August 2022 Work Projects

[James Patten]

How did so much work get done without Fred supervising? 

[Stephen Lennox]

Well, we set up his chair just in case he came by.

[Fred Morse]

You don't want me anywhere near you until i'm over this flu. I am able to eat a little now.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Aug 13:

* Diesel trip: After filling the tank car with water, we ran 52 north with it to TOM.  After leaving it on the siding there, we ran down the hill to move the flatcar from in front of the station to the tail track, leaving 52 there.  We deadheaded south on the first train.
* Picnic: TOM was the site of this year's picnic, with several food trucks there.  Most trains seemed well attended. 
* Big forklift: Mike installed the starter on the big forklift and got it running.  I neglected to check if he actually moved it from its location.  Now we can sell it.  Anyone interested?

Lots of visitors today.

[Mike Fox]

I did move it..had to tow it out with the dozer..

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 16-17 August 2022

Track crew:  Track inspection (Tues) Track work on Wed. weather permitting.
Shop crews:  Vacuum brakes testing, Passenger car truck rebuild,
Passenger Coach #9:  Passenger Coach assembly
Engine House:  Construction (pending)
TBS: Station House: (pending)
AC/SS:  Mowing (maybe with the new mower)
SS:  Campus clean up.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of August 20 - 21:

* Board meeting 8 AM Saturday
* Trout Brook station work
* Train ops - World War One weekend, trains both days
- Ride the Rails to Hike the Trails (guided hike with Midcoast Conservancy)
- Ice Cream Express (Ice Cream Social at AC)
- Sheepscot Valley Steam Train (train rides to TBS)
- Music on the Railway (5pm concert at AC)
(WWI Weekend is Aug 27 & 28)

* Vehicle repair/maintenance

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 16-17 August 2022

Tuesday:
*  Track Crew conducts walking inspection of main line from SS to AC.
    (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W, Mark)
*  Shop crews, Passenger Car Truck rebuild work continued (Jerry, Carlos)
                         Vacuum brakes testing continues (Jonathan, Joseph)
*  Coach #9 assembly/build continued (Eric, Ron Lou)
*  Mowing, the new mower arrives (Randy, Fred }
*  TBS work (Stewart, Zack)
*  SS Campus clean up (Stewart)
*  Various projects around SS  (Jay Barta)
*  Archives (Linda)
*  Training, Brakeman  (Jason, Joseph)

Wednesday:
*  Track crew lift/level/tamp mainline from MP7 to Rosewood Crossing, Fossil Crossing
    (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Paul, Elijah, Dan, Nick and Will Chase)
*  Shop work, Vacuum brake test… successful diaphragm test  (Randy, Jonathan)
*  Coach #9 assembly/build,  (Eric, Ron, Harold)
*  Locomotive #9 maintenance (R:oger, Wes)
*  Repair projects on car benches and band saw,  (Jay Barta)

Notes:   A lot of volunteers doing many things who I don’t see while working track.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Work done on Thursday and Friday, August 18th + 19th:

* Coach 9 - Harold worked on the transom panels over the end doors.
* R-O-W - Fred trimmed weeds along the grade south of the Cross Road.
* RC4 - Paul worked on the Model T engine and had a friend help for part of the day.
* TBS - Start installed skirt boards on the north end of the depot and made a set to go on the south end.
* Gift Shop - A number of mail orders were shipped during the week and new clothing stock was picked up from Boothbay.
* Campus - More trash was hauled to the dump on Thursday.
* Memberships - A couple from CT has been following the Mountain Extension progress on Facebook. They are in Maine for a week and stopped at TBS for a look around, then they came to Sheepscot. After a shop tour, they purchased some books in the gift shop and got a life membership.

[Mike Fox]

James left following the meeting so I will see if I can report.

Board meeting. Longer than normal. We got done about 10:45.

Train Crews.. Most volunteers today were part of the train or event crew. Sheepscot was a ghost town while the train out. Gift shop crew was busy. Ice Cream Social at AC.


Harold was busy in the shop, Marcel was working on the roof of 56, and I mowed AC with the push mower, then worked on the old forklift, where I got the electric fuel shut off to work again somehow. I think there is a ground issue, or a back feed issue. I also picked up around the containers a little, and did more planning for organizing the area. I will continue that next weekend.

One highlight of the day, George Bartholomew stopped for a visit. I had always heard the name, but finally met him. We had a nice discussion about drainage. He was with Gordon Fay, who I also enjoy talking with.

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 23-24 August 2022

*  Track work continues on the main line
*  Vacuum brake testing
*  Passenger car truck rebuild
*  Coach #9  (pending)
*  Construction TBS/SS engine house  (pending)
*  SS campus clean up

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of August 27-28:

* World War One weekend - train ops both Saturday and Sunday.
* Trout Brook Station finish up work
* Equipment repair

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday replaces 10 ties 23-24 August 2022

Tuesday:
*  Track crew replaces 10 critical ties, makes several lifts and leveling track areas, replaces four bolts,
    tightens 9 joint bars Sutter crossing cleaned out (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W,  Dan Joseph)
*  Shop crew passenger truck rebuild continues (Jerry, Carlos)
    Vacuum brakes testing continues  (Randy)
*  Coach #9 assembly/build continues  (Ron, Lou)
*  Locomotive #11 work session  (Rick, Gordon C, Harold)
*  Various work around Sheepscot campus (Stewart, Brendan)
*  Compressor repaired for #11 crew (Jay Barta, Brendan)
*  Small motor repairs, chain saws, compressor, flat car bench repaired  (Jay Barta)
*  Gift shop/mail on going  (Cindy R)

Wednesday:
*  Track crew switches out rolling stock, box car to TBS, Tankn car to AC, replaces 12 critical ties.
    (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W, Paul, Elijah, Mark)
*  Locomotive #11 work session continues  (Rick, Gordon C, Harold)
*  TBS station build (Fred, Brendan, Stewart)
*  Small engine repair and clean up  (Jay Barta)
*  AC mowing  (Randy)

Note: as always I have probably missed someone plus there is always work going at home off site.

[Bill Baskerville]

You know, sometimes when I read our activities in our form, I am simply stunned at how much a bunch of volunteers get accomplished. Volunteers who love trains, who love history, I love working with other people who have the same motivation. What an amazing group.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday August 27 (is August almost over already?)

* Ditching - Mike did some ditching on Davis Grade.
* Boxcar 56- Marcel was putting some roof boards back on.
* Stump budging - Mike moved some track panels to behind the storage containers, then dug around the stump next to the green storage container in an attempt to move it.  Between the backhoe and the big dozer the stump shifted a little bit.