Hello Everyone,
Our November Work Weekend is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, November 13–15 starting at 9AM. This is our last major opportunity to get the railroad into the best possible shape for the busy Fall Foliage and Christmas train season, and we could use your help!
We’re planning two days of tie replacement and one day of ballast spreading, tamping, and raising low spots on the Class I track.
The track is in very good condition overall, but we have identified areas where two or three consecutive ties have failed. Nearly all of the locations with three failed ties in a row have been addressed, and we’re continuing to work through those with two. These locations deserve particular attention at joints and on curves, where we want to ensure the rails are well supported wherever the big train operates. There is plenty to keep us busy throughout the weekend. We won’t get to every location, but we can make a substantial improvement!
Our goal for November is 64 ties—four bundles. Reaching that goal would bring us to more than 340 ties installed this year, a very good accomplishment for the railroad. We have plenty of good ties on hand, thanks to our largest year of tie purchases in the past 20 years. Now we need the hands to help put them in!
We also made excellent progress replacing loose track bolts during September and October, installing approximately 200 new bolts. We’ve addressed nearly all of those identified and will replace any others as we find them. Our Taylor pneumatic impact wrench is out for repairs after plenty of hard use, but our nearly new Ingersoll-Rand impact wrench is ready to keep us moving, and we have plenty of new bolts in stock.
Looking ahead, December track work will depend on the weather and train operations. Friday should give us a good opportunity to work, with Saturday and Sunday possible if conditions cooperate. While trains are running, we’ll be working west of the red board. If we can install another 64 ties in December, we’ll finish the year with more than 400 ties replaced—a record for this century!
January and February will depend on the weather and ground conditions. If conditions allow, we’ll continue working outside. If frozen ground or winter storms prevent track work, we’ll turn our attention to indoor projects.
Please join us November 13–15, whether you can help for one day or the entire weekend. Every volunteer helps us make more progress and keep the railroad ready for the busy season ahead.
Thank you for your continued time, effort, and support! If anyone has questions or needs additional details, please let me know:
Thank you!!
David Williamson
Fairmontdave@gmail.com