We plan to meet once weekly through April; either Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm for the metal-work projects at Dan’s, or outdoors at the park on suitable weather days.
Next outdoor work party – Friday, April 18: 9 am
– complete the wye track levelling/ ballasting. Dan will bring his hopper car
– Plan the gutter downspout connection to the water tower
– Plan the garden (former pumpkin patch) for the season; perhaps planting a cover crop; sunflowers or whatever. (2025 garden policy: use only natural watering, including the rain barrel)
– install some fence post re-enforcements if needed
– Discuss if it’s worthwhile digging in 3″-minus rocks for below the gutter on the vendor shed; perhaps wait for a heavy rain and see what happens first
– adjust and oil switch springs
-when on site: install 30′ of 1/2″ x 5″ boards to install on the handcar track in the station. (Bob Johnson)
Next indoor metal work party at Dan’s Tuesday DATE TBA 6:30 pm
– build a re-rail plate – Dan has some metal for it,
– next step on the Climax frame: cab, boiler and tender-box. sheet metal is on site
– plan the climax follow-on car
Our total technical upgrade program is outlined here (click)
Previous Work Parties:
On Tuesday April 15, Russ, Bob and Dave turned up, got the fire done and the shed walls stained.
Dave stained the new plywood surface, put a second coat on the next day, and had enough left over to do the door. We have another gallon of the same stain.
The fire looked way better than this a few hours earlier. Thanks, Bob, for starting and managing it. We had only enough resources to take the handicap car around once for windfalls; more needed.
Lots done Sunday, April 13. Thanks to Leif, Russ, Karl, Mary, Bob and Dave for attending.
Karl, Mary and Bob did a once-around the track, replaced some individual ties, and scoped out the priorities for upcoming tie replacement and ballasting.
Mary, Karl, and Bob cleared a lot of weeds, sod and sticks from the garden. We still need a planting plan.
The new springs on the loco look great, thanks Russ! Karl mentioned that Rick is willing to replace the decorative wheel-connectors for more authenticity.
Bob re-installed the repaired truck under pax car #10
Karl blew the track.
Russ had previously taken the two 20″ rails up to the tunnel.
We have two fire extinguishers, one in each shed, both near the doors. Target kindly donated the recharge on both; we listed them as a sponsor. (John Wicks retired)
Dave moved the fire extinguisher nearer the door in the north shed. Mary returned the First Aid kit and will buy some missing items. Please note the locations of these safety items.
Leif did all the purchasing at Rona and Valley, and kindly built the two 10′ wall sections at home yesterday to save time today. Thanks Leif!!
The rafters are 2x4s connecting walls to the shed, covered by two layers of 1×4 to hold the metal roof
Russ cut the metal roof panels using a grinding disk.
The gutter is back on. Leif will finish some minor items and build the door. We discussed mural or battens. Separate email refers.
April 11: The hydraulic conversion is done, but with minor items to finish. Russ was busy at the shed again on Friday the 11th. Thanks Russ!!
With sourcing help from Dan, Russ replaced the too-weak springs on the #1 loco. Installed photo above
Flying loco
Back on the tracks
The fleet is ready for action May 4th
Derails are happening to often – some work needed here
Even less fun when working alone, and the derailment is the loco and tender. Loco is over 600 lbs!
Shed back in working order
Russ did some work in the shed on Wed, April 9: Thanks again!
Russ built a hoist to lift the loco. Task one was to replace the springs on the wheel axles – not sufficient strength remaining to keep the loco’s six wheels on twisted track; hence contributing to the recent derailments.
up, up and away
safe and sound on saw horses
Some general cleanup. Hey guys, let’s put the toys away when it’s going-home time
Also on Wednesday, April 8, Russ shaved the two tiles that didn’t fit; they do now!
On Wednesday, April 2, Dave did the first track-cleaning of the season. The absence of regular track-blowing has led to lots of veggy matter rotting and forming soil. Please Blow the Track whenever possible!
