Workday Wednesday September 27

Workday Wednesday September 27

A small group of volunteers made their way to Fred's for this week's Workday Wednesday session.

With our new Maintenance Registry Book we were able to focus our attention on a few "hot spots" detected from our train operating session the previous Saturday.

With no lawn cutting or weed whacker trimming necessary due to the colder weather keeping grass and weed growth at bay, we were able to dedicate our efforts to the trackwork.

When I arrived the property, Pete and Lawrence were already hard at work up in Cedar Rock.

Lawrence is guiding Pete as to where to pour the stone dust (or perhaps small rocks - I didn't check closely).

Here are the fellows!  Lawrence also brought along a cylindrical tank which I neglected to get a photo of.  I believe its purpose is to cover the raised electrical outlet.  I'll be sure to snap an image of it on Saturday!

I headed inside to greet Father Fred.

He didn't hear me coming until I hovered over his workbench!

While the workbench may appeared cluttered, Fred knows where every single item is to be found!

Some of the cars he is working on for George.

Fred explains to me some of the particular issues with the underbody work that must be addressed.

Such as adhering the parts permanently (note the two screws) for if you don't do this, if the plastic underbody section lifts inadvertently from the under base of the car then you will encounter coupler issues.

These nibs often times require attention as well.

Fred and I located a clamp and a large paper clip.  These were missing items from Ironwood so now we have two devices to help prevent cars from rolling down the slope.

George sent us a list of locations in and around Firgrove, Ralph Yard and Rat Portage which are not easily identifiable when setting out cars.  

While Fred does not have a label maker on his property, Doug Culham does and is willing to create the various labels for the west end area sidings, industries and tracks.  Thanks Doug!  

The black plastic item is a step from the pilot of the 44-tonner.  Fred wants Chris to print a new one for him.

Fred is happy to see Pete arrive to assist with the WDWD crew!

They share a conversation indoors before getting back to work in the great outdoors.

I snap a few pics around Fred's work area.

He has a bevy of locomotives and rolling stock.

They look great up on the shelves!

Interesting models as well.

It's funny the things you find when you get down low trackside - items such as this broken coupler from a rail car and the missing rail joiner at the siding at Windmill in Ironwood.

In fact, the rail joiner wasn't missing at all...it had simply rusted apart and broke away from the rail!  Thanks to Gerry for noting this in the Maintenance Registry book!

It took a little bit of work to "jimmy" a new joiner in place...and now all is well.  This is a rarely visited siding so we don't worry about the gaps in the rail.  The cars will navigate the area without concern.

Chris checks beneath Nelson Yard for any missing items.

It's remarkable what one finds!

Lawrence investigates another area that will require attention in the off-season...perhaps in the spring.  

Cars roll at the team team track - something we've known about for some time...but cars also roll along the siding parallel to the main.  

This can be rectified but it is a bigger job than can be accomplished in a single WDWD session.

Gerry also informed us of a loose turnout control at the depot end in Spruce.  No problem, Pete tightens the control and all is well.  

If too loose, then the points can "float" on their own causing casualties with the freight and passenger cars.

Felicity had noted in the last operating session that cars were coming uncoupled from her train at the switch leading into the team track at Bellamy.  This was written in the book as well.  

Pete brought along his Denver & Rio Grande locomotive - Dutchess and we used it to haul cars back and forth across the turnout.  

Pete's steamer has a larger oversized coupler to the ones we use so, as Chris advised, if we can get the cars to remain coupled to that, then our regular couplers on our engines will work "tickety boo!"

We ran several test runs which you will see in a few moments.

Marcel arrived to pick up some 3D printed material Chris had made for him.  Chris is our resident genius when it comes to printing much needed items in three dimensions!

The lads enjoy camaraderie as we continue to work on a solution at Bellamy...short of replacing the turnout!

Fred and Marcel observe Pete's train as we run it back and forth.

Chris does as well.

Lawrence too!

Here's Pete.

After several failed back and forth attempts we bring out the 44-tonner from the boardroom with mating couplers for the freight cars.

Finally Chris and I decide to test out the misbehaving frog with a single truck of which Fred has two of on the boardroom test track.

Some filing was done with an oversized file...and then it was time to go...so we will tend to this turnout with a smaller file I will be able to bring on Saturday morning.

For the time being, we will ask dispatch to indicate a slow order restriction through Bellamy between the junction and the Glen.

Here's a snippet from the video of Pete's locomotive hauling a string of cars through the area.

Let's check out Video #1.

