2016 Fall Work Weekend

[Bill Baskerville]

Jason,

Would I be correct that the Board also desires to have the North Yard completed, and perhaps work on the woods track also?   

Bill

[Paul Uhland]

With twelve days until FWW...projects:
*north yard completion--depends on timely arrival of needed switch points from Baltimore machine shop.
*woods track work--involves rail nailing after minor grading and tie-laying completion started by high schoolers  months ago.
  Site is out of the way at Sheepscot, so no ops interference, travel or heavy hauling of materials needed.
*turntable--crane set to flip bridge upright Monday for completion of mechanical and structural work; ring wall rail install.
*TOM--switch and spur sub-grading underway for completion of trackwork by a usually-large number of visiting "gandys," often working an extra day or two.

[Joe Fox]

If crew is available there has been talk of doing some much needed main line work as well.

[Stephen Piwowarski]

There is an official list approved at the Museum's last board meeting that will be posted this week- it's on its way. In addition the projects that have been mentioned, I am looking for help painting the trim and South wall of Sheepscot station and reglazing the South window. Perhaps 2-3 of us could accomplish this task in a few hours. I'll try to have the window prepared ahead of time.

We could probably accomplish this in a couple of hours of dedicated work. Of course, the weather needs to be cooperative, so we will see as we get closer.

Steve

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Hi all,

I do have the official work weekend list, written on my board meeting notes, back in Maine.  I'm in Syracuse for a couple meetings regarding the new boilers.  Not wanting to forget anything, I didn't want to post a list from memory.

I'll take a shot at it, since there's so much interest:

ToM sour, woods track, turntable lead construction, telephone work, and main line maintenance. There are smaller projects.  North yard completion is not on the list as we await the off site completion of switch material.

There is a charter, with a group associated with the Smithsonian, on Saturday, which we will accommodate. 

When I look at the real list I'll make corrections and additions.

See ya
Jason

[Bill Baskerville]

Do we have the switch parts for the TOM spur?

Bill

[Brendan Barry]

We have a new frog and points on hand for the T.O.M switch.

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Is ToM Sour anything like a Gin Sour ?

[John Kokas]

Maybe the answer is a ToM Collins, which is a type of sour.........

[Wayne Laepple]

Uh, oh.......

[James Patten]

Jason's list is what I have from my board notes.

[Paul Uhland]

Jason's "list" is an organized , neat spread sheet of planned FWW tasks.
Suggest this format be SOP for further large projects.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Friday October 7th, Day 1 of the Fall Work Weekend.
Some of the projects -

* Woods track - Dana's crew spiked the track out to the end near the parking lot.

* Flanging Machine - Work was done on assembling parts.

* Turntable - The spider wheel bearing assembly was built and the roundhouse track was moved towards the pit.  More work was done on the bridge, notching the locations where the queen posts seat.  The bridge will be set in place tomorrow.

* Car storage building - Painting started on the east side, the structure will take many gallons of stain.

* Sheepscot depot - Steve Z. and Steve P. replaced the front rake board that was rotten, removed old paint and painted the rake and shadow boards on the front and south gable.  Work on the south window continues.

* ToM - A track crew worked on the sawmill switch.

* Archives - More cleaning and organizing was done.

* Meals - Nancy Weeks and crew did a wonderful job preparing lunch and supper for the everyone.

* Volunteers - 38 people had signed the book at 5:00 PM.
 

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Saturday October 8th, Day 2 of the Fall Work Weekend.
Much progress on some key projects -

* Woods track - More joint bars were made and installed.  The end curve was set and the first handcar test was run.

* Turntable - A big day for the WW&F, the bridge was set on the center pivot and spider wheels which brought applause and cheers from the many volunteers watching.  Turning the bridge brought the discovery that the ground was too high on the south and east sides so hand grading was done after which a complete test turn was run.  The ends were jacked to level the span and the queen posts were set and the truss rods partially installed.  The rail stringers were set and rails fastened in the center.  Rail trimming will be done on Sunday and the approach tracks will be built to the ring wall as well.

* Car storage building - The paint crew had a great day, finishing the east side and south end.  They also painted the splash zone on the west wall, up about 5'.  They have gone through nearly 20 gallons of stain so far.

* Flanging machine - more parts were worked on (machine work, etc.)

* Campus - A solid plan for underground conduits has been worked up.  A temporary re-route of the comm lines to the house has been planned and should be done tomorrow to allow locomotives and rolling stock to use the turntable trackfrom the south yard.

* Operations - A tour group from the Smithsonian rode the 10 o'clock train.  Many stayed out front watching as the turntable was being set in place.   Some were reluctant to get on the train due to watching/photographing the action.

* Volunteers - Over 80 people signed the book. 

[Tom Casper]

Any news on the phone system repair.  An ex telco person wants to know.

Tom C.