Work Session

August 20, 2022

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

Volunteer Railroaders
1. Jason R.
2. Noah "485" R.
3. Everett L.
4. Joseph S.
5. Jacques D.
6. Makayla S.
7. Glen A.
8. Wimbley V.
9. Clint L. Jr.
10. Mike M.
11. Mike B.
12. Tucker B.


Accomplishments
1. Bent rail replaced on wye track east leg with new ties inserted as well
2. Wye now completely serviceable for motorcars
3. Old Minneapolis-Moline tractor relocated from in front of Engine House
4. New rear exterior light installed on M2 motorcar
5. Cutting wheel installed on rail saw - rail saw now serviceable
6. Continued mowing of main field area with tractor finish mower
7. Cleaned the M4, all motorcars, and all rolling stock
8. Cleaned outdoor museum display signs
 

Track Note

The terms “wye tracks” and “switchback tracks” refer to the same sets of tracks connecting in at the main loop at the Planer Mill (Planer Mill Jct) and at the Engine House (Switchback Jct). Historically, when the mill was still operating, the track toward the planer mill was the planer mill bypass track. It bypassed the planer mill siding track and continued to the commissary. The track toward the Engine House was used to move between the mill site and the Missouri Pacific (MOP) interchange yard located alongside the MOP main line. Before the main loop was built, these tracks were used to switch back up the grade from the Commissary, past the Planer Mill, and then to get up to the Engine House. Thus, the recent reference to them as “switchback tracks.” Once the loop was built, the loop added a third leg of track, making a wye, a triangle of track that can be used to turn equipment around.

Before the Weekend

Mike Brown procured and brought up a new fuel shutoff solenoid from New Orleans for the Oliver all-terrain forklift. He and Mike Miller installed it, set a battery charger on the forklift, and got this forklift operating again. Good work and thanks y’all!

Friday

Friday was the preparation day for the weekend. The fuel levels were checked in the M8 and M2 motorcars. Everett noticed the rear headlight on M2 was bent upward and the light was off-center in the light housing. After trying to get the light repaired, the light itself was found to be too small for the housing and it would not situate properly in the housing. Everett procured a new light bulb and light housing after we finished for the day. Tucker used a pair of loppers to clear brush and vegetation away from the bent rail area to make a good work site for Saturday. Jason and Noah arrived later in the afternoon, and with their help, the crane (known as “Ichabod”) and the dropside flatcar (known as the “Horseman”) were switched around and connected to M2. M2 was positioned at the rear of the MOW consist so once a fresh stick of rail had been loaded up, it could be positioned as close as possible to the work site.

Since the forklift had the battery charger on it, the tractor used to bring a fresh stick of rail over to the MOW consist parked at the sawmill pad. Using chains, the tractor, and the crane, the rail was brought up onto the deck of the flatcar with the rear end of the rail resting on the crane car deck. We did get some experience and know-how operating the crane, learning how best to position the load to be lifted. The crane end needs to lift in the dead center of the load and the load itself needs to be positioned as close as possible to the car it will be loaded onto. The rail dogs on the crane could also use some fixing up as well. The MOW consist was then moved down past Switch #7 at Switchback Jct, parked for the night, and ready to go for Saturday’s crew.

While moving past Switch #7, the front wheel set of the flatcar, being just slightly wide of gauge, and the track itself being right at gauge, the wheels wanted to climb out of the rail past the switch. But with the crane right behind it, the car was adjusted back into place by lifting it with the crane. We intend to correct this spot in the track in the future and we’re considering options for adjusting the wheel set of the drop side flatcar. We had a vigorous and energetic discussion on these subjects during Saturday’s lunch break. Fortunately, this spot in track is not on the main line from the Engine House to the main loop. Knowing is half the battle, and we’re coming to fix it one day.
 

Saturday
With the new rail loaded up and the MOW consist parked in position, the crew started Saturday by loading track tools and final work site prep. Glen used a museum weed eater to clear away the vegetation around the track at Switch #7 and down at the work site near the bent rail. He would work the rest of the morning using the finish mower and the tractor to mow the main field area near the Planer Mill and the finished lumber shed, which is great prep for the upcoming Long Leaf Fall Festival and 2nd Annual Steam Up. The M8 was brought around and connected to the MOW consist with M2 to safely move everything down the grade to the worksite.