On Tuesday, April 1, Bob and Dave took up the track where we had derailments on Sunday. We went the full 50′ or so between the two “wye” switches. (Step two will be with Dan and with hopper car for ballast. (next work Tues. Apr 15)
We raked it flat, connected ties at 8″ spacing to one side, and reinstalled that rail.
We then connected the other side of the ties, and crimped them in place. We cut landscape cloth, but stopped at that point because we had no ballast. We’ll wait for the hopper car or tractor to be on site, install the landscape cloth, and finish at a future work party. We also cleared the bonfire ashes and, enjoyed pizza with the Farmers Market folks.
On Sunday, March 30 at 11 am, Hydraulic Loco Show
ROLL OUT DAY!!!
Russ, Karl and Brian presented the revised loco, and engineers Bob, Rob, Stephen and Dave took it for a ride. Unfortunately, key crew member Rick was unavailable,
The loco works Great!!! Thanks, hydraulic crew!
We tested the stop signs, and decided they are the correct size and height from the ground. Dave will laminated and return them to their place near the crossings.
We found the first aid kit, Mary has it at home to see if further purchases are necessary.
On Sunday, March 30 at 10 am, Leif, Bob, Rob, Dave installed the twenty-two 16×16 tiles under the ticket-selling table and on the north side of the handcar track (brown to the hand car location, grey to the ticket table)
Laura and Mary joined us later to clear out the gravel near the rails.
Two tiles need trimming; Russ is on it. And we need 30′ of 1/2″ x 5″ boards to install on the handcar track in the station. (Bob Johnson)
Stephen is looking into recovering both tender seat covers.
Dan refurbished the gas loco wheel sets from the hydraulic project in late March; they are reinstalled on the loco. Minor lathe trimming was needed, less than expected, but the bearings were all bad, so they were replaced..
Rick Lundgren completed four more switch posts, ready to be integrated on-site at future work parties..
The 16×16″ patio stones are on-site ready for Sunday Mar 30
The Hydraulic crew has been paying special attention to the braking systems for the hydraulic conversion because the hydraulic drive system freewheels going downhill. The air-driven brake-shoe system on the tender and follow-on car wheels was inspected and maintained.
In case we lose the air compressor, shoes on four of the six loco wheels are activated by a mechanical lever. (all six wheels do the braking because they are connected by chain/sprockets). The mechanical system also provides the “emergency brake” for trains parked on a slope.
The loco is back in the shed looking much like before
Mar 12: Dan completed the Second Truck repair on Pax-car #10 Several 6202 2rs bearings were needed. Dan smoothed the treads on the lathe and re-assembled the truck. Flanges are worn, so wheel replacement will be required in a few years .
Early March. Rick and Dan met to discuss braking techniques on the hydraulic loco. With the hydraulic drive freewheeling, the team is being especially careful to ensure their are reliable braking air and mechanical brakes.
On Sunday, Mar 2, Leif, Bob, Russ, Rob and Dave got the patio tiles down and the ledger board up.
Bob and Rob led the 16×16 tile installation
Leif did the 24×24 tiles
We’ll add six more 16×16 to complete under the ticket-takers table
The ledgerboard is up. The remainder of the shed should take only one day.
We now have a set of Robertson drivers in the shed; 5@ #2, plus #3s and #1s
On Tuesday, Feb 25, 6:30-8:30 Dan and Dave worked at Dan’s
Climax: We fastened the two main plates down with 12 socket cap screws. The 8″ pipe size (sample test) for the boiler looks in proportion. The wood cab will be replicated in either wood or metal. The mock-up cardboard tender box is at the back.
Cap-screws Combination drill-tap 10-32 works great!. Looks good on our 1/5 scale using Allen-wrench socket-cap screws.
Second Truck repair on Pax-car #10 We disassembled the truck with much difficulty. Several 6202 2rs bearings are needed. Dan will smooth the treads on the lathe and re-assemble the truck. Flanges are worn, so wheel replacement will be required in a few years .
After 20 years, it’s amazing the wheel sets were still working. It took heat and much pulling to remove the bearings.
Follow-on car. We talked about it. Latest sketch:
Previous:
Rick Lundgren has been working on the switch lever stands at his shop in mid January.