Chris keeps an eagle eye on things on another runby.

Will the cars stay coupled?

Video #2 reveals the answer.

Felicity also noted a rocking motion through the turnout.

Video #3 testifies to this very fact.

Indeed, tedious our work is as we make slight adjustments before we attempt each runby.

Chris had noticed a "cant" in the tracks with the freight cars leaning away from the station toward the aisle so I've added some popsicle sticks beneath the rails to see if this assists in any manner.

Yes, we have eliminated the "cant" but will the engine remain coupled to the cars?  Video #4 provides evidence.

Okay...we've now added further shims to assist with the tracking.  Let's see if the train will successfully roll past the depot!

We think she can...we think she can...we think she can...here's Video #5.

While still unsuccessful along the main we back the locomotive into the siding where she runs well.

As Chris mentioned earlier and as noted in Video #6, we had chosen Pete's locomotive for the test run because if the turnout and trackwork are successful with the oversized coupler on Pete's engine, then everything should be okay with our standard couplers on our locomotives.

We came close to perfection using Pete's steamer so we decide at this point in time that the trackwork should be tested with a locomotive using the standard coupler.

So-o-o...Mikey goes into the boardroom and retrieves the 44-tonner with the old style remote controller.

Out from Glen Hammond, the train approaches Bellamy.

Success!  We are past the depot!  

I have to walk close by the locomotive as the battery in the old styled throttle is low and if I stand any distance away from the engine, I lose control of it!

Video #7 showcases the run with our center cab.

We push the cars back.

Back to the curve.

While the cars have remained coupled both ways, we continue to notice a wobble through the turnout.  Video #8 does not show the wobble but you hear my voice indicating such.  

Pete noticed a little stone stuck between the outer guard rail and the outer rail.  It was removed and this improved the situation somewhat.

We run beautifully into the siding.

In video #9 Marcel asks me which trains handle the siding here. 

 IPP&W Train 304 would work this siding as would some of our RP&M runs out from the Glen.

We have a solid headlight on the locomotive, but from Fred's vantage point his doesn't see it and thinks the light is not working.

Video #10 showcases the light as full and bright!

Fred realizes that, yes indeed, the lights are working.  They only illuminate in the direction the locomotive is running as was programmed.

Video #11 showcases Father Fred coming to this realization.

The sun is better for filming from this side of the locomotive.

Video #12 reflects how the cars navigate the issue at the frog of the turnout on a "slow order restriction" as will be the case for the time being.

Why so many videos...you may be thinking?  Quite tedious to watch, I would imagine.  This is the "norm" for maintenance work on a railroad...some jobs like the tightening of the turnout throw in Spruce take but a few seconds.  

The rail joiner replacement at the Windmill Siding in Ironwood took about ten minutes of jimmying and trial and error while the issue with the turnout frog at Bellamy is ongoing still.  Part of the frog will require filing...but, as Chris says, we only do a little at a time.  I agree with Chris because sometimes when you ameliorate one situation you often create another somewhere close by.  

The gaps you may have noticed in the rail between sections are not too much a concern for the maintenance crew until they get too broad - then they must be dealt with.

As for little old me - Blogger Mike...I don't get in too many of the images and videos seeing as I am the one behind the camera.  

This week I will have been back in the classroom teaching four of the five school days with "Workday Wednesday" being the only day I have taken off...it's pretty special to our WDWD crew!

I find great joy in getting back in the school where I get to reunite with my former colleagues and see all the children once more.  Typically I only want to supply teach one or two days a week at the most but this week I am doing a big favour for a former colleague in taking his class as he has a family emergency on the go at the moment.  

These two images were taken a dozen years ago when I taught a Grade 2/3 class and when my hair was still dark in nature!

Mark kindly sent these next two images my way with the following note:  

I was in Toronto for a work trip on Monday and managed to get in some rail fanning when I visited my folks, who still live in the west end. 

Mark continues:

I grew up a stone’s throw away from CP rail’s Lambton Yard, which until the Agincourt facilities were built in Scarborough (I believe in the 1960s) served as Toronto’s main freight marshalling yard for CP. Lambton is still used today as a storage and classification yard. I caught a string of ore cars with the PacMan logo (my favourite!) Been a while since I last saw one of those. 😀

Here's some great modeling!  Our very own Terry Rowsell who moved to Casselman recently from British Columbia shared with me this image of his 14 inch by 4 foot Inglenook switching puzzle. Terry tells us:

It uses old standard 20 foot wagons. It is DCC and the locos I use have sound. I just uncrated it. Pic attached. This switching puzzle is deceptive. Seems simple, but… A mathematician once worked out something over six thousand possible permutations.  Terry says that he is using British OO hence the 20 foot wagons.

