Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

[Joe Fox]

The use will be to build a rail crane to travel the length of the flat car and then some extra on each end. The crane will be used to distribute tie bundles and rail as track is built. Thus reducing a huge factor in track building. We are all getting older, and we can not do things like we used to. Our normal size track crew averages 4-8 at best, sometimes even just 1 or 2. Work weekend track crew size continues to drop, so it was decided it was time to start seriously mechanizing everything with track work.

[John Kokas]

I'm thinking Jason has come up with a WW&F version of "snap-track" and we'll go down the mountain laying panels at a mile/day pace.  If not, it would be real cool to imagine such a contraption.

[Bill Baskerville]

Thanks Joe,

At 74 I feel young when I come to the WW&F because there, I am "middle age".

Sounds like an interesting project and a great boon to our efforts, and a savior for our backs.

I can't wait to see the drawing of this new crane.

I am sure it will look something like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzYr7UGg8HI

[James Patten]

I think that video was the inspiration for this idea.

[Brendan Barry]

Timbers laid out at Sheepscot for the approach span stringers.

[Mike Fox]

Tie bundles are not part of the plan for the start. Handling the rail will be enough. I have another plan for the ties to make best use of our manpower.

[Paul Uhland]

That 1900s railbuilding film is astonishing!
 Whipping together a spindly but clever system for that time, to speed up and take away a lot of the drudgery involved in a (I know) backbreaking  chore is damned impressive.
Setting up a similar system on a smaller scale at WW&F I'm sure would be absolutely welcomed. And probably fun to watch. 

[Jason M Lamontagne]

The bridge work outlook is fairly clear next week and gets hazy further out, due to weather and work progress uncertainty.

Week of July 9 (Next week):

Monday, Tuesday: pre-fab bridge abutments at Sheepscot.
Wednesday: install silt fence, mark out abutment excavation at bridge site (finish abutments if needed).
Mon-Wed: paint bridge (different crew).  (Painting could happen this or next Saturday, as possible.  Check with Linc- as the wood needs to be dry, and the work coordinated.)
Thursday: (rain forecast): continue work on steel temp spans.

Week of July 16.
Remove stumps from south bank. 
Jeff excavates for north abutment
Prepare stone bed for north abutment
Install pre-fab abutment.
Jeff backfills abutment.

Week of July 23:
Prepare for and drove piles for bents.

At that point, while we have goals, it’s best to wait rather than announce plans.  As we get closer we’ll post updates.

See ya
Jason

[Fred Morse]

It goes without saying but, I'm going to say it anyhow.! We need all the help we can get. Put off that trip to Europe or picking up that Power-Ball check. As uncle Sam says WE NEED YOU!!!

[James Patten]

..Put off that trip to Europe or picking up that Power-Ball check...

But...we could really use some of that Powerball check....

[Joe Fox]

If anyone knows of anybody who may be intetested in volunteering, there are at least 6 different projects going on right now that could use help. Bridge work, prep work, grass cutting, track work, shop help, and many others.

[Brendan Barry]

Photo update courtesy of Linc Reed-Nickerson. Painting is underway.

[Mike Fox]

It is actually a stain. Paint will crack and peel and need recoating sooner. Stain will last a long time and just fade while still providing protection

[Alex Harvilchuck]

..Put off that trip to Europe or picking up that Power-Ball check...

But...we could really use some of that Powerball check....

Speaking of Europe, there is always Paddy Power ...

[Jeff Schumaker]

Bridge color looks good.

Jeff S.