Author Topic: September 2019 Track Construction  (Read 30444 times)

Fred Morse

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #45 on: September 21, 2019, 04:56:35 AM »
I think there is! The next 60 Ft. to be put down has to have some cribbing on the East side as the roadbed is about 3 to 4 inches lower than the other side do to the digging of the Tel. line, and the middle of the insta track is on the pivot point. Would not like to see the gantry lean over to far. There is quite a lot of cribbing at the T.O.M.

Bill Reidy

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #46 on: September 21, 2019, 07:57:25 PM »
Some photos from today (Saturday, September 21st), showing the rail put down last Wednesday being partially spiked freeing insta-track units, plus Mike's work to lay buried magneto phone line.  More or less in chronological order from this morning.

Early this morning, Mike was busy breaking a trench for phone wire a short distance north of where he ended the prior Saturday.  Trout Brook bridge is visible in the distance to the north.


Standing behind (south of) Casey the bulldozer, the view looking north toward the bridge, as Mike worked.  We see the end of the road fabric put down in advance of placement of ties and rails, with a stake marking the centerline for the track.  A magneto telephone post will placed to the right of the tree on the right, where the phone line Mike buried last weekend meets the phone line buried today.


Turning 180 degrees to look north, we see the end of the ties and rails put down last Wednesday.  After ditching and putting down grass seed, Mike spread the hay over the ditches a week ago.


Fred rightly complains we always take photos of him sitting, and not so much when he is working.  Here's Fred spiking, as Leon Weeks and his grandson Jared look on.  Fred was also engineer for today's work train.  Note the new tie nippers (lifters) -- one in use on the left, and another on the ground on the right in front of Leon.  Leon recently made them in his shop.  They worked great today.


A view from the rear (north end) of the work train.  The steel drums on the right mark the area where the start of the new ties and rail were put down last Wednesday.  The new rail at this end has been fully spiked on the east rail and safety spiked on the west.


Looking south, folks safety spiking the west rail.


Late morning, Mike putting down the phone wire from where he ended last weekend to just south of Trout Brook bridge.


Unlike Wednesday, it was a summery day today, with temperatures in the low 80s in the afternoon.  The right-of-way looks great, pretty much all ready for the Fall Work Weekend.  By mid-afternoon, the cycle 1 rail put down Wednesday had been fully spiked on the east and safety spiked on the west.  Spikers will be busy first thing Friday of Fall Work Weekend on this section as more ties and rail are put out by the gantry train.
What–me worry?

Jason M Lamontagne

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #47 on: September 22, 2019, 07:16:31 AM »
Rail laying will resume this Tuesday and Wednesday, September 24,25, 2019.  We will lay “cycle 2” of this year’s extension, which is about 280’ and should get us nearly off the curve.

Prep and start Tuesday- finish Wednesday.

Crew call!

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #48 on: September 22, 2019, 08:18:41 AM »
Thanks for the photos, Bill.

Jeff S.
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ALAIN DELASSUS

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #49 on: September 22, 2019, 08:31:01 AM »
Thank you Bill for that comprehensive coverage of that busy Saturday. The weather was on your side, let's hope it goes on.

Dana Deering

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #50 on: September 23, 2019, 04:15:09 AM »
Thank you to all of those who showed up to help with the spiking on Saturday.  We had a good day and I appreciate all the help.  Skip and Larry came all the way from Pennsylvania to assist and deserve a special thank you.  Once the next cycle is put down this week we should be ready for the big push.  Now let's pray for decent weather for the FWW.

I also want to thank Fred for being willing to serve as engineer for the work train on Saturday.  That was a huge help.

Bill Reidy

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #51 on: September 23, 2019, 05:09:46 PM »
Jason:  When is train time Wednesday?  Can't make tomorrow but should be able to attend on Wednesday.

Thanks.
What–me worry?

Paul Uhland

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #52 on: September 23, 2019, 06:50:16 PM »
Mike...if the phone line goes north of Da Bridge, will you hang it under its deck?
Trackwork is blasting along fabulously.

Congrats.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2019, 06:55:04 PM by Paul Uhland »
Paul Uhland

Mike Fox

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #53 on: September 24, 2019, 08:16:12 AM »
I have a plan..not sure just what the timing will be but..

I picked up 200 feet of 3/4 water pipe to act as conduit. I used my shop vac to suck rope into the coil of waterline, ready to hook onto the wire and pull it through. That gets bried in the approaches.

I also picked up 4 lengths of 3/4 conduit to snake through the bridge, between the siding and timber frame. This will allow the wire to be inserted through the bridge easily, hopefully. I had thoughts of running conduit over all exposed wire on the bridge, but don't think that it is needed. So, instead I picked up some stainless steel staples to attach the wire, probably to the bottom side of the decking. I don't want to do anything to any of the structural members of the bridge that could create s spot for moisture to enter and create rot.

Everything will be hidden from view as much as possible.

North of the bridge I am going as far as the wire will go. I am hoping for the switch frog location, but may wind up being south of that some.
Mike
Doing way too much to list...

Paul Uhland

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #54 on: September 24, 2019, 11:49:28 AM »
So Mike--that "magneto telephone post" mentioned...will there be a phone  placed there? In telephone lingo, that would be called a 'station'.
Obviously, a terminating 'station' would be installed north of Da Bridge, in a new depot  built there?
« Last Edit: September 26, 2019, 03:25:47 PM by Paul Uhland »
Paul Uhland

Dave Crow

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #55 on: September 24, 2019, 12:10:30 PM »
Paul, I believe the phone post is just that - a post where the telephone wire is accessible.  When communication is needed back to Sheepscot, a person connects a magneto phone to the wires at the post.

John McNamara

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #56 on: September 24, 2019, 03:28:38 PM »
I second Dave Crow's post (no pun intended). Shortly after the northernmost post location is established, I will install a telephone enclosure on that post.  There are enclosures of similar design at Sutter's Crossing, Sheepscot Mills crossing, and Top of the Mountain.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2019, 04:36:15 PM by John McNamara »

Jason M Lamontagne

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #57 on: September 24, 2019, 04:06:57 PM »
Bill, all,

Wednesday train departure 9:30am.  We got rained out today after 4 sticks.  Tomorrow is rain, sleet, snow, hail, meteorites, cats, dogs, elephants, or shine.

Thanks all,
Jason

Al Michelis

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #58 on: September 24, 2019, 04:28:06 PM »
Bill, all,

Wednesday train departure 9:30am.  We got rained out today after 4 sticks.  Tomorrow is rain, sleet, snow, hail, meteorites, cats, dogs, elephants, or shine.

Thanks all,
Jason
Shine ....

Sunny tomorrow and the weekend.  Look out for Thursday!

Brendan Barry

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Re: September 2019 Track Construction
« Reply #59 on: September 25, 2019, 03:44:16 PM »
Today's track laying.



























United Timber Bridge Workers, Local 1894, Alna, ME