North Yard Project - Official Work Thread

[Ken Fleming]

If everything is ready to go then as a switch is completed I could assemble the rest.  Its my kind of job, besides painting tie ends.  LOL

[Dave Crow]

This past Saturday, I spent several hours in the machine shop working on the frog parts.  Don't forget, the first set was delivered to Sheepscot by Wayne and Bernie at the spring work weekend.

The second set of frog parts, pilot drilled for bolts to hold the two parts together:



The third set mounted up, drilled for clamping bolts, after the first mill pass; you can just see the two bolts holding the rails together:



The third set after the second mill pass:



I'm hoping to finish the third set this coming weekend - one more pass and they will be ready to go.  Then it's on to making switch points!

Dave Crow

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

Dave,
Very nice machining. Thanks so much for your efforts. These parts you are creating will make our yard switches possible sooner rather than later.
Duncan

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

I second what Duncan said.  Everything looks great.  Can't wait to help install the new switches when we build the upper yard this Fall!

Stewart

[Dave Crow]

Thanks, Duncan and Stewart!  There are still several steps to do before these parts are useable as a track frog.  The approach/wing rails need to be cut and bent, and they need to be matched to the angle of a specific set of frog points.  Since these frogs will be of a riveted construction, with a base plate, several pieces of 5/8 inch thick steel plate, approximately 66 inches long and 16 inches wide, have to be purchased.  All the pieces then have to have holes drilled through their bases (and through the base plate) for rivet placement.

We'll also need to cut and form guard rails as well.

The switch points are 12 feet long and will be challenging to machine, even on a mill with an 8-foot bed; I'll have to hold up the overhanging end with a roller support.

Dave

[Dave Crow]

It has been a while since I worked on the switch frogs for the North Yard, but I went down to the streetcar museum yesterday (Sunday) and cut up 3 pieces of rail into the 66-inch lengths required for frog wing rails.  The following photos were taken using the camera in my cell phone, so please forgive the slight fuzziness.

Cutting rail to length on the power hacksaw:



It's a messy photo, but the six pieces of rail are piled here, along with two sets of frog point rails:



I'm hoping to bend the wing rails this coming Sunday.  Now to figure out how to transport all the rail to Alna before the work weekend!  I could get them as far as Scranton pretty easily...

Dave Crow

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

Send 'em by Railway Express. They can drop them off the train at Wiscasset!

Richard

[Ken Fleming]

Will one of the North Yard tracks be or include a team track?  Maybe method for rolling railroad equipment off/on trailer?  A platform for using forklift or platform crane to load/unload cars?

[Paul Crabb]

As was mentioned by James in another thread, Rick Sission, Jason, myself and several others on Saturday Sept 21 attempted to lay out track centerlines. We were focused on the track that will run through the "roundhouse". We were not completely successful. But we did relocate the turntable pivot point south and east to ease the transition of Track 7 to the turntable. The "roundhouse" was relocated to the north so it isn't a view block (like it's already there) from the freight house platform and I believe slightly rotated to the west. Also as James mentioned the through track has been returned to going through the east stall. Part of the reason total success was not achieved was, I hope I'm correct, not being able to locate a #8 frog. I think Brandan did find an 8 1/2 frog. A #10 was on site. So at the end of the day there were stakes all over the place but no final track alignment. Rick and I took a lot of location data which Rick is going to use to make a "map" and finalize track alignment. I do not know which frog he will use. It is planned to have that ready for he and I to the track centerline including the frog location on the Friday of Work Weekend.
I may have taken a couple pictures of the stakes but if I did they are still in the camera.
Paul C.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Nice update Paul.  The layout that youz guyz did looks real nice.  The roundhouse footprint is lined out for everyone to see during the Fall Work Weekend.

Regarding the team track, the plan (as I understand it) is to extend the woods track down into the N/W corner of parking lot.  This is where a truck could load or unload machinery, rolling stock and motive power.  There is also an idea of having a track running down the west side of the car storage building.  Not sure if the geometry would work but if so, this track would be an outside stub siding where things could be stored.  

One thing is for sure ... The upper yard is going to be a big plus for motive power operations and protecting rolling stock.

Start

[Mike Fox]

And we also discovered there needs to be more fill for the woods track back where the switches are going to be located. Wish there was someone doing some ditching close by Fred could persuade to leave some fill there for us.

[Dwight Winkley]

The last time I looked, There still is a 56# frog on the ground just north of the rail pile at Albee's field. I do not know what number it is or if it is useable.
dwight winkley

[Brendan Barry]

That is the 8 1/2 frog.

[Paul Crabb]

Brendan - My apologies for spelling your name incorrectly. Seems recently I am involved with a number of "Brendans" who have slightly different spellings and having CRS I get the spellings confused.
Paul

All;
Additionally I did see on the plans that were being used by us that there is a "Display Track" on the Cross Rd side of the Turntable. I don't know but it might also be intended to be an equipment transfer track.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

As I understand it - 
The display track could be a continuation of the run-through lead or from one of the other two stalls.  Since the area south of the turntable will be an open area, the track could be used to display the dairy car, etc.  It would probably be two car lengths (60') out from the pit which could put it too close to the road for a long trailer to be backed in without the truck being in the road.   

That's why the south end of the woods track would make a good transfer point.  Better access and turning room for the truck plus it's not near the turntable if something goes wrong. 

Start