Messages

16

Museum Discussion / Re: Sources for period clothing?

« on: August 06, 2024, 01:46:25 PM »

I know this topic has been "dead" for two years or so, but which books best show what was worn on the WW&F, or 2-footers in general? I've skimmed through Bob Jones' full catalog of "Two Feet" books for relevant pictures, which has helped some. I've also gone through a lot of the sites here (and ordered/worn clothing from Historical Emporium at the railroad) but I'm just not satisfied with how little I "feel" the part in terms of garb.

17

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: July 31, 2024, 06:03:17 PM »

Oh weird, so I wasn't reading the spec sheet wrong! It's also interesting because as far as I'm aware (through videos by early railway historian Anthony Dawson), Planet of 1830 *did* have a gauge glass when constructed. Thanks for the insight!

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Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 11 - Official Work Thread

« on: July 31, 2024, 02:44:03 PM »

I was just reading through the Baldwin spec sheet for WW&F 7 and noticed something peculiar, it states the engine had no water gauge glass! Same thing with the Kennebec Central #1. This couldn't have been true, right? If it is, then was one ever added to either engine?

19

Work and Events / Re: So. African Hoppers 2806 and 2807 - Official Work Thread

« on: July 09, 2024, 01:05:39 PM »

What does the schedule look like for their pickup from Edaville, if there is one at present?

20

Monson Railroad / Monson 3 and 4's Throttles

« on: July 03, 2024, 01:44:04 PM »

Reading through older newsletters (specifically for the 2-foot Musings by Ellis Walker) he brings up Monson 3 and 4's throttles and that when they arrived to Edaville they had quote "simple screw-type steam heat radiator valves, in place of conventional throttles." From the March/April 2015 edition of the newsletter. He also mentions lack of proof for this being the case.

I guess my question boils down to if this was *likely* to have been the case. Were other Vulcan engines built with this arrangement, or was this just rumor rooted in pure myth? Could it have also been a temporary addition when the engines were first restored to run at Edaville? Is there any evidence to this being the case on either engine?

21

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)

« on: July 03, 2024, 01:35:59 PM »

Wouldn't it have been Josiah Maxcy (or is it Maxcey?). He was an official of both the KC and the SR&RL

22

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: The term "Lilliput"?

« on: June 26, 2024, 08:25:58 AM »

So this brings me to a "chicken and egg" sort of situation. It seems Lilliput refers to something small and diminutive in size, but how could the editor of the Wiscasset Lilliputian have known that the W&F was going to be a two-footer? Did he see the Sandy River being established just a couple of years before and say "Goodness, this would be perfect for Wiscasset!" Would that make him one of the earliest supporters of the two-foot gauge at Wiscasset? And going off that, did Moody take the term from the newspaper, did he come up with it on his own, or was it a commonly used term for the two-footers back then?

I'd wager a guess and say Moody took it from Gulliver's Travels directly, if not from other sources. In the book the Lilliputians are small in size.

It's been a while since I've read Two Feet to Tidewater, but was the Wiscasset Lilliputian published by the Wiscasset railroad promoters or was it just a local paper? It might not be more than a case of coincidence that a local newspaper decided to borrow the same name that Moody would sixty-seventy years later.

According to Google Ngrams viewer the word "lilliput" and it's different forms were fairly common in literature in those days. https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=26&smoothing=7&case_insensitive=on&content=lilliputian . The word also has entries in a few dictionaries where the meaning boils down to "small" or "miniature."

23

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: "WW&F to acquire amfleet cars"

« on: June 12, 2024, 12:58:44 PM »

Would be an engineman's nightmare though

24

Work and Events / Re: Sheepscot Passenger Platform Reconstruction - Official Work Thread

« on: June 06, 2024, 12:47:06 PM »

How will operations look when the handicap access at the station itself is completed and in effect? Will coach/combine 8 be spotted so the baggage doors are at the handicap access point every time? Would it make the most sense to have 8 at the north end of every train when that time comes?

25

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: Lawsuit against the FS&K in November 1898

« on: May 28, 2024, 01:50:05 PM »

Wow! I've seen the photo of the small trestle in black and white (I think it was in Two Feet to Tidewater), but I didn't think there would be a color version out there!

26

Work and Events / Re: Eames Train Brakes - Official Work Thread

« on: April 29, 2024, 03:00:00 PM »

A huge shoutout goes to Dom Nesta and Nick Anderson who have been able to go above and beyond in planning and executing the planning for the vacuum plumbing. Both of them, aided by Chris Belbin measured each car we plan to fit with vacuum, and Dom really took charge cutting down, reaming and threading a long section of piping into a load of 2ft sections for the brake pipe stands. All four of us together got it down to a process on Saturday evening.

We now have most of what we need for Coach 3 to get the plumbing fitted, we're "just" missing hangers and the conductor stands that will sit on each end of the car. If we're able to keep progressing at this rate Coach 3 should be able to be tested by mid-summer, if not even sooner

27

Work and Events / Re: Sheepscot Passenger Platform Reconstruction - Official Work Thread

« on: April 19, 2024, 01:43:49 PM »

One problem I can think of is possible shrinkage as it's called in the industry. As it is right now all giftshop customers have to pass by the counter on their way out, making it easier for the gift shop crew to see any activity going on. If an alternate exit was put in then people could pick something up and wander out without second thought, and the gift shop volunteers might not catch it as easily, since a customer can completely avoid the counter. One remedy to this would be to have an entrance *only* on the north side of the building and essentially make the gift shop traffic one way, so everyone exits by moving past the counter.

28

Volunteers / Re: 2024 Training News

« on: April 19, 2024, 07:50:31 AM »

About what time will the rules class start, Pete?

29

Work and Events / Re: Eames Train Brakes - Official Work Thread

« on: March 30, 2024, 06:57:28 PM »

Today there was a work session on the vacuum brakes, primarily consisting of myself, Dom Nesta, Nick Anderson and Chris Belbin with guidance from Jason.

What we did was build a brake pipe connector, using components previously made. Using a previously built brake pipe connector we were able to test which height their brackets should be, relative to the height of the main pipe. On top of this we were able to test orientation, hose length and at which angle the hoses should bend, coming from the top of the pipe. What we found was that with a U bend from the top, and at a slight angle (pivoting along the center of the main pipe) we were able to have the hoses match up nicely, while retaining their abilities to easily disconnect should a train uncouple. On other vacuum systems the hoses come out at 135d, but attempting that angle we found that the hoses we have are too long.

Another part of the project we accomplished was measuring sections of pipe which will be used for Coach 3's vacuum piping. These pipes are 21' long, and using about one and a third of those pipes we got it lined up how we needed for Coach 3, leaving space on both north and south sides for two tees. One tee will be used to lead to the reservoir on each truck. The other will be used for the "conductor's module." The conductor's module will give gauge readouts for reservoir pressure and train pipe pressure per truck, as well as an emergency brake valve. These will all be on the outside of the cars, and mounted high enough as to not interfere with the historic look of our cars without the utmost scrutiny.

We are all planning to get together again for at least one day of the SWW if anyone would like to tag along. Right now the focus is most likely going to be on making the brake hose stands. All in all we will need 13, while it might seem unlucky at first it's due to needing six pairs and one for engine 9's rear tank.

30

Volunteers / Re: Volunteering at the WW&F

« on: March 15, 2024, 09:31:28 PM »

What keeps me coming back is the constant upwards trajectory, but being able to move at my own speed. I'm never stuck to one crew or part of the WW&F operation, and when I do devote time to one facet of the railroad I'm able to progress and continually move forward and upwards to greater things.