Author Topic: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread  (Read 532874 times)

Mike Fox

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #840 on: January 13, 2019, 03:42:01 PM »
Bill,
That is the only way to do it now. Do it right. Used to be you could beg for forgiveness, or even plead stupidity, but not any more.

The only unfortunate thing is our DEP rep has relocated to another office. But said he loved serving the Alna area and will miss it. So our next extension project will have a new DEP rep to take for a walk and show what we are trying to achieve, and make sure we can. We would have had to do the same with the other rep, because it would be areas we have not covered.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2019, 09:10:39 PM by Mike Fox »
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Bill Reidy

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #841 on: January 13, 2019, 04:13:42 PM »
Mike,

It is good that you have such a great working relationship with our regulators.  I know, from past experience it helps a lot when they trust that we will always strive to do the right thing.

You're spot on, Bill.  I'm so glad we're following the process to the letter, and the results show.  We're very fortunate to have the right people who carry this philosophy diligently and have generously donated their talent and hard work to move us forward.
What–me worry?

Bill Reidy

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #842 on: January 16, 2019, 06:05:07 PM »
The January 2019 Mass Bay RRE Callboy includes a two-page article on our Trout Brook Bridge and Mountain Extension project work in 2018, largely adapted from Joe Fox's article in our November / December 2018 Newsletter.  As noted in our March / April 2018 Newsletter, Mass Bay RRE generously provided us a $1000 grant from their Railroad Preservation Fund to aid the Trout Brook Bridge effort.
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Bill Baskerville

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #843 on: January 16, 2019, 06:58:24 PM »
Another case of good deeds being recognized.  Everyone involved, and that is a lot of people, has earned a big "Well Done!"  A high five gets added to the special folks who put forth special efforts to get all the design, permitting and behind the scenes work.
~ B2 ~ Wascally Wabbit & Gofer ~

Mike Fox

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #844 on: January 19, 2019, 07:18:27 PM »
What a great day. A huge thank you to Jason for taking care of the train crew and dispatching needs.

We started off slow, with first  just me, getting things ready, then James showed up just as I was dropping the first pine.

And the crew grew a little more and we kept working. Then the train showed up and I think we had about 20 of us up there, though I never took a head count. A very good days work, and as you will see, we made huge progress. Thanks to all that came. We are planning to do it again in February.


Looking South first thing this morning.


Turned to look North.


My "new" tree persuader


Worked like a charm. Note the jack in the stump.


We went North and cut this pine to get a fire going on that end.


The crew had shown up and made short work of the first pine and some of the other trees


Looking north from what I am told is Sawmill Curve


Oops. Have to head to the fire and dry out my phone. Too much body moisture


There, much better. Looking North. The ditch is completely clear now for the repair.








Trees on the East (right) side are next, in a couple of weeks..


The ditch, looking south


The end of a good day, looking south.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2019, 07:21:06 PM by Mike Fox »
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Bob Holmes

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #845 on: January 19, 2019, 07:56:26 PM »
Mike, you are fantastic as a leader for these tasks...

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #846 on: January 20, 2019, 09:29:58 AM »
Impressive work, Mike. Congrats to you and your crew.

Jeff S.
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a moose trout out of my hat.

Terry Harper

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #847 on: January 20, 2019, 11:19:44 AM »
Joe,

As usual I am amazed at what you folks accomplish!

Are you setting aside any of the good pine and spruce for saw logs?
I half expect to see a horse drawn two-sled rig piled high with logs
moving down the road bed to the rail head (LOL)

Best regards,

Terry


Mike Fox

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #848 on: January 20, 2019, 03:31:33 PM »
No saw logs in this batch. The big pine had heart rot. The others would have made some 10s and 12s, but would be hard to get them out. So we will pile them to the side and maybe get them later, before they rot.
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Bill Baskerville

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #849 on: January 20, 2019, 03:55:27 PM »
... The others would have made some 10s and 12s, but would be hard to get them out. So we will pile them to the side and maybe get them later, before they rot.

Of course, after the FWW, we could get the crane car and a flat car down there and load them up like we unload rails and bring them back, or take them down to 218.

Just a thought.
~ B2 ~ Wascally Wabbit & Gofer ~

Mike Fox

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #850 on: January 20, 2019, 05:50:47 PM »
The big ones may be too heavy, but the spot I have found is kind of elevated, so maybe they can be rolled on, or use the gantry to skid them. It is worth a shot if we have to move them.

But, if we have no place to send them, if moved will just clutter another spot. The location I chose is out of the way for any surveying and grade repair, and could be another talking point on the Mountain for our conductors and car hosts..
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Wayne Laepple

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #851 on: January 20, 2019, 06:24:25 PM »
Would there be a spot at Sawmill Curve to stack the logs?

Mike Fox

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #852 on: January 20, 2019, 06:33:02 PM »
There is and that is the spot.
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Gary Kraske

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #853 on: January 20, 2019, 07:06:23 PM »
Mike,  ingenious use of a jack to "persuade" tree fall direction.  Very nice!

Mike Fox

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Re: Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread
« Reply #854 on: January 20, 2019, 09:46:04 PM »
I always wanted to try it. I was skeptical with the lean it had, seen in the first photo.
Mike
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