Messages

571

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad / Re: Monson #3 status at Phillips

« on: July 21, 2014, 07:13:57 AM »

I was in Phillips on Sunday and talked a bit with Bob Troup. He said they have made a proposal to the MNG to purchase Monson 3 outright, the logic being that they have already invested ~$120,000 in the engine while MNG values her at only $90,000. It's unclear to me how this idea will be received by MNG, but all further work has been put on hold pending the outcome of negotiations.

Whatever happens, they are still in desperate need of money.

572

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / Re: Vandalism

« on: July 14, 2014, 10:23:53 PM »

At least it doesn't sound like they set any cars on fire. That's how Edaville lost B&SR coach 17 (the 'Elthea') back in 1985 I think -- teenage arsonists.

I'm hoping the move to Gray will mean better protection for the rolling stock, from weather and vandalism both.

-Philip Marshall

573

Volunteers / Re: A few stories ...

« on: July 13, 2014, 10:01:47 PM »

Hi Dwight,

I have the January 1943 issue of Railroad Magazine in my own collection. I just pulled it off the shelf and sure enough, at the bottom of page 11 in the "Setouts and Pickups" section is the following letter:

"Four generations employed at the same station -- who can tie that one? My great-grandfather began work in the Maine Central depot here in Augusta when it belonged to the old Portland & Kennebec. Later, Grandpa spent many years in the office here; my father is now a clerk, and I was recently hired, at age 16 as a spare man in the baggage room. Am now 17, which I believe makes me one of the youngest railroad employees in the country. -- ELLIS WALKER, JR., 271/2 Crosby St., Augusta, Maine."

-Philip Marshall

574

General Discussion / Re: World status of two-foot gauge Baldwin(ish) locomotives

« on: July 05, 2014, 04:38:18 PM »

The Moelwyn name is also something of an Anglo-Welsh pun on Baldwin. It's the name of a local mountain, but in Welsh 'wyn' means bald.

How funny! The Welsh tend to have a very playful sense of humor.

I think it's the "moel" part that means bald, however. My mother's maiden name was Moylan, which in Irish Gaelic (a language closely related to Welsh) also means bald.

-Philip Marshall

575

Work and Events / Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread

« on: June 28, 2014, 09:42:59 PM »

The flat cars have their brake wheels at opposite ends so the excavator was loaded on flat 126 and then backed onto flat 118 in the yard.

So that explains it! I had been wondering why it was loaded onto 126 and then moved north on 118, and now it all makes sense.

576

Volunteers / Re: June 2014 Work Planning

« on: June 22, 2014, 12:39:26 AM »

I'm assuming the Masons made this trip without a bridge collapsing beneath the train?

I was thinking the same thing! 

577

Massachusetts' Two Footers / Re: Edaville will build a new "Thomas Land" amusement park.

« on: June 16, 2014, 03:24:13 PM »

Oh that's a relief to hear! Boothbay will take good care of her.

578

Massachusetts' Two Footers / Re: Edaville will build a new "Thomas Land" amusement park.

« on: June 16, 2014, 12:24:59 PM »

Is there any genuine Maine two-foot equipment left at Edaville? The SR&RL group's "away roster" page lists SR&RL coach 21 (ex F&M 2) as being still at Edaville, but their site isn't updated very often so I'm hoping this is old information. I haven't been back there myself in over 20 years.

-Philip

579

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

« on: June 06, 2014, 09:55:21 PM »

Thank you, Stewart. The Facebook page is looking good. I enjoy seeing all the photo updates, both old and new.

-Philip

580

Museum Discussion / Re: The Trout (Carlton) Brook Bridge

« on: May 30, 2014, 08:46:56 PM »

Thanks, Mike. Either way, it sounds like it's going to be quite a project!

-Philip

581

Museum Discussion / Re: The Trout (Carlton) Brook Bridge

« on: May 30, 2014, 02:55:23 PM »

I haven't seen John's piece in the newsletter yet, but is the plan for the new bridge that it be a replica of the original bridge?

-Philip Marshall

582

Museum Discussion / Re: The Trout (Carlton) Brook Bridge

« on: May 30, 2014, 02:23:09 AM »

Moody makes several references to a postcard view of the "Masons' Wreck" that was printed in Germany and supposedly widely distributed, but I don't believe I've ever seen this picture (unless of course it's one of the photos on pages 96-97 of Two Feet to Tidewater). Perhaps this could shed additional light both on the design of the trestle and the mode of the derailment? At any rate, the bridge was supposed to have been repaired relatively quickly, so how badly was the structure actually damaged?

-Philip Marshall

583

General Discussion / Re: Gravity Switching - A Grave Mistake

« on: May 13, 2014, 02:00:32 AM »

In addition to the B&SR, the SR&RL also appears to have employed "flying switch" movements on occasion. The "Sandy River Line" DVD of 1930s film footage by Newell Martin, which is sold by the SR&RL group up in Phillips, includes a short but amazing sequence in which SR&RL #18 (if I remember correctly) is moving northbound into Phillips yard with combine #11, and the engine pulls away into the roundhouse lead while the combine continues up the main by inertia and is brought to a stop in front of the Phillips station with just handbrakes, all in a single continuous movement. However, this was all done on level ground and so is quite different from "gravity braking".

One of the more dramatic historical examples of the "flying switch" I've heard about was on the Long Island RR in the early 1900s, in which eastbound express trains from New York City to resort towns on eastern Long Island in the summer season would be split into two sections in Manorville, NY (which is about 15 miles from my home): the engine and the front half of the consist would continue on the main line to Greenport, NY without stopping, while the rear half would take the line to Montauk, NY and couple onto a second engine that was already accelerating away from the junction! This was all supposed to be done at speed and in such a manner that the passengers were unaware of what had occurred. Not safe at all, but I'm sure it must have been amazing to witness.

-Philip Marshall

584

Work and Events / Re: Top Of The Mountain Siding - Official Work Thread

« on: May 11, 2014, 04:47:29 PM »

Thank you Mike for the map and Brendan for the photos. They're really helpful for those of us "from away" who haven't been up to Top of the Mountain in person yet.

585

Museum Discussion / Re: Van transport needed

« on: May 10, 2014, 04:18:27 PM »

Beautiful work. Is it On2?