Elevating the Collection Construction Photo Gallery

Meanwhile, Building 2 Foundation Work Begins

Oct 11, 2013: The excavation begins for the west side of building 2. The new pit track is on this side, and the footings for the wall will overlap the pit floor slab. Therefore both are being done at the same time. The orange stake in the foreground represents the west building line, and we are looking south towards the back of the building. The pit is 100 feet long.

This stake has been set by LWF surveying as a grading control. The crosshair near the bottom represents elevation 14.0 (NGVD 1929 datum). The tracks and finished floor of both new buildings will be set at 14.2

Oct 14, 2013: 3/4" crushed stone that was made on-site is spread on top of a geotextile fabric.

A portable compactor is used where the steamroller can not reach.

A string line is stretched over the control point that marks the west building line of building 2. From the taut string, a plumb-bob is dropped to transfer the line to the bottom of the excavation.

Rob from Pasqualini Construction uses a grade rod with a laser detector to find the laser reference line established by the rotary laser (not visible in photo). He is then able to tell exactly how far down the bottom of the footing must be by subtracting the computed number of feet and inches from the reference line.

Building 1 Roof Completed

Oct 21, 2013: Installation of roof sheets began on the north end of building 1.

Bracing struts where the end and side walls meet.

By Oct 23, the roof is 75% done. Workers use this platform lift to safely access the roof structure.

X-braces in one of the roof bays along with those in the wall bay provide the required longitudinal stiffness.

Angles have been applied to the foundation wall. These will support the bottom of the wall sheets. Note the thin layer of foam insulation to provide a "thermal break".

By Oct 25, all roof sheets have been installed. The joints between the sheets are made using a "standing seam" which eliminates any penetrations of the roof membrane by fasteners. The sheets are clenched around protruding clips which are anchored to the purlins. A special crimping machine then crimps the edges of the sheets around the clips. There is also a seal inside the crimped joint.

A special ridge cap completes the top of the roof

View from the north end (railroad west) of building 1.

Building 2 Foundation and Pit Slab Poured

Footings and walls have been completed for all of building 2 except the front wall and the interior columns. Here we see a section of the east wall formed up. Concrete has just been poured and is being finished. A few days later, the forms have been stripped.

A little further along the same wall, footings are poured on Oct 21:
One of the concrete workers washes off the tools.

Building 2 contains provisions for a future maintenance pit. A series of 8" I-beams embedded in the pit floor slab acts to control the gauge and transfer the load into the slab. In the future, 6x6 structural steel tube posts will be welded to these beams. During the slab pour, the beams are supported on cement blocks which are carefully set to the same level using a rotary laser.

Oct 24: The pit floor beams are in place along with the rebar mat, and rebar for the walls connected, all ready for pouring.

Oct 25: Standing on the floor of the future pit, and aerial views of building 2 taken from the roof of building 1. The square holes at the bottom of the east wall are for electrical conduits and future water piping.

Building 2 foundations completed, Building 1 Siding completed

November 4, 2013: The concrete workers were on the job last week, forming up the remaining walls, and the footings and piers for the interior columns of Building 2. Concrete was poured at the end of the week, thus finishing foundation work.

The walls of the future rail car maintenance pit in Building 2 were also finished during the week of Oct 28. We are standing outside the front of the building looking at the doorway for track 4, with the pit beyond.

Taken from the topsoil pile behind the buildings, looking north (railroad west) at building 2 foundation, with building 1 on the right.

From the back corner of building 2 looking towards the pit. The piers for the interior columns are visible. Some backfilling of the building interior has taken place.
The skin of Building 1 is now complete, with the exception of the end walls. Below is the front of the building. Note the framed openings for the four 12' wide x 16' high doorways.

The back wall of building 1. Note the same framed doorway openings as in the front, but with girts across them. In the future should it be desired to place doors in the back of either building, the framing is in place to do so.

The east (railroad north) side of building 1.

Wide angle view of the entire west side of building 1.

Interior of building 1 showing the 70' clear-span construction. Walls and roof are insulated. Although this building will not be heated or air conditioned, insulation will reduce temperature and humidity fluctuations.

And finally an overview of the entire project taken from about 40' up in the aerial lift.

Track special work arrives

What will be the first new turnout to be installed at the museum in over 30 years has arrived from our supplier, Ohio Valley Trackwork. Below we see the #4 double-spring frog which is part of the turnout from the mainline track towards the island. Beneath it are parts of the 35 degree crossing of Narragansett side track. The switch point rails, guard rails and other small hardware were also part of this delivery. Work will begin to install this specialwork during November and December. Your donations to the Elevating the Collection campaign will ensure that we have the funding in place to purchase and install the remaining 11 turnouts that are needed to complete the new track plan and allow us to access all of the tracks of both new buildings!

Building 1 approaches, gutters and trim

November 7-15, 2013: Building 1 is complete with the exception of the doors, siding and trim of the front wall, and interior finish grading. The approach ramps are being rough-graded now. These will contain the track "ladder" for building 1.

Roof gutters and downspouts being installed near the rear of building 1.

Installation of wall siding moved very rapidly, but we managed to catch one photo of the process at the rear wall of building 1. Note the insulation blanket. Although this building will not be heated, wall and roof insulation will help control temperature and humidity fluctuations.

Building 2 steel frame completed

November 9, 2013: Part of the approach ramp to building 2 has been rough-graded. Looking up the ramp, the crane in the distance is staging the building columns.

View from the rear of the site.

The crane towers over the building 2 site as columns are placed on the foundation, and wall girts are installed to tie the columns together.

From the aerial lift, two steel workers complete the roof structure at the front of the building.

While at the back, one worker installs the end wall girts.

Roof purlin bracing details.

One of the bays contains X-bracing in the roof and walls.

Girt connection details at the front corner the building 2.

Looking into track 4 with the future pit, which has been temporarily protected with a wooden fence during construction.

November 15-17, 2013: Building 2 is spaced 30' from building 1 (this is a building/fire code requirement) and is also offset 30' forward (for track design reasons).

The interior row of columns in building 2 is slightly off center. They are designed to support potential future upgrades: on the right, a 28' span, 10 ton bridge crane running the length of the building and spanning two tracks, and on the left a 40' wide storage mezzanine.

These 6-hole plates which were factory-welded to the web of the east and middle columns are connection points for future mezzanine floor girders.

Close-up view of the factory-installed brackets which will support future crane beams and rails.

Standing in the "level spreader" stormwater management structure we see the structural skeleton of building 2, with building 1 in the distance.

The topsoil pile at the rear of the site is one of the few places that is still higher than the buildings. The 30' strip between the two buildings will contain 2 dead-end tracks that can be used to store additional cars in the event of an impending flood.

The Ribbon Cutting

November 16, 2013: About 130 members and friends of the museum were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, November 16. Unk DaRos, the retiring First Selectman of Branford, is seen cutting the ribbon flanked by State Sen. Ed Meyer, State Rep. Lonnie Reed, State Rep. James Albis, and State Rep. Patricia Widlitz, along with numerous museum officers and trustees.

