Messages

31

Museum Discussion / Re: Then & Now: The Maine Central's Bar Harbor branch

« on: September 05, 2023, 10:09:47 AM »

I was on two of those trips over east.  Rode over with Fred in his Dodge truck that later became the railroad's plow truck.  I remember we all stayed at The Birches Motel and I shared a room with Fred.  I took slides back then, so I'll have to check my pictures from way back in the '90's.

32

Work and Events / Re: Engine House - Official Work Thread

« on: August 24, 2023, 01:46:25 PM »

One project this week has been to finish the inside header over the stall doors.  Insulation, vapor barrier and sheathing has been applied to all three door headers followed by a general clean-up of the center stall to prep for door construction.  Eng 9 is now back in the east stall and two new portable (floor level) platforms have been added to the pit, providing a place for the engine crews to step when entering / exiting the locomotive. 

33

Work and Events / Re: Coach 9 - Official Work Thread

« on: August 19, 2023, 10:08:30 PM »

Yes, we did. 

* 320 was the first new wooden car built at Sheepscot and the first construction project I helped with in 1998. It is based upon a design drawn up for the F,S & K but never built. (note that the couplers, brake staff/wheel and railings are original parts salvaged from the WW&F flanger that was left in Albion in the 1930's). 

* 65, The Dairy car is also a complete new build, based on the modified Portland Company boxcars that were assigned to TCDA service.  I spent the good part of a Winter working on the interior woodwork with a small electric heater inside.  The car was finished in 2015.

* 126 is basically a new car although parts of it (mostly the metal components) were derived from the old Edaville built open car #202 that was in bad condition.

Of course, other cars have been rebuilt with all new wood such as flatcar #14 for the MNG SOCONY tank car and former B&SR flat 34. B&SR boxcar 67 is another example of a complete rebuild while stock/boxcar 56 is more of a restoration with Marcel preserving as much of the original wood structure as possible.

34

Work and Events / Re: Engine House - Official Work Thread

« on: August 17, 2023, 06:47:57 PM »

The east wall windows were finished today with the installation of sills, sill plates, casing and trim.

35

Volunteers / Re: August 2023 Work Reports

« on: August 16, 2023, 08:53:41 PM »

Also on Wednesday, August 16th -

* Gift Shop Crew - A trip was made to the Lincoln County Printers for cases of new train tickets as well as new the Build #11 booklets.  Mail orders for the 2024 WW&F calendars have required a number of visits to the Post Office as well.

36

Work and Events / Re: Engine House - Official Work Thread

« on: August 14, 2023, 07:09:07 PM »

As Mike and Bill's photos show, the picnic weekend was treated like a WW&F Work Weekend by the engine house crew.  So much work was done by 7 people that the east interior wall was completely covered in vapor barrier and shiplap sheathing in two days.  The photo of the completed wall (on FB) was taken Sunday afternoon as Tom was wrapping up carpentry operations at the front corner.  Brendan built a special temporary floor for us to set staging and ladders on which made things much better.  Two windows and the side door still need cleats, insulation and casing/trim and we hope to finish that this week.

37

Volunteers / Re: August 2023 Work Reports

« on: August 12, 2023, 07:52:23 PM »

Also -

* Engine House - The carpentry crew including Brendan, Fred, Zack, Tom, Megan, Melanie and Start spent a good part of the day installing the rest of the plastic vapor barrier and a good bit of the wood sheathing on the east interior wall.  The hope is to get the rest of the sheathing put up in the next couple days so the stall can once again be used for locomotive storage.  Construction of the stall doors should commence later this month.

38

Volunteers / Re: August 2023 Work Reports

« on: August 10, 2023, 02:52:13 PM »

Another project this week -

Gift Shop - After weeks of working with photographer Kevin Madore, writing captions and text, editing and working with our graphic design people, the 2024 WW&F calendars were finished and picked up from the printers in Augusta on Thursday 8/10.  Calendars will be final inspected on Friday and set out for purchase on Saturday.  The price will be $16 + tax per calendar for in store sales.  On-line sales (that include shipping cost) will be available after the picnic weekend. 

