Messages

31

Work and Events / Re: B&SR Box Car 56 - Official Work Thread

« on: November 30, 2020, 12:46:27 AM »

I recall reading the SR&RL had a customer in Strong who raised beef cattle. There was a livestock ramp or chute for loading and unloading stock cars in Strong, but I've never seen any mention of a corresponding one in Farmington so I imagine the animals were just led directly between SG and NG stock cars on the transfer tracks.

32

Museum Discussion / Re: Switch lanterns on high mast switches

« on: October 11, 2020, 02:37:20 PM »

I'm in Granby, CT now, which is pretty close to Chicopee. PM sent.

33

Volunteers / Re: July 2020 Work Reports

« on: July 10, 2020, 07:38:13 PM »

Is the SR&RL Vose railcar still coming?

34

General Discussion / Re: Keith Rucker-Antique Machinery Blog

« on: July 07, 2020, 10:38:43 PM »

I've been a Fred Dibnah fan since about 7 or 8 years ago when I first heard his named mentioned by a friend from the UK. I felt like I was late  arriving to the party even then, since he was apparently a big deal on British television in the 1990s and early 2000s, hosting multiple programs on industrial history and steam power, and had actually been dead since 2004.

Dibnah was famously from Bolton (near Manchester), a town once famous for its cotton mills, and he spoke with a broad Lancashire accent that was a big part of his persona as a colorful working-class everyman from industrial north of England.

For those not familiar with Dibnah,  a good place to start would be the episode of "Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam" on "the transport revolution", i.e. trains:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKpEk9yi6QQ

35

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: The FR's Welsh Pony moves for first time in 80 years

« on: July 01, 2020, 09:55:39 PM »

A more refined version of the Welsh Pony video first streamed on Facebook has now been posted on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHClCRHZaAs

36

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: The FR's Welsh Pony moves for first time in 80 years

« on: July 01, 2020, 06:42:40 PM »

(I assume via one of the appeal envelopes that are distributed on the trains)

Yes, exactly. I thought the envelopes were a pleasingly unobtrusive fundraising strategy, and I'm glad to hear they were so successful. (Photo of one of the envelopes attached.)

37

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: The FR's Welsh Pony moves for first time in 80 years

« on: July 01, 2020, 04:05:51 PM »

This is great news! I've been following the engine's restoration for several years  and was hoping she might be under steam this summer. (Alas, it's three years too late for her 150th birthday [1867], but I hope a celebration of some kind will be held nonetheless.) When Kara and I  visited the FR and WHR in 2017 I left a very small cash donation to the Welsh Pony fund, and it appears to have been money well spent.

38

General Discussion / Re: Understanding locomotive/rolling stock ownership nomenclature

« on: May 08, 2020, 12:04:29 PM »

"Nee" (actually née) is originally from French meaning "born as", used to indicate a woman's maiden name. (Trains are female, after all.)

39

Volunteers / Re: April 2020 Work Reports

« on: April 11, 2020, 02:05:01 PM »

Really nice, Mike.

I picked these up last year in Avon, Me.

I'm surprised they weren't the correct gauge already, coming from SR&RL territory. 

40

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / Re: Arthur Griffin B&H 1940 excursion photos

« on: April 11, 2020, 12:57:36 AM »

I think they may be hangers for curtain rods, which is weird.

The coach appears to be one of the original Laconias, either 15 or 16. Is there any trace of these rings in either car now?

41

US Two Footers / Re: Newest 2-foot steamer

« on: April 03, 2020, 02:40:53 PM »

Alco (Cooke) was also involved in the war effort and built 100 60cm 2-6-2Ts for the British army in 1917.  This was in addition to 495 60cm 4-6-0Ts built by Baldwin for the British in 1916-1917.

The Ffestiniog's 2-6-2T 'Mountaineer' is one of these British army Alcos (C/N 57156).

42

Work and Events / Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread

« on: February 28, 2020, 11:40:15 PM »

We used white oak specifically because it has closed capillaries which do not allow air to leak readily as opposed to red oak, which could leak air readily.

These structures are technically known as tyloses. They're lateral ingrowths of xylem parenchyma (often from the rays) that fill up the conducting vessels over the course of the first growing season after each growth ring is laid down. Tyloses are also why white oak is used for barrels and casks, which are never made from red oak if you want them to hold liquid, and why white oak tends to be more decay resistant than red oak - which is almost certainly the value of tyloses in term of evolution. You will often see old red oak trees with rotten hollow trunks, but white oaks are almost always solid even at hundreds of years old.

Harold, I'm amazed at your craftsmanship. Bravo!

43

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: EBT is SOLD! New non-profit to open RR in 2021

« on: February 18, 2020, 01:47:53 PM »

I also listened to The Roundhouse podcast episode Ed mentions, and Brad Esposito specifically compares the planned arrangement to the C&TS and the Friends of the C&TS, so it's clear that's the model they have in mind.

One difference I suppose is that the FEBT does have a small ownership stake in the form of the Robertsdale depot and several pieces of rolling stock. I'm not sure if the Friends of the C&TS actually own any equipment, but I don't think so.

44

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: EBT is SOLD! New non-profit to open RR in 2021

« on: February 14, 2020, 03:41:50 PM »

This is excellent news, truly the best outcome that could be hoped for. I agree, how the foundation is structured and funded is going to be the key to making it all work. The Kovalchicks have been devoted stewards of the railroad since the 1950s, but the private ownership of the EBT had long been an obstacle to potential donors and collaborating institutions, who were understandably reluctant to throw money at  someone else's private property. Now that the railroad is held by a non-profit foundation I am hopeful that money and resources will begin to flow.

45

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: Building an Empire

« on: February 04, 2020, 09:38:04 PM »

Thanks!