Hydraulic Project More here (click)
Work Party Sunday, Jan 26 from 1 pm to 3 pm: Paver installation and shed extension foundation. Thanks to Russ, Rob, Leif and Dave for attending. Trimming the track boards with a skil saw was tricky because the gap is curved and, as is our way, we took a while to decide which side to cut the material from. The ground was frozen, so progress was slow.
We didn’t get to the minor tasks on the list, so I have shown them as possible standalone tasks
Russ trimmed the composite wood to make the gap between the tracks 32 inches and we installed the first two 16×16 pavers. We’ll delay the follow-on pavers until a warmer day.
After re-positioning them to the correct height and distance to the shed wall, Leif and Rob installed the pressure treated 2x4s on the desk blocks.
Work done 10 am to 1:30 pm Monday Jan 13 Thanks to Dan, Bob, Russ and Dave for attending, and to Laura for donating some yummy, welcome muffins. Dan brought his tractor to move blasting gravel over.
We removed the gutter and battens. Russ took the battens home to store them and will return them when their height is known (for shed wall)
Bob and Dan installed and ballasted the switch and the 40′ of track. Many clubs would marvel at the quality and speed of what got done today.
Lots of grinding, drilling and bolting.
Using the wood ties for the first time
Post blocks partially installed
Battens came off best with a shovel. Only two nails each batten
Russ and Karl had moved the loco to Rick’s place, and stripped it down. Russ brought the wheel sets to the work party. They have been taken to Dan’s place where they will be refurbished, probably by smoothing the surface on the lathe and sweating on a tread made from a pipe.
The gutters are in reasonable shape and can probably be reused.
We had originally planned to put the post blocks flat side up like Dave Banks did in the other shed, but current thinking is to put them this way and have a 2×4 spine under the wall.
Work Completed Tues Dec 17 . Thanks to Dan, Bob, Russ and Dave for attending. Dan added the springs to the switch on Dec 21. The switch is ready to install near the shed!!
Work Party Monday Dec 9 from 10 am to 1 pm:
We got the decorations down with an efficient crew. Thanks to Allan, Karl, Russ, Leslie, Dan, Bob, Laura, Rob, and Dave for attending.
We stored the two picnic tables in the Quonset. Juhli moved them to the back of the Quonset rather than inside the front door where they would have interfered with Sunday winter markets.
The woodpile has the leftover bonfire wood; enough for next year, but more smaller stems or split-small wood is welcome from future windfalls
Bob/Laura brought rocks to pack around the switch post when modifications are complete. Dan will change the rod to a larger one and fix a sleeve so the rod runs easier. Then Rick will make 3 more switch posts.
Bob took the other truck from pax car #10 to Dan’s for wheel/bearing/axel refurbishment (the first truck was fixed last month; it was in steady use since before arrival from Nanaimo in 2011).
Looks well used!!
Dan took his green loco back home for around-the-farm duties, along with his pax car and his two hand cars. So the shed now has our pax cars #10, 11 and 12, the caboose, plus the loco and tender ready to go to Karl’s for the hydraulic mod being led by Russ.
Work Party Nov 27 from 10 am to 1 pm:
Go lots done from 10 to 1 pm; thanks to Dan, Bob, Laura, Russ, Karl, Allan, Dave:
Still to do:, date tba
– move the picnic tables out of the Station.- Bring split alder over for the bonfire woodpile
– install the remaining two fencepost repair bars on the broken fence posts
– install the footings for the shed lean-to, and review the planhttp://qathet.prfhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Shed-extension-NOT-as-RFP-Nov19-2024.pdf
Unadvertised specials:
1 After Dan and Bob installed the repaired truck to pax #10, Dan cut off parts of the awkward side bits that made loading difficult.
2 After digging out the hole location for the switch post and imagining which way to orient it, Dan concluded that how the post-switch is built inhibits connecting the necessary 5/16″ connecting rod to the track switch. Dan will make the necessary modifications, perhaps at the next Tuesday-evening metal-work session, and test it on-site so that Rick can make the follow-on switch posts to the same design.
