Mountain Extension - Official Work Thread

[Stephen Hussar]

People seeing the train from Rt 218 is a GOOD thing. After decades of there only being a curious hump in the road, now's there's actually going to be something to see!

[Thomas Evans]

I've obviously been asleep at the switch.
Could someone fill me in on this turntable that's going in at The North End?
(origin & history - the complete history from its beginning until now).
A picture would be nice as well.
Last I knew there was talk about some giant crane part, but now it's something from the B&SR by way of MNG.
And where was that center pivot casting that Mike had to rescue? - Bridgeton or Portland or Edaville or where?

Thanks - Tom

[Jason M Lamontagne]

The table we are installing is an original B&SR table from either Bridgton Junction or Bridgton- we aren’t sure which.  It was modified and used by Edaville to access their machine shop.  MNG acquired the table in the early 1990s and moved into storage in Maine.  MNG still owns the table and has generously lent its use to us as an extension of the Narrow Gauge Collaboration.  Should MNG ever seek to use the table for other purposes, it is readily removable and can be replaced with a newly constructed equivalent or conventional roadbed.

The table was originally 28’ long; Edaville converted it to a 40’ table so they could turn coaches.  That conversion included replacing the original 24’ ring rail with a 30’ ring rail.  The original wheel carriages were lost during that conversion.  We have shortened the table to 31’- so as to allow use of the existing  (edaville installed) wheel carriages and 30’ ring rail.  This also preserves the option of returning tue table to 40’ length someday. 

The female center bearing was mounted on a large concrete block in storage in Gray.  Rather than move that block, Mike removed the original casting and we made a new concrete center block- which is already installed.

We hope to finish a few repairs on the table and install it this month.  There’s a lot on our plate though…

Thanks,
Jason

[Thomas Evans]

Thanks, Jason.

Tom

[James Patten]

Today we laid the tail track across the turntable toward 218.

[James Patten]

Another view, from across the road.

[Kevin Kierstead]

How long is the tail track and what will be in place as a bumper stop?

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Does the pavement on Rt 218 count as a bumper? 

The rules will require a safety stop prior to entering the turntable and equipment will rarely be on the tail.  Movements in that track will be speed restricted to 5 MPH.  There’s also another 80’ or so from new end of track to the actual edge of road, so no real need for a bumper.

See ya
Jason

[Fred Morse]

One of the gravel trucks going South on 218 would probably stop us.

[Brendan Barry]

Trout Brook station progress and a couple pictures of the Harsco tamper.

[Jeff Schumaker]

The station is coming along nicely.

Jeff S.

[John Kokas]

When do we get some video of Wilmar in action?

[Bill Reidy]

A Saturday, July 16th photo around 2 p.m.  Wall sheathing looked about done.  Brendan Barry and Stewart Rhine were finishing up the roof sheathing on the side facing Route 218, as Fred Morse looked on.  James Patten and perhaps others joined Fred, Brendan and Stewart on the project in the morning.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Today: Wednesday July 27th work -

* Depot - Brendan and crew finished roofing the Trout Brook Station. The next steps will be tarpaper on the walls, install the corner boards and set the windows. The soffit and frieze boards need to be installed as well.

* Track - Tamping of the approach tracks (main + siding) has been done by Steve Lennox's crew.  They also finished spiking the tail track that goes north from the turntable.

* Turntable - Engine 9 was turned for the first time. The locomotive was run onto the bridge and then off of it to test the compression of the center bearing pad. Adjustments were made to the bridge center bearing and another test was run by turning the engine. The test went well.

* Mile Post 8 - Eric Schade worked on the mile post sign and some brush was cleared around it.

NOTE: The video of #9 being turned has been posted on the WW&F FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/WWFRailway/videos/770324967437720

[Bill Baskerville]

I love the post of turning 9 on the TBS turntable.  It took four strong backs on each end of the locomotive to make the turn around.  Fortunately five seconds in the turn Jason was there to keep 9 from toppling off the turntable.  What dedication.  He held the locomotive up for the rest of the rotation .


(Just joshing guys)