September 2022 Work Reports

[James Patten]

Work done Saturday Sept 17:

* Tie replacement - A small crew replaced some ties just north of the Ladder, aside Albee's field.
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel was priming it.
* Storage area - Mike and Brendan did some prep work for where the green container will end up, then stuck track panels underneath it and moved it with dozer and forklift.  I left before they were done.

[Mike Fox]

Wheels!! And Tires.. #11 tender trucks closest, #11 drives in the middle and #9 in the rear..



Another look at the west lot that was cleaned during the week.



The storage lot looked like this by lunch. I got the hole filled in and Cody supervised, then we moved several things that were in the way of the conainer move



Brendan came to help luckily. Usually when he and I work together big things happen









All lined up and ready to shove it in..



The conrainer is heavy. I even got to test the bypass valve. I am not sure what it is set at pressure wise, but the end of the container maxes it out..have to be right up to it..



Pete Stevens sent me this picture of me picking the container.
 


Brendan (on the Case loader) and I removing a track panel from under the container. Another Pete pic



And the 3rd pic from Pete shows me picking the end of the container to shove into place as Brendan guides me. We had done a lot of maneuvering to track and machinery to get this far.



And it is almost where I wanted it. We have just a little more to go, about 5 feet, but enough was enough for today.

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 20-21 September 2022

*  Engine house and parking lot clean up, rail pick up. (pending)
*  Vacuum brakes build
*  Passenger car truck rebuild
*  Vehicle/equipment repair
*  Locomotive #11 build (pending)
*  Mowing AC, SS (pending)

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Sept 24:

* First day of Pumpkin Trains!  Crew needed in many positions, including parking control.  See Ed.
* Storage area work.
* Engine house construction
* Machine shop
* Boxcar 56

[Ed Lecuyer]

For the next several Saturdays, the BOD has recommended that volunteers who are able to do so to please park in the "upper" West lot. Steve Lennox and his crew did a fabulous job reorganizing that lot, gaining 20 or more parking spaces.

"See Ed" for assisting the Dispatcher in the day's activities.

Three events of note:
1. On the 12pm trip to TBS, a memorial bench for Allen Carrol will be dedicated at Trout Brook station. All are invited. See Dave B. for details.

2. On the 2pm trip to TBS, a group of LGB model train enthusiasts have chartered Coach 3 in honor of the just-released model of our trainset. They will also be around for tours before, and a brief in-yard photoshoot after their trip. JB is the host.

3. There is a "Sheepscot Stargazing Special" departing at 7pm. This Star Party being organized by WW&F Volunteer Joshua Zukerman in conjunction with the Central Maine Astronomical Society. To limit light and noise, 52 will be the motive power for this trip. See JB, Jason, or Ed to help.

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 20-21 September 2022

Tuesday:
*  Passenger car Trucks work continues, (Jerry, Carlos)
*  Coach #9 assembly/build continues with more interior work (Eric, Ron, Harold, Lou)
*  Engine house build roof work continued and more than half way done with the roof boards.
    (Fred, Brendan, Stewart, Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Paul R)
*  Vehicle/Equipment repair, winterizing begins.  (Jay Barta)
*  Archives work continues  (Linda)
*  Gift shop/mail continually on going  (Cindy R)
*  SS clean up and dump run. (Stewart)
*  Rolling stock greasing/oiling  (Phil B)
*  Locomotive #11 work session, prep for riveting  (Rick, Harold)

Wednesday:
*  Track crew builds a switch stand platform at TBS switch. (Steve Lx, Steve Lt)
*  Project support and assistance  (Fred)
*  Locomotive #11 work session, riveting begins (Rick, Gordon, Harold, new volunteer: David)
*  AC mowing (Randy)
*  Archive work continues  (Linda)
*  Coach #9 assembly/build continues  (Eric, Ron, Lou)
*  Rail recovery from Portland, 4 80 lbs rail cropped, loaded and brought to SS.
    (Jason, Brendan, Steve Lt, Steve Lx)

NOTES:
Not always in SS, I may have missed several volunteers who were working on projects.
Volunteers, we missed 2 volunteers on Tuesday who were ready to work but left before their expected project was ready. They did ask if anyone needed help. Sometimes it takes time for projects to be set up and ready for work. We apologize for unanticipated delays and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to help.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Sept 24:

* Storage area - Mike finished moving the storage container, then leveled it out.  He also worked on the gravel, leveling that out.
* Boxcar 56 - Marcel was working on it.
* Train assembly - Mike and I (and Dave and Bill) had to do some switching before the first trains to get both trains assembled.
* Pumpkin trains - Decent attendence.

