August 2017 Work Planning

[Paul Uhland]

Do what you can, Joe. But last thing you want to do is ruin your back when young particularly, a prob you're then stuck with permanently.  AINT WORTH IT.
After sawing up ties for 2926 tender rebuild cribbing, those buggers are smelly and HEAVY.

At 75 I've developed sciatica, inflamed lower back/legs burning nerve pain. No fun.
And my head keeps telling me I'm 35.

You and your pop do a LOT for WW&F.
No disgrace to wait and  get as much help as possible from 'younger bucks', when available. 

At any rate, cheers. 

[John McNamara]

Work done on Tuesday Aug 22: (a rare mid-week day for me)

* Telephone line: John M and Fred went up in the morning to trouble shoot the line.  John went again in the afternoon, not sure if he took anyone.

Many thanks to Keith Taylor (Monday), Fred Morse (Tuesday), and Mark Cheetham (Tuesday) for their help on these hot days. I hope they didn't from dehydration like I did. Everything works from the middle of Albee's Field to Sheepscot, but there are problems beyond Albee's Field.

-John M

[Brendan Barry]

I was asked to post these pictures of the switch stand in front of station.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Thanks B. 

The switch stand was cleaned and painted this week.  The switchlock chain was repaired and the old (1980's) aluminum target was removed.  A new replica 1912 era WW&F target was made and installed today.  The switch lamp is a Peter Gray made in Boston in 1911.  This is the type that the WW&F had, one is shown in a photo of Weeks Mills.  The lantern is from a private collection and may be used for special operations like running night trains.

[Jeff Schumaker]

Looks great, Stewart.

Jeff S.

[Joe Fox]

I am hoping to do track work next week on Wednesday, 8/30. Plan is to tamp as much as possible, repaint/paint ties in anticipation of getting them changed this fall. At some point I would like to get a crew to lay out ties at the painted ones so that replacements can begin.

[John Kokas]

Every once in a while I come across very small gas powered inserter/extractors.  Basically the same size or smaller than one or our work carts.  Is this something we should look for and convert to 2 ft?  Thoughts?

[Wayne Laepple]

John, if you are talking about something like the old Section Gang tie machines, it would be very easy to convert one of them to two-foot gauge. The folks at the Buckgahoda & Western up in St. Marys, Pa. have one they regauged, and it saves lots of work. I have been looking for one for some time for that very purpose.

[Bill Reidy]

I am hoping to do track work next week on Wednesday, 8/30. Plan is to tamp as much as possible, repaint/paint ties in anticipation of getting them changed this fall. At some point I would like to get a crew to lay out ties at the painted ones so that replacements can begin.

I'm off next week and can be at the museum on Wednesday, in case you're looking for a crew.

[Joe Fox]

Bill that would be great. Thank you.

I have considered approaching work to see if they have any that they may want to dispose of, but am not sure who to approach. The (as I call them) inserter carts, seem like a great little machine, and look very easy to swap over. Does the B&W have any photos on their site?

[Jason M Lamontagne]

We are working on getting the back-hoe, now rail mounted, operational, specifically for ties.  Included in this work (and causing its delay) is the hydraulic power pack.  It is an experiment; if it fails, the hydraulic power pack will be universal.  There is talk of making a tie inserted patterned after the simple, wide gauge versions. 

One thing is certain:  tie changing needs to be mechanized; changing ties by hand in stone ballast is not a reasonable use of our volunteer resources (same as hand tamping stone ballast).  Stone is a game changer on the hand labor consideration. 

We have been planning next weeks tamping day that joe mentioned since we fixed the tamper this week.  Joe and I discussed the plan to raise most bad joints during the weekdays of September, then arrange a lining crew on work weekend. 

A major work weekend priority is a retaining wall to arrest slumping of the south abutment of Humason Brook, as required by our bridge inspector.  Mike will have work for us as well, for sure.

See ya
Jason

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Next week, We also need to complete prepping the shop for concrete.  About two days (starting next Tuesday) with a good crew should have it nearly fully prepped. 

[Wayne Laepple]

I have sent an e-mail to an acquaintance at the Bucksghuda & Western asking him to send a photo of their machine. Stand by.

[Mike Fox]

You expect me to be ready? I have a 2 year permit you know...just kidding. By the September board meeting I will have an idea what we can get done..

[Joe Fox]

Bill, maybe we can plan to do track work on Thursday? It would probably be just the two of us, but all I really want to do is jack and tamp a handfull of spots.