Topics

16

Volunteers / October 2018 Work reports

« on: October 01, 2018, 03:31:07 AM »

We have a busy week ahead of us, with many arriving early to help finalize the prep for Falll Work Weekend. Today a center line will be resurveyed along the rail grade, and a marker placed at the end of our goal. (Would hate to see us get ahead of ourselves. ) Crane should be finished later today, and hopefully recieve a load test in the afternoon.

Other work later this week include testing out the crane, loading the track building train, finish preparations for work at Sheepscott, etc.

17

Museum Discussion / Trout Brook Bridge and Mountain Extension Video Presentation

« on: August 14, 2018, 05:34:11 AM »

Hey Everyone,

I have assembled a presentation showing the current progress of the mountain and Bridge project. The presentation is just over 5 minutes long, but covers all of our amazing progress. Without our members, friends, donors, and volunteers none of this would be possible. Please note that even though the presentation is only a week old, it is already outdated.

https://youtu.be/HegJfm0TyD4

18

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / MNG attends Gray Town Meeting 8/7/18

« on: August 07, 2018, 08:48:17 PM »

Maine Narrow Gauge attended the Town of Gray's town meeting tonight, and set fourth a wonderfull presentation. Their presentation followed the MDOT presentation, and in my mind was even a little more professional as they showed everyone a presentation and site proposal. Job well done to all who made it happen, and put together such a fantastic presentation. I attended tonight on an unofficial state just to show support. Such a great group of volunteers, and I look forward to our continued support amongst the other groups.

19

Work and Events / Fall Work Weekend Prep 2018

« on: August 06, 2018, 03:30:30 PM »

Hey everyone,

In conjunction with the time consuming bridge project, we will need to start sorting, cropping, and drilling rail in prep for the work weekend. I estimate this to consume 8 days. Hopefully it is less, but that is my anticipation. To make it happen I will need a forklift operator at a bare minimum, or hopefully a place for the rail to be staged for me to work alone on it.

Track work and many other tasks have taken an extreme back burner by everyone this year. And I know many view it as not needed, but this is a huge behind the scenes KEY into making our Work Weekends a HUGE success and for many the sole reason for coming.

I hope to start on 8/18 but that will depend heavily on the bridge. So 8/25 is the absolute latest we can start.

How much rail do we need to prep? 100 sticks, equivelant to 1400' of track length.

I will do my best to post a better schedule in the next week or so. Should only need a crew of 2-3 most days, but if there is more theres always lots to do.

Joe

20

Volunteers / Fire Season is here

« on: June 02, 2018, 01:00:58 AM »

Hey everyone,

A friendly reminder that fire season is upon us. (This is not an issue, but just a reminder to everyone) Please do not throw cigarette butts in grassy or wooded areas, when using any kind of tool that puts off sparks or hot debri please have a fire watch man, and always keep an eye out for fires along the line. Here in Maine there have been many fires from cigarettes being thrown out vehicle windows and lightning strikes.

In Colorado the Durango & Silverton is currently cancelling trains due to a massive forest fire north of Durango.

We should check all our fire hand pumps, and fire car and get it ready to go should we need it. We have been cery vigilant with our services to the town, hopefully we can keep up the good work. Remember as Smokey Bear would say, you can help prevent forest fires.

21

Other Narrow Gauge / Durango & Silverton cancel trains due to fire

« on: June 02, 2018, 12:51:16 AM »

As of right now it appears one of the morning trains to Durango started a huge forest fire that started near the railroad tracks just north of Durango. In the late afternoon the fire went from being just 200 acres, to being 863 acres just after 5pm on Friday.

All trains returning from Silverton on Friday were cancelled, and passengers had to be bussed via Ridway and or Telluride. All trains cancelled for Saturday June 2nd.

