Car Barn Extension - Official Work Thread

[Roger Cole]

Dumb question - why does the large middle opening look big enough for a rail car if the tracks end before reaching the end of the building?  Are their future plans to continue tracks on out that big set of double doors?

[John McNamara]

I don't think the big doors are intended for delivering rail equipment. There is a ramp track over between the restrooms and the garage that has that purpose. Of course the follow-on question is (as you state) why they are so big?

[Dwight Winkley]

Roger, Just in front of the large doorway is a buried septic tank. Plan is to have a lawn in front of the exhibit barn.

[Bob Holmes]

To maintain the the appearance as a car barn? Why not?

[Ed Lecuyer]

The intent was to make the front resemble a typical Maine barn. The large doors, I believe are intended to be open when the museum is operating (weather permitting) to provide a visual invitation for visitors to explore the exhibits.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Since the exhibit hall has no sky lights, the open doors will let extra light into the south end of the building.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

During the week Brendan fabricated 6 new strap hinges for the large doors.  Today, all hinges were prime painted on both sides.  This was possible because the primer dried quickly in the sun.  The hinges are now in the exhibit hall waiting to be installed on the doors.

The two large doors received a prime coat last weekend and will get their finish coat after they are hung.

[Fred L. Kuhns]

 Brendan,  A little or a year ago the Car Barn Extension construction was began.  The reporting of the progress was greatly appreciated. It now appears you and your crew are ready to began working on finishing the interior, looking forward to the next stage of progress reports.  The pictures of the progress, on all locations of your website , provided added clarity to your written reports.   Thanks,  Fred L. Kuhns

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The two large front doors were hung on Tuesday 7/14 and the hardware was prime painted on Wednesday.  The Parlor Car Rangeley and B&SR locomotive #7 were moved into the exhibit hall Wednesday afternoon.  Today, the door jamb strips were installed.  The doors are fastened shut, waiting for the latch to be made. There's a center strip that needs to be added as well. 

Volunteers from MNG will meet with our folks next week to discuss inside displays and landscaping in front of the building.  Engine 7 will be cleaned in preparation for display during the Annual Picnic next month.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Here are a few comments on the exhibit hall posted by followers of the WW&F Facebook page:

* Beautiful building
* What a great job, wish I lived closer to the WW&F.
* Magnificent structure.
* Such a beautiful project, well done.
* The exhibit hall certainly gives the car barn a more welcome feel.
* Stunning serene simplicity.
* Well done Brendan and crew for the achievement of that project.  The future WW&F Museum looks great all due to you and the crew that shared in the work.
* Wow, that looks great.
* Awesome job!
* Love it!!
* Great job, congrats to all that were involved.  A museum is definitely a plus for a tourist railway.

[John Kokas]

It looks fantastic !!!  Great job Brendan and crew.......

[Brendan Barry]

Car barn over the last couple of months. Just need two pieces of roof trim and some landscaping out front to finish the building.

[Graham Buxton]

The Carbarn looks great!

... some landscaping out front ...

Perhaps the landscaping could include a 'fake rock'* to hide the septic/sewer electrical box featured prominently in the garden out front. 


*(hollow fiberglass/resin/plastic rock, sized to fit over the electrical box & conduit; various sized options illustrated here:
https://www.homedepot.com/s/fiberglass%2520landscape%2520rock?NCNI-5

[Wayne Laepple]

But no drip pans or diapers under No. 7 yet. Now the floor is stained.

[Bill Baskerville]

The Carbarn looks great!

... some landscaping out front ...

Perhaps the landscaping could include a 'fake rock'* to hide the septic/sewer electrical box featured prominently in the garden out front. 

Perhaps we can find something more railroadie like an old steam dome or a caboose cupola or even a switch stand on a box that covers the electrical box.  The nice thing about a cupola is if one looks closely, the electrical box isn't hidden.  A wooden switch stand base could have an access door for the electrical box.