September 2019 Track Construction

[Jason M Lamontagne]

7 cycles for a goal of 1960 feet.  This is just shy of the large boulder near 218.  The idea is to get as much done as possible while leaving room to remove some of that boulder, prep and install the turntable and northern rail track.  Possibly also a station.

Even building nearly 2000’ this fall- next year will be extremely busy.  Switch, turntable, siding, tail track, ballast 2000’, tamp, dress.  That is why we’re pushing to get as much done this fall as possible.

Thanks,
Jason

[James Patten]

Usually we use a lining bar with a piece of wood underneath to give some leverage.  Someone built a few tie nippers many years ago that were a little too steep of an angle for comfortable leverage, plus the leverage bar had some square corners that made gripping it uncomfortable with the shock from the hammer blow to the tie.

[Wayne Laepple]

A claw bar (spike puller) works well as a tie nipper, too. The two toes hold the tie better than a lining bar, and the heel is a good fulcrum, especially if set on a tie plate or a flat slab of wood.

[Dwight Winkley]

I always put a spike in one spike hole.  Tie plate is put on the ground with the spike head under the plate. Makes a good handle to move the plate to the next tie to be spiked.

[Rick Rowlands]

Does anyone up there use the AREMA nipping spoons?  These are the best for the job.  We have three around here. 
https://www.rrtoolsnsolutions.com/catalog/TrackTools18.asp

[Brian Strait]

I’ll be there!

[Dana Deering]

Leon Weeks is making some tie nippers of a new design and I'm hoping we might have them to test this coming Saturday.

[Ken Berlo]

Wondering what time the train to EOT with be leaving Sheepscot Wednesday morning?

[Ed Lecuyer]

Work train schedule, this week:
Tues, 9/17: After lunch. (After 12 noon or so.)
Wed, 9/18: 9:00am.
Sat, 9/21: 7-7:30am. (hoped)
Sun, 9/22: 7-7:30am. (hoped)

[Dana Deering]

When you are laying out the track would you please make sure someone is marking the ties for the first spike?   Thank you, in advance.

[Mike Fox]

I am looking for pictures that we can share from Wednesdays track construction. Feel free to email them to me at mike.fox at wwfry dot org.

[Ed Lecuyer]

When you are laying out the track would you please make sure someone is marking the ties for the first spike?

We did on Tuesday; I can't speak for the Wednesday crew.

[Bill Reidy]

I took some photos.  Will try to get them posted shortly.  Working at the moment.

Stewart has photos posted on the Museum Facebook page -- hope the link works:  https://www.facebook.com/WWFRailway/photos/pcb.10156817647796871/10156817636526871/?type=3&theater

I think his photos are better than mine (with the exception of the one showing the fat guy on the gantry car!).

[Mike Fox]

Thanks Bill.

[Bill Reidy]

Some photos from yesterday (while I wait to finish work.  IT is hurry up and wait -- a lot like railroad service, I've long found...).  Beautiful day yesterday.  Late summer and fall provide my favorite New England weather.

What I think is a striking view of two Museum Maine two-footer boxcars as we awaited the trip north from Sheepscot.


Early on, a view of the first east rail being lowered into place.


Jason assembles a rail joint, as Ken Berlo helps hold the new rail in place.  A good view of the leading yellow flat holding joint bars, bolts, tools and inst-track needed to secure gauge for the new rail.


Jay Barta in position to provide the next rail or tie bundle needed to proceed north.  Steve Lennox and Jay handled setting up the rail gantry chains to provide tie bundles and rails, as I tried to help and not be in the way.


A view of Wednesday's rail train:  leading yellow flat (didn't catch the number), WW&F No. 126 (carrying the gantry). B&SR flat No. 34 (carrying the rail), WW&F No. 52 (carrying engineer Jonathan St. Mary), MLMW open car No. 130 and WW&F coach No. 8.  The latter two cars carried our track crew and provided extra brakes.


A view of the last rail being placed.  I understand that Dana's crew will safety spike the 280 feet of track placed Saturday.  Mike:  I understand we're just a few rail lengths north of location 11, still in the last curve and just out of site of the bridge.  Correct me -- you'll know better!