May 2023 work reports

[Mike Fox]

[James Patten]

Not our first memorial train.  We did one for Clarissa, stopping briefly on a northbound trip at Humason for a moment of silence and a tribute whistle.

[Bill Reidy]

Some photos from Saturday, May 13th.  At the start of the day, Bill Piche (right) dumps coal into No. 9's bunker, as Trevor Hartford (left) rakes the pile.


The day's train being pushed to the boarding area.  Trainmaster Ed Lecuyer (right) looks on as Scott Higgins (left) directed the move.




Mother's Day Tea was held at the Alna Center Pavilion.  Pete Stevens (right) served as the railway's event coordinator with the Maine Tasting Center.  Dave Buczkowski (left) has just delivered a portable generator to Pete.


The setup in the pavilion.  The event was well-attended.




Joan Meehan and Cindy Rhine managed the temporary gift shop.


Conductor Joe Fox looking mighty sharp.


At Trout Brook, turning No. 9.


As close to an artistic shot you'll ever get from me.


John McNamara experimented with equipment to enhance the cell signal at Trout Book station.  James Patten (left) and Jason Lamontagne (center) testing the signal, as John (right) looks on.


More May 13th photos in these forum threads:  J&S Truck Build/Rebuild - Official Work Thread; B&SR Box Car 56 - Official Work Thread; and the Dwight Winkley memorial.

[Stephen Lennox]

Anticipated work for Tuesday-Wednesday 16-17 May 2023

*  Track crew preps for tie and dine
*  Coach #9 work continues
*  Passenger car trucks and vacuum brakes
*  Small engine/vehicle repair
*  SS campus clean up

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday May 20:

* Tie and Dine - replacing ties on the mainline.
* Engine house work
* Boxcar 56
* Vehicle repair
* Grounds prep work

[Ed Lecuyer]

Anticipated NOT work for Saturday May 20:
* Stargazing Train (Cancelled due to rain.)

[Stephen Lennox]

Work completed Tuesday and Wednesday 16-17 May 2023

Tuesday:
*  Track crew preps and puts out 50 ties for the Saturday tie and dine. Maintenance for mountain
    extension marked out with stakes for planned ballast and work.
*  (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W, Dan, Leon, Joe Dupree, Ty)
*  Coach #9 assembly/build more interior varnishing (Eric, Ron, Harold)
*  Passenger car truck rebuild continues with installing brake parts  (Jerry, Carlos, Jonathan)
*  Vehicle repair on various machines  (Brendan)
*  Archives work continues  (Linda)
*  Gift shop/mail, prep for rearrangement of stock  (Cindy R, Stewart R)
*  Admin  (Ben)

Wednesday:
*  Track crew cuts-puts out 20 more ties for tie and dine  (Steve Lx, Steve Lt, Brian W, Leon, Joe D)
*  Vacuum brakes work assembly continues  (Jonathan, Jason)
*  Coach #9 work continues with more varnishing (Eric, Ron, Harold, Seth)
*  Gift shop/Archives stock moved gift shop set up begins
    (Cindy R, Linda, Stewart, Leon, Brian, Brendan, Fred, Steve Lt, Steve Lx, Joe D)

Notes:
Leon makes a second track ladder for tie removal.
Tie and Dine scheduled for this Saturday (20 May)
Star Gazing Special Cancelled (20 May)

[Ron Ginger]

Coach 9 received its 7th and final coat of varnish on the interior.
We still have a lot to go, window sash, ceiling panels, ceiling decoration and more, but 7 coats is a major milestone.

We will examine the finish next Tuesday and may do some touch up if needed, as we try to achieve 'perfect enough'.

[Mike Fox]

Congratulations Ron. 7 is the lucky number??

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday May 20:

* Tie & dine.  A fair sized crew replaced over 20 ties in the morning (I forget the actual number).  The crew went out after lunch but I didn't go.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel was roofing it.
* Can you dig it?  Mike (supervised by Cody) dug down on the second drain to install pipe leading to just outside the house, and installed pipe alongside the house to catch water from the house.
* Archives: Fred bought a bunch of NG pictures from his cousin and gave them to the RR.  They are mostly all pictures we've seen before.  The archives room should be ready on Thursday (the floor had been painted and was drying).

[Ed Lecuyer]

* 31 total ties replaced during "Tie and Dine".

Thanks to Dan for organizing this, Cindy and Linda for feeding the crew, and to all the volunteers (some from a good distance away) who came out to make today a success.

(And thanks to the rain for holding off until the "dinner train" was nearly back to Sheepscot.)

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Additional Information on work from Saturday, May 20th -

* Campus - Fred and Zack cleaned up around (and a bit inside) the engine house.  Also, some trash was cleared from the car barn exhibit hall.

* Gift Shop - Some new items will be ready for sale soon, one may surprise a few people.  The store was back in the Freight House thanks to Steve L. and his crew for rebuilding part of the platform and the steps.  The move back to the trackside building was a big plus with over $1,000 in transactions today.

[Mike Fox]

Great work by the guys this week to make the gift shop available..

Cody helped me install a french drain on the north side of the ramp (see pics below) with plans to add just about 15 feet to the south, but need to install some conduit at the same time. I also had to prove to Dave that I can make water run up hill.. We also straightened up the propane tank per Freds request..



Here is Dave pondering how the water is going to go from the drain up into the catch basin in the parking lot...

[Ed Lecuyer]

Dave pondering how the water is going to go from the drain up into the catch basin in the parking lot...

He is having deep thoughts.

[Mike Fox]

Yes, they were very draining