Pictures from the spring 2017 work weekend at the WW&FRy. WW&FRy no. 9 and Monson no. 3 were fired up for service during the weekend. The goal for the weekend was to ballst and get in service for Work trains the mainline track that was laid last year to the first washout going down the mountain.. The washout will be repaired this summer and the only access to the work site is via the railroad. Crews also worked on flat car 118 removing rotten endsills and preparing replacements. B&SR boxcar 67 also saw continued rebuilding effort. Joints were raised on the in service mainline track. The end of Woods Track coming into the parking lot was moved and relaid to ease a curve. The Woods track serves as our ramp track to get equipment in and out via truck. There are a lot of pictures so I am going to post most of the pics in a second post so they don't all open every time this thread is clicked on.

As always, WW&F stokes the possibilities of dedication and imagination. Great photos.

Great photos and inspiration to all of us {hopefully all of us}. I added more to the boiler thread, but that and your photos truly inspire me. Regards, John.

You guys are truly something else! Amazing work.

b. barry -

Terrific photos and wonderful work performed! Is the washout mentioned at the end of the track in your first photo? What are the plans for repair? Fill? Fill and culvert? Or...?

Thanks

Les

Hi Les,

Yes, the washout is just past the end of track (behind the white tape in the first photo). I've been told the plan is for a 4' culvert and then fill on top of that. Both the culvert and fill will be moved in by rail because there is no road access to the site.

-Philip Marshall

Philip -

Many thanks for the information.


Les

Note the number of volunteers who descend on the WW&F Ry. for scheduled work weekends? THis is the strength of that organization, plus, people get thanked for what they do. When they finish, there is real, visible progress showing.

I think the actual accomplishment of goals is the most rewarding part of working on projects like this. Many organizations get bogged down into a slog by trying to serve too many goals at once, and burnout ensues. Narrow your focus to the top priorities, don't fund others, and by completing milestones more frequently your people will stay more motivated.

That's exactly what keeps me coming back to the WW&F, even though it's a 9-10 hour drive from my home in Pennsylvania. The museum's board develops an annual plan and asks members to help fund the projects. They provide of the cost of each project and do their best to stick with the plan and spend the money wisely. Nearly a third of the membership participates in the annual fund drives, which have exceeded the goal every year for more than 15 years.

Volunteers are well-cared for -- lunch and supper is provided each day during the annual spring and fall work weekends. There are generally four or five projects underway, and members are encouraged to participate in whatever interests them. Perhaps most important of all, there is absolute and total focus on the projects at hand, and that means things get done.