Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread

[Roger Cole]

Was the original roadbed ballasted or were the ties set on the ground like a lot of logging railroads did?

[Al Michelis]

I've seen no signs of ballast in the areas I've been to. The ties had to have been laid on the ground. Track must have been very unstable.

[Bill Reidy]

The lack of stone ballast is the reason there are so many historic photos of WW&F locomotives rolled over, particular during the spring mud season.

[Mike Fox]

They used gravel ballast. I have been finding the top 6 inches to a foot is usually gravel, almost every time I dig. Some places are more gravel, like it was built low and raised with good gravel after.

[Mike Fox]

No day of rest for me. Digging before 8.. Thos is just south of the former slide (which I am standing on in the last pic)




Found something..




Looking North


That should be deep enough

[Mike Fox]

Between yesterday and today, this is where we are at now.

Standing at location 8 looking south. I removed the silt fence and finished grading.



While there, I pushed the high spot just north of Location 8 south. I found gravel ballast so knew I was close. Looking North.



Looking at it from the north.



I moved the equipment south, and put down some cloth. Kind of soft there.



Ditched across the slide (Location 4) looking North



I turned right and this is the small wall I built yesterday backfilled with rock



Turned and looking south. Excavator is parked almost at Location 2.



Looking North from about where the excavator was.



And here is everything parked. Location 2 is between the dozer and excavator.

[Harold Downey]

I hate to be the person from away asking questions, but I can't help myself...    Will we need to re-survey and have centerline stakes put in to define the track location for FWW track build?
I assume the answer is "of course."    The amount of work required to prep for this FWW is probably nearly overwhelming, and I grok that.   The progress on the Mountain Extension is really phenomenal.   So much behind the scenes happens in addition to what we see here. 

Harold

[Jason M Lamontagne]

We will need to survey for track centerline- but:  we have already surveyed a series of reference stakes all the way through.  We have centerline info prepared off of straight lines between these reference stakes.  Additionally, Rick will be with us for the week leading up to work weekend, and can lead that effort.

A word for Mike here, and I realize this is likely understood by most folks but it still deserves being said:  don’t let the bridge distract from the work Mike (and support crew) has accomplished on the Mointain this year.  Organizationally, we’ve never before cleared trees, stumped, installed more than a dozen culverts, repaired a 200 plus yard incursion, repaired grade on a very steep slope (wall), all within 9 months.  The work on the Mountain deserves great accolades without any mention of the bridge.

A small part of Mike’s support was surveying, which in itself was a feat.  The Mountain features 5 fully spiraled curves in less than a 1/2 mile, which is a distinctly narrow gauge feature.  To lay these out in a way which utilizes the best average centerline of the existing grade was truly fun (no sarcasm there).  I dabbled but Rick nailed it, in a systematic, repeatable fashion.

All great stuff. 

See ya
Jason

[Mike Fox]

The survey was a huge help in places. And having those reference points Jason spoke of made it so I could check my work without needing a resurvey. I have only had to do that a couple of times, as it is rather clear where the tracks should go in most places.

We are already planning the next cycle of work after FWW, starting with cleaning up the tree trash left from last year, then moving on to tree clearing. Our tree clearing will not be as intense as last year, because we can focus on the 1400 feet between the bridge and location 9. We will burn it all this time, instead of having to deal with it again later, like we are this year. I walked the area today with Brendan, and then walked back by myself looking.

I also need to find time to repair some issues with the dozer. Hoping I can do it in December and then have the dozer on hand to plow the grade for easier access.

[Steve Zuppa]

Thank you, Jason, for bringing Mike's contribution the attention that it deserves. Most of us (but Mike especially) quietly go about our business and seek no fanfare. In the back of my mind, I was aware of all Mike had done on this project but it was only upon viewing the last series of photos that I wondered if everyone realized what a big deal this really is. Now they do.

[Mike Fox]

Again, I do not deserve any more credit than anyone else doing their part for the museum. Team effort.

The big team shows up in a week and a half, and we will be ready.

[Alex Harvilchuck]

Again, I do not deserve any more credit than anyone else doing their part for the museum. Team effort.

Someone has to organize it and keep the ball rolling. You deserve appreciation for that effort.

[Paul Uhland]

Absolutely!
Mike's also responsible for solving many, many sub-projects, helping to complete many jobs.
Just a tad more than directing them, ya think??? 

[Mike Fox]

Well then, come shake my hand when we open the extension. That is when I expect a pat on the back. I am already looking forward to it..

Saturdays weather looks good for me to be able to finish the work for this year, and have the equipment ready for a late week move to Sheepscot by road.

[Mike Fox]

Lets go for a walk. Standing at end of track, looking North..



Full length ties for a promised crossing so Mrs Fossel has access to her back land.



Stepping north, and looking at the access road, now effectively blocked.



Still just a bit further north. This is a long sweeping curve to location 2.



More of the curve



Was a little soft where I piled up the logs from the pine trees.



Looking south


Looking at the slide after the tree clean up.



What tree clean up? I figured it was easier to lug those logs without track in the way. Not a bad landing for a tree that was leaning out over the bank.



Looking at the crossing fron the excavator. I added a water diverter using junk ties. Going to backfill with 1 1/2 stone.