The track crew of Jason, Jacques, Makayla, Wimbley, Clint, Everett, Joseph, and Tucker eased the MOW consist down to the worksite. The new rail was rolled off the flatcar, lifted onto the track with rail tongs, and then rolled over toward the good rail. The joints on the bent rail were then taken apart and the bent rail was pulled out. Shovels were used to clear away debris and old broken ties so we could insert some new ties as a part of the rail replacement. Four tie spaces were dug out and the consist was brought back up to the sawmill pad to load up new ties. Joe brought around the forklift and four ties were loaded up on the flatcar. The M2 and the crane were switched out and placed back into the Engine House, leaving the M8 with the flatcar loaded with ties. All the rolling stock and the forklift were brought back to the Engine House for the lunch break as dark clouds of a summer shower rolled in.

The rain came down during the lunch break, raised the humidity, lowered the temperature, and the main rainfall quit right about the time we were ready to start for the afternoon. Joe used the forklift to pull out and relocate the old Minneapolis-Moline tractor that had long sat as a climbing structure for vines and vegetation in front of the Engine House. It was moved to the concrete pad area near the green chain behind the sawmill, parked with similar equipment. The old Ford pickup truck moved out at the prior session will be moved soon as well to a new long-term home.

At the track worksite, the new ties were inserted into the dug-out spaces and the leveling of the ties and rail commenced. The new stick of rail was about 3 feet short of the length needed, however, a 3-foot piece of 60 pound rail was in M2 being used as a ballast weight, so it was pulled out and pressed into service. Everett spent considerable time drilling new bolt holes on this 3-foot piece, and in the afternoon, he and Jacques used the drill press at the Machine Shop to finish drilling out the holes. With the new ties in place, the new rail was maneuvered into position, and the first joint was joined together. The 3-foot rail piece was positioned in and the final joining was undertaken. Lots of fine maneuvering, measuring, hammering, bolt-tightening, cutting, hemming, and hawing was needed, but the crew was able to join all the rail together. Gauging and spiking followed and by the end of the afternoon, the crew successfully opened the track to motorcar service, removed the old end-of-serviceable-track sign, and crossed the bridge to the tail of the wye. After crossing the bridge, looking off past Switch #4, another stack of fresh rail was sighted, perhaps as replacement candidates for the area track in the later days of mill operation. This spot was duly noted. Switch #4 could not be thrown as a switch key would not cleanly fit into the lock itself, necessitating maintenance on the lock in order to throw the switch. The day ended after some exploring around the area, cleaning the tools of mud, and stowing the tools away in the Engine House.

Throughout the efforts to repair this section of track, there were many obstacles and setbacks to overcome. However, there is something to be said for the spirit of the crew involved here. Even when faced with setbacks, we found solutions and the team worked to implement them. As the rain trickled down and the crew toiled in the mud, jokes and stories were being told and the crew kept working on in good spirits. The right attitude matters most and this crew has it.

The bent rail had remained since Hurricane Laura felled a mature, 40-year old pine tree on the track almost exactly two years ago to the weekend. Two years later, the whole wye was open for motorcar service. This accomplishment does not just preserve track listed as historic and contributing on our National Register of Historic Places status, but allows us to access more track materials, such as usable rail and spikes, maintains an effective fire break line in the track itself, allows access to other historic equipment and artifacts, and allows a small crew on a motorcar to maintain the area. Serviceable track means easy access, and easy access makes good things happen.


Sunday
Sunday was a cleanup, maintenance, inspection, and operating day. Joseph and Everett installed the new rear exterior light and housing on M2 and connected in the electrical wiring to it. Tucker used the museum tractor to empty out garbage cans from the finished lumber shed and the Engine House in the museum dumpster. He also put in a new 4-foot piece of old rail in the M2 to replace the 3-foot piece used on the track the day before. Jacques, Jason, Makayla, and Wimbley took M8 to fix the stuck switch lock on Switch #4 at MOP Jct. With the switch lock oiled and opened up, the crew took M8 around the wye for an inspection and came back to the Engine House “from the other way.” As the bells at Long Leaf Baptist Church could be heard tolling in the distance, the crew took another lap around the wye for a close inspection of the area, which is very helpful in planning future projects and work sessions.

