August 2021 Work Reports

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Thanks Bill for the report. Trackworks are endless. As soon as you have been  fixed  one place  you have to run to an other one worse than the previous location. I guess that the clay ground of the ROW does not help matters as regards the geometry and comportment of the track. Trackworks are time consumming and require quite a lot of workforce at that  so  it's a sound idea to  advertise for new volunteers on fb  especially if you decide on  crossing 218 some day.

[Dana Deering]

Regarding the turntable. My guess is that if Edaville had only one turntable it would have been the one from Bridgton Junction because Mr. Atwood bought all of the Junction trackage. If it was the Junction table than it is the turntable that was originally at the Harrison yard. Ed Mead states in “Busted and Still Running” that the Harrison table was moved to the Junction when the Harrison branch was abandoned. The old Junction table must’ve been replaced with the “newer” Harrison table. Also, there is a photo in a couple of Bridgton books that shows what could be the initial scrapping of the Bridgton Yard turntable.   Possibly Atwood bought both? One for parts?  I don’t know, but my guess is that the table we now have is the Junction/Harrison turntable.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Aug 21:

* Ice Cream Social - Dave, Steve L, Steve P and others set up for the ice cream at Alna Center in the morning, and served ice cream for the 1 and 3 trains.
* Archives - Linda and Nicole were flipping through books matching up pictures from a recently received set of photo albums.
* Board meeting - 4 - 6.

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 24-25 August 2021

*  Track work, lifting joints between Rosewood and Albee’s Crossing, MLMW switch lift. (Tues)

*  Conservancy/WW&F work day, weed whacking, build crossing/fence at Trout Brook Bridge

*  Coach #9 assembly

*  Brookville/Tamper work

*  Shop, wheel pressing

*  Grounds maintenance and clean up


                           Rules for Standards for Operations

BASIC SAFETY TEST:  This is the last week to get your test in, the end date is 31 August.


NOTE:  Don’t miss out on your chance to be on the train crew! There are openings in all positions, beat the rush and sign up today.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Aug 28:

* Engine house
* Machine shop
* Public train ops (help needed)

[Ed Lecuyer]

Anticipated Operations for Saturday, Aug 28th.
9:00am: Handcar Hop (available).
11:00am: Sheepscot Valley Steam Train (tix available), Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails (SOLD OUT WEEKS AGO) and Caboose Adventure (SOLD OUT).
1:00pm: Sheepscot Valley Steam Train (tix available) and Caboose Adventure (SOLD OUT).
3:00pm: Sheepscot Valley Steam Train (tix available) and Caboose Adventure (available).
5:00pm: Presentation: Wild Blueberry Express (tix available) and Caboose Adventure (SOLD OUT).

Extra assistance is always appreciated - contact crewcaller@traincrew.wwfry.org to sign up, or learn how to be qualified.

Specifically, we NEED assistance over the NEXT TWO WEEKS:
- 9/4 is the BBQ and Farmstand Express (cookout at ToM) with an evening concert.
- 9/11 is a large charter with nearly 200 passengers over two shifts - campus tour guides/docents needed.
- Plus, Pumpkin Pickin' Trains start 9/25 (two steam trains running on the hour every hour 11-4, plus concerts at 5pm)
Contact ed.lecuyer@wwfry.org to help.


All trains are limited to 75 passengers and all tickets must be purchased in advance.
All passengers and crew must adhere to the COVID-19 Policy published at www.wwfry.org/covid
Visit www.wwfry.org/tickets to buy tickets.

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 24-25 August 2021.

Tuesday:

*  Track work,  Big Joe had a minor repair to a tamping hammer and it was back to work
    completing 4 more joints, lifted, ballasted and tamped. Further the ML&M switch was
    lifted and hand tamped, this area will need another lift. The day ended with ballasting a
    small erosion spot north of the Jane Way Crossing.
    (Steve L, Dan, Leon, Jared, Chuck, Steve Leet)

*  Shop work, Jackson Sharp truck work begins (Jerry, Carlos, Jason)
     Vacuum brake work,  (Johnathan and Randy)
     
*   Tamper/Brookville work continues  (Jay B)

*   Coach #9 assembly continues (Eric, Ron, Lou)

*   Alna Center mowing,  (Fred, Randy)

*   General maintenance and clean up  ( Stewart, Fred, Randy)

*  Gift shop and Archives work  (Cindy R, Linda)


Wednesday:

*  Midcoast Conservancy joint work day. Work completed included members help build new trail   
    bridges from parking lot to track right of way, weed whacking along east side of track from trail end
    Trout Brook Bridge, some 20 fence post holes dug, set and tamped between trail track crossing south
    to the north end of bridge, fencing to be added next week, pedestrian track crossing built .
    Steve L, Steve Leet, Brian W, Chuck, Bill R, JB Smith, Paul and Elijah, Isobel from Midcoast and 
    two new volunteers Steve Gaskin and Ed who I don’t remember his last name.

