An Angle on Workday Wednesday

An Angle on Workday Wednesday 

A work crew of four made it out to Fred's this morning to check up on any maintenance needs.

It turns out there were many!

Pat, Chris, Bernie & Mike joined Fred in the backyard trackside.

Thanks to Bernie for sending along a bunch of images which I will group with the ones I took.

During our most recent operating session I had noticed freight trains travelling along the the inner rail close to the house at Mercer Siding were leaning quite substantially at a severe angle.

 Initially we felt that we could simply lift the roadbed and tuck some crushed stone in underneath.

We quickly determined that in doing so, we simply raised the whole roadbed assembly with the result being that the angled 'cant' remained.

We discussed the situation and it was determined that we should simply shim the ties on their ends closest to the house as a 'stopgap' measure.

The subroadbed at this ground level location has existed for a few decades and is in need of replacement...a job that should be done in the off-season...preferably the spring.

So we went about lifting the track nails on the closer edge to the house foundation.

I called out to Father Fred, "Where are the popsicle sticks?"

The trusty shorter level sure came in handy in determining just how many popsicle sticks would be required to properly 'level' the two rails at the various points along the line.

Bernie caught Pat & me working the popsicle sticks under the ties.

Pat is elevating the trackwork for me to insert the shims.

It's not difficult work...but it is finicky!

We have worked our way along the entire length of the siding.

At different locations differing numbers of popsicle sticks were stacked atop each other as determined by the level.

In no time the entire length of Mercer Siding's house-side track was levelled nicely.

It's funny how this situation creeps up on us.  

From session to session we hadn't noticed the angled 'cant' in the rails until...this most recent session...when it was obvious to see - like the straw that finally broke the camel's back!

Back on Saturday a couple of locomotives came to a sudden halt here as their truck side frames caught on the railheads at the joint above.

To ameliorate the situation, we removed the tie beneath rail joiners.

Interesting enough, that single tie had been placed there a couple of seasons ago and there never was a problem running trains over top...until this Saturday.

The cause of the issue is the shifting of the farther wooden plank - at quite the angle. 

Bernie takes a seat as he has offered up some great advice with regard to the situation.

It was great seeing Bernie out as we have been missing him at our Saturday sessions of late.

While this image may not show it as well as it is noticed in person - the 'lean' on these cars is quite substantial at this location linking St. Helens to Ironwood.

In fact, at our most recent session, a couple of boxcars leaned so much here that they fell off the rails.

Likewise back at Mercer Siding last Saturday, a couple of passenger cars 'hit the ground' due to the 'lean angle'  located over there!

While it is difficult to see, trust me, the bubble is hiding far away from the center of the level.

It's all 'bums up' as we get down to work ameliorating this situation in the same manner as the one at Mercer Siding.

Because I lost a kneecap as a result of a hockey injury in my early 20's I always use a piece of foam to kneel on when working low down.

No, I don't have an artificial kneecap...the surgeon recommended against it as it would most likely move about too much and cause greater grief!

At least we have the shade of the trees to keep us cool!

Here we meet with some success in adjusting the entire roadbed...although we will have to add shim with popsicle sticks under the ties here as well.

Similar to what we determined back at Mercer Siding, being at ground level, the roadbed is beginning to show signs of rot and will require replacement...once again - in the offseason.

As the old adage goes - many hands make light work!

Fred is content with the work completed here as Chris looks on.

Video of us lifting the subroadbed.

With the subroadbed shored up we check on video and still find a 'cant' in the rails...which means shim will be required.

With the shims now in place, we are satisfied with how the freight cars roll down the rails as evidenced in this video.

Some of the tools of the trade can be seen here...a crowbar, a hand spade and some popsicle sticks.

Bernie is snapping an image in Craig Leigh.

He has found Fred testing the charge on the locomotives in the engine house in advance of this Saturday's Narrow Gauge operations.

Bernie snaps a picture of me snapping a picture of Fred!

Here is my picture of Father Fred.

Fred discovers that all of the locomotives are charged fully for Saturday.

Three locomotives reside here, two steamers and a diesel.

I find Chris up in Firgrove and Rat Portage pulling some roots out from the walkway.

I head back to the crew lounge area where I find Pat & Bernie studying the slanted yard at Cedar Rock.

Not a problem as Chris uses a brick as a fulcrum to lift the entire yard up so Pat can insert another brick as shim.

Job well done lads!

Just what is Mike up to in Spruce?

Aha!

Mike has discovered some interesting large scale figures!

So-o-o...he goes about placing them around the railroad on station platforms and loading docks at various facilities along the line!

Mike placed the lad with the dolly carrying the flour sacks on the rear platform of the depot at Bellamy.

Here is the reason why!  👍👍

Yes, a great looking figure!

A third employee carries a heavy object out on the platform at the same location.

A couple of lads are found nearby the Glen Hammond station.

The corner of this relatively new structure is starting to show 'wear' already...so this station will most certainly head indoors during the off-season.

Some of these folks had been here already, but required some re-positioning.

Lawrence was so creative when he came up with this industry!

Brewer's Barrels provides a home for this figure!

A mail man is spotted down in Peter's Pond.

These pretty ladies enjoy a cup of tea trackside in 'The Pond'.

The noise is deafening as this lad's drills the concrete!

The sun shines down on these fellas working the Hamer Manufacturing industry down in Rat Portage.

And, of course...we always appreciate Bruce Chandler, our friend from the States, who used to come up for our "Invasion of Friends" weekend with his lovely wife, Jean.

Bruce gifted "Chandler's Sludge" to Fred and the entire OVGRS and it remains a 'favourite' among many in the group - located up in Cedar Rock at the end of the branch!

Some renegade cattle and a goat are found in Spruce!

Chris gets the calking gun out to re-insert the sign on the Glen Hammond depot as well as some of the windows that had fallen away from the structure.

That does the trick Chris!

I went into the garage to find a new 'clip' to halt rolling cars in the house track behind the depot.

Southpaw Pat updates the maintenance book back in the crew lounge.

Bernie & I tackled that loose eaves board on the engine house and restored it back to its proper place with a couple of nails.

We have determined that new wood should be installed around the entire eaves section of the structure.

Looking handsome there, Bernie!

The colours in the leaves of the low growing lilies indicate our recent change of seasons.

A great part of the joy found in the WDWD crew is the camaraderie which abounds as we see Chris & Fred in deep discussion here.

Bonus!  There is always a pot of coffee and a pot of tea on the burners ready for consumption!

After dropping me off at home, my chauffeur, Bernie, came on inside to check out the sawmill diorama.

Well, that's it from me.

Here I am with Corinne as our band, 'The Mystics' played the Dementia Society's walkathon on Sunday...following our most recent train ops on the Saturday.

We were very proud to play a small role in an event that raised over a quarter of a million dollars for the society and for research into dementia.

Both band photos courtesy of Hamza Bennani.

In my next blog entry, we will review our most recent session, Number 14.

We will check in on some action from all around the territory of the IPP&W and the RP&M.

And, we'll view some fun videos from all the activities that took place trackside.

Fred always states, "This isn't a garden railway, it's a railway in a back yard with a few plants located here and there!"

This lovely forested scene with Lawrence's unfinished cabin and Joan's home on the hill tells us that this is one spectacular railway nonetheless!

Fred looks over the land with pride and joy.

He is always happy when visitors simply 'drop in' for a drink and some conversion...oops...I meant conversation!

As the WDWD crew, we experience plenty of both each Wednesday morning - conversation and drink I mean!

Indeed, we are the WDWD Crew of the OVGRS up here in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada