Workday Wednesday Accomplishments - July 20th

Workday Wednesday Accomplishments - July 20th

The regular work crew assembled at Fred's with the humidex reading already in the mid to high 30's even by ten o'clock in the morning.

Our goal for the day was to get the subroadbed in for the new team track and the new location of the Norton Fishery down in Peter's Pond adjacent to the main line. 

The lads were blaming me for coming up with this idea of running the team track and the fishery track to the east of Peters Pond...and I must say that in this heat...I can take the heat!  Hehehe!

We've been working on the railroad...all the live long day!

Pat is enjoying his yoga stance as he begins to remove debris from the area.

Lawrence guides Pat showing him the best location for the under roadbed bracing that will attach the new boards to the existing ones.

Tom Sawyer with his saw...our mentor...Lawrence.

Pat tucks in a lengthy brace beneath the existing trackage.

Fred oversees the action.

Tom Sawyer.2  Mike gets into the act!

Is he having fun or what?

Some more of the braces required to get the job done.

A longer view.

We C-clamp the brace to the existing boards before screwing them in.

Mike is "screwing" around!

Lawrence excavates the area for yet another brace.

Shoveling more earth and gravel in.

My artsy shot of the day!

Clamping in another board before sawing.

We have one brace resting on a flat rock in the distance.

The 1/2 inch gravel goes in place.

Looking good there, Pat!

Coming along!

A view from the other end.

While we were busy in the "Pond" Bernie covered all of the weeding tasks all around the railroad.

It was decided that we needed two new eight foot lengths of 1x8..."How long should they be?" Mike asks.  "Eight feet silly!"  So Fred and I head off to Home Depot in my Rav4 that offers a long enough wheel base to bring home the two new pieces of lumber.

One of the new lengths resting in Craig Leigh before being cut to shape and length.

Bernie offers an assist for Pat in the distance as Fred and Lawrence take a short breather.

Skipper Bernie!

Pat has developed a relationship with the Skilsaw!

Bernie photos Pat.

Mike photos Bernie photo-ing Pat!

Nice cut, Pat!

Perfect fit!

Mike places the two turnouts where they should go with a short gap of straight track to eliminate any S-curves. 

A close-up of Pat in deep concentration...as should be when using a power tool.

We leave gaps between the boards for the rain to run off.

Another view with the second board in place and the turnouts also in location.

Pat cuts the excess ends off the bracing.

Coming together.

We're hot and tired...

...but we continue with the effort.

H-e-r-e's Lawrence!

We've decided to leave the abandoned Norton Fishery structure in place.  A new one will be built in the off-season.  For now...labelling will identify the two tracks.

The Peter's Pond station will be moved to the other side of the tracks beside the two tall pipes where the power drill is resting.

The team track will be the longer of the two; closer to the mainline and will hold three freight cars.  The further fishery track will hold two cars.  Both are sufficient numbers for operations.

While putting the excess lumber away below Northland, I spotted these bottle caps lined up nicely in Douglas Yard.

It's nice to know that this will remain in place as a wonderful relic of the pond that once was!

When I got home, to cool off I made this healthy salad and guzzled an iced tea after downing two at Fred's to help keep me hydrated!

Then, my inbox rang announcing an e-mail from Bernie!  The remaining pics come from his lens.

Lots of weeds have been impeding the operations at Blockhouse...so Bernie got down to business with the result to be shared in a later image.

Bernie snagged me at the sawyer's table as had Pat.

It feels good to help out!

A far off look at the proceedings.

Take note of the depot we have placed atop the cinderblocks on the far side of the tracks from where it used to hang out.  (We robbed the St. Helen's depot for the image.)  The station will be dropped down to track level.

Pat is seen again tucking a brace in under the roadbed.

Coming along.

Wow!  You've really cleaned out the location, Bernie!  Great job!

Pat at the saw table.

This one is the angled cut.

Final pic of this blog entry.  Thanks for these shots Bernie!

Fred has indicated that he can lay the track on his own time.  We won't need it in place for this coming Saturday so there is no rush!

Thanks for checking in everyone!

All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada