July 2018 Work Planning

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Starting this thread in order to highlight that our planned summer work to install the bridge is getting underway and will be very intense at times.  Here’s a general request for any extra help we can get- we’ll put out specific calls for help on a day by day basis, as they’re needed.

I’ll put out a full task list and rough schedule under the bridge thread- so it’s a linear discussion over the next 3 months.  To foreshadow this week: heavy work days are planned for Tuesday and Thursday, with a lighter work day on Friday.  We plan to prep the stringers for the bridge approach spans (20 beams).  On Thursday or Friday morning we expect our large timber shipment to arrive: 22 pilings, and dozens of timbers.  We may start sorting those out.

Also this week- we will complete 309’s truck, as well as a repair on coach 3’s brake system.  There’ll be some prep for the upcoming ice cream social too.

Joe will continue trying to sprinkle in track work throughout the bridge project.  Initially, he’s hoping for some very limited help (1 or 2) this coming Monday (tomorrow).

See ya
Jason

[Joe Fox]

I got about 160' of track tamped today, amongst a few minor repairs made through out the day, and needing to replace a few missing nuts the tamper ran very well. I am still amazed with how well it is running currently. Tamping is a little slow at times, but I suspect one more full day of tamping, a crew to dress ballast the tamped areas, and the rebuilt area will be very good. I'd like to get it lined, however it won't be this year due to other more pressing track projects, but will be a good filler between trains if crew permits.

[Brendan Barry]

Boxcar 309's repaired truck about to be rolled under the car. The top frame of the truck was bent down on the ends from the force of the brakes being applied and an archbar needed repair at one of the journal boxes. The top frame was bent back into place and reinforcement pieces were fitted on top of the truck frame. The WW&F had repaired this truck before on one corner before using the same method.

[Joe Fox]

Although it is a holiday, there will be shop work, and track work going on 7/4.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of July 7-8:

* Ice Cream Social: Saturday unless it rains then Sunday (no rain in the forecast).  We need help.
* Caboose 320
* Bridge
* Mountain Extension

[Paul Uhland]

Bridge work...what? Staining? Custom tie work? Sitework? Short approach spans?
ME work...what? More Grading? Clearing? Culverts? Retaining wall build?
I'm nosy by nature. 

[James Patten]

Eventually, yes to all.  My lists are usually guesswork based on ongoing stuff, I don't know of any specifics planned for the weekend.

[Mike Fox]

Did a little good neighbor deed today.

Seems someone left a load of gravel late last summer in Mid Coast Conservancy's Trout Brook parking area. They thought we did it. We thought they did it. No one knew where it came from. Well, after plowing around it this winter, and having Mid Coast ask us if we could do something about it, today was the day. I walked the dozer down the side of 218 and took care of it.








Then, after returning from the North End, I organized the blocks so they were out of the way and in order of need.

[Bob Holmes]

I drove into the Conservancy parking lot today.  Mike did a great job of improving it!  When neighbors help neighbors, only good things can result!

Bob

[Dave Buczkowski]

Nice job Mike! Thanks.

[Bill Reidy]

Very good Mike -- thanks!

[Joe Fox]

Well today didn't go as well as I had hoped. Tamper is still down,  Linc and I tried to find the missing parts, no such luck. Then I did some brush cutting, but experienced some issues there as well. Oh well, there is always another day I guess.

Track crew of one is a challenge, but I have developed a good system for me to work alone. Also trying to develope ways to line track alone, and work on new ways to jack and tamp with a one man crew. This and working on new flat car sides should help out with track work.

Other things I am thinking on is a ballast regulator to push stone out of the middle of the tracks, and wings to pull stone up, or if you travel in reverse could push stone out. All just ideas, but as our track grows and track crew continues to decrease our demand for actual track machines increases.

[Alex Harvilchuck]

All just ideas, but as our track grows and track crew continues to decrease our demand for actual track machines increases.

See my PM, I might be able to help.

[Paul Uhland]

How about having quarterly work weekends to take care of serious problems only?

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Next week:

Monday, Tuesday: pre-fab bridge abutments at Sheepscot.
Wednesday: install silt fence, mark out abutment excavation at bridge site (finish abutments if needed).
Mon-Wed: paint bridge.
Thursday: (rain forecast): continue work on steel temp spans.