September 2019 Track Construction

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Hello all,

We plan to lay one crane cycle of track on the Mountain next Tuesday and Wednesday, September 17/18.  Tuesday will be load out and ferry move, possibly followed by a soft start.  Wednesday will be production track laying.

There is a major spiking effort planned for that weekend, September 21/22, led by Dana Deering.

Please consider this a crew call for both work events!

Thanks,
Jason

[Paul Uhland]

Sounds like a dandy, warmup idea.

[Bill Piche]

What's the expected work hours for the spike gangs? I'm 50/50 I could make Saturday at this point in time.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Hoping Dana sees this and answers Bill’s question. 

We just measured the track laying distance in terms of crane cycles.  According to our schedule, next Wednesday will bring the rail head within view of the bridge.   Another cycle prior to work weekend gets us almost off the curve, while FWW Friday’s two cycles get us about 90’ from the south end of the bridge.  The FWW Saturday morning crane cycle is centered on the bridge.  Track laying will conclude midday Sunday about 300’ from the shoulder of 218.  We’re leaving that much space to allow for the construction of terminal facilities in 2020.  This also gives a day and a half of 2019 FWW devoted solely to spiking, to ensure it keeps up with rail laying.

Should be fun!
Jason

[Paul Uhland]

Great news!

Latest, not final, EOT will then be an 'Abq block' distance  from 218.
Still think youz guys will need to erect a serious fence/gate there along 218's shoulder.

Good fences make good railfans. 

So, what are next year's latest plans for developing a terminal there?

[Dana Deering]

I plan to get to Sheepscot early on Saturday morning and I am hoping that we can have a work train departure between 7 and 7:30 AM.  I plan to be there Sunday as well.  I know that some of Skip's crew from PA will be there and my goal is to get the entire east rail spiked and the rest at least safety spiked.  If we can do more that would be great.  What we're trying to do is to give the spike crews some work to do in the morning of 10/11 while the crane is laying out the next "turn". If the track we put down this month is safety spiked we can start right in with the finish spiking on Friday of the FWW and perhaps not have too much down time, except where sore shoulders might require it...

I'm looking forward to it.  Should be fun.  Pray for clear weather!

Dana

[Al Michelis]

Possible rain this coming Saturday.  Ten (10) day forecast looks good for all of next week.  No forecast yet for the following weekend.

[Dana Deering]

Just to be clear (like I hope the weather will be) the spiking weekend will be 9/21 - 22.  If it rains this weekend maybe we'll get a break the following weekend.  I'll be spiking rain or shine.  Does anyone know how to get in touch with Leon weeks?  I'd like to know if he could have the newly designed tie nippers ready for a trial run on 9/21.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Leon weeks?

Hi Dana - please see your email.

[Joe Fox]

I will try to be there Saturday that weekend. I'll be in touch.

[Kevin Kierstead]

I'll be up for Tues. + Wed.  can't make Sat/ Sun

[Jeff Schumaker]

Hello all,

We plan to lay one crane cycle of track on the Mountain next Tuesday and Wednesday, September 17/18.  Tuesday will be load out and ferry move, possibly followed by a soft start.  Wednesday will be production track laying.

There is a major spiking effort planned for that weekend, September 21/22, led by Dana Deering.

Please consider this a crew call for both work events!

Thanks,
Jason

How many feet of track is one crane cycle?

Jeff S.

[Paul Uhland]

And, what the heck is a 'tie nipper'?

[Wayne Laepple]

According to posts from last fall's work weekend, they were getting 280 track feet per cycle. So roughly six cycles will be necessary to reach the goal of 1700 feet, more or less.

[Bill Piche]

And, what the heck is a 'tie nipper'?

It's a lever mounted with a hinge to a tie plate so that you can hold the ties up tight to the rail on uneven ground while it's being spiked.