To do list 2018

Here is a list of things that we should all think about, know about, and discuss the merits of. If you read this blog or attend meetings none of this list will be a surpise to you as they have all been talked about before. Although they are all meant to be improvements it is up to the members to initiate there implementation.

Maintenance
Northdale trackwork,  ongoing.
Springbank team and piggyback tracks, ongoing.
Moving program track to the office.
Rework OLKING Coal,  City Service siding.
Power plant siding.
Ortona turntable.
Adding over center springs to turnouts, ongoing
Elsewhere lighting.
Elsewhere rework.
Rolling stock check.
Lockable shelf repair.
Replace Electrofrog turnout in Wellington yard.

Operations
Using train orders.
Setting car cards rules.
Rules for switchers.
Setting rules of branch line trains,  including gravel hoppers.
New Elsewhere operating procedure.

Tuesday night at the Huff and Puff, 12, 19,17.

The last session of the year saw everyone in a holiday mood and celebrating with a box of fancy cookies Jim brought in. Several trains were run even as a couple of areas were under construction. The new track work in Northdale is in place but still needs feeders and ballasting.  Meanwhile a stone retaining wall has been erected and once the mortar dries the area will be back filled and graded for a new access road to the team track. Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year.

There goes the diet.

Northdale trackwork. 

Retaining wall installed. 

Fridays news

The parking lot at the Herons Landing station is being paved, left strict instructions with Cliff not to put his initials in the wet cement. Over at Springbank a retaining wall is under construction to make room for a road along the new team track. Room constraints will not allow the relocation of Harbor Freight so it will remain next to the Northdale Pier. After detailed measurements it appears the west end of the Elsewhere yard will have to be moved west by 2 feet. This will shorten the approaching tracks by about a foot, but give more room for the new yards.

Paving begins

Rough plan of the West end of Elsewhere 

Northdale trackwork continues

Although this view doesn't show the curve leading to these turnouts, that will be the starting point of the construction. After consulting a couple of engineers the decision was made to rework the entire area, mainly to improve the track arrangement and remove the s curve in the switching lead. Consideration may also be given to moving the Harbor Freight building to the trestle area. This would improve switching interest with the required switchback and give more space to detail both the Pier and Harbor Freight. Regardless of this pending decision, the priority will be to get the branch line operational for our Great Lakes Steel and Miller Sawmill customers.  Although they have expressed their concerns over lost production they are happy to get this slow order area reworked. Derailments are frustrating and costly.

Tuesday night at the Huff and Puff 12,12,17

A new rack was installed in our office to hold rolling stock needing repair and extra rolling stock. This rack, supplied by the Ontario Western, cleans off a nice working area for car repair and other projects,  thanks Don. Thanks to another Don we now have a different colour for each car type which will give a strong visual clue to keep them separated. A couple of building flats were test fit in the Wellington skyline. Lots of goodies were on hand to keep us fueled against the cold, thanks everyone. The new work surface saw it's first use, laying out the turnout arrangement for Elsewhere.

New buildings in Wellington 

New car cards

Goodies 

Storage racks

Tuesday night at the Huff and Puff 12,05,2017

Top topics of the night. The members decided to postpone the changes to Elsewhere to the summer months when everything slows down. Dues are due this month please. Mike brought in his G scale coach, over 90 percent scratch built, very impressive. On the work front. The bad turnout in Northdale and the remaining code 70 track was replaced. A Grist mill site on the bank of the McDonald river was prepared. The 6 story Hobbermeister Woolens building was installed in Lincoln. This building was worked on by most of the members of Don's crew and is a welcome addition to the Lincoln skyline.  More turnouts had over center springs added to them.