3 Broken brake lever on #1 loco. The wrap-around headlight wire fiasco did some previously undetected additional damage: the brake connector rod was broken. Dan went home and made one; he, Russ and Bob installed it.
4 Russ and Bob built a hook for the blower so it’s easily accessible near the entrance to encourage frequent track-blowing.
cheers, Dave Florence
Done:
.. blew the track,
.. Lights:
– – re-installed the 336′ string,
– – installed lights over the ghost hoops and steam donkey,
– – added a string over the two horse crossings to avoid disconnecting;
– – tested the whole set.
.. re-installed the truck under pax car #10,
.. put up some Xmas decorations; Laura went and got some more at the Dollar store
.. tested the new loco #2
.. brought Rick’s switch-post on-site and finalized the design of the connecting bits (more below)
Some metal work at Dan’s shop in late September at 6:30 pm
Ad-hoc work party Thursday, Sep 12
Dan has been busy modifying the out-of-service bench eLoco with the new trucks and controller. Dave and Russ joined him at 10 am Thursday to bring it to the shed and test it. The photo-story is here
We drove the new Bench eLoco most of the way around the track. It works fine: Fast, great regenerative braking.
Dave blew the track of leaves in preparation for fall fair.
In-park Work Party Sep 10 from 10 am to 2 with Pizza
- Russ, Bob, Dan and Dave installed some of the 24×24′ pavers: story here
- done last Sunday: we drilled 1/2″ holes and installed two pencil posts to replace rotted/fallen pair
- Russ reviewed the paint that was stored near the Willingdon beach trail, now in the shed; we saved some and took the rest to Augusta
- deferred: Select, mark, and note the location of the worst danger trees and advise FAI
We had a great work party on Tuesday, Aug 13, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Thanks to Russ, Karl, Mary, Bob, Dan, Leslie and Dave for attending. We got lots done and enjoyed a pizza lunch with the Farmers Market folks. Completed Tasks:
- we walked the track to collect windfalls and cleaned up windfalls from the loop/trestle areas. Chainsawed and stacked burnable wood for Ghost/Santa fires, and put the remainder in the fall-burn pile.
- we admired and reviewed the new switch-stand that Rick made. Minor adjustments are needed. Dan will make the required parts to install it on a track
- The electrician dropped off the 200′ of cable. Karl has his trench team ready for installation next week
- Dan, Russ and Bob reviewed the cone and planned the next steps
- Leslie and Mary did some weed removal
We had a great work party on Tuesday, July 23, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Thanks to Karl, Mary, Bob, Aldo, Dan and Dave for attending.
A major task was to dig in the 3/4″ black poly pipe, connect it to a garden tap, and leave the other end to connect to the Water Tower. When we add gutters to the Station, this will collect rainwater for the garden
The above was the fun part. Then, when moving the windfalls, Dan’s eLoco quit working; no battery, but then mysteriously started working later.
While attempting to get the non-working eLoco home with the gas loco, the brakes failed. While looking at those Bob and Karl realized a weld job was needed so Karl took that home.
While looking a the brakes, Bob/Karl realized the rubber drive with chunks out of it wouldn’t make it next Sunday, so tried to install the new white cone. But it doesn’t fit. So they put in a new rubber one. We tested it, and it works fine. Yea!!
By now it was 2:30. We had worked past lunchtime; not a Pizza work party, so Mary’s blueberry muffins saved the day!! Thanks, Mary.
Read more for work done at previous work parties
Tuesday July 9 – at the park, joining the Farmers Market folks at lunch for pizza. Thanks to Dan, Bob, Rob, Karl, Mary, Russ, Dave, and new member Aldo Conti . Photos by Karl and Dave
We moved the fence to save a volunteer fir tree.
In discussions,
- we decided to expand the station pour to the south post line, making 15×37 rather than 12×37′
- We came up with ideas for a portable G-Scale display box for railroad logging rolling stock that Goeff may donate. e.g., make it 2′ x 8′ x 1′ deep with lexan or plexi viewing window that serves as a fold-back door to access the display. it could be locked in the shed in the summer, displayed on the 10′ trestle, and stored in a warm-dry location in the winter. Rolling stock would have to be clipped securely to enable moving the box without removing and packing the rolling stock. Interpretive photos of local railroad logging could complete.
