Workday Wednesday - August 26th

Workday Wednesday - August 26th

As the power saw indicates...

...it's another "Workday Wednesday" on the railroad!

To ensure flawless running of trains during our Saturday sessions, a devoted crew comes out on the Wednesdays to help maintain the railroad and its hallowed grounds.

These images show Bernie removing the stones momentarily in the earliest section of completion at Spruce...

...with the purpose of placing the "weed suppression" landscape fabric below the stones.

It was only halfway through the Spruce and Ironwood projects that Bernie came up with the idea to place the fabric before laying the stones.  This meant there were areas without fabric that required attention and we like to call Bernie's efforts on this day "retrograde improvement!"  Big grin!

I arrived late on the morning just as Paul was departing.  I understand Paul performed yeoman's work in many areas on this day!

I thank Bernie for this picture and the one below it.  He has captured Paul hard at work adding some smaller patio stones to the patio in order to allow the crew lounge tables to sit level.  (This had been bugging Paul for some time, I had heard.) 

Bill was here in the AM before I arrived and Bernie found him in conversation with Lawrence.  Thanks for those two pics, Bernie!

As for me...the other jobs seemed well occupied so I decided to get the trusty rake out and tidy up the grounds around Craig Leigh...

...and in no time, a garbage can was filled with pine needles.

Over near the work table, Lawrence had the band saw set up.

He's already installed the "stop" atop the band saw table to allow this lengthy board to be narrowed down the full length of the board...

...because the group decided that less of a fascia should be placed along the back tracks in Mount St. Helens.

The arrow shows where the shorter height fascia will go.  The shorter height will allow us to check on the train movements below Mount St. Helens with greater visibility offered.

Alas...just as Lawrence and I were near the full length of the long fascia board cut (mere inches to go) the blade broke...or did it?

Lawrence removed the casing and was relieved to realize the blade was "not" broken...it had simple fallen off its runners.

In a jiffy, Lawrence had the blade back in proper position...

...and I learned a thing or two about this machine.  I hadn't realized that the entire upper wheel could be raised and lowered with the aid of the screw from atop the machine.  Aha...this would allow ease of handling and by drawing the wheel upwards, you gain the required tension for sawing!

I'm not a power tool guy...

...but Lawrence had trust in this retired teacher...

...and I had fun screwing the fascia back in place.

It does get tricky...

...when you have an audience!  Hee hee!

But that's okay as they are both...

...good lads!

The finished look...

...with the shorter fascia offering greater visibility of the so-called hidden trackage.

Bernie did a great job tidying up the area.

Lawrence and George enjoy a brief chat.

What does skipper Fred have on the table?

Aha...some work has been done on this steam locomotive.

Looks like the lamp area...

...has a new light in it.

Doug is pleased with the improvement.

She's looking good, Doug!

Fred's a happy camper.

Following the amount of work that was done on this day...

...it's a joy to relax and socialize...

...with a great crew...

...of diligent workers...

...who still find a moment or two to play...on "Workday Wednesdays"!!!

This "creative" image was sent my way from our good friend, Lawrence, who found it on the internet and thought of me!  

Thanks a ton, Lawrence...it combines two of my favourite hobbies!

Hopefully the remnants of Hurricane Laura do not reach this far north and we will be able to gather on Saturday morning to help keep the commerce rolling along the rails of the IPP&W and RP&M!

Cheers, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada