February 2024 work reports

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for weekend of Feb 3-4, 2024:

* Photo charter: A photo charter is being held on both days. 
* Boxcar 56
* Machine shop

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday Feb 3:

* Photo charter: #9 got fired up early and took the photographers out around 8:30ish.
* Engine house: Brendan got all the doors built and up before today, and Stewart was painting the last one and getting the last of the trim up.  Brendan and some others were busy cleaning out part of it for the photo session tonight.  Monson 4 was lastly moved into House 3 for the session.
* Boxcar 56: Marcel was making ladder rung pieces (to be welded together).  He says the numbers will be the last thing to go on the car.
* Snow plowing: Mike was clearing the west parking lot with the front end loader.
* New toy: we all admired the brand spanking new Kubota excavator, which we bought as part of a track maintenance mechanization project.

[John Kokas]

What are we naming the excavator?  I propose "Digger Dan" or "Dan the Digger".

[Dave Buczkowski]

John,
I have two ideas which will be an homage to the donors who made the purchase possible. They will be presented at next Saturday’s board meeting.
Dave

[Mike Fox]

I did test out the cup holder.





I did a little plowing after familiarizing myself with the controls. Amazing the improvements made in 40 years. Our paint seems to have faded a bit on the old one..

[John McNamara]

I did a little plowing after familiarizing myself with the controls. Amazing the improvements made in 40 years. Our paint seems to have faded a bit on the old one..

Does this new one (unlike the old one) have comprehensive manuals, warranties, etc.? If it's anything like the old one, it will be a great help. To paraphrase the expression, "he's got big shoes to fill," this one has "big tracks to fill." 
-John M

[Pete Stevens]

I have two ideas which will be an homage to the donors who made the purchase possible. They will be presented at next Saturday’s board meeting.

I hope "Mary Anne" is one of the names under consideration. Looks fantastic. And safe!

[Ed Lecuyer]

Does this new one (unlike the old one) have comprehensive manuals, warranties, etc.?

This is a brand new machine with manuals and a warranty. After receiving a Kubota-sponsored discount (due to our charitable, non-profit status) the price of a new machine was comparable to getting a "gently used" model.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

What are we naming the excavator?  I propose "Digger Dan" or "Dan the Digger".

"Digby."

"Digby O'Del" if you're not into the whole "brevity thing."

[John Kokas]

After spending a wonderful vacation in Ireland this summer, Digby O'Dell has a pleasant ring to me.

[Pete Stevens]

I know Dave has said he has some names to honor the donors, but who doesn’t love Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, Mary Anne?
https://books.google.com/books/about/Mike_Mulligan_and_His_Steam_Shovel.html?id=wYj1DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&ovdme=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

[James Patten]

The new one also comes with air conditioning, unlike the old which only has the option of hot in the summer, and cold in the winter.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Work done Sun Feb 4:
* Photo event Day 2: Dan, Bill, Ben, Trevor, Scott (and probably a few others) hit the rails at 6:45AM this morning for sunrise photos at Albee's field. Later in the day, Gordon and Steve P took over in their respective positions for more photos on the Mountain and various locations. They wrapped up around 3pm. All of the photographers were thrilled and you can see the results already showing up on social media.
* Engine House: Brendan was back at work on the rear freight door.
* Build 11: Gordon, Rick, Joe M, Quintin, Harold, Alan were busy building locomotive 11. Work centered around the tender truck.
* Food: Linda served the lunch to everyone that Nancy had prepped the day before.
* Passenger Service? - A passer-by saw the photo train at Trout Brook, parked his car, became mesmerized, then boarded coach 3 alongside all the other photographers as the train departed for Top of Mountain and points south. After explaining the situation to the unexpected guest, Conductor Steve sent him on his way at Top of Mountain.

Apologies if I missed anything or anyone. It was a busy day for what is usually a sleepy Sheepscot Sunday.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of February 5, 2024

Monday:
Build11 full team
V&S Committee meeting
Enginehouse work possible

Tuesday:
Possible coach 3 truck swap
Loco 11 Rear Truck Wheel Mounting
Build11 full team
Coach 9
Enginehouse work possible

Wednesday:
Coach 9
Enginehouse work possible
Vacuum Brake Engineeeing meeting

Thursday:
Coach 3 truck swap
(MoW, V Brake engineering
Enginehouse work possible)

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday, Feb 10:

* Steam & Sleighs (or maybe it should be Steam & Suntanning, it'll be so warm) to SeaLyon and back.
* Engine house
* Boxcar 56
* Machine shop
* Board meeting at 4