Messages

286

Museum Discussion / Re: Coal Dust to Coal Bricks

« on: June 20, 2009, 01:16:05 PM »

Has anyone tried to make a batch of coal bricks?  I am wondering if it works and is worth the effort.


Formula: 6 parts coal dust, 1 part saw dust (optional), 1/4 part cement.  Add enough water to make crumbly mix.  Pack in form, then unform and set aside to dry.

287

Museum Discussion / Re: Distance to Museum

« on: June 18, 2009, 08:16:32 PM »

According to MapQuest, its about 68 miles.  About 1 1/2 hours driving time.  Come on down and ride the WW&F Ry.

288

Museum Discussion / Re: WW&F Museum Receives Conservation Bookshelf (Grant for materals)

« on: June 17, 2009, 10:11:23 PM »

Sounds great.  We certainly need to protect and preserve our collection(s).  I've read IMLS goals and whatnot on their web site, also watched their video.  But, what actually will it mean to our museum and its collection(s). We have everything from simple paper tickets to historic railroad equipment.  Will we, with their aid, build a proper repository for the "paper" collection(s)?  Will they help with building a roundhouse and car storage barn that will be at least fire proof and weather resistant?  I am sure that our Board of Directors and a "Preservation" Committee will a have a lot planing to do in order maximize the preservation of the museum's collection for the future generations.    Maybe they mean to give us a high speed internet connection and a proper scanner to scan and transfer our "paper" collection to a "Great Archive of the Nation's Treasures".  It will being interesting to follow the progress.  I only fear grantor oversight of the "materials" provided through this grant.  Just watch out for the strings!

289

Two Footers outside of the US / Perus-Pirapora Railroad Brazil

« on: June 13, 2009, 07:02:31 PM »

Perus-Pirapora Railroad in Brazil was a 60 cm. cement hauler.  They had several Baldwins.  Several engines survive but owner has no interest in preservation.  Unofficial page has some interesting photos of engines and rolling stock, note the #13 crane.

Link   http://www.geocities.com/perus_pirapora/

290

Museum Discussion / Coal Dust to Coal Bricks

« on: June 06, 2009, 06:42:47 AM »

I noticed that when we screen our coal, that we have lots of left over coal dust and fines. I figured there must be a way to recover this dust and make it useful.  Well, I found at least one to do it.  Its a YouTube video from the UK.  Very simple to do.

http://uk.truveo.com/coal-dust-brick-manufacturing/id/1349593221

I know the Swiss use pressed coal blocks.  You give the fireman a three-pound hammer and schzaam, coal sized for firing.  They just stack the blocks in the coal bunker.  Small bricks will do us just great.  Smaller hammer needed (LOL).

291

Museum Discussion / Re: Prebles at MHV

« on: May 10, 2009, 04:23:27 PM »

Fantastic job Steve and all whom had a hand in the project.  This should help bring in the traffic and hopefully new members.  Now we need to do a scale up of Prebles Station into a "Comfort Station" at Sheepscot for all of our guests.

292

Museum Discussion / Sawmill/Sheepscot Mills

« on: May 10, 2009, 11:44:28 AM »

A few flat cars of marketable trees would offset some expenses.  Think of our saw mill, in the future.

293

Two Footers outside of the US / Re: Changing U.S./Cuba Relations - Possible Future Trips?

« on: May 10, 2009, 11:39:57 AM »

Think "Parts" for other projects and for spares.  Trucks, couplers, injectors, lubricators, brake rigging, air pumps, etc. etc.

294

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Titfield Thunderbolt

« on: May 07, 2009, 08:13:43 PM »

The dual from the Titfield Thunderbolt.  The funniest train movie ever made.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45jw2G4bfhk

295

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: The Coffee Pot

« on: April 30, 2009, 05:34:23 AM »

Ok, One of you guys could have some fun with Photo Shop.  Take #10 remove tank and stretch the frame.  Modify a coach section and add to new long frame.  Put a flat water tank under coach section.  Put a small coal box on front of coach section.  Thus you have a steam power "Maine Tea Pot" (LOL).  Or, just take a Henschel tank engine and add a coach section.  The big roads did it and called them inspection engines, a coach section on the boiler.

296

Museum Discussion / Re: April 2009 Work Weekend Progress

« on: April 28, 2009, 06:35:06 AM »

James, steam powered air compressors are called air pumps (LOL).  The Burlington Route (C.B.& Q.) had a R-Class Engine, 2-6-2, No. 2222 that had two extra compound air pumps mounted on the front of the smoke box.  They used it for work trains right up to the end of steam service.  Really needed for air dump cars they used in ditcher service.  I am sure other roads had an arrangement similar.  Of course back then tamping was Armstrong Powered.  Railroads used a lot air power in shops and roundhouses most supplied steam driven compressors.

297

Volunteers / Re: April 2009 Work Weekend - Volunteer Notes

« on: April 22, 2009, 03:06:42 PM »

Where is the Ship's Chow Hall located?  We usually stay at Moody's, however this time we are staying in Wiscasset.  Don't really know the area.

298

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: WWI Trench Railway film

« on: April 16, 2009, 05:13:16 PM »

My father served in France in 1918 and always talked about the "little trains".  He had three years on the Q (CB&Q) as a brakeman before being drafted'  He was one to those artilleryman using those shells hauled by the little trains. As an aside, my brother wound up as a brakeman in Italy when WWII ended.  He had served in the same division as Julius did.

299

Museum Discussion / Marker Light

« on: April 15, 2009, 06:14:50 PM »

While not work, can we use another marker light?  I have a near mint marker light that matches ours.  I'll bring it along to donate, if wanted.

300

Museum Discussion / Re: Snow removal

« on: April 15, 2009, 06:10:56 PM »

If #10's center of gravity is forward of firebox and aft of the last driver. then #10 could jacked up and "spun".  There are pancake jacks, or with a pit between ties, a 20 ton bottle jack, for moving heavier equipment than #10 out there.   Possible with a 1" steel plate between the rails and a custom jig for lifting #10 to turn it.  We only need a couple of inches to do it, plus a few people to do it.  I used to run an Electro-Switch tamper (close to #10 in weight) was turned this way by me alone.  Just a thought, don't kill me for thinking it.