To learn more about this intriguing switching puzzle, copy and paste the link below into your computer's browser.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inglenook_Sidings

We know that Terry is also a Large Scale modeler judging by this image he sent my way via video.

These next series of images are snippets from Terry's latest video effort on Youtube.  I will share the link to the video shortly.  

Above is the overall view of Terry's efforts in his garage.  Terry tells me that with no space for a runaround track, the loop itself works as such!  Brilliant idea!

Hey...it's Henry & Marge...out railfanning!

Terry has created a switchlist of car movements on his railroad.  In total we see twelve moves but with some shared sidings, the challenge is real and creative!  This will most likely take an hour of real time to conduct.

Love the diminutive locomotive!

Loads of lading will get in on the action!

Aha!  Check out the name!  Number 1000 is Casselman!  Love it!

Now that's one awesome looking trestle, Terry!

A trackside view.  Hmmm...someone is railfanning atop the trestle.  He should be safe though as he's got God on his side!

"Henry...will that train ever stop to pick us up, or are we just going to watch it pass us by!" Marge calls out.

  Love the antique car Marge picked out at the car lot!

Ah, yes...the kettle is boiling!

Certainly...Gramps can have some tea as well!

Looking good, Terry!  For Large Scale you have managed to fit some great operations in your garage!

Could it be?  No!  Maybe.  Perhaps!  For this entry we'll call him Friar Fred!  😇😇😇

Final move of the day...spotting the combine in front of the depot.

To view the recent video Terry created, copy and paste this link into your computer's browser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4K1V_iGpMg

On the Sunday following our last Saturday's session I headed over to my friend, Professor David Gardner.  He is showing me his cello's case which the airlines had beheaded many moons ago.

David was the principle cellist in the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and he was also a member of our renowned  National Arts Centre Orchestra for many years.

Carl Lindon is a master modeler who has built many of the modern structures on both David's layout and John Mitchell's New York Central/Canada Southern Railroad.

Here's a peek at the lower tunnel entrance on David's layout.

You'll recall my refurbishing of this cardboard structure.

I shared this image from one of my Railroad Explorer magazines of the famed Starrucca Viaduct outside of Lanesboro, Pennsylvania with David and Carl. 

It is our goal to place a printed backdrop in behind the scratchbuilt viaduct Carl had created.

This is not the image we will use but it gives us a decent idea of how things will turn out when we eventually decide on one.

The goal is to determine the best height where the horizon will be.

Some of David's eclectic equipment rests near the turntable.

David is a British modeler.

I love the colourful equipment found on the British lines.

David is not adverse to running North American gear as well.

Check out this C&O pairing of E's!

The Milwaukee Road shares the stage!

What an interesting engine!

David's modern handiwork.

You'll recall my build of this George Sellios FSM structure.

I also had so much fun resurrecting the flatcar and creating the pickle car from a specialty kit.

Too much fun!

The ITLA structure and the Bar Mills rest side by side.

I enjoyed building this custom designed structure with a unique non-square footprint.

These structures all materialized at my workbench over the past year.

David's layout is coming together nicely!

I love this print of a painting from our Live Steam friend, Peter Cunningham!

Whoa!  The Hiawatha rides the rails again - found in staging.

To top it off, David has a large scale layout running around his pool in his backyard!

This is my recent O-scale project I am building for my dispatcher colleague, Doug Matheson.

She's a beautiful kit, Doug!

I was able to construct the skid directly atop the schematic.

Much of this work is quite finicky.  None of these parts are glued down at the moment.

Thankfully we are in O-scale!

Still, the drilling by hand is tedious - working through the distances involved.  This piece took about fifteen minutes to reach success.

All pieces including the gear required drilling.

I have to be careful to not go off line.

Nothing is glued here...just mocked up.

This Dolbeer Donkey engine will make a great finished model that will make up just a fraction of the larger sawmill complex I will be building.

Here's our dedicated modeler...Father Fred working on some of George's recent Large Scale car purchases.

Fred, it is a joy visiting your home on Saturday and on Wednesday mornings!

Thanks to all those who were able to make it out today and to all those who have found time to read this blog entry!

Thanks to Terry and Mark for submitting pics, vids and stories for this entry!

All the best, Friar Fred and the Workday Wednesday crew!

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada