Annual Picnic 2009

[James Patten]

Here's the Annual Picnic schedule for August 8 and 9:

On Saturday, there'll be an early freight extra train at 8:30, with photo stops at Alna Center and probably Albee's field.  Train will return by 9:30.

Trains 1, 2, 3, and 4 (the 10 and 11 AM trains) will be mixed trains.

Trains 5 - 12 (12 noon to 3 PM trains) will be passenger trains.

Trains 13 and 14 (the 4 PM train) will be a mixed train, with a car dropoff at Alna Center.

There'll be a train after train 14 returns, returning to AC and picking up the car the earlier train dropped off.

On Sunday, there'll be another photo freight at 8:30, dropping people off on the northbound trip and picking them up after a photo runby on the SB trip.

Trains 1 - 4 will be mixed.

The remaining will be passenger trains.

And of course there'll be food. 

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

P.S. The run bys at AC may have some extra "props" to recreate rural WW&F scenes from the 1920's and 30's.

[John McNamara]

P.S. The run bys at AC may have some extra "props" to recreate rural WW&F scenes from the 1920's and 30's.

May we assume that these scenes will be rated "AA"?

[Ken Fleming]

How about a team with a wagon or buggy (without rubber tires) loading/unloading Alna Center.  Most of the life of WW&F Ry was in horse and buggy days.  Maine farmers didn't jump right on tractors and trucks.  Remember, the thing that "killed" the railroad was the great depression and horses where around farms much longer because of it.  Put the word out locally and maybe a few Amish will show up.  They do like to ride trains and would provide "color".   They can also be a great source of craftsmen.

[James Patten]

A horse and wagon team would be a wonderful idea, but I don't know if we know people that would do it just do it to do it.

[Bill Sample]

James and Ken, I just happened to pick up the Jan/Feb '09 WW&F Newsletter, which described the Victorian Christmas.  There was mention of a horse drawn wagon present but it sounded like it had to be hired in.   

[John McNamara]

James and Ken, I just happened to pick up the Jan/Feb '09 WW&F Newsletter, which described the Victorian Christmas.  There was mention of a horse drawn wagon present but it sounded like it had to be hired in.   

That is correct. For the past several years we have hired a horse team and wagon for the Victorian Christmas event, paid for by the generosity of Steve Zuppa. The wagon can be equipped with either runners for snow or large rubber tires for road service. The large rubber tires are very unlike the classic wagon wheels that one sees in period photographs.

[Joe Fox]

How come there hasn't been an actual schedule like there has been in years gone by? Like the schedule that was made for the 2006 Annual Picnic? Will the last trip to pick up the car at Alna Center be run with steam, or the #52?

Joe

[James Patten]

Will the last trip to pick up the car at Alna Center be run with steam, or the #52?

Who would stick around to photograph a freight train pulled by a diesel?  Seriously, Joe....

[James Patten]

What a fabulous Picnic Saturday!!  Awesome weather (sunny with puffy cumulus, cool temps, nice breeze), lots of people, and lots of tickets, merchandise, and picnic lunches sold.  The photographers were fairly thick, so I'm sure some will be showing up on Railpictures.net soon (plus this forum I hope).

[Mike Fox]

I will second that note from James. Beautiful day. Operations went as planned and fairly full trains all day. Hope today was as well patronized.

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

Mike, I stopped by on Sunday and found the picnic well attended.  Many folks taking train rides and others riding the handcar outside the shop building.  Food appeared to be moving well too.  I hadn't had a chance to ride to the end of track since last fall and was pleasently surprised at how far the trains can go now.
I had a great time and it surely seemed everyone else did too. 
Duncan