Author Topic: Track availability  (Read 64820 times)

jockellis

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #15 on: August 25, 2008, 11:12:57 PM »
I still say that if you got the New England Patriot cheerleaders out there and publicized it, you'd have all the guy help you could ever want. I recall a photo in a recent newsletter about the "fraternity" of college girls working. Isn't that called a sorority? But if they would ask a fraternity of guys to help, there'd be a bunch of kids out there to work.
I probably told the true story about the county in south Georgia that, during WWII, was having trouble getting enough aircraft spotters to climb up on the courthouse at night to watch for enemy aircraft - until they quit sending up two guys or two girls and made it a boy-girl affair. After that they had no trouble filling their quota. It's work on the railroad, too.
Jock Ellis

James Patten

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #16 on: August 26, 2008, 05:56:23 AM »
It was a service fraternity that showed up, with two or three guys and the rest girls.

Ira Schreiber

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #17 on: September 07, 2008, 09:06:55 AM »
The service fraternity is Alpha Phi Omega of which I am an aluminus.

o anderson

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #18 on: September 09, 2008, 12:36:20 AM »
Rail and OTM are part of the auction of the Knox and Kane.  I wish I knew what weight it is, but it is a small shortline.... so maybe there is rail somewhere around, of use to the WW&F.  You might be interested in a steam powered parade (rubber tire) locomotive.  It comes with a nice looking whistle!
O. Anderson

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Ira Schreiber

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #19 on: September 09, 2008, 06:54:52 AM »
The Knox & Kane rail, per the sale bill, is 100# & 107# rail, much too heavy for our needs.
On the wish list, there are a few items we could use if someone wanted to donate them, Ha Ha.

Disclaimer:
This is NOT an official request, just MY wishful thinking.

Mike Fox

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #20 on: September 09, 2008, 03:38:49 PM »
Looking at the rail in some of the photos, I guess that is 85#. The ones on the list must be loose. Looks like a lot of items that could be handy to have. And I bet some will go Cheap. Too bad.
Mike
Doing way too much to list...

Pete "Cosmo" Barrington

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #21 on: September 20, 2008, 05:04:22 PM »
While looking for future supplies of rail, I ran across an ad for Vaughn Thibodeau & Son's, 1 Ammo Park, Bangor, ME.  They said they have 85 miles of track for sale.  Someone needs up there (in Maine) needs to check this out and see what they have.  The steel price might be the same (market driven), but transportation cost might win the day, if rail is in Maine.  If track is still in the ground, maybe ties too.

Are you sure it was 85 miles??!?!?
I'm guessing it may be more like 8.5.
I just can't fathom anybody owning 85 miles and noone knowing about it or having already seen it.
ALTHOUGH....
if it's the rail from the Calais Branch rail-trail, that would be about right. Perhaps they're looking for a bidder on what they have/will remove?
Just guessing.
Either way, I doubt it's still in the ground.

Mike Fox

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #22 on: September 20, 2008, 08:21:20 PM »
I believe it is the Calais Branch they are selling. Someone won the contract to convert it to a rail trail, though I thought the rail might stay. That rail is all to heavy, as most of it is 85# and higher. Any rail that we may use (60#) would be hard to find there. Maybe some guard rauils on a bridge or something. But not enough to even try to get. Here is a newsletter with some pictures. It may take a minute or 2 to load.
http://www.hcpcme.org/transportation/sunrise/news/Newsletter/destnews071508.doc
« Last Edit: September 20, 2008, 08:30:07 PM by Mike Fox »
Mike
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Ken Fleming

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #23 on: September 20, 2008, 10:25:02 PM »
Well not living in Maine, I can only report what I find searching for rail sources.  While the mainline is being converted to a trail, maybe any yard tracks or sidings would be lower weight rail.  It won't hurt to have someone look or at least call them.

Pete "Cosmo" Barrington

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #24 on: September 20, 2008, 11:02:17 PM »
IIRC, the Calais Branch was already examined extensively by others well before this point.

Mike Fox

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #25 on: September 21, 2008, 03:43:54 PM »
Yes. I believe someone was just up that way a few years ago and all rail was 85# or larger. Even on sidings. The MEC had worn out its lighter rail a long time ago.
   I have gone to several short branches thinking they would be less but the smallest I found was 85#. Even on the very short Cobbosseeconte branch in Gardiner. I don't know what is up on the BAR but I would assume we would have the same findings. And what if there is any, it is probably on a siding that is very overgrown.
   But by all means, keep looking. The more eyes we have out there looking, the better the chances for finding other sources. We managed to do some trading this year to get a better deal with our supplier. They in turn supplied us with some very nice rail.
Mike
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Allan Fisher

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #26 on: September 21, 2008, 05:27:17 PM »
The contractor and subcontractor on the Calais Branch were called about 1. possible 60 pound rail in gaurd rails and sidings & 2. No 1 relay ties over a month ago. Each said that there was no 60 pound or lighter rail anywhere on the Calais Branch - and no call back on the ties yet - but Charles Young says they are offering them for sale in Uncle Henry's this week.

As info 520 5 foot three inch hardwood 8" X 8" ties were delivered last Thursday and are at the end of track.
Allan Fisher

Gordon Cook

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #27 on: September 22, 2008, 11:30:04 AM »
If you consider what went on in the 20th Century, I think a reasonable conclusion is that 60# or smaller rail was long gone by WW2 from most track that could handle early 20th century locos, especially here in New England as all those bucolic branches saw their manufacturing customers move away. As mainlines were upgraded to handle the heavier equipment the 80# stuff was used to relay most secondary track in the 20's, or as cheap replacement in the depression, and then any remaining small stuff was taken up during the scrap drives in the war.
Therefore anything still on the ground today and not in use is at least 80# and likely belongs to a state. The only 60# stuff I've come across is about 200' of guard rail off a Guilford/Pan Am bridge, and about 60' left on a siding in Concord, MA, buried under the leaves. 
Gawdon

Ed Lecuyer

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #28 on: September 23, 2008, 08:40:49 AM »
3 miles of very light rail being scraped in Oregon with 3 switches. It doesn't indicate the weight but it looks lighter than 56# to my untrained eyes. If it is suitable and we want it, it appears that we need to move quickly.

http://www.brian894x4.com/PGELittleSandyFlumeRR.html
http://rypn.sunserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26158
Ed Lecuyer
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Ira Schreiber

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Re: Track availability
« Reply #29 on: September 23, 2008, 04:35:05 PM »
Based on a guesstimate of the proportional size of the spikes, timbers and other surroundings, I would hazzard a guess of 25# to 35# rail. It appears to be about 2 1/2" to 3" high rail.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2008, 07:16:35 PM by Ira Schreiber »