Building 2 completed

November 18-22, 2013: Following the ribbon-cutting, Building 2 continued to approach completion, as roof and siding panels were installed.
View of building 2 on right, with building 1 visible through the uncompleted side.

Taken from the back of the property

Interior taken from rear of of building 2.

This sequence of photos shows insulation and siding panels being lifted into place along the side wall of Building 2.

Nov 25 - Nov 30: Both buildings are now entirely clad, with the exception of the front walls, pending door installation. Gutters and trim have been completed on building 1, and ongoing for building 2.

The logo of Varco-Pruden, the manufacturer of the building, is embossed on this piece which joins the gable trim at the peak of building 1.

Doors

Dec 3: The final phase of the building construction is the doors. One set has been fabricated and test-fitted. The doors are made from welded structural rectangular steel tubing, and are very substantial. They will be clad to match the building finish.

Front walls and trim

Dec 9-13, 2013: The front walls of both buildings had been left open until the final details of the doors were worked out. Well, after the first set of doors was fabricated, tested and accepted, it was time to finish up the buildings! Here we see workers starting the trim on the front wall of both each building

A few days later, all of the sheeting has been installed. It's now a lot easier to see the doorways.

Finish Grading

The site work subcontractor is now completing the final grading. Some of this work had to wait until the end of the job because the building erectors required large flat areas around the buildings. Below we see 2-3" crushed stone being spread near building 1.

These mounds of material have been placed approximately in the path of the new loop track. This track climbs to an elevation of 11.5', or about 2.7' lower than the tracks in the building, and then holds that elevation as it sweeps around and eventually joins in with the ramp coming down from building 2.

The building 2 approach is a dramatic feature set against the marsh. The area to the left of the ramp in the first photo will be seeded and planted with shrubs and trees to create an erosion control / wetlands buffer area. The base layer is gravel process which was left over from the crushing and screening operation. It is compacted with the roller, and will be topped with two layers of crushed stone to support the tracks.

Both buildings against a gray backdrop as the museum experiences the first snowstorm of the season on Dec 14.

Final Grading and Site Work

Dec 16-24, 2013: The site work contractor is wrapping up the final grading. Ballast stone is being spread on all of the track areas, and also inside both buildings. The contractor will leave a finished grade which is approximately one foot lower than the ultimate rail head height, then the museum will place ties and rail. Below a dozer spreads stone within building 1.

There are two concrete drainage pipes which pass beneath the ramp approaching new building 2. In the event of another severe flood, these are designed to relieve the water pressure against the side of the ramp, and to allow water to drain back out.

The storm water detention pond has been completed along the side of building 2. Runoff from the two building roof drains is diverted into this swale, which in the spring will be topsoiled and seeded to provide a natural buffer against erosion.

Building 2 Trim Done

The last bits of trim have been installed on Building 2 across the front wall. Below: the steel workers cut a piece of trim to length and put it up.

Doors in Progress

All of the trackway doors (4 sets on each building) have been hung, and sheathing is almost complete. Below: On Dec 16, building 1 doors are up but no sheathing is in place.

Door hinges being secured on the last of the door frames at building 2.

These J-shaped moldings retain the corrugated siding and make a weathertight seal.

The following week, all doors are clad on building 1, and almost done on building 2.

Final Trackbed Grading

Dec 26, 2013 - Jan 3, 2014: The new yard is almost complete.

This medium ballast stone was delivered and piled in front of each building to be spread out.

Grading for building 2(9) yard

The green stake in the foreground represents the center line of the track at the points of the new switch which begins the new loop, and the ladder for building 1(8)

While this stake represents the opposite end of the loop, at the switch which forms the throat of the ladder for building 2(9).

A few days later, grading for building 2(9) is complete

Door Hardware

The building contractor has completed installation of the door stops, which were welded to the door frames.

Trim at the top of the doors was installed

Which allowed the flaps to be put on. Each door leaf carries a piece of electrically insulating rubber piece in the shape of a right triangle which forms a weather seal against the trolley wire (when installed).

It will be much easier to latch these doors closed than our present wooden barn doors. A spring bolt latch at the top and a cane bolt at the bottom will be complemented by a heavy slide bolt across the middle.

The Last Little Building Details

Jan 6, 2014 - Jan 17, 2014: The last few details of the two buildings have been wrapped up. Braving the cold, these two construction workers completed installation of the bottom bolt plates, edge weatherstripping, bottom door sweeps, insulation and innner cladding.

Door panel of building 2(9) just prior to inner cladding installation shows the 2" rigid insulation.

Finally, both buildings are done...

And Munger Construction has literally handed us the keys to the building!

Track Installation Begins

On Jan 18, 2014 we had our first "work party" for Elevating the Collection. The task at hand was to begin installation of the tracks within building 1(8). Work began at 10 AM. Layout lines for the first two tracks had already been put down the day before.

Ties were distributed with the Bobcat machine and spaced by hand every 3 feet or so, using the layout guide lines to align the edges of the ties.

The ballast stone was dressed by hand to provide an even bearing for the ties

Rough elevation was checked with a rotary laser level. At a later date, additional ballast will be spread over the tracks and they will be raised up and tamped to final elevation.

For these tracks inside the buildings, where traffic will be light and exposure to the weather will be zero, we saved a lot of money by utilizing used ("re-lay") ties. The old spike holes need to be plugged up.

Once a stretch of ties was put down, the Bobcat brought over one rail at a time (about 30 feet long) and set it down. This is the used 60AS rail which was donated by National Capital Trolley Museum. The light section is suitable for track inside the building.

When laying new track, one rail is selected as the "line rail" and is spiked to line. The other rail is then spiked to gauge (56.5") relative to the line rail. We began on track 81 and used the concrete foundation wall as the reference for setting the line rail. One or two volunteers held the rail at the proper position while another tapped the spikes in loosely by hand, and then yet another volunteer came along with the pneumatic spiking hammer to drive each spike down. As the tie tends to settle down into the ballast, another volunteer holds up the end of the tie with a bar.

As the end of each length of rail is reached, the next length is jointed up. We used a pneumatic wrench to speed the process of tightening the track bolt nuts.

By about 4PM, it was starting to get dark, cold and windy, so we called it a wrap, cleaned up the work site and secured the building. Ties and rails had been distributed the length of tracks 81 and 82, and the line rail was complete on track 81. Work will continue in the coming weeks and months.

Track Work Continues Inside Building 8

Feb 1, 2014 The weather outside has been challenging but we lucked out again on Saturday Feb 1 for our second indoor work party. Temperatures were warm enough that we could keep all of the doors open. Track 1 is now complete from the back of the building up to a few feet from the front doors. We are leaving this last bit of track out so the "compromise" joint between the 60AS rail inside the building and the 80AS rail in the yard can be made indoors. Lining and spiking of one rail on Track 2 was begun with all joints made up loosely, and ties were distributed for Track 3.

Checking the height of the ties on Track 3 with a laser level.

Setting the spikes by hand, then driving the spikes with a pneumatic hammer. The tie is held up with a lining bar to ensure full seating of the spike.

