Messages

91

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

« on: October 02, 2017, 07:56:01 PM »

Alex, might I suggest you change the footer slightly as follows:

...in conjunction with (and with generous support from) the National...

Technically the funding is being provided via HAER. It is a grant that the Civil Engineering Department @ CWRU applied for in conjunction with NSPCB. Thus your proposed modification isn't wholly accurate. Additionally you have double the with(s)!

"conjunction" is defined by Webster as: the act or an instance of conjoining :the state of being conjoined :combination
    working in conjunction with state and local authorities

"conjoining" is defined by Webster as:  to join together (things, such as separate entities) for a common purpose

IHMO, this is an accurate reflection of our endeavor with all parties working together for a common purpose. We are conjoining our collective efforts to save the Moose Brook Bridge.

But you'll read more about that as you enjoy the story.... as a wise mentor once said .. "Patience, grasshopper." 

92

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

« on: October 02, 2017, 01:03:12 PM »

Here's the footer text on each of the 12 episodes:

The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington (WW&F) Railway Museum "Narrow Bridge Ahead!" Campaign (https://fundrazr.com/NarrowBridgeAhead) is asking for $50,000 in donations by 31 December 2017 for site preparation and erection of "Moose Brook" bridge to carry the Museum's reconstruction of the two foot, narrow gauge WW&F Railway across Trout Brook in Alna, Maine. The bridge, originally constructed near Gorham, New Hampshire (NH) in 1918 on the Berlin Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad, is a historically-significant example of a Howe Boxed Pony Truss bridge, one of only five surviving examples of such a design. This effort is being performed in conjunction with the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges and the National Park Service, Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) program.

93

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

« on: October 02, 2017, 12:58:47 PM »

On a lighter note, the first episode was originally titled "Mr. Howe and his Truss", but that didn't come out very well when read a second time....   

The story tries to be entertaining to read, with Trout Brook-sized cliff hangers (i.e. small) at the end of each episode. Think of it like an episodic Flash Gordon serial on Facebook coupled with Twitter-based Burma Shave signs. Alas, Ming the Merciless is not included... but we do have an unknown pyromaniac as a convenient villain....   

94

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

« on: October 02, 2017, 12:46:51 PM »

To fully enjoy the story you need to look across the Museum's presence across Social Media: read the Facebook post, look at the pictures on Instagram and read the Tweets on Twitter.  It is an integrated Social Media marketing campaign.

A lot of effort has been put in by a bunch of people to try something new and modern. What we need is everyone to spread the word through Social Media and have everyone read and contribute to the campaign! We are trying to reach out to people who the Museum normally does not reach.

Even the "big boys of narrow gauge" - C&T, D&S or Tweetsie aren't doing integrated, cross-platform social media campaigns like this. Extra special thanks to the BoD for agreeing to the proposal.

Like Ed said, we thank our partners profusely in each and every episode. They feature highly in the latter episodes.

95

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

« on: October 02, 2017, 12:20:25 PM »

There are 12 parts to the story, it's not a stand alone post. Today was an intro to the whole concept of the story.

Trust me, there's lots of good credit throughout for everyone helping the Museum, but please, let the story unfold. Don't be the person who jumps to the back of the book.

I will tip my hand with the episode titles so everyone can see what is ahead...

1.   Mr. Howe and his Truss Bridges
2.   Not all Covered Bridges are Fully Covered
3.   The Tale of Mason’s Wreck
4.   B&M Railroad Builds a Bridge
5.   Weak, Wobbly & Frail
6.   Trail of the Presidents
7.   One Man’s Vision of Restoration
8.   Burning Your Bridges
9.   Head Tide or Bust!
10.   Phoenix from the Ashes?
11.   Westward Ho! …Without the Duke
12.   Return of the Bridge 

96

Museum Discussion / Re: WW&F YouTube Channel

« on: October 01, 2017, 07:57:20 PM »

We are up to 61, almost 2/3 of the way.

97

Museum Discussion / Re: WW&F YouTube Channel

« on: October 01, 2017, 07:01:39 PM »

You are now up to 43 subscribers.  I put out a plea on the J&L Narrow Gauge Facebook group. 

Thanks Rick, that is exactly what we need to do.
How about out 2' rail friends in Wales and England?

98

Museum Discussion / Re: WW&F YouTube Channel

« on: October 01, 2017, 03:07:29 PM »

You should be able to quickly get to 100 Youtube subscribers and beyond.  When I started work on the J&L 58 I began posting videos and my subscriptions jumped from around 700 to over 2,000 in a short while.  The videos you have already created is right up the same alley as what the people who watch my stuff wants to see. 

www.youtube.com/todengine

Agreed, and there are lots of really good videos included in the channel. It's just a matter of putting a little focus on it and blegging.

99

Museum Discussion / Re: WW&F YouTube Channel

« on: October 01, 2017, 07:13:38 AM »

Unfortunately anything that happens with less than 500 spectators is not news worthy in Maine.

