Work Session

June 19, 2021

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

Team:
Andrew A.
Angela A.
Clint L. Jr
Glen A.
Wimbley V.
Everett L.

Mike B.
Mike M.
Jason R.

Noah R.
Domineaux & the Pest Control Staff

Accomplishments:
 

- Drop Pit Demolition Complete
- M4 Repairs Continue - front truck removed, axle removed for wheel rebuild
- Additional Drop Pit covers built to completely cover pit
- Ties positioned on Loop for future tie replacement

Thank You's:
- Glen for bringing his tractor on Friday and Saturday to finish the drop pit demolition
- The museum providing lunch for the volunteers on Saturday
- Glen again for repairing the museum tractor clutch rod when it broke during use on Friday

Good New Department:
- In November and December 2019, the volunteers worked to stabilize the west wall of the machine shop and its foundation piers. Building upon these efforts, the window frames and panes in the machine shop have been replaced by museum handyman John W. This not only protects locomotive 202, but prevents additional moisture from getting into the shop and causing erosion and drainage havoc. This is good teamwork and building upon prior success!

- The museum has acquired an electric pole saw to help maintain and clear branches from the railroad right of way. It works very well!

- Mike Miller has repaired the museum's bush hog and it is already in use at the museum. Any volunteer that enjoys mowing large swaths of grass at the museum can now do so from the riding comfort of our trusty New Holland tractor


Friday
After the Executive Committee Meeting, Glen and Wimbley came with Glen's tractor and the crew of Glen, Wimbley, Mike, Mike, Everett, and Tucker set to remove the final large timbers from the Drop Pit. Glen's backhoe attachment with grapple bucket was aptly suited to the task at hand and we thank Glen for lending his equipment and time on this major project. The Drop Pit demolition was more complicated than we expected, with the large 12 x 12 timbers resting over a subfloor of boards and then over a layer of cross ties at the bottom. In addition, some of the timbers were placed in the pit with wet concrete footers, meaning that large chunks of concrete adhered to the timbers and came out with the demolition. Late Friday afternoon, as the museum tractor was moving in to pick up a 55-gallon drum filled with pit debris for disposal, the clutch rod broke. After troubleshooting, the team finished for the day and Glen volunteered to fix the broken clutch rod.

Saturday
After the pre-start briefing at the Lodge kitchen, the team started work in teams. Glen and Wimbley completed the clutch rod repair to the museum tractor and the final demolition and cleanup of the Drop Pit was undertaken. Everett, Clint, and Angela built more Drop Pit covers from scrap lumber on hand. Glen operated the tractor backhoe while tucker operated the museum tractor removing debris in the tractor bucket. Jason, Noah, Andrew, and Wimbley cleaned out the pit with shovels and rakes. Mike and Mike began the prep work for repair on the M4 front truck and wheel. Once the Drop Pit demolition was complete, Glen also moved over to work on the M4 repairs. The M4 needed to be jacked up, the front truck removed, and each wheel and axle inspected. During the course of Drop Pit demolition, it was discovered that the pit had been modified during its reconstruction sometime in the late 1990s or the early 2000s, as original wing walls of concrete were found on the west side.

After lunch, Mike, Mike, Glen, and Wimbley continued repair work on the M4, removing the front truck and then painstakingly removing the axle that needed wheel repair. Using some modern equipment and some hydraulic jacks, the wheel press in the machine shop was pressed into service to remove the wheel that needed repair. Glen has already manufactured the rubber blocks needed for the repair. While the wheel press is not restored to service, its structure was perfect for the task at hand.

The new museum pole saw was put to use trimming overhanging branches on the engine house leads, on the main loop from the engine house to the planer mill, and on the main loop near the sawmill. It is electric and works like a charm! It will certainly help maintain the right of way and a great riding experience for museum visitors.

As the day was wrapping up, Tucker filled up the sprayer tank, attached the new sprayer car to M2, and completed an inspection of the main loop and a herbicide spray. The new sprayer car rides like a dream and riding the rails is still the finest way to view the museum grounds.

Sunday

On Sunday, a storage shed in the Engine House was organized and cleaned out to house parts for secure storage. Everett also put together an official "RR&G Office" sign for the Foreman's Office in the Machine Shop. This office will house office supplies, work session materials, and paperwork used during volunteer efforts. Having it in the Machine Shop makes for easy access and thank you to the volunteers who cleaned it out last weekend. The light in the office works too!

Firing up the new Hyster (small one) forklift, Jason, Noah, Anglea, Andrew, and Tucker began placing ties along the Main Loop. Using M8 and a flatcar, the ties were loaded up by the forklift and then the crew distributed them along the Main Loop. These will be used in the near future to maintain and upgrade the Loop where new ties are needed. This puts us one step ahead for our track maintenance efforts. This also gave an opportunity for more folks to operate the beautifully restored M8 motorcar.
 

-Tucker Baker
  RR&G Road Master

With the help of Glen and his backhoe, the final demolition of the Drop Pit began in earnest Friday afternoon.

What was impossible to do by hand, was made short-work with the heavy machinery.

Thank you, Glen!

To our surprise, two drainage pipes were located under the floor. We believe these are still partially operable.

Saturday morning, Clint grinds off nails from the floor boards removed from the bottom of the Pit. These will be re-used.

Continuing the clean-up

Mike and Mike de-crib the M4 so that it can moved further inside the Engine House.

Noah shovels out mud from the Pit.

Andrew, Jason, and Noah

Wimbley, Andrew, Jason, and Noah finish the clean-out of the Pit

Glen uses the backhoe to load the bucket on the tractor, saving time and energy.

Glen pulls M4 further into the Engine House

Everett found a concrete wing at the south end of the Pit.

We hope to restore this section soon.

Angela and Cling cut scrap lumber to make more Pit covers.

Mike, Mike, and Glen re-jack and crib the M4 so the front truck can be removed.

Installing gauge bars in the Pit

Everett and Angela

Done

Mike and Glen jack and crib M4

Putting the Pit covers back on

Post-lunch discussion of objectives.

Congratulations to Everett on the announcement that he'll soon be a GREAT GRANDFATHER!

Finishing the cribbing of M4

Pulling out the front truck

Loosing the nut on the axle

This was the easy part...

The wheel was frozen to the axle. So, Mike Miller came up with the plan to use the wheel press and a 50 ton jack to get it off.

We used the A-frame in the Engine House to partially disassemble the truck frame to get the axle off.

While the truck frame was being disassembled, Tucker, Andrew, and Noah did some much-needed brush trimming.

After an hour, the axle was free.

Andrew and Tucker continue the brush clearing.

It sure looked better when they were done.

Clint

Andrew

Using the wheel press to get the wheel off of the axle

The Wheel Press isn't operational, so a 50 ton jack was used instead.

Simple and ingenious!

With a bang, the wheel was free!

Andrew picks up a confused visitor

While waiting for everyone to take a shower before dinner, we spent some time with the Night Security & Pest Control Crew.

Everett and Muggins

Sunday morning, Tucker runs M8 and a flatcar out to the pad to load up ties.

Andrew, Noah, Angela, and Jason rounded out the crew.

RR&G #106 patiently awaits the day when a fire is lit in her belly.

Tucker uses the fork lift to load ties

Andrew, Noah, and Angela

Andrews run M8 up the hill to drop ties

Ties are placed in preparation for major track work in the near future.

Jason unloads ties near Main Line Jct.

The new & official RR&G Office

Everett hand-lettered the new sign.