central/ Knox & Lincoln

« on: June 20, 2018, 08:53:05 AM »

I heard from someone (may have been Peter Barney) that the building still exists and was moved.  Wayne and I tried looking for it, but didn't really find something that even remotely resembles it.  Maybe someone can verify this.

Bernie

25

Work and Events / Re: Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

« on: May 26, 2018, 08:50:29 AM »

I read in an Eric Sloane book that a tree was put at the highest point for "the luck of the building".  I'm glad that someone honored an olde tradition by doing that.  42 years ago I did that when I had our house built.  The builder was unaware of the tradition and was surprised.

Bernie

26

Museum Discussion / Re: Dave Buczkowski TV interview

« on: April 09, 2018, 06:29:01 PM »

Great job Dave.  Your calm and inviting style will attract more people to join the volunteers.  The friendly atmosphere of the railroad is what attracted me.  Even though I only get up there twice a year, I am made to feel at home.

Bernie

27

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

« on: March 10, 2018, 07:11:02 AM »

Thanx Brendan (and Jason and Mike) for posting and reposting these photos.  The shim pattern has to be accurate, and to achieve that I will bring it up during the Spring Work Weekend and actually fit it over the cylinders and modify it on the spot if it needs it.  I will then modify the follow block to the point where it can be used.  Working on curved patterns can be difficult.  I have been working over 1 1/2 years on clamshell door patterns for CNJ 113 (with delays for other projects) where nothing is flat.  At times, things don't work out and have to be junked and started over.  I am currently working on the core boxes and have wasted much time trying to figure them out.

Bernie

28

Volunteers / Re: March 2018 Work Planning

« on: March 07, 2018, 09:38:56 AM »

Did Boothbay get truck castings made?

Bernie

29

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

« on: February 01, 2018, 11:47:33 AM »

John,

This part is strictly for #10.  It is a one-off and the pattern will only be used only once.  #11 will not need this part as the saddle will be properly contoured to fit #11's smoke box.  This making of a pattern for one casting is typical for steam locomotive repair.  The part is important for the repair but only one is needed to keep the choo-choo running.  I have made several patterns and in the middle of making clam shell door patterns for CNJ 113 which will only be used once.

This kind of project would be a good candidate for the 3D sand printing process discussed in earlier posts.  Since I don't do CAD, I still do things the olde way.

Bernie

30

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

« on: January 31, 2018, 11:06:36 PM »

The photo Mike posted is the "follow block" used in the casting process.  It will be used to support the shim pattern.  It will also be used to help assemble the shim pattern.  When a pattern is curved and does not have a flat surface to rest on the follow board, a follow block is used in the initial ramming stage.  The shim pattern sits in the follow block during this stage and when the flask is turned over to ram the second half, the follow block is removed and the second half is rammed up.  Shortly I will show the shim pattern fully assembled.

The new boiler for #10 is a slightly larger diameter than the old one so the saddle shim has two curved surfaces--a smaller radius to rest on the saddle and a larger radius for the smoke box to rest on.

Mike, thanx for posting this as I still haven't learned to post photos.

Bernie