October 2021 Work Reports

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Oct 9:

* New track: Track was laid for all 3 bays of the engine house from the turntable.  Ties were laid out for the through track and the outside track.  The center track flangeways were cleaned out and the diesel ran into and out of the center bay.
* Enginehouse: Brendan put up the posts for the vehicle door at the rear of the structure.
* Coach 9: Harold and Alan were both working on projects which will benefit the coach.
* West of garage ground works: Mike moved the gas shed over a bit, relocated some items next to the upside-down trailer, and worked to re-align the woods track to its new location in preparation for putting in a crossing.  It's not moving far.
* Computer work: Russ and Ewa worked on the laptop I hosed earlier in the year, on the archives computer, and on the office computer.
* Parking lot: Mike and Steve P put lines down on the ground for the parking lot.

[Mike Fox]

Testing the rails in the enginehouse with 52.



How it got there

[Bill Reidy]

Train crews were quite busy yesterday as well.  The Pumpkin Pickin' Trains to SeaLyon Farm have been very popular, and checking just now, I see the remaining two Saturdays are now sold out.  Tickets do remain for the Sheepscot Valley Steam Train service.  A couple of photos from yesterday.

Maine Narrow Gauge's B&SR No. 7 prepares to depart Sheepscot northbound at 2 p.m. with Train No. 11.  Her consist:  WW&F flatcar No. 118; Maine Locomotive & Machine Works' Franklin & Megantic coach No. 2; MNG's Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes combine No. 14; and WW&F caboose No. 320.


WW&F No. 9 arrives at Sheepscot at 2.21 p.m. with Train No. 10.  Her consist: WW&F coach No. 8; W&Q coach No. 3; MLMW open car No. 130; and MLMW caboose No. 554.


More photos from yesterday's engine house track work can be found here.

[Fred Morse]

55 volunteers signed in the sign-in book Sat!

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 12-13 October 2021

*  Track work, various projects to include continued work on the service track

*  Shop, passenger coach truck rebuild, vacuum brakes

*  Campus, various repairs needed around the campus

*  Alna Center mowing (pending)

* Tamper (Harsco) repairs to continue (pending)

*  Engine house build

*  Gift shop/mail, Archives work

*  Morning Charter

Note:  Sorry this is late.

[Russ Nelson]

55 volunteers signed in the sign-in book Sat!

I signed it twice! In AND out!

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday October 16:

* Engine house construction
* Machine shop/coach 9 work
* Pumpkin Pickin' trains
* Board meeting 4 PM

Volunteers please park at the corner lot.

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 12-13 October 2021.

Tuesday:

*  Track work, the track crew completes preparation for Wednesday rail install
    on the new Service Track. This included loading rail, gathering tools, switching the work
    consist.  (Steve L, Steve Leet, Brian W, Paul R, Scott, Jay B, Ken A)

*  Shop work, work continues on the passenger trucks  (Jerry, Carlos)
                        work continues on the vacuum brakes  (Jonathan, Randy)

*  Coach #9, assembly continues with the roof and seat frames. (Eric, Ron Harold)

*  Engine House construction continues, wall work  (Brendan, Fred, Mark)

*  Alna Center mowing  (Randy)

*  Gift shop/mail  (Cindy R)

*  Greasing and Oiling rolling stock journals  (Phil B)

Note:  Several volunteers were on site that I recall Bryce and Zack, helping out.

Wednesday:

*  Track Work, the track crew and volunteers installed the rail on the service track.
    Work will continue later to include switch install, lining spiking and ballast.
    (Jason, Steve L, Eric, Randy, Steve Leet, Jay B, Jonathan, Scott, Dave F, Bryce)

*  Engine House, wall work continues,  (Brendan, Fred, Stewart)

*  Greasing and Oiling rolling stock journals  (Phil B)

*  Gift shop/mail  (Cindy R)

*  Switching (afternoon)  Jason, Bryce)

Note:  Once again there is always someone missed who is working around the railroad.
           Another good work day with a lot completed.

[john d Stone]

I don't know if I'm putting this in the right category, but I just wanted to express my thanks to those who organized and participated in the mini-work weekend last Saturday. As always, I am amazed at the progress made during the intervals between my visits. With a two year gap this time, the difference was absolutely staggering! It was so nice to see and work alongside the good folks who make things happen. It's very rewarding to feel like I've at least participated a little bit in this wonderful venture and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.

Thanks again!

John Stone

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

It was nice to see you John, and many other friends that showed up last Saturday.  Because of all the prep work that was done, major progress was made this week with the yard tracks and engine house construction.  New photos are posted on the WW&F FB page.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Rail was laid for the new Service Track on Wednesday Oct 13, 2021.  It is not ready for spikes- as we have to attend to some alignment issues where it ties into Barn 1 switch and through the new House Switch.  We plan to address those- and complete the House Switch prior to Saturday 10/30/2021.  The hope is that the work day on 10/30 sees this entire track and the House Track finish spiked.

Thanks all,
Jason

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday October 16:

* Engine house: More boards went up, some on the main west wall and some on the middle bay west wall. 
* Garage: Mike did some re-arranging of the first bay of the garage to accept a "new" tractor (see the story at https://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/article/alna-spend-close-half-million-cross-road-if-voters-approve/152939 for further details, middle of the article), and worked on some vehicle repairs.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel was working on it.
* Coach 9: Zack was working on assembling a core piece of one of the trucks, a wood-steel sandwich with new wood.
* Board meeting at 4.

[John Kokas]

If the town is going to redo Cross road - this would be the time to put the grade crossing in - to include a second track for the runaround.  There is usually grant money for grade crossing work through the state DOT and it might help costs associated with the Cross road rebuild.  Signal equipment could probably be reused from the several OOS branch lines in the state.

[Mike Fox]

Also was tinkering on the loader today. A little preventive maintenance. Brendan told me of a coolant leak. Investigating I found this. It was not leaking but wanted to change it just the same. Short hose, about 6 inches.



So that has been replaced, but found the root cause of the leak. A crack in the coolant tank. So, that will have to come out and be repaired.

[Bill Reidy]

Train crews were also quite busy today, as the trains to SeaLyon Farm and the late afternoon concert were well-attended.  Spoke with many happy families on the return trip to Sheepscot after their visit to the farm.

Glad the heavy rain earlier in the morning was long-gone by the time of the first train and the rest of the day stayed dry.  It's been a long time since I saw rain as heavy as I drove through in Yarmouth and Freeport on I-295 a little before 8 this morning.