North Yard Project - Official Work Thread

[James Patten]

Since the "North Yard" (which encompasses a car shed, roundhouse, turntable, coal storage, and a myriad of railroad tracks) doesn't appear to have its own work thread, and because the grading that's occurring is important to all these projects, here's pictures from the recent work that contractor Jeff Verney has done.

First photo is taken from the driveway of the house, looking easterly.  The survey stake with the yellow tape may be one corner of the roundhouse.

Second photo is taken from the end of the spur, looking south.

Third photo is taken from near where the north wall of the car shed will be, looking northerly at the current end of the spur.

Last photo is taken from Track 7, looking westerly.

[Wayne Laepple]

How is the current drainage between the Percival house and the old parking area affected by all this earth-moving? Has it been placed underground in a culvert?

[James Patten]

Regarding drainage - no culverts have been run, Jeff wanted to cover everything up and then later dig out to put culverts in.

Here's a picture which I have taken the liberty of touching up.  It shows the corners of the car shed, as determined by survey stakes.  I had to look pretty closely to find the far ones in my photo.  Keep in mind there's no real perspective sense in this shot.



The current plan is 3 tracks wide.  As you can see, some trees on the west side will have to come down.

[Bill Reidy]

A while back while at the museum I referred to the new main line switch at Sheepscot as the "north switch" and was told that would be confusing with the north run-around switch (which is the main line switch leading into the shops yard).  The observation made sense to me.

Would "House Yard" make sense for the new yard to be built, leading to the engine house, car house (barn) and close to the Percival house? 

[Wayne Laepple]

Why not follow the lead of the original WW&F and call it the Upper Yard?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Wayne,

Nothing official here but a good many of us call the new/north yard the "upper yard".  The track feeding the upper yard is known as the "spur" since it feeds a number of buildings.  The switch that Bill mentioned (for the spur) has been called a few things including "house" and "upper yard switch".  I don't think there is an official name yet.  Another name I've heard is "Tuxedo Junction".  The latter is one of those nick name or slang terms that railroaders use.   That's the one that may stick!

Stewart

[John McNamara]

How about "West Yard" for the compass-inclined? How about "Back Yard" for "Fred is out playing in the back yard."

-John

[Mike Fox]

[Fred Morse]

We have a few trees to play with that could come down on some of the buildings we plan to build and tracks to be put down. I could use a few playmates to do that. It wouldn't to get a couple from the centerfold of playboy Mag.

[Dave Crow]

Based on Steve Smith's photos on the other thread (December 2012 Work Planning) - and the Site Plan - will there be a culvert for the Track 7 lead to the turntable?

Will there be a drain pipe, culvert, or open ditch helping to channel the water from the south end of the carhouse and area of the former coal pile northward towards the shop pit drain pipe exit?

[Mike Fox]

There are plans to run pipe in the current ditch, that Steve posted in another thread. I mentioned yesterday that there will have to be a pipe that collects from the turntable location. The ground is so flat that there should be a plan on sloping everything from the shop extension to the house driveway toward a collective area so it can go into a pipe. I would not suggest this area be in the turntable location.

Unfortunately Sheepscot is in the lowest area around and all the water wants to drain to it. We just need to keep it under control.

[Steve Smith]

I apologize for putting the grading photo in the wrong thread. Will endeavor to fix that now.

[Ken Fleming]

It sure looks like there should be plenty of track laying for the Spring Work Weekend (and Fall).  Perhaps even the start of the Car Barn. 

Aside questions, will the turntable pit be poured concrete or stone masonry or something else?  Have the turntable design drawings been done?

[James Patten]

Turntable pit will be a poured concrete ring.  We're hoping to leave inside the pit natural.  We've got turntable drawings.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The turntable drawings are Portland Company plans for a 48' bridge from 1891.