April 2022 Work Reports

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 26-27 April 2022

Tuesday:
Track crew:  The track crew spiked in 236 feet of the east rail of the TBS run around
                   in preparation of SWW. (Paul, Steve Lt, Steve Lx, Leon, Brian W, Randy)
Shop Crew:  Passenger car truck rebuild gets truck frames welded together.
                   (Jerry, Carlos, Jason)
                   Vacuum brake design build, over 25,000 tests have been conducted on the diaphragms
                   testing durability and wear, cylinder prototype continues. (Jonathan, Randy, Jason)
Coach #9:    The coach assembly continues with interior work, (Eric, Ron)
Loco #11:     First physical assembly begins with the tank frame,  (Rick, Gordon C, Jason)
Loco #9:       Steam maintenance performed  (Roger)
Loco #52:     Brakes shoes replaced.  (Jonathan, Brian)
Dump Run:   (Stewart)
Training:       Dispatcher training  (Ben R, Jason)
Support/Inspection:  keeping everyone working  (Fred)

Wednesday:
Track Crew:  SWW prep, flat cars 118-34 unloaded and prepared with side boards for ballast
                    spikes loaded (tools to load Fri. AM). TBS track center line dug out/identified.
                    (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian)
Shop crew:   Variety of projects from brake work to prep for equipment pick up scheduled in May.
                    (Jonathan, Ron, Jason, Brendan)
Loco #11:     Tank frame assembly continues,  (Rick, Gordon C, Jason)
SS clean up:  (Stewart)
Equip Maint.: Various rolling stock greased and oiled.  (Phil B)
Coach #9:     Assembly/build continues.  (Eric, Ron)
Head Tide Trail: Inspection for work to be done SWW.  (Steve P)
Gift Shop/mail: Work continues  (Cindy R)
Shed build:       A small shed is being built for the new planner.  (Brendan)

Note:  This has been and is a busy work week in all departments, I’m sure someone was missed or not
           seen by me.
           Don’t for get work weekend, there is a lot to be done.

[Dave Buczkowski]

All,
As exciting as the upcoming Spring Work Weekend is for us, it would not be happening without the incredible weeks-long preparation by Steve Lennox and his crews. His weekly reports only scratch the surface of what has been accomplished. I, for one, am extremely grateful for all their efforts. Thank you all!
Dave

[Mike Fox]

Even just reporting on the work is a task in itself. I too always look forward to reading what has been done.

[James Patten]

Spring Work Weekend Day 1 - April 29:

* Wifi - Russell Nelson improved the wifi at the Gift shop.
* Planer shed - Brendan was supervising construction of a shed to house a new (to us) planer.
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel was working on it.
* Machine shop - Alan was doing stuff.
* Steam - #9 was fired up.
* Meals - Nancy and team were hard at work
* Track - Spiking completed by 1 at the north end (although there's still the approaches to do for the turntable).
* Head Tide Trail - Track crew turned into trail blazers, clearing out the little growth and blowdowns along the trail.
* Loco 11 - Rear frame assembly

[Keith Taylor]

Spring Work Weekend Day 1 - April 29:


* Planer shed - Brendan was supervising construction of a shed to house a new (to us) planer.

I must have missed the announcement, what is the story on the new (to us) planer? Is it a wood working planer or a metal planer?
A metal planer is a wonderful machine…..similar to a shaper but instead of the tool moving, the work moves beneath a fixed tool post.
A planer for wood is very nice, but a metal planer would be really cool!
Keith

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Don’t forget some huge news: No 11’s frame being assembled in the shop today!

[Mike Fox]

It is a wood planer Keith.

[Ed Lecuyer]

* Wifi - Russell Nelson improved the wifi at the Gift shop.

Russ also installed a new (public) wifi transmitter/network that covers the Sheepscot yard. The coverage is good within the shop building, and continues north to the yard limit.

The new wifi was put to the test, having our first (successful) livestream tour of the lower & upper yards, into the shop (including brief impromptu conversations with Ron Ginger [coach 9] and Marcel Levesque [Box 56]) and culminated with....

some huge news: No 11’s frame being assembled in the shop today!

a look at #11's rear frame assembly.

[Keith Taylor]

It is a wood planer Keith.

Thanks Mike…..I guess we need to keep an eye out for a metal planer.

Keith

[Bill Reidy]

A few photos from today, April 29th, day 1 of Spring Work Weekend

The movable planer shed under construction, as seen this morning.


