[Moderator's Note:
This posting was written by James Patten in the previous incarnation of the WW&F Discussion Forum.]
After several months of discussions, the Long Range Planning group has come up with some ideas for how we can develop the Boudin and Percival properties. I'm putting this here for all to review, and will be bringing it to the Museum tomorrow for people there to review. Comments are welcome. At the last board meeting the board requested that we present this at the next meeting, which is a week from now.
First is the map. Many thanks go out to Frank Knight for his patient renderings of our ideas. There's two maps: one showing the whole property up to Jayne's Way Crossing, the second shows a close-up of the area near the road (which is where all the action is).
The small squares are 10 feet across; the larger squares 50 feet. The heavy blue line going through the map is the stream, the heavy green lines to either side is about where the gully border is.
You'll notice some large letters scattered throughout. These letters are idea points which are described below.
A. Parking Lot This parking area is what is being cut off this winter. Nominally, 65 cars can be parked here; the parking spaces are sized for SUVs (10 foot spacing) and can be squeezed up to store more cars. The design also allows RVs to move around. The lot has been designed in such a way that northward expansion for more cars is possible without major disruption. Lane A is a single parking lane, while Lanes B and C are double parking lanes. There is a single exit point at the south end of the lot.
Option: Nudge Lane A westward some, and Lanes B and C eastward some, to make a wider Lane A. 2 or 3 RVs and other long vehicles could be parked on the eastern side of Lane A.
B. Entry Road The Percival driveway will become the entry road into the parking lot. The road will need to be widened somewhat. It takes a swing to the west once it gets beyond the house.
C. Leach Field & Road Access The leach field location has been staked out, at the north side of the former "Percival Purchase". A road will be constructed to the leach field in such a manner that the road and its crossing of the stream will be re-used by a future southerly spur from the mainline for car storage.
D. Restrooms The restroom facilities are intended to fit in the corner between the north side of the entry road and the east side of the parking lot. The building depicted is a placeholder until an actual proposal is determined. The minimum size and number of toilets is determined by law, and will govern what we are able to do.
At present time it is hoped the restroom building can resemble a WW&F agency station. This is still being researched.
E. Percival House At present, the Percival House is on the outskirts of public space at Sheepscot. However, with the addition of parking and restrooms nearby, the house will be right in the middle of public accessible space. Therefore using the first floor of the house as public space is recommended, although what form it will take will require continued discussion.
F. Roundhouse The roundhouse will be a three-stall roundhouse based on the one at Wiscasset. There will be one run-through bay, the track from which will lead to the car storage tracks. The center bay will be longer. Behind the roundhouse there can be an area for coal storage, as well as an ash pit for dumping the fire. The roundhouse ought to be built of fire-resistant materials, such as brick or steel.
G. Turntable The turntable will be a 40-foot Howe Truss table, long enough to handle any car or locomotive. Exact positioning of the turntable depends on a yet-to-be conducted survey. The current Track 7 will swing westward to become the turntable lead track, and the remaining track beside the machine shop would be lifted.
Option: Run a track westwardly off the turntable, buried, into the parking area. This track would not be used for storage, but for loading and unloading of cars from a Landoll.
H. Blacksmithy Post 1907, the Wiscasset roundhouse had a lean-to structure attached to one side. This structure would become a blacksmithy. It too should be constructed of fire resistant materials.
I. Coal Storage The coal storage area can be moved from in front of the shop to somewhere behind the roundhouse. Location of this depends on accessibility of large dump trucks.
J. Car Storage Two tracks would be constructed for covered car storage, north of the roundhouse and accessed from both a run-through bay of the roundhouse and a track south from the main line. The main line switch will be far enough south that a 3-car train and locomotive can fit between the switch and Jayne's Way Crossing; this way the Yard Limit will not need to include the crossing. This track will occupy the road that was constructed over the stream for the construction of the leach field. It is intended that the track be constructed in a cut through the embankment next to the main line.
The car shed should be styled similar to the original W&Q car shed in Wiscasset. While it is likely to be steel construction, it can be sheathed in board and batten or other period-appropriate materials to retain the original look.
K. Handicapped Parking Several handicapped parking spots have been placed, both in front of the restrooms, and on Cross Road in front of the shops.
L. Shop Extension A southerly expansion of the car shop has been planned. This extension would extend the first 3 bays of the car shop 30 - 40 feet south toward the road.
M. Walkway A handicap-friendly walkway extends from the parking lot to the restrooms, then past the turntable to the platform. These paths could conceivably continue around the perimeter of the car shop area as well.
N. Landscaping The area between the shop, the turntable, and Cross Road should be landscaped. The area south of the turntable will no longer be a parking area, it should be grassed over, and also should be fenced so that wayward children do not accidentally fall into the pit. Likewise the road to behind the roundhouse should be gated so that visitors are not confused as to how to get to parking.
Trees can be planted in between the lanes of the parking lot, but we may want to avoid this is as it locks in the location of the lanes.
O. Drainage Originally the western side of the shop area was conceived as drainage. With the addition of new structures care must be taken that this original drainage is preserved. Catch basins should be added for public safety.
P. Power and Lighting Even though the Museum has few nighttime events, the need to have lights for the parking lot and other spaces from the lot to the station is there. Planning for lights on poles and in other places will have to be considered.
Additionally, all these buildings and lights will need power. It is recommended that power from CMP be routed through one building (such as the Percival House), then be distributed via underground cables or conduit to all places that need it. This will preserve the aura of the early 20th century around the station area, and will allow unhindered movement of rail equipment on trucks.
