Messages

1

Work and Events / Re: What If? Design Project: 1925-1940 2ft Diesel

« on: October 21, 2019, 02:59:30 PM »

I was also going to mention the Whitin Machine Works locomotives down in Portland. For body ideas, you might look at the pictures of the #2 which may still be down at Edaville. It was red the last I knew.

Some information regarding the locomotives on question:
http://www.solrswat.ca/1_EquipmentRoster/Locomotives/Z_Model/B%2023%20Ton%20End%20Cab%20Roster/GE%2023.htm

2

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad / Sandy River vs. Maine Narrow Gauge

« on: September 13, 2019, 03:39:35 PM »

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad sues Portland rail museum over investment in steam locomotive
It wants compensation for its investment of over $144,000 connected to restoration of a Narrow Gauge steam engine.


https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/09/11/sandy-river-rangeley-lakes-railroad-sues-portland-rail-museum-over-investment-in-steam-locomotive/

3

Work and Events / Re: Shingle Mill - Official Work Thread

« on: April 29, 2018, 09:47:04 PM »

On another forum I frequent, someone shared this video. It is a silent film taken by a Maine lumber-mill boss when he realized that the work he was doing was obsolete and would not be known by the following generations. It is narrated in a proper Maine accent that reminds those of us who are away what home sounds like.

No two footers but there is a train in the background at one point and some shingle mill action too.

https://youtu.be/cIKCjQdxtO0

4

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 10 - Official Work Thread

« on: March 12, 2018, 08:21:56 PM »

Thanx Brendan (and Jason and Mike) for posting and reposting these photos.  The shim pattern has to be accurate, and to achieve that I will bring it up during the Spring Work Weekend and actually fit it over the cylinders and modify it on the spot if it needs it.  I will then modify the follow block to the point where it can be used.  Working on curved patterns can be difficult.  I have been working over 1 1/2 years on clamshell door patterns for CNJ 113 (with delays for other projects) where nothing is flat.  At times, things don't work out and have to be junked and started over.  I am currently working on the core boxes and have wasted much time trying to figure them out.

Bernie

When I was in college I had an internship with Bucyrus (now bought out by Caterpillar). Bucyrus made shovels, drills, and drag lines for surface mining. While I was there, the cost of metals was going through the roof and smaller mines that weren't normally profitable were. As such, Bucyrus was in the process of making lots of spare parts to bring a lot of shovels out of mothball status and was even reintroducing models of shovels that hadn't been built since the early sixties.

One of my jobs as a mechanical engineering intern was to take an actual "blue"-print hand drawing of a shovel bucket and redesign it for modern manufacturing techniques. Your "complaint" of no flat surfaces was the bane of that project as well. In addition to no flat surfaces, there were no defined curves and only general overall dimensions. Fun times and a real sense of acomplishment when the job is done.

5

Museum Discussion / Crossing 218

« on: July 21, 2016, 09:19:40 AM »

I have no idea if this has any value to the WW&F but maybe?

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/mat/5680612782.html

They have a rubber railroad crossing for sale. If 218 or Cross road were to be crossed at the museum's expense or if there were value in a rubber crossing elsewhere on campus, this is a cheap albait standard gague one.

6

Work and Events / Re: Proposed Portland Co WW&F Hopper - Official Dream Thread

« on: May 04, 2016, 12:56:41 PM »

I can see a use for both of these types of cars, even using the hopper to fill in loe spots. The problem with the hopper will be the gravel will not flow well out of it. Ballast and coal will, but gravel has a tendency to pack.

Not to sound dumb but what is the difference between gravel and ballast?

7

Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 9 - Official Work Thread

« on: June 17, 2015, 05:20:27 PM »

Something like that would be a powerful fund raising tool for 11. Showing that the group is able to take a locomotive from a pile of parts to completion would instill confidence in donors that funds provided towards 11 would not be wasted and would further give a rough idea of timelines on projects of this magnitude.

8

Museum Discussion / Track Layout at Alna Center

« on: May 27, 2015, 07:43:33 PM »

There are plans to restore the top of the mountain track layout after the railhead reaches 218. This causes me to wonder what the original layout of Alna Center was. If it was originally a passing siding, why? Was there enough traffic to justify the siding or was the siding for spotting cars and if so, what regular freight load at Alna Center would warrant spotting a car? If Alna Center was originally a single track affair, is there a plan to single track the current WW&FRy? There has been mention of a sawmill or similar display at the location but I believe that it was mentioned that the land was not available. Was timber still being served by spurrs off the WW&FRy in the time frame the museum is attempting to portray?

9

Museum Discussion / Re: Sheepscot pictures for the away crowd.

« on: February 08, 2015, 10:07:01 PM »

Hmmpfh! All this time has passed and not a bit of progress on the car storage building? 

I felt like the fat kid in gym class just walking around the house in knee deep snow to clear the dryer vent. If you want to try to work in that much snow, go for it.

10

Work and Events / Re: Whitefield Section House - Official Work Thread

« on: January 08, 2015, 08:07:42 AM »

John,

(Snip)

Might there be some benefit to having a section house with a few basic tools and a hand car located up the track aways, perhaps at ToM?

Steve

In addition to the benefit maintaining and expanding the right of way, it gives a conversation piece to speak to guests about. If it were placed somewhere that was otherwise "boring" then it would be the focus point of that part of the train ride. If it were placed at the top of the mountain it could give the already non prototypical siding additional purpose. The section house could be moved to 218 when the railroad gets that far and the siding is reverted to its 'proper' alignment. This would again have the benefit if saving long rides for tools but also help quickly populate that part of the railroad to help catch the eye of passing motorists while providing a location for storing theftable display items.

11

Work and Events / Re: Car Barn - Official Work Thread

« on: October 21, 2014, 03:00:44 PM »

A couple of questions from an outsider looking in:

For the three track arrangement into the car barn, is there a plan to add another three way stub switch or is the plan for a more traditional ladder arrangement?

Realizing that the car barn is already larger than the WWFRy's current needs, is there land/space set aside should a need for lengthening the building become necessary in the future?

12

Volunteers / Re: C&C Rail Arrives with extra Thingies.

« on: August 15, 2009, 10:24:41 PM »

Thanks for having me, I will try to come up whenever there is work being done.