Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread

[James Patten]

How much is left?  The last time I looked (last year) a section about 15 feet long up to the centerline of the roadbed had washed out.  We've had some pretty heavy rain this year and it rained almost all of June, so I would expect even more of the roadbed has eroded away.

[Mike Fox]

Paul, My membership plug was aimed at any non-members that may be reading. As we know, it's the only way to get the Newsletter by mail.

[Paul Horky]

Mike
 Just wanted to let you that I like You am a member of this GREAT orginasation even though unlike you I have not ever seen the Museum in person I wish I could change that as I would like to see and experance the history there.

[Mike Fox]

It's worth the trip. On to 218

[Paul Horky]

In looking at this mess at the slide area I cann't help getting the feeling that something needs to be done here before things get worste. Seems I heard that what may have caused this to happen is that the drainage system after 80 years with no maintaince is not working. If this is so and this area is on W&Q property might it not be a good idea to repair the drainage system so that more damage is lessened so that the cost of repairing this will not go up any more than nessary. I understand labor is now becoming short as the the line grows but maybe a crew could go out at the upcoming work weekend if enough people show up. Just a thought.

[James Patten]

Part of the problem is this washout is not on W&Q property, but on private property.  At this time we have no access to the land.

[Paul Horky]

Thats too bad. Hope we can get control of this area soon so something can be done to keep more damage from happening.

[Dana Deering]

Here's my theory about the cause of the landslide and a way to prevent more in the future while we work to get over that section:  At the time the landslide occurred we had a lot of rain and the clay soil became saturated and lost its adhesion to whatever base was underneath.  The other factor in play was that in the 60 plus years since the end of operations the trees had grown to a substantial hieight with a realtively shallow but wide root base.  Then, we had a period of several days of very high winds on top of the saturating rain.  The trees caught the wind and acted like giant levers and pried the bank loose from its tenuous moorings and everything slid to the bottom of the fill.  The two things that could be done to prevent more of the same would be to cut the trees and restore the drainage.  I think removing the trees would go along way toward halting further slides.  A little sunshine wouldn't hurt, either.  For June and July we are 10 inches above normal for rainfall...

[Paul Horky]

Dana
 I could not agree with you more unforunetly as James pointed out it isn't our ballfield to play on YET although I can guess that the BOD is working to change that [though this is probalbly TOP SECERT stuff and can't And shouldn't be Talked about now]. Lets hope the BOD can work their magic in smoozing the neibors into some kind of land use agrement soon.

[Matthew Gustafson]

What does the mueseum plan on doing once the ROW reaches route 218? Is the ROW going to cross the road and continue on towards Head Tide or is there going to be a station there to make it the official end of track of the museums track? 

[Ed Lecuyer]

I do not know if that has been decided yet, as it is beyond the scope of our current Long-Range plan.

The Long-Range Plan is in the midst of being updated. Once complete, I suspect that it will be published on our web site, as is the case with the current edition of that document.

[Matthew Gustafson]

Alright. I was just wondering if we would build a little station (like Alna Center) there if we stop the ROW there or if we keep going past Route 218, we could maybe make a passing siding or picnic area for people to get off of and have a little snack and wait for the train to come back (Like what the East Broad Top does)

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Good to have you back Matthew.  Here are a few facts and options.
 
To get to the Rt 218 crossing the museum must -
(A) Secure land owner permission on a few parcels.
(B) Repair a large wash out on the grade.
(C) Build a 90' bridge at Trout/Carlton Brook. 
Head Tide had an agent station so if a depot is built it would most likely resemble the original Head Tide structure, although it would not be in the original location. 

The museum can then -
(1) Apply to cross 218 and build along the river towards the Head Tide cut.
(2) Not build the crossing but build track, starting on the north side of the crossing and build towards the cut.
(3) Stop building track and operate the roughly 3.5 miles of railroad.
(4) Stop building north and come back to Sheepscot and build track south towards Wiscasset.

Some of these ideas have been discussed for the last 15 years and may be in the next LRP.

Stewart

[James Patten]

We're planning for the next LRP to include a business plan which will explore the various options.

[Matthew Gustafson]

I heard about a plan on the old topics that there was a plan for a Wye or Armstrong Turntable to be made if we pick not to cross Route 218, is this still in the plan or has both solutions been turned down?