February 2022 Work Reports

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Feb 5:

* Plow train, departing as early as is practical (between 7:30 and 8)
* Steam & Sleighs - two trains on the hour, all hands on deck.
* Tree cutting & burning at Top of Mountain [Note, this is likely NOT to be occurring.]

[Mod Note]
An op plan for the plow train and winter storm clean up has been developed. We'll be publishing it shortly.

[Mike Fox]

#7 was fired up today to test everything after the boiler inspection earlier this winter. Series of photos from the whistle blowing until they went by. Was about 40 degrees. Wes and Roger running and firing, with Dan monitoring.

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

ABOVE 0? Send the warmth out here 

Wind Chills in the 50 - 70 below tonight up North.
minus 20s here.

They played Soccer tonight 2º air temp and minus 12º wind chill.
There were some crazy fans in the stands bare chested.

Well this is MN

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 1-2 February 2022

Tuesday:

*  Track crew started storm clean up plowing 18-20 inches of snow and at times 30 inch snow drifts.
    The main line was opened to the TOM including AC and TOM runarounds.
     (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W, Chuck B, Scott H, Paul R, Mike F, Ben R, Ed, JB)
*  Shop work included vacuum brakes build (Jonathan) and Pass. Truck build (Jerry, Carlos)
*  Coach #9 assembly continued  (Eric, Ron)
*  Steam Maint. for Loco #9 and #7 with making a test run (Roger. Wes, C)
*  Working a little bit everywhere  (Fred)
*  Snow plowing campus  (Brendan)

Wednesday:

*  Track crew continued campus plowing yards, switching for Saturday ops.
     (Steve Lx, Brian W, Steve Lt, Dan, JB, Ed)
*  Vacuum brake work continued (Jonathan, Randy)
*  Car oiling  (Phil B)   
*  Steam Maint.  Loco #7 readied for Saturday and test run  (Roger, Wes C)
                         Loco #11 more parts were being made up  (Gordon C, Scott A)
*  Gift shop and mail on going  (Cindy R)                             
                           

[Mike Fox]

Tuesday plow train and most of the crew..

Sheepscot yard



Northbound Davis grade looking south



North of Sutters Crossing northbound entering Cockeye Curve









Ed is really excited..





Trasks





Southbound, Albees Field looking north



Alna Center north switch



Brendan relocating some snow with our back hoe Wednesday. The bucket and 2 cylinders on the boom have been removed, with the 2 cylinders out for repair.



While Steve and crew were busy switching Wednesday, I shoveled the throat of the North yard. Should have used the snowblower, but it was easy shoveling.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

February 4 & 5, 2022 Railroad Storm Cleanup CREW CALL

Friday February 4: storm is expected to wind down Friday afternoon.  Any available volunteers please clean out SS, AC switches, SS platform and walking paths, shovel out shop and barn doors; AC platform/ path to Averill road/ crossings. 

Saturday February 5: 8am call time for general snow-duty volunteers; 8:15 X52 plow train departs. 

Snow removal plan (abridged) for Saturday February 5, 2022

X52 plow train, 52, 34, James Patten Conductor/ engineer (as presently planned). 

Start time roughly 7am: 52 (light- no flatcar) plow out SS north and south yards (all necessary tracks) and pull out steam locos.  This will involve turning 52 twice in the table between 7 and 8:15 am- so clearing the turntable pit first thing will be paramount.

8:15am or earlier: 52 add 34; (34 is for crew): plow and flange to ToM.  Clear ToM siding.  Reverse plow at ToM. 

X52 South departure depends on finish time at ToM and how soon first scheduled train is set to arrive.  Coordinate with dispatcher via prearranged plan. 

X52 plow AC runaround southbound.

Please indicate here if you are able to help with this effort at one of these times.  Note if you are already signed up for other duties at the railroad- please stay that course.

Thank you a million times to the efforts put in over the last two Tuesdays and Wednesdays to make this Saturday’s operations possible.

Thanks,
Jason

[Stephen Piwowarski]

I'll plan on dealing with AC tomorrow, and SS to the extent that I am able. Midnight and it's still raining in Alna- I'll see what we wake up to...

Ill be on the 1st class train on Saturday, but I'll pitch in as possible to help ensure a safe and timely departure.

Best,
Steve

[Mike Fox]

There will be no cutting at TOM Saturday. And for the rest of the winter if it snows Friday, I will cancel burning Saturday.

[Joe Fox]

I will be at the museum around 730am tomorrow to help.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Snow clearing plan update

If there is little enough snow, we will forgo turning the plow at either end.  This will simplify and shorten our process substantially.  We will run the extra regardless of how little there is in order to inspect, clear crossings and switches, and drop off station crews.

Thanks,
Jason

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Feb 5:

* Plow train: I think we left around 8:30 and reached TOM at 11.  Not much snow but a lot of sleet which made a difficult slog.  It was quite cold, and several crossings had ice despite the work done during the week.
* Steam & Sleighs: Moderate crowds.
* Happy Birthday, Fred: Sonja had a big cake for Fred.

[Mike Fox]

If you build, they will come.. Had one family using one of the snow piles to play on while they waited for their train.



If you make it, he will come.. Fred had his cake today (and ate it too) delayed a week due to last weeks storm.



If you fire it, they will come.. Both B&SR 7 and WW&F 9 were in steam today with several photographers out getting what they can of the winter scene.





Sorry I did not get more pics of all the happenings, as I am sure up the line lots of smiling faces were to be had..

And kudos to all the hard work this morning to make today happen. Ben was the first in the log at 5am plowing the lot. And several more had signed in by the time I did at 7:15. Picks, shovels, brooms, sand, salt, what ever it took. Congratulations.

[Joe Fox]

It was certainly no easy stride to get the line open for the first run, but we did it. Many hands, both big and small, and we even welcomed some new volunteers today too. It was a great but exhausting day. Wish I could have stuck around for the second half of the passenger runs.

[John McNamara]

If you build, they will come.. Had one family using one of the snow piles to play on while they waited for their train.

Ah, the wintertime version of the Alna Center stone pile.

[Stephen Lennox]

Expected work for Tuesday and Wednesday 8-7 February 2022

*  Main Line inspection and clean out
*  Loco switching
*  Vacuum brakes
*  Passenger car truck rebuild
*  Coach #9 assembly
*  Sheepscot clean up
*  Gift shop/mail
*  Prep for Spring Trout Brook Build  (pending)