Messages

136

General Discussion / Re: Tie Laying

« on: December 09, 2021, 10:39:41 PM »

Speaking of handles: my father broke the handle on his woodsplitting maul once too many, and resolved to fix it for good. He wanted a steel tube handle, but all the fabricators had at his office was solid bar stock. So he is now the proud owner of what is possibly the world's only solid-steel-handled woodsplitting maul. 8-pound head and 8-pound handle.

137

Museum Discussion / Re: Signage at Trout Brook and Elsewhere

« on: December 05, 2021, 07:03:58 PM »

<Deleted post from Coach 9 thread and moved here>

I made that sign at the suggestion of Ed. It's fairly small on purpose, so as not to detract from the general atmosphere. There are similar signs near the donation boxes. There's one in the car barn, and (should be) one hanging on the engine house info board.

These currently all point to the same page: wwfry.org/donate but as Graham pointed out, there is some fairly trivial back-end web server voodoo that can be used to gather metrics on traffic.

If someone has another idea about where to put one, or if you want one that points to a different page, I can easily knock another one together. 21 Campaign springs to mind; once that project occupies a well-defined physical location in the shop, it should have a sign leading directly to the 21 Campaign site.

138

General Discussion / Re: Tie Laying

« on: December 01, 2021, 02:43:38 PM »

It's true that safety regulations can be obstructive and even ridiculous, especially when concocted by bureaucrats far-removed from the occupation itself. Many are designed to protect the financial and legal liabilities of employers/manufacturers primarily, and the well being of employees/users only secondarily.

On the other hand, I voluntarily don PPE (earplugs especially) for tasks many folks would scoff at.

So I guess it comes down to your risk tolerance. Life by definition is risky.

139

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

« on: November 25, 2021, 08:45:28 AM »

Treat tools like they were your own.

Agree with the sentiment. The snag is that some people do treat their own tools by just leaving them around. I'm guilty of it myself. But what is sufficient for me in my personal garage isn't necessarily sufficient for a community space. There needs to be a higher standard, explicitly stated.

140

Two Footers outside of the US / Re: Lorenbahn

« on: November 18, 2021, 09:53:17 PM »

That is so funny...this video was recommended to me by The Algorithm earlier this evening. Imagine my surprise when I check the forum and see it here.

Then again maybe I shouldn't be so surprised... We are all certainly a type around here 

141

Volunteers / Re: November 2021 Work Reports

« on: November 02, 2021, 03:28:55 PM »

Also on Tuesday 11/2 is a large K-8 school group.

What a joy to have these kids visit today. They were all so happy and well-behaved. The younger ones in the open car sang very loudly the whole way back from ToM to SS.

142

Volunteers / Re: MANAGER NEEDED FOR ONGOING ISSUE...

« on: October 21, 2021, 08:09:28 AM »

I for one rather enjoy pipe music.  I might even be persuaded to scratch up a side drum somewhere. Then we'd have a REAL show.

143

Volunteers / Re: October 2021 Work Reports

« on: October 17, 2021, 07:04:16 PM »

That Ford is a nice machine. Small, yes, but tough as nails. As James observed, "it just wants to run." Basically an 8N with overhead valves and live hydraulics. Would sure look nice pulling the hay wagons at Sea Lyon...somehow a Kubota with a bucket doesn't quite do it for me.

144

Work and Events / Re: Casey the Bulldozer - Official Work Thread

« on: October 14, 2021, 12:33:16 PM »

Not to get too far off-topic, but our wheel loader is a real gem too. Once customers experienced the agility of an articulated loader in the 1960's, the rigid-frame concept was not long for this world.

145

Volunteers / Re: MANAGER NEEDED FOR ONGOING ISSUE...

« on: October 11, 2021, 10:29:28 AM »

Parking lot looked good on Saturday with the chalk lines. I didn't see anyone on the road.

146

General Discussion / Re: discussion forum pages

« on: October 11, 2021, 07:15:50 AM »

I was getting this a while back, but now http redirects to https automatically.

Which are you seeing in the address?

147

Museum Discussion / Re: Movie about #9: "The Nine Lives of #9"

« on: October 01, 2021, 09:08:37 AM »

Just watched it. What a nice piece. What struck me most was the fellow from the Army Corps, actually. I got the sense that he was somewhat conflicted in his experience of it, and the role of the Corps in general. He seemed to be still processing everything in his mind, even while the interview was being conducted.

148

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

« on: September 27, 2021, 01:24:04 PM »

We are not going to be able to screen this area, it will likely create a traffic problem during operation. Last week while spiking down the turntable ring rail we had a southbound motorist stop in the middle of the road east of the table location get out and come around to the front of his car and yell over asking what we were building. That was for 4 vehicles and 6 guys, now imagine a steam engine on the table and a train sitting on the passing track. This will not be screen able but will likely create traffic issues in this area.

I think the worry of traffic snarls is unfounded. For 2019, Maine DOT daily traffic counts for Route 218 are 1,150 south of Dock Rd, and 1,040 north of W Alna Rd. No value for that section of 218 specifically, but we can extrapolate. Let's assume the worst: A slightly higher traffic count of 1200, and everyone travels in the compressed 12-hour span from 0600 to 1800. The math conveniently comes out to 100 cars per hour, or a little less than one car per minute each direction. Surely "one car per minute" can contend with a temporary obstruction.

As far as being a "distraction" or a "hazard" or a "curiosity": interesting stuff is happening literally all the time, everywhere. And people will gawk at it. Exhibit A: Me myself and I, Gawker-in-Chief. Just ask my wife If someone, like the gentleman described above, makes poor decisions regarding where to park his vehicle in relation to a public road, that is, quite frankly, not our problem. To be sure, there are instances where folks use their property in a manner which "disturbs the peace". I do not believe a properly-operated tourist railroad such as WW&F disturbs the peace.

149

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

« on: September 27, 2021, 08:26:49 AM »

I do wonder what problem we're trying to solve with the fence/screen/gate/hedge/&c. Is it unwanted vehicular access? Accidental trail parking? Generally nebby people? The abutting land on both sides is owned by Mid-Coast Conservancy, who maintain the property and deliberately invite people to visit this particular area. One of the trails runs concurrent with the RoW all the way from 218 to Trout Brook.

150

Museum Discussion / Re: LGB/Marklin Releases Model of #9

« on: September 17, 2021, 04:32:16 PM »

unlike rest of the scales

There's plenty of blame to go around. I have a Minitrix (N scale) PRR Decapod which is in fact their German-pattern 2-10-0 chassis, with a K4 boiler shell slapped on. The cylinders on the shell don't even line up with the side rods.

And then they took the same physical loco and painted it for AT&SF as well.