November 2018 Work Report

[Jeff Schumaker]

3 to 6 inches of snow predicted for Thursday night/Friday for the Alna area..

Got a weather report from Fred. He said he got 4 inches.

Jeff S.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Interesting tidbit I’ve learned over the years of helping to manage this railway.  It is quite rare that a first snowfall effects rail operations in any way.  Ground heat reduces snow pack quickly, even if there’s a superficial frost in the ground, and the height of the rail plus the natural hump of the roadbed means that you don’t even think about putting plow on unless you’re in the 8-12” range on a first snowfall.  One also watches upcoming service requirements and temperature, of course.

On the other hand- after snow pack is well established and the railroad has been plowed- we count on a full plow and flanging operation for the entire line after even a 3” fall.

Tomorrow we fully plan on continuing with switch installation.  This is mostly spiking; we plan to predrill ties to avoid splitting them.  We’ll also do the switch stand.

Thanks,
Jason

[Paul Uhland]

Great to see quick work on MM&M access.
What's happening with the overhead crane work in the shop?

[Jeff Schumaker]

Great to see quick work on MM&M access.
What's happening with the overhead crane work in the shop?

Paul,

I believe there were photos of the progress on another thread. I just don't recall which one.

Jeff S.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Nov 17:

* ML&M switch: the switch was spiked in.  Not a big crew.  The crew starting Monday will start laying track toward the property line.
* Archives: Linda was working on them
* Old ties: Fred was cutting up old rotten ties and putting them in the Dodge truck.
* Overhead crane work: Alan was going to work on it this evening.

About 5 inches of snow on the ground. 

[Joe Fox]

More snow/rain in the forecast for Monday. Hopefully we can ballast that switch before we get a lot of snow. Ballasting on top of snow is less than ideal, and the pile may be frozen by then. In which case train crews, please be sure to read the postedTemporary Speed restrictions. Chances are there will be some changes before Christmas trains.

[John Scott]

Is the WW&F standard guard rail gap 1 3/4 inches?

[Paul Uhland]

Will Brian do the dirtwork, then youz guys lay track and derail?

[Paul Uhland]

Alna Weather Underground sez Monday am will have snow showers, <1", high 35.

[Joe Fox]

More snow in the forecast for Tuesday. Estimating 2-4" of snow in our area.

[Paul Uhland]

Hey, if it turns snowy Monday, how about bringing along a couple four-legged, fold-up "tent" shelters, set up over spur trackwork, and move 'em along as needed?

[Joe Fox]

Snow isnt the issue. The issue is we really need to ballast, and the ballast pile is now covered in melted snow which is now iced into the pile, and snow covered which means we will probably not be able to ballast this year unless we get a sudden heat wave. Snow can always be plowed before track is built which is no big deal.

[Wayne Laepple]

Is you think a somewhat frozen ballast pile is a problem, Joe, just wait until you are tasked with getting frozen ballast out of a string of hopper cars!
That was probably the scariest job I ever had to do during my railroad career. Clumps of ballast the size of a Volkswagen would thump down onto the track, then we'd have to break them up with bars and picks so we could move the car. Someone had to get up on top and beat on the ballast that was stuck up there until it suddenly would thunder down to the bottom of the car. We did not have the luxury of just forgetting about the ballast until spring, either. We had to get it done, and when we successfully unload those five cars, the boss wanted to know why it had taken us so long.

[Paul Uhland]

More excellent progress.
Will you all work Tuesday, grading the spur?
Forecast is light snow starting around 2am, up to 4 inches.

Is it possible to flatten out the green switch mast target?
A few of them in C&TS Chama yard/shops were bent, rusty; spent time straightening, painting them so nobody mis-read a switch aspect.

[Bill Baskerville]

... and when we successfully unload those five cars, the boss wanted to know why it had taken us so long.

Wayne,

That's just one of the many reasons why we enjoy working on the WW&F and perhaps working at our careers weren't as rewarding. 

Everyone, both near and far, appreciates the efforts that each individual puts into our beloved Museum.  Also, everyone, members and visitors alike, gets some benefit from those efforts.