The calendar is basically a WW&F photo album that showcases the work of talented photographers such as Stephen Hussar for many years - and for the last two issues, Kevin Madore.  They have sold out for the last 5 years with the last few going to the ARS show at the Big E in W. Springfield, MA.

39

Work and Events / Re: Jayne's Way Crossing Renewal May 30 and 31, 2023

« on: August 01, 2023, 05:50:02 PM »

Jars of Old Narrow Gauge Farm's wild blueberry jam are available in the gift shop, in store sales only.

40

Work and Events / Re: Engine House - Official Work Thread

« on: July 29, 2023, 08:53:30 PM »

Actually, I dropped a screw and we're trying to figure out where it went.

41

Volunteers / Re: July 2023 Work Reports

« on: July 27, 2023, 11:29:08 AM »

Work done Tuesday and Wednesday, July 25th - 26th -

* Archives - Linda worked in the office and new archive room.
* Engine House - Pit stall wooden floor construction: Brendan, Fred, Stewart
* Coach 9 - Varnish and other work: Eric, Ron, Lou
* Coach 3 - Truck swap with the newly rebuilt trucks: Jason, Jerry, Carlos
* RC4 - Work on the ignition system: Paul
* Engine 11 - Harold worked in the shop
* Gift Shop - Mail orders and 2024 Calendar design work: Cindy
* Vehicle repair - Lawn / riding mowers, cleaned by Jay
* Track/ROW - Beautification, maintenance: Bill, Bob

42

Work and Events / Re: Engine House - Official Work Thread

« on: July 09, 2023, 08:23:44 AM »

Bill, Thanks for the photo of the four of us in the engine house.  It's a pleasure to be part of this group on this project.  The photo got me to thinking about all the times we have worked together through the years, I figured the combination of membership / time contributed by Zack, Fred, Brendan and myself totals about 103 years.

43

Volunteers / Re: July 2023 Work Reports

« on: July 04, 2023, 05:37:57 PM »

Work done on Tuesday, July 4th -

* Archives - Linda worked in the office and moved some materials to the new archive storage room.

* Coach 9 - Harold worked on researching types of railroad bronze / door hardware.

* Engine house - More insulation was added + interior sheathing was started in the center stall.

* Gift Shop - Some price changes were made to merchandise in the on-line store.

* J&S Trucks - Jerry and Carlos worked on the passenger trucks in the shop.

* Visitors - About a half dozen people showed up to have a look around after the Wiscasset parade finished.

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The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Re: Closure of WW&F Railway - 90 Years Ago

« on: June 15, 2023, 05:01:05 PM »

Having walked the R-O-W to the iron bridge location a few times, I can advise that there is a curve just north of the bridge that curves to the left/east for a southbound train.  That's where #8 derailed, going off on the river side as it worked into the curve.  The photo was taken from the west side of the river.  The section house would be just out of frame to the left and the bridge is up ahead about 200'.  The grade runs fairly straight south of the bridge, following the river for a few miles down to Head Tide.

45

Volunteers / Re: June 2023 work reports

« on: June 15, 2023, 10:00:26 AM »

Additional work from Tuesday / Wednesday -

* WW&F 2024 Calendar - The publishing team of Kevin, Cindy and myself worked this week selecting photos, assigned month panels, writing text and captions and packaging everything for printing.  Kevin Madore has once again provided beautiful images that he took over the last few years and the '24 WW&F Railway calendar will be another good one. 

The approach of the publications team has been, starting with Stephen Hussar and continuing with Kevin to create a photo album that just happens to be a calendar.  The 2023 issue sold out by January so we suggest that you get your 2024 issue this year, they should be available at the Annual Picnic.