22

Work and Events / April 2018 Work Weekend prep and work

« on: April 02, 2018, 05:56:19 PM »

Jason and I walked the line today and established working limits for track to be removed, and much other needed work. 310' will be removed to allow a complete rail bed rebuild from the ditches up. There are around 200-250 ties to change outside of this, and the hope is to use the new tie machine for this. (To help pull ties out as that is the most tine consuming part) Prior to use, I hope to get in a test day or two with it to ensure things work as planned.

 I will be at the railroad on Tuesday April 24th, Wednesday April 25th, and possibly the 26th if needed. Then Friday and Saturday of the work weekend. There is much to do, and I hope to get as much of the prepping done as possible the few days I am there.

-Ties, we will need lots of ties that will be put in with a tie replacement crew. Those riding the train will notice several new dots. I hope to have these laid out sometime between the 24th & 26th.
-I anticipate the need to drill about 40 holes for new joint bars, depending on joint bar status will depend if this changes.

23

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / I've Been Working on the Railroad song remixed by a railroader

« on: February 28, 2018, 07:48:16 PM »

While listening to kids songs, it is fun to change them up a bit. I modified I've been working on the railroad to...

I've been working on the railroad
All the live long day
I've been working on the railroad
Just to work my life away
Can't you hear the conductor snoring
Rise up so early in the morn
Can't he hear the train horn blowing
Dinah, blow your horn
Dinah won't you blow
Dinah won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow your horn
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow,
Dinah, won't you blow your horn
Someone's in the engine with dinah
Someone's in the engine I know
Someone's in the engine with dinah
Strumming on the old banjo
Fee fie fiddle ee ll o
Fee fie fiddle ee ll o o o o
Fee fie fiddle ee ll o
Strumming on the old banjo

24

Museum Discussion / Ww&F on 207 1/2/18

« on: January 02, 2018, 07:46:36 PM »

Just heard from many friends that the picture in Downeast Magazine was featured on tonights 207. Did any of our locals see it? I unfortunately missed it.

25

Museum Discussion / WW&F Wins Grand Prize photo contest

« on: December 18, 2017, 10:55:24 AM »

I just got word from museum Member Matthew Malkiewicz that a photo he entered in a Downeast Magazine photo contest has won grand prize. Congratulations Matt to a superb photograph that captures the railroad's magic to stepping back in time.

https://downeast.com/2018-reader-photo-contest/

26

Museum Discussion / WW&F mentioned in local Model RR club newsletter

« on: November 15, 2017, 08:56:52 PM »

The WW&F is featured in this months edition of the Great Falls Model Railroad Club Newsletter. I picked up a copy and will bring it to the museum next time I am down for anyone that is interested to look through. Although it has a small reach, any publicity is better than none. Theres two photos included as well taken during the fall work weekend featured previously on the forum.

27

Museum Discussion / MNG in need of car roofers

« on: November 04, 2017, 04:36:59 AM »

Just saw this on the news. http://www.wmtw.com/article/narrow-gauge-railroad-museum-recovers-from-storm-damage/13151779
 Any chance some of our coach 8 roofers may be available to give them some advice and or help?

28

Museum Discussion / Potential track building cars?

« on: October 18, 2017, 07:50:58 AM »

Found these on DLS, and was wondering if these are something worth having someone look at? $500 for 4 2' gauge cars. They are an all steel car, but they may work for building track if the wheels look ok.

https://discoverlivesteam.com/discoverforsale/forsale/7_Gould/index.htm#Cannonball

29

General Discussion / Greg Scholl video narrator

« on: October 15, 2017, 08:29:46 PM »

Greg Scholl posted on the NG discussion forum about needing a video narator.

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,337480

30

US Two Footers / United States Longest 2' gauge line

« on: August 25, 2017, 01:08:37 PM »

Found a neat little article on the longest U.S. 2' gauge railroad. It is located in Michigan, and been in service since 1927 and is 5.5 miles long.

Here is a link to the article.
http://www.atrrm.org/blog/2015/08/2-footer-in-the-u-p/