Watch the Museum's social media accounts today. Something different is going to be attempted to help the outreach to expand beyond the normal group of followers. This effort is something that us away folks can do to help significantly by continuing to spread the word on ALL social media platforms. Don't just do it once, but do it regularly and be courteous. Retweet, Like, Friend, Post, Pin, etc.

Do it enough, involve enough other people, and more people start to notice   

For example ... in order to get a short link on the Museum's YouTube Channel we need 100 people to subscribe. Having a short link will make it easier to spread the word since it is easier to remember a common simple phrase - WWFRailway.

Now you have to remember something like this ...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1sLZdj1sNSEZ49axjknMQ

We need to get to something like this  ...
youtube.com/WWFRailway   

We currently have 25 subscribers on the YouTube channel, we need 75 more so we can get the short name and more visibility. Please go out and contact everyone you know on all social media platforms and ask them politely to subscribe to the Museum on all social media platforms.

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/WWFRailway

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Wiscasset-Waterville-and-Farmington-Railway-Museum-147279126870/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1sLZdj1sNSEZ49axjknMQ

100

Work and Events / Re: Moonlight Extra Train celebrating the Apple Harvest, September 30, 6pm

« on: September 27, 2017, 03:39:25 PM »

It's from Peppa Pig ....

101

Work and Events / Re: Moonlight Extra Train celebrating the Apple Harvest, September 30, 6pm

« on: September 27, 2017, 12:40:47 PM »

RE Robert's question:  Potatoes!!  Potatoes were a big commodity on the WW&F.  There were large potato houses at points along the line.

We could easily create a "Potato Night" similar to the apple event this weekend.

Remember that potatoes are still one of the major agricultural products of Maine, and help drive Maine's economy.

I'm sure we find similar kinds of event support from the Maine potato industry...

Interesting. BTW what is the growing season for potatoes? It is a bulk agricultural product that lends it's self to rail transport in rural areas. Potato night with French fries and potato pancakes!!

Here's my 4 year old's thought on the concept of "Potato Night" when I mentioned it to her...

102

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: Fish Hatchery in Head Tide / New Milford

« on: September 27, 2017, 12:33:29 PM »

So the answer to my original question seems to be No, since the railroad didn't happen until 30-ish years later. It's still rather fascinating.

It might be a fun thing to have an event or exhibit about. Couple it with a Fish Fry....

103

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: Fish Hatchery in Head Tide / New Milford

« on: September 27, 2017, 11:33:02 AM »

The info seems to be coming from a few places, the main source seems to be "a Brief History of Old Alna" written by Nell Walker in 1970.

http://www.worldcat.org/title/brief-history-of-old-alna-1970/oclc/666494082

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES AND GAME FOR THE STATE OF MAINE FOR THE YEAR 1898
http://www.penbay.org/ifg/ifg_1898.html

Progress in fish culture was delayed by the Civil War, but upon the return of peace the matter received an impetus, largely through Mr. Greene's exertions and private hatcheries and fish preserves multiplied in all the states, and are still increasing in number. Soon the state governments took it up and State Fish Commissions were formed for the encouragement of this industry and the protection of the fisheries, both inland and upon the coast.

New Hampshire has the honor of having taken the lead, founding her fish commission in 1864, during the latter part of the war.

This commission made the first attempt, in 1866, of breeding salmon in the country for re-stocking the rivers, and also made-the first public appropriation toward that end.

Massachusetts and Vermont were the first states to follow the example, and created fish commissions in 1865.

Connecticut and Pennsylvania came next in 1866, and our own State, Maine, in 1867.

The first attempt in 1867 seems to have been with a David Pottle in Alna.

https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/1428/page/2092/display?use_mmn=

Charles G. Atkins, along with Nathan W. Foster, became Maine's Commissioners of Fisheries in 1867. They researched fish propagation and began collecting eggs from landlocked salmon and working to fertilize and hatch them. David Pottle of Alna fed and reared most of the eggs the commissioners collected.

Atkins successfully used the dry method of egg gathering, fertilizing close to 100 percent of the eggs he gathered.

104

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Fish Hatchery in Head Tide / New Milford

« on: September 26, 2017, 12:05:32 PM »

I've been reading that the first fish hatchery in Maine was at Head Tide / New Milford. Did it get served by the railway?

105

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

« on: September 26, 2017, 07:27:55 AM »

So, what are we looking at. I took the liberty to outline my photos.
Both pictures show the known bank and grade, outlined in yellow.
Red shows approximate railroad center line. Pink arrow indicates where I found tie impressions to support my theory.

And speaking of theory, I believe this happened at the same time the washout we just intalled the large culvert in occured. This would have been in 1938 during the New England Hurricane, or 1944 during the Great Atlantic Hurricane.

For those interested in the background ....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_New_England_hurricane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944_Great_Atlantic_hurricane

So that must mean the loggers built a bypass on the right side of the first photo.

Might another possibility be that the roadbed is on the right of the first photo and the next event, Donna in 1960, caused the washout? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Donna.