Spring Work Weekend 2019

[Bill Baskerville]

...a big thank you to those volunteers who shoveled ballast with us during the SWW. ... Apart from track laying, track work is not considered the sexiest task on the work weekends but without it the railroad doesn't run.  I appreciate all of those folks who helped out on the track.

Dana,
Though I found tasks on the Sheepscot side of Alna Center to keep me busy (like bringing up the lunch train) for the SWW, I have done my share of track work, both on the WW's and just general track maintenance.  Though the work is hard, I find the camaraderie of working with other volunteers for the love of our WW&F to be very rewarding.  Additionally, the skills I have had the opportunity to learn makes me the envy of all my local model railroad and NRHS friends.  Some folks pay a lot of money to enjoy what we share for the shear love of our Museum.

[Joe Fox]

On a personal level, I have found I enjoy all the tasks of track work as they are all key to running a railroad. Being on the train is fun from time to time. But it is more fun to look back and say "I helped build that." With that in mind, lets use today to reflect on how others felt when they looked back 150 years ago at the completion of the Transcontinental railroad. I have personally been involved with the museum for 14 years, and to see the railroad where it is today is incredible.

Well done to over one thousand of men and women who have got us where we are today. Rather just through donations, or by volunteering everyone plays a vital role.

[john d Stone]

I thoroughly enjoy being part of the track gang. I don't possess many marketable skills, but being able to offer up a little (very little) muscle effort to further the cause is quite satisfying. This Spring session was a particularly beautiful experience. Though the weather was iffy, having two Forneys shuttling stone to us was pure two foot immersion! As Joe said, what has been accomplished by the WW&F is absolutely amazing. The Maine woods is a wonderful place to grow a railroad!
Thank you, Dana and Joe, for all of your expertise in keeping the efforts of the troops focused.

[Russ Nelson]

That was an amazing weekend. Both weekends in 2019 were awesome. Laying the track and then ballasting it. I will remember those weekends forever.