At the conclusion of the day's work.

Some Scenic Shots

Member Ken Rosen just submitted this great bulb exposure shot from the night of Dec 21, 2013. Building 9 doors were installed but not yet finished, allowing him to "paint" the inside of the building structure with light to create this interesting effect.

Shortly after the work party concluded, we had yet another snowfall.

GWCC students and museum volunteers press forward inside Building 8

Feb 22, 2014 In mid-February, our museum volunteer force was augmented by students from the Gateway Community College partnership program. Together they are making rapid progress inside Building 8.

Another work party took place on Feb 22, and another nice day! Temperatures reached the mid-40s which seemed like a tropical resort given the unusually cold, snowy winter. Earlier in the week, GWCC volunteers, seen below, completed lining and gauging track 82.

As the Feb 22 work party began, ties were waiting on 83 track. Volunteers distributed lengths of rail on the ties and bolted them together.

Additional ties were inserted as needed to support each joint.


Now it was time to begin spiking down one entire side to proper alignment. This was done with the assistance of a construction laser. The red laser line on the wooden sighting block is the gauge line of the line rail. Here a volunteer is pre-drilling and setting spikes after the rail has been lined in. It will then be spiked down with the pneumatic hammer. Another volunteer supports the tie.

Meanwhile on 81 track, a few ties that were skipped during the initial gauging-in were now finished off by hand.

First Main Line Switch cut-in since the 1970s begins

Mar 14, 2014 It was sometime in the Ford administration when the museum's main line track was last cut to install a switch! Finally after a seemingly endless snowy winter, the weather improved sufficiently to begin this project.

Above, unbolting joints on the existing 78NH mainline rail. Below, using a hydraulic spike puller really made the job go a lot faster.

With a large group of GWCC and museum member-volunteers, several gangs were at work at once getting the rail prepared for removal.

These traction power return bonds had to be ground off prior to separating and removing the lengths of rail.

Now it was time to lift out 4 sections of 78NH rail and set them aside. Rail tongs are applied to the center of each section and crane W-3 then lifts the rail.

Two volunteers "walk" the rail along a short distance and then set it down outside the work area.

Rail removal progresses

The tie plates which were under the rails are carefully picked up and stacked for future re-use.

The 'Bobcat' comes along and picks the old ties out of the ground, then moves them out of the work area. The ties were sorted into 3 piles: good for re-lay (some of these ties had just been installed last year), good enough for temporary track, and discard.

The sight of the missing stretch of track is somewhat intimidating.

Volunteers in the signal department install a temporary jumper. With one of the main line tracks cut, this is needed to provide a redundant path for traction power return to the substation.

The Bobcat comes back and cleans up the roadbed where the old ties had been removed, and then spreads and levels some stone to support the new ties.

Now the work of setting out the ties can begin. The turnout begins with two 'headblock' ties 15' long which will support the switch stand, then forms a triangle getting wider as it goes from the points to the frog. Crane W-3 was used to bring ties from the tie pile and place them into rough position.

After being roughed-in, the ties were lined up and spaced following the drawing layout. The next step will be the installation of the rails.

Meanwhile, back on the hill

During the last weeks of February and into early March, museum volunteers working alongside GWCC volunteers completed 3 tracks inside the building and roughed-in the 4th track. Only 81 track is complete to the door. The other 3 tracks are being left about 30' short right now to facilitate movement of heavy machinery within the buildings.

Above the large payloader delivers a few yards of stone and stockpiles it within Building 8. The contraption below is a home-made 1/2-yard hydraulic dumper mounted on a track cart. The stone is loaded from the pile into this bucket using the small 'Bobcat' and then spread along the track.


Once the stone is spread, each track will be jacked up, leveled and tamped.

Above, view of all 4 tracks inside Building 8.

Main Line Turnout Installation

Mar 17-21, 2014: With the switch ties placed and roughly aligned and leveled, the process of installing the actual turnout began. Crane W-3 was used to pick up the rails (stock rails, closure rails, switch points and guard rails) which had been stockpiled and lay them out on the ties. Gateway College Students Kurt, Cameron, Jeremy and Darrell are seen handling the material.

This #4 double-spring frog, below, was handled using special plate clamps.

The existing mainline track in this area is 78NH (New Haven R.R.) section. This rail was obtained used in the 1960s and was installed by museum volunteers to replace the heavily worn 80AS rail which had been left from the line's Connecticut Company days. Since 78NH is not being rolled new anymore, the museum decided to standardize on 80AS for all the new trackage. Thus a "compromise" joint is installed between the 78NH existing rail on the left and the new 80AS frog on the right. The ties have not yet been aligned, raised and tamped to support the joint.

The angle of the frog was established by sighting along the gauge line of the rail towards a stake that had been set in the distance by means of surveying instruments. The track diverging to the right will not be going through the line pole as it might seem: it will take a slight further right curve before crossing the Narragansett siding track ahead. The threaded rod is a temporary measure to hold the wing rails, both of which can swivel in this double-spring frog configuration, to the correct "spread."

After alignment, the frog was spiked down. Here a museum volunteer joined forces with a Gateway College student volunteer, both named Joe oddly enough.

Mar 23-30: An obstacle in the path of the track leading to the new barns was the pair of temporary tracks containing parts storage boxcars. One such track was extended to the east by about 18' and all the cars were moved up with a payloader. Then one boxcar on the other track was moved out of the way onto an isolated stretch of track. This boxcar, which is not part of the museum's historic collection and is in poor condition, will be transferred to a private collector soon.

The view from the ramp looking back towards the main line. The back-guy with its yellow safety guard will be relocated. The track, whose center line is marked by the green stake, will turn left here and descend to meet the new main line turnout.

There are many components to a turnout. Here GWCC students install the "heel block" which forms the pivot point for the switch.

Both heel blocks are installed, and the diverging stock rail is being gauged against the frog, as GWCC professor Larry I. inspects the work.

Work continues as the correct plates are installed under the rails and spiked down. The switch points have now been connected up to the heel blocks, and both closure rails are connected between the heel and the frog. The rail on the left has been spiked to position so that it lines up with the existing rails.

The turnout on March 30, view from the west and east ends. Heavy rains earlier in the day meant working in muddy conditions.

The Bobcat brings a load of stone to begin tamping up the switch.

Main Line Turnout Open for Traffic

Apr 1-13, 2014: The first new turnout in the Elevating the Collection project is now open for traffic! The turnout had been designed to coincide with one existing joint in the main line, requiring the addition of three new joints. Three lengths of 78NH rail were cut to exact length, drilled and installed. This restored the continuity of the outbound main line track.

Above: using our somewhat antique gasoline-powered rail hacksaw to trim a piece of rail to length. Below: Drilling the holes for the joint and bolting up the joint bars.

After the turnout had been entirely spiked and gauged (on the main line track side only for now) it was placed in proper level. The yellow spirit level board checks the cross-level. If one rail is higher than the other, the track is jacked up and the pneumatic tamper is used to tamp the tie firmly to hold the correct level.