Work is underway on locomotive No. 11's rear frame assembly.




The track was spiked at Trout Brook station.  Tomorrow's work here will focus on ballasting.


In the shops, parts for passenger trucks (including for coach No.9) are stored on the floor.  In the background on sawhorses, Marcel has started work on one of B&SR boxcar No. 56's doors.

[Gordon Cook]

A few comments on the start of construction of No. 11, our new, Maine built locomotive. After two years of active design, planning, and buying parts, Ric Sisson, Jason Lamontagne, Wayne Laepple, and Gordon Cook gathered at Sheepscot to begin putting her together.

On Tuesday, April 26th, the components for the rear frame that supports the cab and tanks were brought from storage and placed in the space in Bay 2 that was cleared out previously. This space will be the erecting hall for the locomotive.

Ric started by arranging the parts in their final locations and test assembled them to determine that the parts and their dimensions were correct. Many components such as the front to back sills were fabricated by a water jet process that cut them to size and added most of the necessary holes. The bolster for the rear truck consists of 5 iron castings that had been machined. These fit across the frame between the front to back sills. There is another casting that anchors the bracing of the frame forward of the rear truck. Gordon machined this casting to size on Tuesday to fit in its place in the frame.
Careful measurements ensured that the parts were located accurately.

Once all was checked out, we started match drilling holes in the center bolster casting (the one with the round pivot for the truck). Match drilling means that the holes in the sills which were cut by the very accurate waterjet process were used to locate the holes in the castings and mating components. By Thursday the bolster and forward frame brace casting had been drilled and assembled to the two center sills. Drilling started on the intermediate bolster castings on either side of the center casting. In the first picture Ric and Wayne are setting the location of one of the intermediate bolsters.
 
As you can see in in the second picture, these holes were finished on Friday and this subassembly was bolted up and is now is resting in its final location. That along with the side sills have been placed on leveling jacks to continue assembly. The jacks will allow an accurate adjustment of the position of the frame so that it is square and level.

In the coming months assembly will continue. We schedule No. 11 work sessions at the beginning of the month, so anyone who would like to help is welcome.

[Mike Fox]

A few of my pics from the stone loading. I loaded the first car before 8..



Here is #9 arriving from Sheepscot to drop an empty then pick up the loaded (this worked very well in my opinion)



I could not stay all day so I trained Bryce to load with the backhoe and here he is loading while Scott Higgins supervises



One more of Bryce..

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday April 30 - Spring Work Weekend day 2.

* Head Tide Trail - a crew worked to dismantle the rotted walkways, and assemble new walkway pieces (back at Sheepscot).
* Trout Brook track - both tracks were ballasted, up to where the spiking stopped.
* Planer building - the building was enclosed, except for the roof.
* Loco 11 - work on the frame.
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel at work.
* Machine shop - one of the things Alan was doing was working on one of the pivot pieces for the turntable.
* Food - of course Nancy and team put on a good feast.

Most everybody at SWW was at the north end - Sheepscot looked a little like a normal weekend (except for the cars).

[Dave Buczkowski]

Also, at dinner the 2020 and 2021 Percival Awards were handed out before supper to the deserving recipients.
Dave

[Bill Reidy]

Some photos from today, April 30th--Day 2 of Spring Work Weekend.

Work continued one No. 11's rear frame.  Here's a morning photo:


Most folks were busy spreading ballast at the future Trout Brook station.  Ed Lecuyer and Jason Lamontagne designed an efficient system to deliver stone.  Two trains were run, handled by No. 9 and No. 52.  Each train delivered an empty flat to the unoccupied track at Alna Center where the stone is stockpiled, then pick up the loaded car on the adjacent track.  As seen in Mike's photos above, Mike loaded the cars in the morning, and Bryce Weeks did the same in the afternoon.  After leaving Alna Center, the locomotive pushed the flat and a passenger car to the tail track at Top of Mountain, to wait for the other locomotive to pull its passenger car and empty flat back to Alna Center.  Some photos:

No. 9 and train on the tail track at ToM, waiting for No. 52's southbound train.


While waiting at ToM, No. 9's tank was refilled from the SOCONY tank car.


Fireman Dana Deering manning the tank car valve.


At Trout Brook, volunteers made short work unloading the stone.  Some 12 carloads were handled today.






Toward the end of the day.


Some of the other work done today.  The new planer shed is nearly done.




And two new Head Tide trail bridges.


Ballasting on the Mountain is planned for tomorrow.