January 2024 Work Reports

[Ed Lecuyer]

Brush Cutting 1/6/2024
Start the first Saturday of the new year with us. The weather looks to be good, and we have more brush to cut. It will be a lot of trimmer work, loppers and maybe chainsaw. We will need to make it look neat, so will be moving the brush out of sight.
So please plan to join us. Not sure how long this weather will hold before turning colder and snowy. Trying to get what we can done before it does.
Mike Fox will be gathering a crew at Sheepscot about 8:30, with a 9am departure.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of January 1, 2024

Monday: Happy New Year!

Tuesday:
Shop stove repair
Build11
Coach 9
Truck Work (brake install on coach 3 truck)
V Brake (cylinder work, design work)
Maybe enginehouse
Loco 9: if anyone is available to prepare 9 for maintenance work, we’d appreciate it)
Outside clean up: if anyone is available to help with removing the old wood shed and the surrounding hazards, we can prioritize that.

Wednesday:
Build11
Coach 9
Loco 9 maintenance (help is welcome and encouraged!)
Enginehouse

Thursday:
Build11
Loco 9 maintenance
V Brakes
Enginehouse

Note: we are eyeing a storm next weekend, with a possible snow clearing operation early next week.  We always need help for those.

Thanks
Jason

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Jan 6:

* Brush/weed/tree cutting
* Engine house doors
* Boxcar 56

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Our annual bridge inspection will take place on Saturday as well.

If we can we should get switch covers in place, and possibly pre-salt some of the tough crossings.

Thanks
Jason

[Mike Fox]

I should be tired after retiring the trailer..

[Ed Lecuyer]

You should have asked Dave for help... since he just retired!

[Dave Buczkowski]

Ouch! Thanks Mike for undertaking this very necessary project! Once the warmer weather is back I’ll have to find the school bus yellow paint and finish the painting now that I allegedly will have more time for such things.
Dave

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Jan 6, 2024:

* Vegetation trimming: A crew cleared excess vegetation from the right of way from Albee's Field north corner up to the top of the hill by Alna Center, north of Humason Trestle, and by Rosewood Crossing.
* Loco 10: Another crew worked on the engine.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel (and maybe others) was putting some final touches on the trucks before they go under next week.
* Bridge inspection: Our bridge inspector was here for the annual inspection.  I assume they passed!

[Mike Fox]

Yes, you read James' report correctly. We trimmed all of Albees field, then both sides of the main from the bottom of the Ladder to the mowed area of Alna Center BEFORE LUNCH. We were dumbfounded as to how well it went.  So after lunch we tackled two other big spots. Kudos to those that showed up and helped. Oh, and the new volunteer Chris.  He showed up to help us just as Ed had reached his limit. We will try it again next Saturday, weather permitting..

[Ed Lecuyer]

Honestly, this had to be the most productive brush cutting session I've ever helped with. The dead grass was easy to push aside to focus on the regrowth of brush and trees - perfect for a quick hit with the blade trimmer. And the damp spots were frozen, making it very easy to get through the marshy sections. While it was COLD, the work kept us warm.

Keeping our ROW trim is necessary for the safe operation of our railroad (especially near crossings), reducing the risk of fire, and to provide a better view of the scenery for our passengers.

Come on out and help (weather permitting) sometime over the next 3 Saturdays. Plus, on 1/20 and 1/27, we'll be using #9 to pull the work train! Those not comfortable using trimmers or power saws (or need a bit of a break) can help gather the brush and toss it into the woods.


Photo of Albee's Field by Josh Zimmerman.

[Bill Reidy]

Nice.  I had hoped to be there today, but I was under the weather yesterday and today.

Keeping our ROW trim is necessary for the safe operation of our railroad (especially near crossings)...

I hope the area on the west side of Trask's crossing can get some attention this winter.  There's a large clump of wild rose on both the NW and SW corners.  I attacked it in the early summer but couldn't get it all by myself and while it was in full foliage.  Was able to cut it back enough to improve visibility.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of January 8, 2024

Monday:
Snow clearing train departing Sheepscot 10:00am (or so).  Full TBS turn- first time plowing the Mountain.  Help is encouraged!

Tuesday:
Box56 will have its trucks installed.
Truck brake work will continue.
Coach 9.
Enginehouse.
Build11 possible

Wednesday:
Coach 9
Loco 9 maintenance
Build11 possible
Enginehouse possible.

Thursday:
V Brake Work
Enginehouse possible.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Todays plow train is still departing, however the timing will be closer to 11:30.  We will take the morning to prepare without rushing, take an early lunch, then go out.

All help is welcome,

Thanks
Jason

[Ed Lecuyer]

Plow train ran from SS to TBS and return. Crew included: Steve Lennox, Steve Leet, Brian Whitney, Dan Malkowski, and Jason Lamontagne. Line was cleared in under two hours.

New trick: The crew used the high-power leaf blower to clear all switches (rather than judicious pre-placement of plywood and cones). Results shown in the attached photos by Jason.

[Bill Piche]

High powered leaf blower? Nice idea. Might not work if it was sloppy wet snow but the Jan\Feb stuff is usually pretty light and fluffy.

When's Jason going to start work on mounting a jet engine to a flat car like they do at the cog?