For the record, the first ever trip over the new turnout was a test run by this "car mover".

The turnout was tested with a number of cars in the collection, including Third Ave 629.

Meanwhile, it was time to restore the electrical continuity to the main line rails. One of the rails is used to complete the traction power circuit (the other is used for signaling) and needs to be bonded to ensure proper grounding of the track. The process starts by grinding down the side of the rail head smooth:

Then the bond is clamped to the rail with the bonding fixture and the latter is charged with Thermite -- an incendiary mixture of different metallic powders.

A special spark striker allows the operator to throw a spark from a safe distance, setting off the Thermite charge which welds the bond to the side of the rail.

The excess metal is then peened out and the bond is ready for use.

The next phase of the project will be to install a crossing of one of the existing yard tracks. Since this will make two of our existing barns inaccessible for several months, cars have been repositioned to take this into account. Below car 629 tows car 2001. Its motors were damaged during Irene and have been overhauled through the FEMA-subsidized hurricane damage recovery program. It will soon have these motors re-installed to return it to operational condition.

Crossing Installation Begins

Apr 14-29: Following the first mainline turnout installation in almost 40 years is the first track removal in almost as long! The lead to the new buildings must cross the existing "Narragansett" siding track, which was installed ca. 1960 and was named in honor of the company which donated the material, the Narragansett Brewing Co. Narragansett track serves and will continue to serve an important function at the museum: it provides access to the high-level platform, Barn 1 and to the east end of the car shop.

Above is the spring frog of Narragansett switch in the foreground. The track on the left is Narragansett siding (the other track is the outbound main track, with the new turnout in the distance). The next switch is a single-point switch providing access to track 21. It was not possible to retain this switch in the new track layout. Therefore the east end of Barn 21 will be disconnected. Access is still available via the west end, although it requires traversing barns 4 and 7. 21 track and the single-point switch are being taken out. The rails of Narragansett siding will be temporarily taken up, then re-installed once the new crossing is positioned.

Removal began by digging out the ballast. Because this area has been used from time to time as a vehicular pathway, the ballast was packed down hard.

For the record, the last use of 21 track was made by crane W-3 to pick up rail which was stockpiled near Barn 2. Once the track was pulled up, this rail would have become inaccessible.

With the ballast was removed it was possible to unspike and unbolt the rail. Crane W-3 was then used to lift it and stockpile it for future re-use.

Gateway College students pose with the now disconnected 21 track.

Members' Day was held on Saturday, April 26, with a large number of cars operating. To avoid potential logistical difficulties, Narragansett track was left in place for one more day. But on Sunday the 27th, work began on temporarily removing this track too.


With the rail out of the way, an old-fashioned engineer's transit was used to stake out the lines of the crossing. The plumb bob hangs over the the point of the frog of the new turnout, which is a control point. In our next update, we'll look at the crossing installation.

Narragansett Siding Reconstruction

Apr 27, 2014: With Members' Day concluded, work began the next day to complete ripping up "Narragansett" siding. Ties were then placed in the area of the new crossing, and then the crossing itself was placed down in roughly the correct spot. Work proceeded railroad east until all of the old siding was removed up to the frog of Narragansett switch.

Above: Pulling out the 21 track switch. This single-point #4 switch has been set aside for potential re-use elsewhere in the project. Below: The crossing was manufactured in two pieces for shipping (otherwise, at 17 feet across, it would have been too wide to ship). After the two pieces were set down, it took a few hours to get everything lined up and reassembled.

The old Narragansett siding was a mixture of 60, 78 and 80 pound rails. After removing the old rails, the old ties, which were in poor condition, were removed with the Bobcat, which then distributed stone and new ties.

Next new (to us) lengths of 80 pound rail were distributed and placed in rough position.

May 9, 2014: The rails were cut to the correct length to fit between the crossing and the existing track, and then drilled where needed so that the joints could be made up.

There is a signal (17E) along Narragansett siding, so an insulated joint had to be re-installed at that location:

Car 948 passes the work area on May 13. All rails and ties are in place, but nothing is spiked down yet.

Shortly thereafter, the rails were put into rough line and spiked every 10 feet or so. This gave the track enough stability to allow the stone hopper to traverse the track and spread ballast.

Meanwhile, back on the Island, spring has arrived, and Pasqualini construction returned to perform the required erosion control seeding. The stormwater detention swale is already filling in nicely with grass that will help hold the soil together.

Narragansett Siding Re-Opens

June 22, 2014: For the past few weeks, museum volunteers were hard at work finishing up work on Narragansett siding and the new crossing diamond. The siding was declared open for all traffic on June 22, although it had seen limited use with work equipment and high-level platform (rapid transit) cars during the previous two weeks. This completes another important phase, and concludes the portion of the trackwork project which interacts with the existing railway.

Above: the official first trip through the crossing took place in late May, with crane car W-3.

Since the last report, the entirety of the renovated Narragansett siding was spiked down. Every tie from the frog of the existing Narragansett switch to the east end of the high-level platform is "new" -- either a brand-new tie or a high-quality relay tie. Additional ties were renewed in the area of the platform.

Above we see spiking in progress. Once the rail was spiked down to all of the ties, it was time to set the level. Using a modern laser level, the proper grade was established from the crossing diamond, downhill in both directions to meet the grade of the existing track. The newly-installed track was then jacked up in small sections, guided by the laser, and the ballast stone was tamped under the ties to hold the lift:

Above: tamping using hand-held pneumatic tampers. Below: the new crossing is installed and pointing towards the Island.

Creating the new track

July 4, 2014: Our attention now turns 100% on the new track which leads us to the Island. One short 40' stretch connects the new turnout (installed during the spring) with the new crossing, and contains a slight curve. The first step was to stake out the alignment of this track with surveying instruments and then distribute the ties guided by a string stretched between the stakes:

New lengths of rail were placed into rough position:

To fabricate the required bend in the rails, the position of the curve was measured and marked on each rail. A hydraulic rail bender was used to put a small bend in the rail every foot. This large number of small "kinks" forms a good approximation to a perfect arc, and is the way that curves have traditionally been formed. The force exerted by the hydraulic ram to form this particular bend, a 120' radius curve in 80AS rail, was about 10 tons.

After a few bends are made, the radius is checked by using a geometric principle known as "the middle ordinate of the arc." A string stretched tightly from one end of the curve to the other will obviously take a shorter path than the arc of the curve (the bent rail). The distance between the string and rail at the mid-point has a specific and easily computed mathematical relationship to the radius of curvature and the arc length. In this manner the radius can be checked:

Moving up the Ladder

The next batch of 4 switches has been delivered. When installed, these will give us access to 3 of the 4 tracks in new building 8, and the beginning of the new loop track.

Above: Frogs, heel blocks and (below) frog guard rails have just arrived on the work site.

Between the new crossing and the first switch there is a stretch of about 40' of straight track, followed by about 40' of curve to the right. The head of the nail of this survey stake marks the exact position where this curve will end, and the first switch will begin.


