Work Session

September 26, 2020

To join the fun, contact the railroad at: WorkSession @ RedRiverAndGulf.net (no spaces)

Team:
Mike
David
Everett

Jason
Domino (RRG staff)

Doug (SFHM staff)

Fran (SFHM staff)

Karla (SFHM staff)

Accomplishments:
 

- Cleared 1/4 mile of downed trees on branch to Long Leaf Jct
- Adjusted gauge on flatcar

- Surveyed washout on Long Leaf Jct branch

- Recorded videos for "Long Leaf Historical Series"

After Hurricane Laura and Tropical Storm Beta both hit the museum and dropped a total of more than 12 inches of rain, it is pleasing to be able to note that, even though that amount of water overwhelmed the drainage work outside of the machine shop, all of the work done inside the machine shop in our previous sessions and the installation of the drain in the shop floor, worked as planned and routed the considerable water that did get in out of the building without damage.

Most of the day Saturday was spent cleaning up debris and clearing the RR&G Right of Way from the Engine House north to the washout north of the big red cut. Laura left 6 trees down over the railroad, one of more than 18" diameter and one 12" in diameter suspended 6-8 feet above the track. Other smaller trees and much brush were either blown down over the track or actually suspended in the air above the track. The accompanying photos show the work involved.

As part of the job we re-gauged the front axle of the small flat car which we rebuilt a few sessions ago. The front axle was wide out of gauge which caused it to derail on curves and we brought it in about 1/2 inch which should help. We then used it to get up to the trees suspended over the rails as a work platform.

At the end of the day, we inspected the wash out on the main line (which is getting worse after the 8" rain that we had on Wednesday) and discussed planning a bridge at the site.

Finally, Gerald showed us the condition of the pit in the Engine House. There is water entering the Engine House from the uphill side and it floods into the pit during storms like Beta. This has caused water retention also behind the uphill (inside) wall of the pit and as a consequence the timbers are rotten and bowing out badly. For us to continue to use the pit, and to park equipment over the pit we will have to both install a drain system for water to bypass the pit, (like the one in the shop) and rebuild the pit wall before it collapses. Just another project on the continuing list of projects, but one that will need to be a fairly high priority project.

Sunday, Jason and Everett got to watch Mike feed Domino. Mike thinks that there are at least two kittens and possibly more. This is good as they will reduce the rodent population and thus the snake population around the museum as well. Finally Jason and Everett recorded videos on the the Clyde Skidder, the McGiffert Loader, the Commissary, the Station Agents house, the old post office, the CCC Experience and the Hardtner-Camp Claiborne building. As Jason finishes these they will be posted on YouTube, social media, and the RR&G website.

All-in-all it was a great weekend with wonderful, almost fall-like, weather at Long Leaf.

-Everett Lueck
  RR&G Director
 

The new SFHM Director, Doug Rhodes, has been donating his weekend time as well, and much clearing and cleaning has been going on around the site. Friday and Saturday he worked with Fran and Karla and they cleaned up the area around the Superintendents house (Office), removing the Wisteria from in front of the building that was actually damaging it, and trimming the plants outside.

Inside the Office, Keno is painting the walls and the office area reorganized. The old copy machines that have been retired for many years are gone to copy machine heaven, and much work has been done inside already as well.

Our thanks to all of the employees who have been working extra hard this month despite storm damage at their own houses to clean up the museum site as well.

In between storms this month, Tucker Baker has been spraying and weed whacking along the loop and in front of the Engine House which desperately has been in need of this work this year. The pictures of his work show how wonderful the railroad looks now and we need to note his work on weekends that many of the other volunteers have not been able to be there.

Night Watchmen Chow Hall

The Night Watchman at the Chow Hall

"HEY! Who goes there?"

"That was tasty. Thanks, Mike!"

Domino consults with her Manager, Mike, after chow.

Making a quick round to inspect the property before returning to bed.

Domino has started a family and will soon have reinforcements for the nightly patrols.

Now, for the work-at-hand...

A quarter mile of the Long Leaf Jct Branch looked this way.

Fortunately only about 6 trees were of this size.

Everett makes sawdust and logs.

M2 was moved (Time Table) East as the cleaning progressed.

Mike joins the fun

Making progress!

Before lunch we adjusted the gauge on a flatcar that liked to jump the track.

After lunch we used the tractor to flip it back over.

David uses the repaired flatcar to reach a tree suspended above the rails.

Pushing east

To our astonishment, the storm revealed a telegraph pole still standing!!

This may be the only one. We've never seen another.

What an absolutely cool sight!

David starts on the last big tree.

We attempted to use a chain and the M2 to yank it down. But the chain was too short.

Jason (aboard M2) was dispatched to the Engine House for more chain, but before getting back there David managed to get it down.

Everett and David clear the last of the brush.

With the job done, we pushed on east to the washout for a survey.

It's not good. We are planning to construct a bridge at the site this fall.

Mike estimated the drop on the west side of the ROW at about 25'!

Our MOW train is ready to return to Long Leaf.

Headin' back.

We stopped and lifted 2 switch points onto the flat car. These are needed elsewhere.

At the crossing near Main Line Jct, we unloaded the switch points and placed them in our 60# rail pile.

Thus completed a long and productive day.

The following morning Everett & Jason recorded several videos for the on-going "Long Leaf Historical Series."