April 2024 Work Reports

[Ed Lecuyer]

April 7:
*Eastertime Eggspress - 190 passengers over 3 trains (plus a pickup run.) Thanks to everyone who helped.
*Archives - Linda was at work.
*Gift Shop - Marcel picked up stuff for the Westbrook train show next weekend.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of April 8, 2024

Monday:
Engineering for XCart, Vac Brakes, No 11.
No11 Container Reorganize: afternoon (any help available for this?)
It may get a little dark for a few minutes Monday afternoon. 

Tuesday:
Coach 3 truck install.
Coach 9 siding work.
Build11 truck work (if Harold is available)
Vac Pot Assembly

Wednesday:
Vac Brake Engineering Meeting
Coach 9 siding work
Build11 truck work possible again

Thursday:
Vac Brake work, XCart subsystem design and ordering.

Platform work is likely all week pending Brendan’s availability.

Thanks
Jason

[Ed Lecuyer]

It may get a little dark for a few minutes Monday afternoon.

[Bruce Wilson]

It may get a little dark for a few minutes Monday afternoon.

The solar eclipse recognized in such an understated way, seems a little sad. Especially when considering how in earlier times, some societies or civilizations hurled themselves from cliff faces upon such a puzzling event
 Recall the December 21, 2012  Mayan civilizations' "end of the world" forecast. I'm happy to read Jason's alert however, just as when he hinted at rail being put forward to Headtide during April fools day. The eclipse now is something to be remembered and a story to tell future generations. Where were you and what did you do as the sky blackened. I'm happy to say that the work I was doing in my garage, went on with the aid of a drop light. I'll remember that the four old Champion spark plugs in my '32 Ford model B engine yielded to the persuasion of a good soaking of mystery oil and a 1/2" drive socket. First time the plugs gave been out in better than 40 years and done during the eclipse...now I have to wonder (being a Monty Python fan) how the cast and crew, might today react to an eclipse. Perhaps they'd throw themselves from a gentle swale?  Or leap into a neighboring mud bog?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

There's a pic on the WW&F FB page that shows just how dark Sheepscot yard was at 3:28 pm today which at that time was at 98% of the eclipse.  The south yard looked like it was being viewed through a very dark pair of sunglasses. 

It's funny that Bruce mentions his 1932 Ford Model B.  My 1932 Model B Ford hasn't run in a few years... but I did fire up the 1934 flathead V-8.

Happy eclipse day everyone.   

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday April 13:

* Volunteer recruitment day
* Vehicle repair/maintenance
* Platform work
* Machine shop

FYI no board meeting this day - moved to next week.

[Mike Fox]

Weather permitting, I will be doing spring clean up, mainly picking up the gravel deposited onto the lawns from the plowing this winter. Also, if time permits, there are some trees that have come down recently in the storage area and AC that can be cleaned up.

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday April 13:

* Volunteer recruitment day: Rather successful, about 20 new volunteers showed up.  They were given tours, experienced lunch, and got a train ride with some track work thrown in.
* Loco 11: Harold was in working on #11 machining.
* Coach 9: Eric and Ron were in to open up the carpenter shop, and sand the siding pieces before applying the first green coat (which will be later).
* Archives: Linda may have acquired 3 more helpers.  She and Cody were working on cataloging.

[Ed Lecuyer]

* Volunteer recruitment day: Rather successful, about 20 new volunteers showed up

A big thank you to everyone who helped make today's first-ever volunteer recruitment event a success. We had 17 new people (plus the relatively new additions of Dom and Nick A.) all got a small taste of our railroad. Everyone seemed very impressed and overheard comments included "I'm hooked." Credit goes to Steve P. for organizing the bulk of the event, even though his schedule did not permit him to be there.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Also on Saturday 4/13:

Zack and I did a major cleanup of the engine house floor, after which we had the building open for tours.  Perspective new volunteers were happy to walk through and ask questions, some got photos of the interior and Monson #4 which is in the west stall.   

[Mike Fox]

The majority of the dirt deposited from the winter ploeing has been picked up, and the tree was removed from Casey

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Anticipated Work
Week of April 15, 2024

Monday:
XCart Prep
V Brake work

Tuesday:
Truck brake work

Wednesday:
Coach 9 siding
Loco 9 work possible

Thursday/ Friday:
Build11 Truck Work

All week: platform work possible if Brendan is available.

[James Patten]

Anticipated work for Saturday April 20:

* Rules class, hosted by Pete
* Computer stuff
* Sheepscot platform
* Machine shop
* Boxcar 56
* Board meeting at 4
* Lunar Viewing train at 7

[James Patten]

Work done on Saturday, April 20:

* Rules class, hosted by Pete.  Very well attended.
* Boxcar 56, with Jay and Marcel.
* Sheepscot platform work in the afternoon (after the rain stopped)
* Computer stuff between the archives and my Treasurer's computer
* Mike was working but I didn't see on what
* Board meeting
* Lunar Viewing train - fortunately the sky cleared right up.

[Ed Lecuyer]

* Lunar Viewing train - fortunately the sky cleared right up.
It clouded over again significantly by the time we reached Alna Center. There was no lunar viewing, but we enjoyed a good presentation on telescopes and a lovely night train ride.