Looking railroad west at the re-opened Narragansett siding and the new crossing track taking shape. Soon car 775 will be able to take the route to the viewer's left and ascend to the Island.

New Turnout Opened Towards Island

July 13, 2014: Another milestone was reached as the new mainline turnout (1-B on your map) was opened for test operation . First, the two rails connecting the turnout to the crossing were completed, by cropping to length, drilling and making up the joints.

Above: tightening the joint at the crossing, below: rails connected waiting to be spiked.

Now there was some "finishing up" work to do on the turnout, since in the rush to get it re-opened for mainline traffic, the turnout side was never fully spiked or gauged.

After this was done, spiking continued along the connecting track. Finally car 850 was used to make a test trip. The temporary clamp was removed from the switch point and the points were thrown over to the diverging side. 850 made a few trips over the switch and through the spring frog into the new track, and then the switch was re-aligned and clamped pending installation of the permanent switch stand.

Across the Diamond

July 25, 2014: The new track reached and crossed the diamond crossing at Narragansett.

Above: stone has been spread and the connecting track is being tamped leading up to the crossing. Below: The first lengths of rail are being laid on the other side of the diamond, and the view looking east.

Up the Hill and Around the Bend

August 2, 2014: Next up was a 40' section of straight track followed by a 40' long curve to the right, starting up the hill. The hydraulic rail bender was again pressed into service to bend both rails to the required radius.




After both rails were curved, they were aligned correctly and then spiked down to gauge.

The Next Turnout

August 6-10, 2014: After the curve comes the next turnout, 81-B. This turnout will take us either straight ahead towards Building 8, or to the right to begin the Edwin Burch Memorial Loop. First the switch ties were brought over with the forklift and laid out:

Close-up of new joint just before the start of the switch.

Components of the turnout have been placed into rough position. The arrow mark indicates the location of the point of switch on the straight stock rail. The right stock rail has not yet been curved. Rail braces and slide plates have been installed. Loose heel blocks and the frog are in the distance.

Up the Hill We Go!

August 16, 2014: With the completion of the first 80' of track beyond the crossing, shown in the last update, it was now possible to bring equipment onto the new lead. Below, crane W-3 is the first car to operate over this trackage. Since the overhead wire is not up yet, it was moved using a "stinger" connecting its pole to the live wire via a long cable.

Working on Turnout 81-B

Turnouts are the most complicated and time-consuming of all track work projects. Installation must proceed methodically with careful attention to details and measurements, so that all of the geometrical constraints are met and cars can track through without difficulty. Work begins at the "point of switch" and proceeds to the "heel" of the switch.

Above, holes have just been drilled for the heel block casting. Below, the heel block unit is assembled.

The rail bender is needed to curve the outside (stock) rail and one of the closure rails to the required radius.

Once the turnout has been spiked to gauge between PS and HS, and the point rails have been attached, the rods between the movable points can be installed.

Spiking continues for the straight portion of the turnout, working towards the frog. In the sequence below, two holes are pre-drilled through the single-shoulder tie plate into the tie, the spikes are set easily with a small hammer, and then driven down with the spike maul, or the pneumatic hammer, while an assistant uses a lining bar and a fulcrum to keep the tie seated securely against the rail.



The operation continues another day. The stake in the foreground is used to control the rough alignment of the stock rail.

Sometimes the gauge is tight and hard to move by hand, so a pair of jacks can be used to spread the rails prior to spiking.

Spiking of the straight closure rail approaches and then reaches the frog.


At the frog, special tie plates known as "hook-twins" are used, because regular plates won't fit in the close spaces.

On to Turnout 81-85

September 2014: As work on 81-B reached completion, the next turnout, 81-85, was begun. Ties were brought into rough position, spaced and aligned:

The view below shows turnout 81-B completed, on the straight side. The diverging side will be the start of the Burch Memorial Loop. In the foreground, installation of the brace plates for switch 81-85 has been completed, along with one rail of the 15' curved connecting track between 81-B and 81-85.

At the far end of 81-85, the frog has been placed roughly into position and attached to the straight stock rail. Spiking of the straight side between the heel of the switch and the frog is underway. The orange stringline, stretched between stakes, guides the centerline alignment. The track curving to the viewer's left will lead to turnout 83-85, while the straight track to the right begins turnout 81-82.

View from points of 81-B turnout, with Building 8 and Haunted Isle decorations in the distance:

Building 8 Connected !

During the month of October, a milestone was reached with the connection of 82 track to the building 8 ladder, thus allowing cars to reach the inside of the building for the first time!

Early October 2014: A small crew of volunteers from other trolley museums visited for a day and helped us with the interconnection of 81-B and 81-85 switches, bending and cutting the remaining short length of rail:


Spiking continued through the 81-85 switch, working up to the frog:

Mid-October: The rails and ties were laid out for 81-82, the last turnout in the ladder needed to reach 81 and 82 tracks. The stringline guides the center-line of the track:


After spiking of 81-82 was completed, work had to wait a few days until the Haunted Isle event was concluded, since they were set up in the path of the oncoming track! During this period the rails for the 82 track connecting curve were pre-bent:

Late October: Ties and rail were now placed for the connecting curve. The rail bending was completed and the rails were installed into the building.



Rails are in the door:


All that remained was about 30' inside the building, where the rails steps down from 80 to 60 pound. Progress on this was made during "Work Party Day" on Nov 1:

Putting the finishing touches on the track just outside the building:

First Car In!

November 8, 2014 was the day of the museum's annual membership meeting. Car 775 was selected for the ceremony. This car was built in 1904 and spent much of its career running on the museum's line (when it was part of the Connecticut Company's network). It was restored at the museum and is one of the regularly operating cars.

Above: Car 775 waits outside as the crowd gathers. Below: The trolley car enters the building for the first time.

There is no overhead wire on the new tracks yet. A special "extension cord" with a "stinger" was used to bring the trolley power to the pole of car 775. This allowed it to run under its own power.

This was only a ceremony, however. 775 will be used during the busy end-of-year season. The next day, the car was run out of the building and back into Barn 3. In the event of a flood, the car can be run back to the safety of higher ground. With the track temporarily empty, Car 500, the "pride of the fleet," was towed to the back of 82 track. This car has not received repairs from the Sandy and Irene floods and so it could not operate under its own power.

Electrical Work

Late November, 2014: Days after our ceremonial movement into Track 82 was completed the track was taken out of service to allow trenching for electrical service. Although it had been planned to complete this work before track 82 was constructed, various engineering design and permitting delays unfortunately pushed this timetable back. Two trenches were excavated from the exterior corner of Building 8, which will be the the location of the electrical service transformer. One trench, seen below, brings the primary line from the last CL&P pole to the transformer:

It was necessary for us to remove about a dozen ties on 82 track to allow this trench to pass under. It was then back-filled to allow the track to be put back in service:

The second trench crosses all of the tracks of building 8 and brings electrical service to building 9 where it enters the building through openings left in the foundation during construction:

Track 81

Early December, 2014: With the trench closed up, work resumed on connecting up the tracks. Next up is track 81, which takes a reverse or "S" curve from the frog of the 81-82 turnout to the building. First the ties were placed in rough position:

Bending the rails and lining them up took a few days. Here the S-curve is completed and the track is about to enter the door. The temporary wooden doorway timber is notched to clear the rails.

