Sheepscott property plan

[Bill Sample]

In systems I have seen similar to our proposed design, and I think there is a law about this on the books someplace, the tank has to be within "x" amount of feet from the building it is serving. The septic or leach field needs to be in a place where it can perk. Ideally it would be lower than the tank so gravity would take the liquid to the field. In our situation, we can't do that. So it will be pumped. How this works is there is a switch in the tank that turns the pump on and off. When the liquid in the tank gets high enough to turn on the switch, the pump starts and sends the liquid to the field. When it reaches it's low limit switch, the pump turns off.
  I do believe that the tank will still need servicing to remove the solids every so often. Once a year or once every few years, depending on use.

Well now I know why that ex B&SR tank was purchased....
Bill Sample

[Ken Fleming]

What about a sand mound leach bed North of "A" parking lot and and West of "J" car barn?  Bury septic tank just North of "D" restrooms and withing hose length of parking lot for access by pump truck.  This option shouldn't add a considerable cost to overall project.  It would offer a shorter run between septic tank and leach bed.  Sand mound leach beds are common here in Pennsylvania, in areas of poor soil absorbtion.

[James Patten]

Our leach bed needs have been already determined by sanitary engineers.  I would assume that a sand mound bed was considered and rejected, but cannot say that with any assurance as I was not "privy" to the discussions.

The septic tank will be within hose length of vehicle access.  Where exactly it will be I don't know.  I don't think we know exactly where the restrooms will be either.

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

Based upon my experiance with pumped septic systems and septic systems in general, it is normal/required for the holding/settling tank to be approximately one 10' pipe length from the building.  In pumped systems such as we require at the museum the holding tank settles-out the solids and the liquids then pass into a second tank that contains the pump.  James is correct that the main tank that requires pumping-out periodically will be within vehicle access if the tank is within 10' of the restrooms as noted on the plan. 
Duncan

[Wayne Laepple]

Two observations regarding septic tanks, neither of which may be relevant to this conversation:

First of all, Seashore Trolley Museum actually buried an entire tank car tank next to their facilities building to accept the effluent some years ago. I don't recall whether the tank flows to a secondary tank and into a leach field or is pumped as needed.

Secondly, at the steam railroad in Pennsylvania where I hang out when I'm not in Maine, the facilities building feeds into a 7500 gallon tank. We normally have the tank pumped twice each season. The men's side has one commode and two urinals, plus a sink. The ladies has three commodes and one sink. Our annual patronage is between 12,000 and 15,000.

[Matthew Gustafson]

Will the track thru the roundhouse stall past the car sheds and onto the mainline will be used as a wye track? 

[Ed Lecuyer]

No, since it isn't a wye.

A wye has to come together at three points, forming a triagle. The track you mention doesn't do this. (Picture the turntable as a switch, and you'll see it's effectively just a long siding.)

Now, I'm all for building a wye. But we have to reach Weeks Mills first! 

[Matthew Gustafson]

Wheres Weeks Mills? Is it part of the WW&F Railroad right of way?

[Ed Lecuyer]

About 40 miles north of Sheepscot station - where the WW&F split into the Winslow and Albion branches.

It was the location of the one wye on the original line.

[Matthew Gustafson]

Alright now all we need is one more wye track to have a engine on the front of the train round trip with out the need to run in reverse! 

[Ed Lecuyer]

That's what the turntable is for.

[Matthew Gustafson]

Okay then! which stall would engines #9, #10, #11 will go in the new roundhouse? 

[James Patten]

Which engine goes in which stall will depend on operational need, I am sure.  For the time being, #9, 10, 51, and 52 would all fit.  #53 (the railcar) will probably stay in the car shop.  #11 currently lives in the gift shop (at least its headlight, bell bracket, and number plate do).

[Bill Reidy]

Looking at the site plan map, it appears another stall could be added on the west side to make room for #11 when it is built.

- Bill

[Wayne Laepple]

But if we add another stall to the replica of the Wiscasset roundhouse, it won't look like the original. If it's built with the extended center stall (as was done to accommodate no. 6), there should be room for the two internal combustion locos and no. 10 in that stall.

A small wooden garage off the turntable with a track into it could house the railcar. (Maybe a smaller version of the Albion engine shed?) It should have a door on the back, too, so the Model AA truck can be parked in there, too. Nos. 51 and 52 could be sheltered in the machine shop building, which is heated, unless, of course, one of the steam engines needs to be in there for some reason.