Spring 2018 Work Weekend

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Also, any particular ROW work planned for SWW?

SWW major projects:

1.  Rebuilding track on Davis Grade
2.  Building 2 story external staircase for north end of Percival House.

The next several (probably at least 6) work weekends will be devoted to new construction on the Mountain Extension, so we wanted to make a big maintenance but this spring as it’ll be our last chance for while.  Davis grade needs a lot of ties changed.  We’re going to take an aggressive tact.

See ya
Jason

[Jeff Schumaker]

Thanks for the info, Jason.

Jeff S.

[Bill Baskerville]

Speaking of rebuilding track on Davis grade, did the digger adapter for tie replacement every get working?  Last I remember hearing was that the valves were going to be rebuilt.

[Mike Fox]

Cylinders are out for repair. Sitting dry for years have dried them out.

[Bill Baskerville]

Thanks Mike.

This now begs the question of a new, larger compressor with built in hydraulic pump for Big Joe.  Any news on that front?

[Mike Fox]

We are actively looking. I keep finding some for Brendan to look at but he has been busy supplying the North Country with fuel.

[Hunt Dowse]

A reminder that the Wiscasset Motor Lodge will not be open for SWW.  Cod Cove Inn is offering a 10% discount (announced after FWW '17) if you tell them you are from the WW&F.  Several rooms available at this point. 

[John Kokas]

I know it's posted somewhere on the forum - but I can't find it.  When is SWW this year?  Its not on the museums events webpage yet.

[Wayne Laepple]

Last weekend in April. 27, 28, 29.

[Mike Fox]

Spring Work weekend will actually be about 2 weeks long. The weekday crew will do as much as possible to prepare for the work weekend, both during the week prior to the last charter, and the work weekend. Saturday prior we have a photo charter, and after the charter has cleared south the last time, the rails will be removed.

Sunday we will toss the 300 ties to the side. The dozer will be staged out of sight, probably at Sutters, to be able to get right to work without loading and unloading that day. We will then grade the stone smooth. I plan on making several passes to make sure all the tie pockets are full of stone and compacted.

During the week, the plan is for the weekday crews is to break down the rail to be ready for reinstallation. Also, some filter fabric will be laid out, so when the ties get laid out they will be on top of it.

Relaying the track Friday and probably Saturday will see the debut of a new planned rail handling attachment. The design is intended to prevent lifting and carrying the rail, and will be fitted to a flat car.

What doesn't get done work weekend will be finished over the summer.

And, to add more..the ditches on this section of Davis Grade need to be cleared out. If it is dry early enough, this may get done in early April. There is other work to do there, but may wait until another time.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

The week prior to the work weekend, we’ll pull 3 out of every 4 gauge side spikes from this stretch.  On the afternoon of the photo charter, the rails will be pulled in full 600 foot strings south, in the gauge of the remaining track.  Thus the breaking down during the intervening week.

Jason

[John McNamara]

Does the new rail-laying process still involve Insta-Track, or should I sell my Insta-Corp stock before The Street finds out?
-John M

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Originally thought we’d make new, all steel insta track but we have a retro-fit plan for the McNamara originals which we plan to use instead.  They will need to do more work as they support a fully loaded flatcar and full size locomotive.

[Gary Kraske]

Sorry, but is Insta-Track an inside joke?

[Fred Morse]

No. Its 4X4 5 Ft. long timbers with notches cut in for the base of the rails to sit in to hold the gauge with a sliding top to press against the web. We use 3 or 4 in a 30 ft rail so we can run light work flats over them.