Next outdoor work party Aug 8, 10 am to 2 pm, pizza lunch with the Market folks.
.. add Carb cleaner to the loco gas if not already done
.. Clean up windfalls from the loop/trestle areas and chainsaw and stack burnable wood for Ghost/Santa fires
.. move three 4x6x8′ boards from the Donkey to Dan’s; available for benches or whatever
… do the Ghost/Santa lights repair
Next indoor work party for Climax, right-hand switch and 80′ track for the shed TBA
July 5 – Dan made 6 new pucks from hockey pucks
Tuesday, June 18 , 6:30 at Dan’s shop:
July 6, Dan replaced the battery in #1 loco with this one that came out of Dan’s eloco
Shop tasks:
- Climax frame – continue welding the 3″ supports for the frame; drilling the side-frame with pins for the bolster
- continue on some switch-posts to replace some that we now kick
- make more rope-post steel supports: 30″ with 3 holes
See all our projects here
Upcoming Park tasks
- add carb-cleaner additive to the loco
- do any needed track levelling, and some hand-weeding
- Repair the Ghost/Santa Train light strings
- review signage and plan any new signs
Previous work below.
Tues June 11, from 10 am to 2 pm. Allen, Karl and Mary, Dan and Lynda, Russ and Dave met to complete park tasks and enjoyed pizza lunch with the Farmers Market folks.
- Dan adjusted the gas loco and easy access car brakes. A bigger job than realized; several members learned the process
- Oiled the track switches (actually done last Sunday)
- brought the five boxes of ties and a few laths from Dan’s, and installed them in the old shed rafters
- We all walked around the track and removed some windfalls; Mary drove the elloco with handicap car to move windfalls to the burn pile
- etched “PVR” on hidden spots under the picnic tables
- Russ did some major waterwheel maintenance; added a screen around the intake, balanced the wheel, etc. A new pump is in the shed but is not needed yet.
- Karl made and brought a good lever with bolt for derrails; its in a rack on a car. Russ made and brought a step-on 2×4 with roller to help the door closing on the old shed.
- Some ideas for a throttle extension were discussed with Dan
- Members agreed we need to have a unique place for many tools; Russ will add some tool holders and add silhouettes.
- We tested the brakes and provided engineer experience for Russ and Allen
- We installed a post support; only one remains.
Monday June 3: Thanks to Karl and Allen who installed the picnic tables on Monday afternoon with me. Welding and drilling the anchor parts was done at Karl’s place. The Market’s picnic table is now west of the loading ramp. The padlocks are slightly underground, the tables could be moved or stored inside for winter. Keys are in the sheds on the same ring as other locks.
On Tuesday evening, May 14, Dan, Karl and Dave:
- made more wood ties; remaining 2x2s will be stored for future
- Dan made some hockey-puck drive cones from hard pucks donated by Karl
- Rope-post repair: cut and drilled 30″ rail pieces and installed them
- April 16
- Apr 16, 9 am to 2 pm We got ready to open the railroad.! Seven members came out on April 16. We had a terrific work party; thanks to Dan, Lynda, Bob, Laura, Stephen, Geoff and Dave for being there…. and Juhli/Farmers Market for the Pizza lunch Done Apr 16:
… Stephen took the lead on the drive repair. Shortened the cone and used shorter bolts. A test run confirmed his re-design is right, but a new shortened rubber cone is needed
… Using Dan’s ATV and tailor, Moved the event-location woodpile and clean up partially burned wood to the main burn pile
… collected windfalls and had a fire in the main burn pile (but still have many windfalls to collect around the track)
… blew track, lopped low branches and cleaned gutters
… didn’t identify any track levelling problems on our one test run, but more testing is needed
… Laura tidied the garden in the Y and changed decorations on the station ropes
.. Dan brought the tractor down and moved some of the mulch from the tree grove area and other tasksRolling stock tasks