April 2017 Work Planning

[Harold Downey]

I'm here for two weeks with a few goals in mind:

Get the flanging machine working and flange #10 boiler sheets
Help Eric with documentation for new coach #9
Disassemble a seat from #3 to use it to create patterns for Coach 9 seats

Today and yesterday:
Removed the anvil from the flanging machine with Brendan's help, machined about a half inch off the forward end (to allow more adjustment room), and reinstalled it.
Started prepping #10 boiler plates for flanging.  This consists of wirebrushing them, then creating layout lines to guide the flanging.  With Jonathan's help, forward tube sheet, rear tube sheet and door sheet (of the firebox) are nearly ready.

Spring is starting to spring here in Maine.  I see reddish buds on maple trees. 

Zack put a few more siding boards on 67 and Brendan and Fred hauled off some scrap.    James was doing something here today also. 

[James Patten]

James was doing something here today also. 

Well...not really.  I showed up to print out a timetable draft (I couldn't, the printer was out of a non-black color and it wouldn't let me print) and was here to help if there was a crowd.

[Bill Reidy]

Spring is starting to spring here in Maine.  I see reddish buds on maple trees.  

I noticed spring this past Saturday.  One of the egg hunt fields that had plenty of snow and ice on it the week before was bare for Saturday's activities!

Good to see you and everyone else Saturday.  Looking forward to the work weekend.

- Bill

[Bob Holmes]

Wow, the Easter eggspress was clearly a huge success.  Just out of curiosity, did we make money, break even, or lose money on this event this year?

I confess to having no clue about the revenue/expense factors in play.  And of course, the donations of volunteers are a major factor.

I'm asking not to criticize, because the goodwill/pr/marketing are priceless, and will far outweigh the financial results.

But I remain curious....thanks.

Bob

[James Patten]

Income was about 4x that of expenses.  So yes, we made money on the event.

[Joe Fox]

Does this include the two steamers coal consumption?

[Bill Baskerville]

I'm here for two weeks with a few goals in mind:

Harold, Eric,

If either of you are around the SWW, and if you have gotten the details worked out, perhaps you could brief me on the door and window requirements for coach 9 so the Southern Narrow Gauge Door and Window Shop can do some advance fabrication planning.

That is unless there is a more pressing need for other items.

Bill

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Coal consumption didn't exceed 1 ton, at about $230 per ton; not a major player.

See ya
Jason

[Harold Downey]

Bill,

We have been looking at the windows in detail.  (Maybe this should be moved to new coach thread).  We believe that the only original window is in the saloon (bathroom).  It has details that none of the other windows have.  I have measured all the critical parts, and will make a drawing with all the joinery.  They are pretty straightforward.  Mahogany for the wood, minimal decorative details.

I also have measured the end doors.  Still need to pull and measure a clerestory window.

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Since the WW&F is a Non Profit it is not a good ides to say you made money.
"You covered expenses with some left over for other projects" (In government speak).

[James Patten]

As someone on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum once said, "Non profit is a tax exempt status, not a business plan."  I don't think anyone can fault us for making money.  You can look up our IRS Form 990s on the internet going back several years, and most years our income exceeds our expenses.  This is because we sometimes get income for the endowment (principle of which cannot be spent) or projects that get funding in one year but won't be worked on until future years.

The trick is to make sure that our operational income meets or exceeds our operational expenses, and that cash flow is such that we have enough general income to pay off the general expenses.  Easter is usually a big help in that regard after a slow winter.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday April 22:

* Boxcar 67: siding!
* Flanger
* Work weekend prep.

[Joe Fox]

Any money "made" regardless of source, goes back into the preservation which is the beauty of the museum. Members and guests take a look around and can see the various projects in place to continue moving us forward into the future.

[Paul Uhland]

Speaking of WW&F income, I've given up on trying to resume my $21/month automatic donation for the 21 Fund. It stopped after my credit card was replaced and my new number wasn't recognized.
I'll mail the funds monthly, directly  to WW&F.
Paul

[Bill Reidy]

Anticipated work for Saturday April 22:

* Boxcar 67: siding!
* Flanger
* Work weekend prep.

Flanger?

Never mind -- it's cold today, and it took me a moment to realize you are talking about the Beatty flanging machine, and not something to deal with snow!