May 2022 Work Reports

[Mike Fox]

Jasons photo of the Trout Brook Turntable project as of today.

[Fred Morse]

Looks like the Engine House is taking a nap for the summer. Probably start again this Fall.

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 24-25 May 2022

Tuesday:
*  Track crew preps and moves out to TBS to lay out the turntable leads.
    (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Leon, Brian, Paul, Stewart)
*  Passenger truck rebuild continued with welding/grinding on the frame (Jerry, Carlos, Jason)
*  Vacuum brake work testing continued on the diaphrams  (Jonathan)
*  Small motor repair, lawn mowers etc.  (Jay Barta)
*  Complete railroad tour (Eric, Jason)  Jason might add more info on this.
*  Rolling stock greasing and oiling  (Phil B)
*  Archives work continues  (Linda)
*  Vehicle repair  (Brendan)

Wednesday:
*  Track crew spikes and lines turntable leads.  (Steve Lx, Dan, Brian, Steve Lt, Stewart, Fred)
*  Locomotive #11 crew continues work on the tank frame.  (Rick, Gordon, Jason)
*  Vehicle repair  (Brendan)
*  Rolling stock grease/oiling  (Phil B)
*  Mowing SS campus  (Fred)

Notes:  Various volunteers stop in, check on progress, doing various tasks, Dave B, Bob H, Bryce
are just a few. Cindy R. is continually working on mail and gift shop sales, Fred came up and helped drive a few spikes (Yes, Fred still has it!). There is always something going on.

Join the fun, Dan is looking for a few volunteers to help ballasting on Saturday around TBS. If your new to spiking, this is a good time to show up and Dan can show you the how to spike (yes, there is a correct way).

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Monday and Tuesday we hosted two professional conservation assessors hired through a grant through the “Collections Assessment Program.”  The assessors look at our archival and historic collections (paper, photos, historic railroad equipment) in order to discuss and ultimately recommend potential improvement in the conservation of those materials.  The professional recommendations could offer us new ideas and approaches, and can also be powerful grant writing support material. 

Thanks,
Jason

[Bill Baskerville]

Is it me (which it usually is) in that there seems to be a slight alignment kink in the main line mating with the TBS turntable as it appears in the FB photos?  Or has it been corrected as shown in Jason’s latest photo which doesn’t have the resolution to zoom in on to see clearly?  Knowing how persnickety our track crew is I cannot imagine a kink in our track work.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday May 28:

* Woods track/storage area - Mike dismantled it and stacked it.  Then the area around the storage containers, he consolidated the stuff piled around it, and moved the stone between Fred's Shed and the gas shed.  With the dozer he smoothed out some rough spots.  All this so that Jeff can bring in gravel to  provide a good base.  The area will become a storage area away from the public.
* Engine house - Stewart was stacking lumber to dry so I helped.
* End of track - A good sized crew was working, but I didn't go up there and so don't know what was done.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Yes, Bill, there are to imperfections at present.  The main line does require further alignment as there is currently a kink engineering the table.  Also- the table has a sweep itself (it’s old and been through a lot), which we are accommodating.  (No practical way to un-sweep the sweep).

There is a LOT of work to do before August 6- so the alignment issue may or may not be addressed before then. 

But.. good eye.

Thanks
Jason

[Ed Lecuyer]

Also on Sat. 28th:
* Three public passenger trains, including one "Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails" with Midcoast Conservancy. The weather forecast looked troublesome, but the rain held off completely, making a great day for a scenic steam train ride. Carried close to 100 passengers.

* Crew training: Pete Stevens and Cody McFarlane worked the brakes with Bob Cavanagh. Dave Buczkowski worked alongside Bill Reidy as Conductor.

[Mike Fox]

I like to wander the shop building to see what has been done. I don't always get a chance to, but did this morning trying to decide what to tackle today. See the appropriate threads for Coach 9 and Locomotive #11..

Alan brought in our most recent purchase. This is a used light tower purchased from a rental company. It has a touch over 4000 hours on it which is not bad. Powered by a little Kubota engine, my guess is about 800cc. We plan on using this for temporary lighting for the parkinglot, or to provide light where we may want it, say Alna Center.. Say hello to Edison.



Fred took me to the Trout Brook Turntable.







Did some rail moving..



Then cleared out the new entrance, which meant helping Fred split the wood he put in the way..



Also, there was a reporter there today from the Lincoln County News, preparing for a story on the work it takes to make the museum run. I made sure she stuck around for Fred. As soon as he came over, he sat down and click, she took his picture. Then she got another of him working. Not sure when she expects to have the article ready.

[Jeff Schumaker]

What happened to Fred's chair? (3rd photo)

Jeff S.

[Graham Buxton]

I think the photo with the  upended chair shows the footings for the TBS station.   It appears that the chair might be at the location of one of the footings.  Perhaps the chair is upended over a hole to provide "fall protection? 

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday 31 May and Wednesday 1 June 2022

*  TBS finish turntable and clean up the work site
*  Prep and load rail and ties for turntable tail track
*  Prep and start tamping mountain extension  (pending)
*  Coach #9 build
*  Passenger truck rebuild
*  Vacuum brake design/build
*  Vehicle/equipment repair
*  Engine House build  (pending)
*  Mowing

[Dwight Winkley]

Fred's chair is upside down to keep seat dry incase it rains.

[Gordon Cook]

Is the plan for runs from Sheepscot to Trout Brook to turn the  engine at each end or to use the turntable at TBS primarily for a runaround?

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Let’s see how well it works before we commit to an answer on that