Inside the building, a step or "compromise" joint is needed where the 80AS exterior rails join the 60AS interior rails.

The switch stand for 81-82 was installed so that track carts and other light equipment used for track construction can be moved over the track.

Spiking is now progressing from the turnout to the door:

81 Track is Done

December, 2014: By early December, track 81 was connected but not yet lined or spiked. A few temporary spikes were quickly put in so that we could make our first car move on this track: Horsecar 76, our latest addition to the collection and the oldest (in fact, the oldest preserved streetcar in the world!) Because this car is very light, hardly heavier than a track tools cart, it was easily pushed up the grade, around the curves and into the building:

Spiking of 81 was completed a few weeks later:

Next up was the widest, longest and heaviest car in our collection which is currently operable: New York City R-9 class subway car 1689. It was used to check clearances and the ability to negotiate the reverse ("S-") curve leading to 81. It was successfully run into the building, where it will spend the winter.

Track 83 layout begins

Early January, 2015: Next up is turnout 83-85, which will give access to track 83. The first step was to bring up 24 switch timbers and lay them out according to the plan:

Two rails were brought up from the pile and placed into rough position. They will need to be bent and then installed, and will form the stock rails of 83-85 turnout:

A delivery of 250 ties needed for the connection to tracks 83, 84 and 85 was received at Sprague Station on a snowy day:

Crane car W-3 brought the ties up to the yard ladder were they were staged in bundles near where they will be used:

Daylight is short at this time of the year, which has meant some night work. Here the pneumatic spike driver is spotlighted on a foggy night:

February 9, 2015: Since our last update, almost three feet of snow has fallen at the museum over the course of a number of weather systems. This has stopped outdoor track construction until we can see the ground again! Prior to the first of these systems, winter storm Juno, a number of cars were moved from the most vulnerable low-lying barn spots. Here car 5466 is about to enter track 81 with a "stinger" supplying power.


The main line was plowed out and shortly thereafter another delivery of ties was received. These second-hand ties will be used to complete the tracks inside building 8 and building 9.

Above: Museum volunteer Paul uses crane W-3 to load ties. Below: Students with the Gateway College Railroad Internship program assist.

The track leading to 82 was cleared so the ties could be unloaded in between the snow piles:

Snow finally gone, outdoor work resumes

March 15, 2015: After being snowed in for almost 2 months, the ground was finally visible enough to resume work on the 83-85 turnout. The straight closure rail was spiked to line:

Pre-drilling and spiking with the air hammer:


The "stock" bend was made in the diverging stock rail. This single bend matches the angle of the switch points ... about 4 degrees, and is done by repeated trial until the point fits correctly and is in the correct gauge:


March 20-22, 2015: You've got to be kidding! The first official day of Spring greeted us with a 3-5" snowfall :( Thankfully it melted and a few days later work continued. Here the diverging stock rail is being spiked to gauge. The rail braces are hammered into place for a snug fit:

The spikes are driven most of the way with the air hammer, but the shape of the plate doesn't allow the hammer to reach the bottom.

So this part has to be finished with the old-fashioned maul.

Next up is making the long bend in the curved stock rail. The rail is bent every foot with the hydraulic bender:

March 24, 2015:

Our final delivery of switches and frogs arrived and was quickly unloaded by crane W-3 and transported to the Island area. These 6 turnouts will complete tracks 84, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and the new loop.

April 1-3: Inside Building 8, stone has been spread over the completed track

And ties have been laid out in anticipation of connecting this track to turnout 83-85.

Back at the turnout, holes are drilled in the stock rail and closure rail for the heel block:


The heel block is assembled, joining the stock rail, closure rail and point rail:

Additional lengths of rail are positioned, in this case by hand using rail tongs. These GWCC students are standing in what will eventually become the 84-85 turnout.

View of 83-85 turnout with straight closure rail and frog, from both directions:

83-85 Turnout nears completion

April 10-12: The straight stock rail is drilled for the guard rail, which is then bolted on:

The turnout is now completely spiked and gauged on the straight side:

A crew uses the rail bender to shape the curved closure rail,

which is then installed:

Meanwhile, several truckloads of ties and rail have arrived as we press forward with the completion of the Building 8 ladder and the start of the Building 9 ladder. Here, GWCC students are unloading lengths of rail from our small flatcar with crane W-3.

Building 9 Ladder Constructed!

April 19-24, 2015: Many thanks to a multi-museum team of experienced track volunteers on a mission of charity, who visited during the week prior to Members' Day and accomplished what seemed almost impossible: 4 turnouts constructed in 4 days!

These volunteers came mostly from the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), the largest railway museum in the United States, along with Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Minnesota Transportation Museum, and our own Shore Line Trolley Museum volunteers. The job began with staking out the location of the turnouts using surveying instruments:


Ties were distributed to the bare site by Bobcat and then positioned by hand:

Using the stakes and a stringline, the ties were spaced and lined up:

The lie layout is complete,

and the first piece of rail is brought into position. We are grateful to A&G Construction of East Haven for the use of their Lull telescoping forklift, which greatly eased material handling.

The two stock rails of what will become turnout B-94, the throat of the building 9 ladder and the beginning of the new Birch Memorial Loop.

IRM brought their hy-rail track department truck, loaded with enough hand and power tools to keep the entire crew occupied!

These tools included this hydraulically-powered abrasive rail saw, which made much quicker and easier cuts than our pre-historic reciprocating hacksaw machine!

Another useful machine was this hydraulic rail drill. It was much lighter and easier to position accurately than the museum's drill:

With this, the first of many holes were drilled, for the heel blocks of B-94 turnout.

Another handy device was this spike-setter, allowing a helper to hold the spike while it is set by the air hammer. After a few pops, the spike setter is withdrawn and the air hammer finished the job. This was a lot faster than pre-drilling and/or pre-setting the spikes with a maul.

The straight side of B-94 turnout is done, only a few hours elapsed!

Further up the ladder, the heel block of 93-94 turnout is being installed as work continues on B-94 spiking the guard rail on the diverging side.


Students in our Gateway Community College Railroad Engineering Technology internship program got valuable experience working with volunteers from other museums, several of whom are track professionals. Here they are setting the gauge wider than usual on the diverging side through the frog, to allow proper guarding action with our mixed wheel profiles. An IRM volunteer demonstrates the use of their gauge pusher, which is quicker than ours but requires a helper.

On the third day of the project, turnouts B-94 (immediate foreground) and 90-94 are done, as work progresses on 90-92 and 93-94.


GWCC students make up the heel joints of 93-94 and 90-92:

Now we're up to the frog of 93-94, as it is lined up and bolted in.

The job is almost done, with just a few more finishing touches:

By Members' Day, April 25, 2015, museum supporters could see the fruits of their donation dollars. These four turnouts are complete!

