THE TWO FOOTERS                           

  

Last Atlantic Canadian snowfall was March 21^st and that just happened to be a good day to cross the open lake now that the ice has melted for another summer season.  We checked in as we do often to see the snow almost melted and the feel the warm sun cracking through the trees. 

 

As a follow up to my last entry, you will now note the completion of our ‘scrappy spur’ made up of our lightest and oldest mix match of rail.  We started down the hill at 4% on #30, #25, #20 rail, into a #30 switch with the leg made of #16 scraps that will double as a storage area for rail.  We run out on the level for 100’ or so beyond the switch with some really scrappy welded and patched rail where the roadbed widens to well over 10’.  There are lots of curves on the slope to stop a runaway or at least slow it to a brisk walk at the least.  Our loco in neutral stops in the switch if we let it run free from the station site at the end of the main line (top of hill) so we feel reasonably safe.

On the last stretch to the lake at 4% we used nearly new #12 that was once a runway for an apple sorting machine that we were fortunate to acquire.  When we get within 80’ of the water, we quickly change up to #40 on steel ties so we will have a solid base to bolt the barge to and offer the high spring water a bigger challenge to rust or the odd piece of ice during the March spring melt that may catch the track coming down the river.  In addition, if there is blocking required to meet the barge in higher water, the track has some added rigidity.  We have a solid #40 derail here on steel ties just to slow a runaway in the event something breaks loose if you look closely.  We hope never to be launched into the lake at 4% and won’t be admitting or talking about it if we do. This is a non passenger area, and we only plan to come down the hill when bringing in supplies and new equipment.

Note the concrete rebar posts that will form the base for our soon-to-be-built station at the end of the main line/start of scrappy spur. 

The little yard is soon to see the addition of a small manual turntable, which will gain us entry to both stalls and be built directly in front of the storage shed. 

 

Get Off and Push Railroad

by Ed Archer

Here are two more pictures for the GO&P story.

Pic 1 -

The Steam Dummy has a vertical boiler powering a 'V' two cyl single expansion steam engine. A two-to-one chain drive takes the power down to the front axle and the side rods drive the rear axle.  (2:1 ratio gives the power needed and makes it sound like she is running faster then she real is.)  She burns most anything you throw in but is run primarily on wood. 

The boiler and steam engine are (Fred) Semple.  They were purchased in 1965 I think.  The boiler just now has a leaking flue.  Once moved, its boiler retube time.

Pic 2 -

Though light, she will pull the load you see up the 4% grade while sounding real good.  Add a couple of more people and then its like the name implies - Get Off and PUSH!

You may note a different RR name in the consist.  The flat car was on loan from the Palm City Railroad belonging to Joe and Jim Holman for this affair.

All pictures were taken by Tara Archer

 

 

 

 

 

I had planned to send along some pictures of our new depot/museum project but just can't seem to find enough hours in the day.  We didn't have an inmate crew today.  They were short of officers at the barbed wire hotel, so they pulled all the work camp officers into the main compound.  Don't know if we'll have any tomorrow or not.

Progress is being made.  As of yesterday, we have the building closed in so that the hour a day wasted moving tools in and out of the maintenance building is behind us.  We did have to nail plywood over two bay window openings since the delivery guys with the windows managed to break two of them.  They had to go back to Mississippi for replacement.  When they delivered them today, there were two more broken panes.  What a PAIN?  The very complex roof is almost finished.  Only two of the 8 dormers remain to be completed.  Shingling is about 2/3rds done.  Electrical rough in will be done next week so we can start insulating and sheet rocking. We will also start the brick laying next week using a hired brick mason.  It shouldn't take more than 10 days.  If we can keep a crew on the job (very iffy), I think we can be finished by sometime in July.  IF they don't get pulled off to work on the schools for June and July.

Since I'm working alone, progress is very slow on the steam outline locomotive.  Another couple of weeks should see all four trucks rebuilt and painted.  The plan is on track to install a diesel/hydraulic drive system.  Parts are slowly being accumulated, and I see no problem in having it ready for the Halloween runs.  I'm going to have to get off that project and start building the three new riding cars we have trucks for.  They have to be done by end September when the grant expires.  Fortunately, I think we have about everything on hand to build the two big cars.  I still have to buy the steel for the small riding car to go on the red, white and blue train.  We received a pair of NAD trucks with the steam outline train.  It will be on a small scale like our current red, white and blue cars but with bench seats.  It will have four benches with about 6" more legroom than the current wooden seat cars.  $49 benches are a cheaper and easier method than building plywood seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like thousands of RR enthusiasts across America, Gill and I spent a beautiful Sunday morning organizing the recent shipment of 34,600# of rail. In the background you see the loaded trailer brought in off the road. In the foreground all the straight ones are stacked neatly, and behind the loader all the bent ones are set off to the side.

We are pleased to have received this weeks shipment of rail. It was a busy day unloading 114 pieces of 30# and one switch. This rail came from a coal mine in the eastern most county of Kentucky.

Once the loader lifts a group of 4 or 7 rails, the truck drives forward and we place them on the ground. In this photo, half of the rail has already been offloaded onto our equipment trailer behind the camera.

We are pleased to announce the arrival of new 25# rail. Gill and I ran down to the Foster Yard in Houston and picked up the 30ft pieces after the Tomball auction. Check out the roof rack for the front bumper:

 

 

 

The picture (taken by Barrie Hughes) shows a northbound works train about to cross the Glaslyn river at Bryn y Felin, near Beddgelert.  In the background is the old Bryn y Felin road bridge crossing the WHR.  It is now closed and will be demolished over the next two weeks.  Until the new bridge is finished the road crosses the railway on a temporary grade crossing which lies (not visible here) between the two bridges.

 

  

Howdy, I'm putting in a 500’ 18” gauge tramway to haul firewood from the cutting area to the woodshed and the back door.

I’ve been lurking here on your website in the hope of picking up titbits on track, etc. I was an Engine Driver on the railways here, but after I retired medically, I found I couldn’t be without some rails to be around.

I realize that I don’t fit with your site, but I made a set of rail-tongs, one man type to move the 12 lb rail around without having to lift it. I guess a stronger, fitter person could move 20 lb with them as well. They were rather easy to make and sure beats bending down to pick up iron.

Dimensions are as follows:

Chain -- 1/4" D-Shackles -- 1-1/2" Legs--3/16"

Flat 8" Offset 21.5 degrees Pivot point 3-1/2" from top

Claws -- 3/8" Flat 1" sq.