Messages

331

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: Mapping the W&Q and the WW&F

« on: March 28, 2018, 03:01:48 PM »

When you pop open the map, there should be a legend on the left side that shows each section with some colors. In case there isn't, here's a brief description of the colors you're interested in:

Burnham Extension is largely white, plus a few small sections of different colors around the Belfast and Moosehead Lake RR crossing that show the various alignments that were proposed.

The bottom-most red piece indicates the Wiscasset yard/shop/wharf area.

The rest of the red pieces indicate the "as-surveyed" alignment, in places where it deviates from the "as-built" alignment:

While working on the Wiscasset to Weeks Mills segment I noticed that there were a couple of locations where the survey and the as-built was off more than it normally is, these deviations in the survey were added as a separate layer to the map to show how the original survey had the line laid out and how it was actually built.

1.)  Probably the best known was the route around the Head Tide Church.  This included a compound 5 to 3 degree curve south of the church.
2.)  The mud flats at Wiscasset.
3.)  North Whitefield.  The topography tells a different story than the simple tangent in the survey.

Nothing on this map indicates the current status of the ROW regarding ownership, integrity, etc.

HTH

332

General Discussion / Re: PRESERVATION EMERGENCY - 4-6-0 About to be SCRAPPED in TX!

« on: March 07, 2018, 01:26:16 PM »

The sentiment is oddly reminiscent of the collapse of US passenger rail in the 1960's. I remember one particularly cynical individual's take on the matter: We Americans view our train stations like we view our churches (and some other institution I can't quite remember): We rarely make use of them while they're around, but God help the man who tries to take them away from us.

333

Museum Discussion / Re: #9 max steam pressure

« on: March 06, 2018, 03:48:37 PM »

I suppose it could be done, but I suspect the economics of it are a big reason it's not done. I found a resource addressing the exact question of EN-plating a firetube boiler which indicated that electroplating "in-situ", especially for such a mechanically intricate piece as a boiler, would be prohibitively costly due to the complexity of bringing the process to the workpiece, and ensuring thorough coverage. Galvanic corrosion may also be a factor, or it may place additional restrictions on the water supply.

334

Museum Discussion / Re: Engine house

« on: February 28, 2018, 02:15:49 PM »

Alain,

Not a pun. A "smoke jack" is a funnel installed in the roof of the engine house to evacuate the engine exhaust gases from a hot or overnight-banked engine, to avoid filling the roundhouse with smoke and other combustion by-products.

I'm trying to find a picture, but apparently there's this BBQ joint named Smokejack that keeps polluting my Google search results...stay tuned.

While not the ceramic type Dave is referring to, these are pre-cast reinforced concrete type smokejacks from a Lehigh Valley RR Roundhouse in Ashmore, PA.
http://www.anthraciterailroads.org/lvrr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Ashmore-Roundhouse.jpg

Concrete usage in this area was disproportionately high due to the large Portland cement industry in the Lehigh Valley. This may explain the usage of concrete for such a mundane appliance as a smoke jack. Sheet-metal would be a more typical (and usually more cost-effective) material.

335

General Discussion / Re: PRESERVATION EMERGENCY - 4-6-0 About to be SCRAPPED in TX!

« on: February 20, 2018, 11:59:48 AM »

Echoing the thanks of others for sharing this here, specifically. My rounds on other social media are infrequent enough that I would have missed this entirely through those channels alone.

Donation made, situation shared via FB, now awaiting the outcome with baited breath.

336

General Discussion / Re: Who Am I? or, Let's Introduce Ourselves

« on: February 02, 2018, 10:20:23 AM »

About 4 years ago, I stumbled upon the WW&F completely by accident, by way of my wife, who lovingly refers to the museum as "the little train". She is the granddaughter of Ken Chaney, of Golden Ridge (which, for those who are not local, is just across Rte. 218 from the museum.) Whenever we visit her family, we are able to hear the whistle from the living room when the windows are open. I try to stop in and ride when I can; my only regret is that my visits cannot be more regular.

I grew up in Western PA, and now live in Eastern PA, where I work in the semiconductor industry. I have been a railfan my whole life: the constant refrain of my early Christmases with Lionel trains under the tree was, "Someday play choo-choo train." I don't "play choo-choo trains" so much anymore, being in the throes of Toddler-dom with our first child and another on the way. Perhaps in a few more years I will hear the same hopeful lament from my own children.

I want to offer these words of encouragement: It is refreshing to see a group with both the skills and the humble dedication to make something like this "work"; who, when asked, "How is it that you have built something so excellent?" would answer, "We could not imagine it another way." To that end I have decided to become a Life member; it's the least I can do given the 400 miles that separate Easton and Alna. Perhaps someday I will make it for a Work Weekend and offer my two hands as well.

Best Regards,
Ben Richards