There is still more work to be done before Building 9 is connected. This ladder must be cut-in to the existing "run-around" track behind Barn 6, and one more turnout (90-91) must be constructed.

Meanwhile, back at Building 8, Track 83 connected!

Apr 22 - May 15, 2015

Not to be outshined by its neighbor, building 8 saw another milestone reached with the completion of turnout 83-85 and the connection of Track 83. Below, the curved closure rail is installed and spiked:

With the turnout done, out came the rail bender to make the connecting curve to 83 track:

Following by spiking:

As we get to the tangent and the connection to the track inside the building, a string is used to line it in:

The outside rail is complete as the inside rail is bent and spiked to gauge:

Looking out from 83 track down the ladder:

and back in the opposite direction:

The "compromise" joint between the 80AS rail outside and the 60AS rail in the building:

Levelling and tamping the track inside the building:

Car 1001 is the first occupant of 83 track, where it will be stored awaiting flood damage repair of its control system and re-installation of the overhauled traction motors. Car 775 does the towing:

Building 8 now completely connected!

May-Sep 2015: It was a long, hot and humid summer in which Track 84, the last of the four tracks inside Building 8, was completed. To access this track, turnout 84-85, the last of the Building 8 ladder, was constructed:

Making up the heel block on the 84-85 turnout.

Two views looking back towards the mainline and ahead towards track 84 with the frog in place and straight side of the turnout spiked.

In this view, the next length of the curved stock rail has been made up and it, along with a curved closure rail, have been bent to radius and spiked to gauge. The turnout is now almost complete and all that remains is the connection into Building 8.

The connecting track has been bent and spiked, and joined to the track inside the building, which was partially built during the winter of 2015. The track has been placed in service but full use is pending stone delivery, levelling and tamping.

Run-around connection begins

Sep - Oct 2015 the turnouts for tracks 92-94 in the Building 9 ladder were built in Spring 2015. Now that the daily operations season has ended, cars were moved to clear the "run-around" track next to Barn 6.

Above: The run-around track is completely empty. Cars that were being stored here have been moved temporarily to other spots in the yard. Below: This track was in poor condition since it was only used to store inoperative equipment. It will be replaced. The first step is un-spiking the old 60-pound rails:


Above: The rails are all un-spiked and are moved to one side to facilitate tie removal. Below: Tie removal in progress

After the ties were cleared, stone has been spread to bring up low spots:

Grading is now complete, view from B-94 turnout looking back towards run-around and second view from far end of run-around track looking towards Barn 9 lead.

Building 9: Track 93 reaches the door

Late October, 2015: Rail bending and spiking continued until track 93 was at the doorway to Building 9. Below, another "visiting fireman" who is active in the track department of distant railway museum pitched in as 93 was spiked to gauge:

Some hand-tamping as the grade was brought up to the correct profile to allow the last rail length to lay flat entering the building:

We stopped work temporarily on 93 track while waiting for a special "step joint" bar to arrive from our supplier, and began work on 94 track. This long view shows 93 on the left with 94 in progress on the right:

The rail bender in action putting the right-hand curve into the north rail on 94 track:

Run-around track: Ties and rails all set!

Meanwhile a few hundred feet away horizontally and about 8 feet vertically, over 200 ties were distributed on the re-graded run-around track roadbed:

Followed by joint bars and plates:

The rails are now in the process of being joined:

Building 9 connected via rebuilt run-around track

Nov-Dec 2015: Building 9, track 93, is now connected to the railway via the completely rebuilt run-around track. Although no cars in the collection are yet being stored in the building, they will be soon after ballasting and levelling is complete.

During November, the run-around track was being spiked:

At the railroad west end of the rebuilt run-around track, the new 80 pound rail joins the existing 70 pound rail of the Barn 6 ladder.

Completed run-around track alongside Barn 6, looking east:

The run-around track is being connected to the head of the building 9 ladder, the B-94 turnout:

The next week, track is connected and flatcar has been run through to deliver supplies.

View from 93 track looking railroad west down the ladder, and looking east towards Building 9.

Dec 2015: While ballasting is in progress, tie layout and bending of the rail for 92 track has begun:

Track 93 in Service

Jan/Feb 2016: Another project milestone was quietly observed as the calendar turned to Feb, 2016, as car 500 was towed into 93 track. Its motors were recently pulled as part of the ongoing flood recovery program, and now it will be stored safely in Building 9 until the motors return from the overhaul shop and it is time to complete the repairs.

Leading up to this moment, track 93 first had to be entirely completed within the building. Since Fall 2015, this track has been used to store the track tool cart, compressor and other light equipment. By late December, with work progressing by floodlight inside the dark building, this progress photo was taken from the front of the track looking towards the back of the building. The track tool cart is in the foreground and a lining bar protrudes upward:

A week or so later, the track was complete except for the last 15 feet, which was finished with some "drops" (cut-off short lengths) right after this photo was taken (from the back looking r.r. west, with future pit track 94 on the left)

After ballast was spread over the completely-spiked track, these students who just began their Gateway Community College internship are putting the track in proper level (the yellow tool checks the cross-level, plus a laser level for end-to-end level) and tamping the ballast by hand.

Here comes 500 climbing the steep grade as it passes through 93-94 switch:

To be honest, 500 wasn't motoring itself, despite the pole seemingly being up. For one thing, there is no overhead wire here yet, and 500's motors are not in it. Car 775 is performing the towing and is powered by a "stinger".

500 Enters 93 track.

View from other direction, 500 alongside future pit.

Construction of 91/92 tracks

Snowpack is impeding outside track work but work inside Building 9 continues. Below, 92 track is being spiked, with 91 track in the background ready for spiking.

Track 94 Connected

Feb 2016: In late February, with the snow almost melted, outdoor work resumed. The final few feet of the connecting curve for track 94 were bent, lined and spiked. The pit is not yet constructed, so this track is usable for emergency outdoor storage only at this time. The 10 feet of indoor space holds the track tool carts.

Track 92 Connected

Feb/Mar 2016: Next up was the completion of the outdoor work on Track 92. Several more lengths of rail were bent:

These were connected to the track previous laid inside the building over the winter. The track is not yet fully spiked or leveled, but is contiguous to the back of the building now:

90-91 Turnout

At the same time, work has been progressing on building the last turnout of the ladder, which will give access to tracks 90 and 91. Below plates are being placed for the switch points:

The heel block, straight closure rail and point being assembled:

Installing the switch rods:

Positioning rails that will become Track 90:

Both closure rails are already joined to the frog in this photo as spiking is progressing on the curved closure rail, at a special brace plate:

Ladder Complete - Last Turnout Done

April 2016: Another project milestone was reached in mid-April. The last turnout of the ladder (90-91) was completed, giving access to the final track (91) of Building 9, and to track 90 down "Broadway" between the two buildings. Below, spiking of the diverging closure rail of 90-91 turnout, leading to 91 track, is progressing through the frog area.

