Author Topic: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant  (Read 6521 times)

Ed Lecuyer

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WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« on: April 06, 2017, 07:09:50 PM »
The National Railway Historical Society has selected the WW&F Railway Museum as a recipient of a Railway Heritage Grant. This award of $3000 will be used to help equip the locomotives and rolling stock of the railway with an Eames Automatic vacuum brake system. Automatic vacuum brakes are an important safety feature as our railroad expands, as they will engage automatically if the cars in the train become separated. Moreover, the single control in the cab will give the engineer greater control over the train.

The original WW&F used straight vacuum brakes on their locomotives, and the restored Number 9 now utilizes these as independent (engine) brakes. To protect the entire train, Eames patented an automatic vacuum braking system, but it was never fully developed in the US, due to his untimely death. As the Museum is a continuation of the original WW&F railway, it is fitting that we fully develop automatic vacuum brakes – which is likely the choice the original WW&F would have considered had it been required to install an automatic braking system.

Already WW&F museum coach 8 and Number 9 have been equipped with this system; but testing was not completed in 2016 due to other projects. Testing will be completed in the coming year and the system added gradually to the remaining locomotives and rolling stock.

The WW&F thanks the National Railway Society for choosing this project to receive a Railway Heritage grant. The NRHS has been very supportive of past projects at the WW&F, including funding the recreated Planished American Rolled Iron (also called "Russia Iron") jacket on Number 9 and our continued mainline extension.

This particular grant application was originally authored by museum volunteer Bill Baskerville. Later it was revised by Ed Lecuyer, Steve Piwowarski, Jason Lamontagne, James Patten, and John McNamara. Anyone who would like to help this ad hoc grant committee with future applications is welcome to contact me.
Ed Lecuyer
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Mike Fox

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2017, 07:53:55 PM »
Thank you Bill for spearheading this grant. I think there is a very good grant team in place now.

Congratulations to all involved.
Mike
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Bill Reidy

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2017, 08:24:06 PM »
Yes -- congratulations to the grant-writing team!
We want...A SHRUBBERY!  One that looks nice, and not too expensive.

Dave Buczkowski

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2017, 08:36:44 PM »
Way to go Ed and the rest of the team! A lot of time and effort goes into applying for grants. It's very much appreciated.

Bill Baskerville

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2017, 09:57:32 PM »
All,

This, like everything that happens at the WW&F was a team effort.  Ed Lecuyer is a great Grant Writer and team leader.  Jason is a excellent provider of technical information.  John is a tremendous editor and master of English and grammar.  James keeps us on track with all the numbers that are required to support these efforts.  Steve provides a unique perspective that always zeros in on the precise focus needed to address the grant requirements.

What goes unseen is all the work that goes into the many grant applications that don't produce funds for the WW&F.  However, to win the few, we have to put our efforts into the many.

A big thank you to all the team who made this win possible. 

Finally, like all WW&F projects, and to echo Ed's closing comment, we can always use additional help.  Contact Ed.

Bill
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Ira Schreiber

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2017, 12:43:47 PM »
My congratulations to one and all.

Pete Leach

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2017, 02:24:23 PM »
Great job to all involved!  What an exciting project to finish the idea started by Eames!  I cannot wait to see where it leads!

Pete from sunny Texas!

Rick Rowlands

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2017, 07:57:48 PM »
Looks like another two foot gauge railroad also received an NRHS grant this time around.  The Bucksgahuda & Western. 
Rick Rowlands
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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2017, 08:05:44 PM »
Actually, half of the eight 2017 Heritage Grants were awarded to narrow gauge preservation efforts throughout the US. Not a bad showing at all.
Ed Lecuyer
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John Scott

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2017, 08:10:35 PM »
Even though I am a well-away member, I would like to participate in the detailed design of the Eames Automatic Vacuum brake system. That should not be too difficult in this electronic age. I am very happy to know of the success in obtaining the heritage grant that will make possible such an interesting project.

Rick Rowlands

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Re: WW&F Receives Railway Heritage Grant
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2017, 09:46:56 PM »
Actually, half of the eight 2017 Heritage Grants were awarded to narrow gauge preservation efforts throughout the US. Not a bad showing at all.

That is because narrow gaugers get things done! :)
Rick Rowlands
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