[Mike Fox]

Today was a charter for the LGB folks, so Ed brought in his #9, and of course had to do the shot..





Set the front of the container on rails again and Millie on the back (that was sketchy) and shoved it in.



Then got creative to get the back of the container in the air without having a machine back there to lift. This was to get the bridge timber under it again.



All set and level..

[Ed Lecuyer]

We also ran the first "Sheepscot Stargazing Special" in conjunction with the Central Maine Astronomical Society of Whitefield.
40 passengers were greeted by 8-10 astronomers at Alna Center. Conditions were great and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Thanks to Joshua Zukerman for suggesting and organizing the event!

[Bill Reidy]

I thought the public trains were well attended.  Two trains were in operation, led by WW&F No. 9 and B&SR No. 7 (Thanks, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum), with WW&F volunteers crewing both.   Here's one of the few photos I could take today, when my train with No. 7 was waiting with southbound train No. 4 at Alna Center for No. 9's train No. 5 to arrive for the meet.



The passengers I spoke with on No. 7's train all enjoyed the day.  Many young families took the trip to visit SeaLyon Farm, while others took the trip to Trout Brook.  We provided transportation for many large pumpkins and happy families back south from Top of Mountain to Sheepscot today.

Thanks to all who made this happen.

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday and Wednesday 27-28 September 2022

Engine house build
Vacuum brakes work continues
Passenger car trucks build continues
Coach #9 assembly/build continues
SS-AC mowing (pending)
Vehicle/equipment repair
SS clean up

[John Kokas]

Only thing we're missing for "the season" is a Christmas Tree Farm with a station stop.  Is that something we can do with the surplus acreage we have?  I know seedlings are available from Department of the Interior for next to nothing.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

SeaLyon’s long standing goal for their joint Christmas event with us has been exactly this idea: a tree farm.  We have talked various options including leasing additional land to them for the purpose.

It is a lovely idea and I am very grateful we have a neighbor partner willing to take it on.  As for the railroad, we simply do not have the labor resources to add such an activity in house.

Good thinking John- shows the idea has merit. 

Jason

[John Kokas]

When my kids were little, we took them over to a local NJ shortline which had a Christmas Tree mixed train.  What a hit that was with my kids, they still talk about it 30+ years later.  The key to the operation is how well one handles the trees.  We already have the flats, will need a tractor with forks, or some type of loading dock to transfer from wagon to flat as well as another setup for getting trees off the flats and to peoples cars.  In the case of my NJ experience, extra manpower was provided by the local Boy Scout Troop in exchange for a donation to the troop.

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 27-28 September 2022

Tuesday:
*  Passenger trucks rebuild, the crew is stacking up welded truck frames.  (Jerry and Carlos)
*  Vacuum brakes design, test, build, parts are being made for more brake systems (Jonathan, Randy)
*  Coach #9 assembly, build, interior trim continues  (Eric, Ron, Harold, Lou)
*  locomotive #9 State Inspection, (Roger, Bob Longo, Dan , Jason)
*  Archives work continues  (Linda)
*  Gift shop/mail on going  (Cindy R)
*  Equipment repair, small motors, #52 sand boxes repair  (Jay Barta)
*  Engine house build on roof continues  (Brendan, Fred, Steve Lx, Steve Lt)
*  Admin  (Dave B, Jason)

Wednesday:
*  Vacuum brake parts being made continues  (Jonathan, Randy, Mark)
*  Gift shop/mail continues daily  (Cindy R)
*  Archive work continues  (Linda)
*  Coach #9 and Coach #3 work continues  (Eric, Ron, Harold, Lou)
*  Grease/oiling rolling stock  (Phil B)
*  Admin work  (ED)
*  Engine house roof work, the 1st covering of the roof is completed.
    (Brendan, Fred, Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Mark)