Looking out from 91 doorway, the north rail curve has been lined up, south rail waiting to be bent:

A joint being made up on the south rail approaching the building:

The completed 5-track ladder on the building 9 side:

Track 85

The layout of track 85 is now underway. Below, rail has just been bent and ties are being lined up prior to spiking. Building 8 and track 84 are in the immediate background.

View from the far end of Building 8. Layout of switch timbers for a future cross-over between tracks 85 and 90.

Track 85

late April - Mid May 2016:

Track 85 is one of two outdoor tracks in "Broadway" between buildings 8 and 9. These tracks give us extra flexibility when switching cars between the two buildings, and also several hundred additional feet of flood-proof trackage. In the photo below, the left-hand curve is just beginning taking us from the straight side of turnout 84-85 into 85 track.

Bending the rail for 85 track and making up a joint in the middle of the curve:

Our little car-mover pensively awaits the run over the last part of the building 8 ladder.

A few days later, spiking has advanced beyond the point of tangency and alongside building 8.

View looking railroad west. The frog for a cross-over to 85 track is in place.

Meanwhile, inside building 9, track 92 has just been leveled and tamped. Equipment is now being stored on this track. Track 91 to the left just needs a few more spikes, stone and tamping.

Track 85 nears completion, tracks 91 and 92 in service

Summer 2016: The next part of placing track 85 in service was lining up and spiking the point-and-mate (or "single-point") switch, which forms one end of a crossover between 85 and 90 tracks. Only the straight side of this switch is being completed at this time. Below we see the No. 4 frog which has just been connected to the straight rail on either side. Hook-twin plates are being positioned to hold the frog.

These are the point (on the left) and mate units. At the time of this photo, they were not connected or spiked yet. This switch was "free" in that it was taken out when 21 track was removed from service in 2014.

A few weeks later, the frog, point and mate are all spiked down with hook-twin plates.


In early July, this was the scene in Building 9. Car 500 is almost invisible in the dark corner of 93 track. 27 and 3662 are on track 92, and 91 is complete and ready for cars. Track tools are stored on the rolling cart in the foreground.

A few days later, switching moves were underway to populate these tracks. Below car 1403 is being pushed by 6688 along the run-around track, next to Barn 6, which leads to new Building 9.

And here is 1403 on track 91, with 2431 on track 92. Behind 1403 on track 91 (not visible) are 1403 and 1972. These un-restored cars were all operable pre-Irene, and are being stored here to protect them from the possibility of additional flood damage until they are repaired.

Emergency plan invoked for TS Hermine

Sep 3, 2016: With a tropical storm warning posted for our area and predictions of moderate to major coastal flooding, the museum invoked its emergency plan. Operations were suspended and cars were moved to higher ground. There is now more than enough track space out of the flood plain, and almost all of the operable cars were housed indoors too. As it turned out, the storm stayed further out to sea, and there was no flooding at all in our area. Below, cars 850 and 948 are on tracks 82 and 83, with 3152 in the "alley" on 85 track.

View from the other direction with 3152 on track 85.

Building 9 is full of cars on tracks 91, 92 and 93. We see cars 2350, 2431 and 357, respectively. Construction is underway on track 94 (pit track) but it was not ready to accept cars yet.

Pit track construction begins

Sep 18, 2016: Construction of track 94, the pit track, has just begun. In the photo below, some of the columns have been delivered and welded down to the support beams embedded in the concrete floor slab

In mid-October, all of the columns were set, lined and plumbed. Below workers are using string lines to line up the columns near the back end of the pit. Note crane car W-3 on the adjacent Track 93. It was used to deliver materials.

Each column was carefully plumbed and then tack-welded. The steel I-beam embedded in the concrete floor was first prepared by grinding in the area of the column to get clean metal.

After all of the columns were set, the process of making the final weld seams at the bottom of each column began:

Line Poles Being Set

Late Oct, 2016: A utility pole contractor has begun setting the line poles, the first step in getting live trolley wire over all these new tracks. Here a boom-mounted auger is digging a hole 6-7' deep through the embankment. The location is near the future new loop track on the building 9 side of the yard.

Once the hole is dug and the bottom cleaned out with special shovels, the boom truck picks up the new line pole and sets it into the hole.
This tool, a "Peavey" pick pole, spins the pole so the branding mark is facing a consistent direction. It doesn't make any mechanical difference but it does make for a neat looking job.

The boom truck detached from the pole shortly after this photo was taken, after the hole was filled and tamped.

Driving the Golden Spike!

Nov 12, 2016: Governor Malloy was our guest at the 2016 Annual Meeting. In a morning ceremony, he drove a symbolic golden spike. With a crowd of museum members and supporters looking on, and with a few perfect hits of the spike maul, the Governor set down the spike on the 84/85 track lead. Situated around him were cars 865 and 316, both of which have recently been repaired after hurricane flood damage.

18 Line Poles Set

Nov-Dec 2016:

Line pole setting by a professional contractor continued through November and into December. 18 of the 24 total poles have now been set. With colder weather coming in, this will probably be it for line work until the spring.

Above: setting pole E-5 on the north side of the approach ramp to building 8. Below, view from track 81 with a succession of line poles leading back to the mainline. Soon span wires and trolley wire will be suspended from these.

Looking the other way. The area in the foreground will become the Donor's Recognition Brick Area as soon as the loop track through here is completed. That track will curve off to the right, passing between the pair of poles.

Pit structural work complete

December 2016: Our welding contractor has completed the structure which will support the pit track. The next phase will be to install the rails and then track 94 can be opened.
Below: Using crane car W-3 to set one of the span beam sections:

The level in both directions is checked prior to welding down the beams.

Welding the web stiffeners at each point of column support reaction.

Almost all of the structure is welded, but one section is bolted so that it can be removed to access equipment on cars that might straddle the line of the rail (such as air compressors and grid banks).

Completed pit structure:

Rails on the pit

Feb 2017: Winter weather has slowed work, but rails are now being placed on the pit structure.

Above the track gauge and rail gauge puller/spreader are being used to place the rails at the correct 56½" gauge. The rails are secured with pairs of clips:

View from inside the pit looking toward the back of building 9:

Pit and track 94 complete

Mar 2017: With the help of our annual Gateway Community College internship students, work on track 94 is now done and the track, including the pit, is open for business!

Above: Installation of rail hold-down clips is at the mid-way point in this early March view. The rail is being put into proper gauge and then the hold-down bolts are tightened.

Above: The last 60' of the pit track, back on solid ground. Track is being spiked with the pneumatic spike driver. Below: checking the gauge as we get to the back wall.

A "test run" was made with this track cart:

Outside the building, we had a little bit of left-over spiking work:

Overhead line going up

April 2017: With warmer weather, work has resumed on the overhead line aspect of Elevating the Collection. Many poles were set last fall. In this second phase of the project, we are putting up the cross-spans. First, spans are assembled on the ground:

Since we don't have live wire up here yet, the Ottawa Line Car is a bit difficult to use. Instead, we have the bucket lift mounted on a flatcar and propelled by the car-mover. Here an eyebolt has been installed through new pole E-09 and the previously assembled span is being attached.