January 2024 Work Reports

[Towa Matsumura]

thanks! I might be able to work out some Wednesdays. I signed up to help set up for Amherst so hope to meet some of you guys.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Jan 13:

* Office work: I cleaned out some boxes in the office closet, moved others around, and re-arranged my filing cabinet.  Tried to do a little tidying.  Dave was working on a project of his own in the dining room, frequently interrupted.
* Toilets: Zack and Brendan were doing some toiletry investigations.
* Inventory: Cindy and I were counting inventory in the afternoon in the gift shop.
* Board meeting.

Today was wet and windy, except when it was snowy and windy.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of January 15, 2024

Monday: I’m not at the railroad today but I suspect some enginehouse door work is proceeding.
Tuesday: Loco 9 work session, Truck brake, coach 9, Build11 (possible), enginehouse.

Also Tuesday on time/ volunteer availability basis: I’d like to get the crossings pre-salted before Tuesday afternoon snow sets in.  Anyone willing to help?

Wednesday: Loco 9 work session, possible fire.  Snow flanging train for Tuesday night’s snow.  Coach 9, Build11 (possible), enginehouse projects also proceeding.

Thursday: v brake, MoW engineering, Build11 engineering.

Look forward to see a strong showing this week!

Thanks
Jason

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday Jan 20:

* ROW vegetation clearing
* Engine house doors
* Boxcar 56

Forecast is for very cold temperatures - starting around 0 in the early morning, get up to mid-teens.  Dress appropriately.

[Ed Lecuyer]

The "trim the tracks" session on 1/20 will be occurring, however, there have been a few changes to tomorrow's volunteer session.

1. It is going to be COLD. Very cold. It is predicted to be in the single digits in the morning, and only up to 19 degrees in the afternoon. Plus an 8mph wind will make it feel even colder. Dress appropriately.

2. Due to the cold, we will definitely be modifying what work we hope to accomplish. We still plan on doing some brush clearing, but it may not be as much (or in the locations) we expected.

3. There is about 6" of snow on the ground. Again, be prepared for this as we'll be walking through it to do the trimming.

4. We are unable to operate the steam locomotive. The work train will be diesel-powered.

We are going to be doing one more trimming session (hopefully with steam power) on Saturday 1/27 - if anyone wants to join us for that instead. However, the preliminary forecast for that date looks rather unpromising with wet rain/snow predicted.

Of course, anyone can volunteer with us anytime. Or check out any of our other upcoming scheduled work sessions. For details, see: https://wwfry.org/all-activities/volunteer/

[Joshua Zukerman]

I am planning to be there. Same time 8:30am-ish?

[Ed Lecuyer]

Yes, 8:30/9:00ish sounds right.

[John Kokas]

I would suggest taking one of the pax cars along on the work train with one or two kerosene heaters in it so folks can warm up when needed and prevent any potential cases of frostbite.

[Mike Fox]

We spent the majority of the time at TOM today, and did a lot of clearing. Trees, stumps, everything out of the way. I did not take a photo, but Bill R. did, as well as Dan. We kept at it, until we had what we wanted. Was a huge effort.

After TOM, we went to Sutters Crossing, and did a little trimming, while I got my pole saw out and pruned a couple of Hemlocks that were blocking a clear view of the crossing. Once we shoved south of the crossing, I stopped and quickly took the following photo.



We then proceded to Eastman Lake to clean up a fallen tree.

[Ed Lecuyer]

From Facebook, before and after photos taken by Dan and Josh, respectively. NICE JOB EVERYONE!

Other work done on 1/20:
* Grant Writing: Ed & Nicole worked on Grants for various projects.
* Car 56: Marcel, Zack and Jay were making up coupler lift bar assemblies.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

As I understand it, Roger and Bob L spent the afternoon working on loco 9 as well.

Thanks to Mike, Dan and crew for your efforts to prepare for our photo event, and to improve the railroad’s appearance and safety in general.

Thanks
Jason

[Bill Reidy]

Marcel and Jay at work on cut lever brackets for B&SR boxcar No. 56.

Linda was busy in the Archives.

Cindy, Stewart and Steve P. were busy packing for the Amherst show next weekend in West Springfield.  Some of show material was loaded into my minivan.

Nancy Weeks made another terrific lunch, a good hearty meal for a cold mid-winter day.

Some other photos I took this morning.  Mike Fox led a crew to Top of Mountain to clear the area near the top of the Mountain grade at Top of Mountain.  Mike was engineer on No. 52 as the train hauled the crew and tools northward in caboose No. 320.  The view is looking north as we approached Trask Crossing.  You can't tell from the photo, but it was snowing.


Mike and Dan Malkowski discussing the planned work at ToM.   Nick Anderson, Joshua Zukerman and Nick Simoneau were also on the morning crew.


At Dan's suggestion, we tried rolling a stump out of the way from the expected photo line in February.


Success!  Dan is happy.


Mike cuts up a fallen pine as Dan contemplates rolling the next stump.


Rollin', rollin', rollin', Rawhide!  (For the benefit of folks of a certain age...)


The opened up view of the grade, as Mike finishes cutting up the trunk.

[Mike Fox]

Nothing is more rewarding that doing something that you don't think you can. Those trees and stumps are now out of the line of sight. Something that would have been much easier with a machine, but we did not have one on site. There is more ROW trimming needed, and I hope to filter some of it in before train time as long as yhe snowpack stays low.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of January 22, 2024

Monday:
Loco 9 and Vacuum brake work for me. 


Tuesday: (Busy!)
Truck brake work.  (Jerry and Carlos working on installing replacement brake heads on one coach 3 truck)
Coach 9 crew (paint, sand, take a break; repeat.)
Build11.  (Harold working on truck components.)
Switching. (Dan is staging of rolling stock for the photo event and Steam & Sleighs)
Loco 9 test.  (Several of us firing 9 for further draft testing.  Loco 9 will join Dan’s crew.)

Wednesday:
Coach 9 crew.
Build11 (Harold)
Vacuum Brake work.

Thursday:
Build11 engineering, MoW engineering office day for me.
Possible line inspection.

Enginehouse door work is possible all week.

Thanks
Jason

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for the weekend of Jan 27-28, 2024:

* Springfield show - Several thousand of our closest friends will be gathering in West Springfield for the annual model railroad show, both days.  We'll be there in new location - same building, but right in front of the main doors instead of over by Legends and Heroes diner.
* Steam ops - for practice firing with #9's new brick arch.
* Engine house doors
* Boxcar 56