April 2012 work planning

[Dana Deering]

Hi All,

     Since there are several threads going with references to the work weekend I picked this one to say thank you to all of the volunteers who showed up to work on the track projects.  With your help we were able to complete a much needed refurbishment of the northern portion of Cock Eye Curve.  The super elevation has been restored and the curve is once again a curve.  There were two joints that I couldn't completely correct and I think it is because they were kinked when the rail was put down.  Overall the track there has been significantly improved and the difference is noticable when riding the train. 
     I was also very happy to do more work on the section that borders Albee's Field.  That track hasn't had much more than cosmetic attention since it was laid.  We took out two big sags and the riding quality of that section is improved significantly.
     None of this work could have been completed without your dedication and hard work.  You weren't even daunted by the rain showers on Friday.  I can't begin to express my continued gratitude for your willingness and for your good humor.  It's always fun and satisfying to work with all of my fellow volunteers, some of whom I only get to see during our work weekends.
     Sunday's track laying session down at Wiscasset was a nice break from the routine.  Car 65 should draw a lot of attention in that spot.  Stewart, Zack, and all of the others who have worked on that project have done a beautiful job.
     Once we returned from Wiscasset we completed a coupled of less romantic tasks:  we tore out the old planking at Brook Crossing in preparation for the replacement planking. This will facilitate the logging operation set to commence soon on the Davis property.  Then we cleared the culverts at Albee's Crossing which had been plugged with debris during last winter's logging operations on the Albee property.  Albee's Pond is no more.
     It was a great weekend for the track work side of things and as always the food and the company were both first rate.  Thanks, everyone.  I'll be posting the track work plan for the fall in the near future.

   

[Fred L. Kuhns]

 Eric,  Thanks for the great vido of the work projects.  The ladies working to provide lunch was much appreciated, the unsung heros of any large work force. I also enjoyed the quick shots of the restroom work, along with the many views of tract work.   Fred L. Kuhns

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Thanks for your comments Dana.  Zack has done a great job leading everyone on this project.  Working with the original Portland Company plans, he has spec'd out everything on the car, from lumber and joinery to the draft gear.  He used the work he did rebuilding 309 as his guide and applied the same ideas to this project. Another nice thing is that we used a number of original WW&F parts such as cheek irons and truck frames. Many have contributed to the framing, sheathing and trucks and quite a few signed their names inside the wall of the car before the sheathing was finished.  When complete the museum will have a first class car, the first new narrow gauge milk car built in Maine in 99 years.

Special thanks to everyone who helped move #65 inside the shop and later, pushing it outside on Sunday morning for everyone to see.

Stewart

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Forgot to mention -

A reporter from the Lincoln County News visited the railroad during the Work Weekend.  She talked to a number of members, toured the buildings and rode the train.  She interviewed Zack, took a photo of him and took interior and exterior photos of the milk car.  I spoke to her and she said she really had a good time at Sheepscot.  She wrote a nice article about the museum which appeared in last Thursdays newspaper. 

Stewart