Messages

16

Work and Events / Re: Wilmar (the) Tamper - Official Work Thread

« on: June 29, 2022, 08:39:31 AM »

Correct. This also does grades, lining curves and tangent (straight) track, etc. They are very high tech machines, and very elaborate. However said machine, even used costs at least $750,000. And then you need someone who knows how to fix it if the computer has a malfunction or breaks down.

17

Work and Events / Re: Wilmar (the) Tamper - Official Work Thread

« on: June 29, 2022, 04:24:51 AM »

It can do it all. However we are primarily using it strictly for tamping right now. As it is much faster to have a crew working with the tamper and jacking ahead of it. If the tamper was run by computer like the new Marc tampers, it would be a different story.

18

Volunteers / Re: WMTW Visits the WW&F July 2nd

« on: June 27, 2022, 06:55:47 AM »

Steve, I will be in touch. I can try my best to be there but won’t know till Friday morning/afternoon. I’ll check in with you.

19

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: The news we've been waiting for

« on: June 25, 2022, 05:09:53 AM »

EBT’s teaser of one of the test fire ups.

https://youtu.be/59UVBD0adoQ

20

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: EBT video

« on: June 24, 2022, 10:06:19 AM »

What a great video. Thank you for sharing.

I must say though, the WW&F has lost the feel it once had. Not necessarily in a bad way.

But I am very excited to see the rebirth of the EBT, and hope to make a trip to PA solely for that within the next month.

21

Volunteers / Re: June 2022 Work Reports

« on: June 19, 2022, 01:14:43 AM »

Dan and I tamped part of the mountain on Friday. With a sudden thunderstorm that quickly blew in, we found ourselves soaked to the bone in less than 5 minutes. But we braved the storm and kept working till I had to leave.

22

Volunteers / Re: May 2022 Work Reports

« on: June 07, 2022, 06:43:54 AM »

#9 has faced North on the mountain, and will face forward as often as the crew likes now that turntables are at each end.

The key to firing or running on any railroad is knowing what the water will do along the way, and knowing if the engine is turned, things need to be the opposite.

23

Volunteers / Re: April 2022 Work Reports

« on: May 01, 2022, 07:36:54 PM »

The track crew managed to unload 12 cars of rock on Saturday, and 6 car load of rock today.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, rather it was just for an hour, or a day, or all three days. Truly amazing what we can accomplish with a little extra help. Special thank you to the kitchen crew for their dedication to feeding us all three days.

One can’t emphasize enough how family like the atmosphere is, rather it’s your first work weekend, or several years in. It’s great to be a small part of such a big family.

24

Museum Discussion / Narrow Gauge Off the beaten track YouTube presentation

« on: April 20, 2022, 11:46:07 AM »

I don’t know if this has been posted already, but I found this video and even as a volunteer/member I always enjoy hearing what fellow members, BoDs, etc say about our museum, questions that are asked, etc.

https://youtu.be/UU2G_mlKeW4

Dave did a really nice job with this presentation. Very thorough. But near the end he mentioned about dreaming of the future in 2033, with the 100 years since the railroad closed. And it got me wondering and thinking, I can’t wait to see what the museum looks like 11 years from now. 😁

25

Volunteers / Re: April 2022 Work Reports

« on: April 15, 2022, 06:30:14 AM »

Definitely will do that the next time it’s used John.

26

Volunteers / Re: April 2022 Work Reports

« on: April 14, 2022, 07:34:36 AM »

The Wilmar test went very well. It will suit us EXTREMELY well. A few minor things were noticed, such as an issue with a rail clamp for jacking, an observation with squeezing, etc. Trying to Jack with the machine works, but for a continuous lifting, the most efficient way will be to use track jacks like we do with Big Joe. (Which we already had figured but wanted to test the jacks on the tamper.) The only thing we did not try was the lining.

Even with the testing we did, we managed to tamp almost 90’ of track in 3 hours. Big Joe can tamp 90’ either inside or outside in about 4 hours. Depending on how easy the tamping is. The biggest differences will be that Wilmar tamps ties fully, and two squeezes and it’s on to the next one, where as Big Joe can sometimes require several squeezes and only does either Inside or outside at a time.

27

Work and Events / Re: Spring Work Weekend 2022 - is ON!!

« on: March 25, 2022, 06:19:21 PM »

I am hoping to be there at least one day, but will not sign up as I can’t commit to a particular day. But when I am there I’ll be there to lend a hand with track work and assist in any way I can.

28

Museum Discussion / Re: "The Roundhouse" podcast about the WW&F

« on: February 09, 2022, 10:19:02 AM »

Its fun to see the awe in people’s faces when you tell them how fast the trains used to go. 😁 Course then the common question is, why don’t you go that fast now? To which a nice response is the slower pace allows for a relaxing trip back to yesteryear. And the average 15mph we travel is a good speed for everyone to look at the scenery and enjoy themselves.

29

Museum Discussion / Re: "The Roundhouse" podcast about the WW&F

« on: February 06, 2022, 04:39:28 PM »

Very interesting to listen to, and I found it very interesting. It’s always neat to hear how others started volunteering. Many view the two footers as toy like, and it was great to listen to hopefully educate others on not only the efforts we put forth, but also how important the original railway was.

30

Volunteers / Re: February 2022 Work Reports

« on: February 05, 2022, 09:54:56 PM »

It was certainly no easy stride to get the line open for the first run, but we did it. Many hands, both big and small, and we even welcomed some new volunteers today too. It was a great but exhausting day. Wish I could have stuck around for the second half of the passenger runs.