*  Turn table test hole completed,  (Jason, Steve Leet, Brian W, Bill R, JB Smith, Paul, Elijah.

*  Shop work, Vacuum brakes, Trout Brook Bridge railing.  (Randy, Jonathan)

*  Coach #9 assembly continues,  (Eric, Ron)

*  Sheepscot campus mowing and Maintenance, trash run,  (Fred, Stewart)

*  Gift shop  ( Cindy R)

* Tamper/Brookville work,  (Jay B)


NOTE:  I am sure I missed people. Note the work completed was under the hottest days this summer.

[Bill Reidy]

Some photos from today on the Mountain Extension for the trail, fence and crossing work north of Trout Brook.  Yes, it was a tad warm.

Early in the day on the work of setting fence posts.  The fence will separate the relocated Midcoast Conservancy trail on the left from the railway on the right.  We're looking north, with roadmaster Steve Lennox leading a crew on the four-man auger.  In the foreground is Steve Leet, who led with professional guidance on lining and setting the fence posts.


The fence posts set before lunch.  Early on, a crew also brush cut the trail and fence line south of the new trail crossing.


Looking south along the new fence line from locomotive No. 52.  Today's work train (north-to-south) was 52, Bridgton & Saco River flatcar No. 34, and Maine Locomotive & Machine open coach No. 130.


The fence post line nearing completion, looking south toward Trout Brook bridge.  In the distance, Steve Leet is working with a crew to set the final few posts.  20 posts were set.


Not a great photo, but here is the roll of new wire fencing that will be installed.  The fence separating rail and trail is meant to resemble fence lines from the historic railway, as researched by Steve Piwowarski, with example seen on page 146 126 of Two Feet to Tidewater.


The new trail crossing installed today.


Today's crew shoveling stone to make ballast ramps to the trail crossing.


While this work was underway on the new trail crossing and southward toward Trout Brook bridge, Midcoast Conservancy's Isobel Curtis, Lands Environmental Steward, was busy leading a crew rerouting a portion of the trail on the east side of the railway north of the crossing.  A couple of photos of the work accomplished today.




Did Steve Lennox mention it was very hot today?

Edit:  Jason provided two corrections to my original post.  Thanks!

2nd edit:  Corrected the page reference in Two Feet to Tidewater.

[Mike Fox]

Wow. Looks great! Nice work. It has been over 100 out here the last 4 days and today will be another. At least I am not working in it..

[Jeff Schumaker]

Is the 100 degrees the actual temp or feels like temp? If the former, it probably felt hotter than that. NW Ohio has been having the same weather.

Jeff S.

[Mike Fox]

Actual. Today was only 100. Feels like temp was 107 or something like that. Saw 113 on Tuesday.. Too hot for this guy to be too far from the AC..

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Bill,

Thanks for your report on the hole boring business.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Aug 28:

* Brush cutting: A crew was cutting on Averill Road, and around MP 7.
* Shop annex: Brendan was putting in additional supports on the floor of the annex in order to place the shelves for steel stock.  Meanwhile I moved the nails and screws from Fred's Shed to the annex.

[Bill Reidy]

Work done on Saturday Aug 28:

* Brush cutting: A crew was cutting on Averill Road, and around MP 7...

The north side of Jayne's Way crossing was also cut.  The northwest corner of Trask's crossing could use some attention.

I did see the Averill Road crew also cut the poison ivy patch behind the Alna Center outside phone post.  I felt itchy the rest of the day after that sight.

Looks like the public trains were well-attended, at least through 3 p.m., when I left.

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work Tuesday August 31, Wednesday September 1, 2021

*  Trout Brook Bridge fencing build,    (Tuesday)
*  Trout Brook Bridge railing build begins.
*  Locomotive #11 Work Session Tuesday thru Thursday. The focus will be on
    boiler plate flanging for Locomotive #10 and #11.
*  Shop work, rebuilding trucks continue.
*  Flanger/Brookville repairs continue
*  General maintenance and campus clean up.


       Rules and Regulations for Operations

This is it! Basic Safety Rules Test to be handed in by Tuesday, 31 August 2021