With all the crew and the equipment back at the Engine House, the vacuum cleaner was pulled out and M1, M2, M4, and M8 received a thorough cleaning. All the motorcars and work trailers, including Ichabod (crane) and the Horseman (dropside flatcar), were pulled in by the hose pipe at the Engine House and given a good wash as well, including the covered gallery car.

Everett and Wimbley went around to clean all of the outdoor museum display signs with Windex. The signs are now clean and ready for the upcoming festival.

With the equipment cleaned up and put away and many accomplishments achieved during the weekend, the crew went their separate ways for home at midday on Sunday. Discussions and plans to prepare for the upcoming Long Leaf Fall Festival and 2nd Annual Steam Up are well underway and the focus of our next two sessions. Please consider joining us next time as there’s a place for everyone at Long Leaf.
 

-Tucker "Who Dat" Baker
  RR&G Road Master

Tucker uses the tractor to drag a rail to the crane.

Everett supervises.

Noah inspects the gravel.

Jason used Icabod (the crane) to lift the rail onto both Icabod and The Horseman.

The rail is loaded and ready for transport

Doing homework at the Lodge.

Saturday

Wimbley moves M8 out to the main line

Glen runs the weed-eater

Moving M8 into position to...

DOUBLE HEAD!

We wanted the extra braking power on the M8 to get the 660lbs rail safely down the 4% grade of the wye.

After the RR&G shut down, the Engine House was used as a garage.

The notes written down on the wall are from the mechanic regarding one of the Crowell's vehicles.

This neat bit of "graffiti" serves as reminder of the structure's interesting and varied past.

Heading down the north leg of the Long Leaf Wye.

Passing #400

"Easy does it..."

Icabod looks out over The Horseman as we near the end-of-track sign.

Arrived

Now it's time to get busy workin'

*Note the dented rail on the right. That is our problem to fix today.

We attempted to use a deadman to pull the rail off.

This didn't work, so we rolled it off the cars.

We disconnected the busted rail at the joints and pulled all the spikes. Then we pulled out several rotten ties.

With the prep work finished, we returned to The Pad to get some ties as dark storm clouds gathered.

Joe ran the forklift

Loading ties

Then Joe moved the old tractor from the front of the Engine House to a storage location. This has been an eyesore for a long time.

We are now free to redevelop this area and expand our rail yard.

Track Inspectors

Just as we broke for lunch, the bottom fell out and unleashed a good ol' "gully washer."

We were safe and dry in the Lumber Shed.

Pals

After lunch the rain let up to a slow drizzle and we got back to work putting in new ties.

New ties going in

Makayla & Jacques

We needed a 3' "Dutchman" to connect the new rail.

Everett led the efforts to drill bolt holes with the century old belt-drive Drill Press in the Machine Shop

Almost done

While the drilling was being done, the other team continued the efforts on the Wye.

Jason

Makayla and Jason lift the rail as Tucker aligns the joiner

Clint tightens the bolts

Bolting in the "dutchman"

Gauging and spiking

Tucker proudly removes the red flag as we put the section back in service!

DONE!

We rolled down to the tail switch only to fine that the lock was frozen in place.

Being so late in the day, we left this problem for the next morning.

Headin' back to the House

Sunday

Wimbley sweeps out the Lodge after breakfast.

Back at the tail switch, Jacques worked the switch lock lose and the wye was now fully in service.

"Workin' on the Railroad" - Photo by Everett Lueck

 We could hear the bell tolling at Long Leaf Baptist Church just before the photo was taken.

We finished running M8 through the wye.... just because we could.

Then we went around the loop and did it again so she was facing the direction everyone else would be expecting.

Like momma always says, "When you're done playing with your toys, clean 'em and put 'em away."

Joe moves M8 to the Engine House to pick up his grandparents for a ride.

This is what it's all about... sharing our railroad and havin' a good time.