Impromptu planning day recap for Friday, December 22nd
With Christmas just around the corner some of the elf’s took a day and went to the railroad to plan out a few things that will take place starting in January. As many of you know we’ve been waiting to start on the clubhouse and workshop project and one of the key items that we need to get done for the project to pick up steam is get electricity into the containers. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been measuring and determining what supplies we will need to run power from the grey container to clubhouse container 1. Earlier this week Wes went and picked up more than 200 feet of electrical conduit and laid them out today so we could make the path for the trenching to take place and to also prepare for the property to be marked before digging.
The plan at this point is to trench and install the electrical conduit on Saturday, January 13th.
With Christmas just around the corner some of the elf’s took a day and went to the railroad to plan out a few things that will take place starting in January. As many of you know we’ve been waiting to start on the clubhouse and workshop project and one of the key items that we need to get done for the project to pick up steam is get electricity into the containers. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been measuring and determining what supplies we will need to run power from the grey container to clubhouse container 1. Earlier this week Wes went and picked up more than 250 feet of electrical conduit and laid them out today so we could make the path for the trenching to take place and to also prepare for the property to be marked before digging.
The plan at this point is to trench and install the electrical conduit on Saturday, January 13th. Depending on the size of the crew we also plan on installing a water line from the Breeseway to the Clubhouse containers. Plans are also in the works to finish prepping the move of the blue container to its new home and we hope to have that done by January 12th.
Moving into 2024 we will also be unveiling a new way for everyone to keep track of this project and others going on around the railroad in hopes of giving everyone more notice on upcoming workdays and what the focus of the workday will be. More to come on this.
Project 6: Ballast Hopper
The railroad has been in need of a way to get a load of ballast without a bobcat being available. Two grain bins have been purchased and will be converted to a ballast hopper. The plan is to install the ballast hoppers on the west end of the railroad on the gravel pit siding. If are interested in working on this project click on the “I Want To Volunteer” button and let us know.
An official workday schedule has not be determined at this time.
The railroad has been in need of a way to get a load of ballast without a bobcat being available. Two grain bins have been purchased and will be converted to a ballast hopper. The plan is to install the ballast hoppers on the west end of the railroad on the gravel pit siding. If are interested in working on this project click on the “I Want To Volunteer” button and let us know.
An official workday schedule has not be determined at this time.
Project 5: Install rebuilt Doe Bridge
This bridge is another piece from our original railroad. This bridge was restored a few years ago and now it is time to get it installed. The current plan is to remove the bridge closest to the west loop (currently called the LaVay Bridge) and widen the span and place the Doe bridge in its place. We will then rebuild the "LaVay Bridge” and place it in a location to be determined. The hope is this bridge swap will be completed prior to this track becoming the mainline for trains traveling east to west on the inner loop.
This bridge is another piece from our original railroad. This bridge was restored a few years ago and now it is time to get it installed. The current plan is to remove the bridge closest to the west loop (currently called the LaVay Bridge) and widen the span and place the Doe bridge in its place. We will then rebuild the "LaVay Bridge” and place it in a location to be determined. The hope is this bridge swap will be completed prior to this track becoming the mainline for trains traveling east to west on the inner loop.
If you would like to work on this project click on the “I want to volunteer” button and let us know. An official workday schedule has not be determined at this time.
Some prep work needs to be done before the rebuild can be started which includes:
Cutting deck boards making sure they are all the same height.
Purchasing appropriate bolts, washers, and nuts
Once all of the prep work is complete this project can take place at any time. If you would like to coordinate a workday during the week or on a weekend, please click the “I want to volunteer” button and let us know.
Project 4: Westside water siding track changes
The purpose of this project is to add a switch coming off the inner loop traveling west bound just after the bridge and before connecting to the current mainline. The new switch will allow trains traveling west board to connect to the current water line siding. This also means we will need to install an additional switch on the water line siding that will allow us to then connect the two new switches together with a few straight panels. Once completed this will allow trains traveling east to west to stay off the yard track and travel on the mainline instead.
Based on current projects schedules we are anticipating this project will take place during some months after our last spring run day.
The purpose of this project is to add a switch coming off the inner loop traveling west bound just after the bridge and before connecting to the current mainline. The new switch will allow trains traveling west board to connect to the current water line siding. This also means we will need to install an additional switch on the water line siding that will allow us to then connect the two new switches together with a few straight panels. Once completed this will allow trains traveling east to west to stay off the yard track and travel on the mainline instead.
Based on current projects schedules we are anticipating this project will take place during some months after our last spring run day.
Project 2: West Loop track repair near the Nicol bridge
The purpose of this project is to repair an area on the west loop near the Nicol bridge that needs about 40 feet of track repaired including moving a switch to a new location in order to provide better transition coming out of a curve heading towards the Nicol bridge. Because of the nature of this repair, it must be completed before our April 13th run day.
The purpose of this project is to repair an area on the west loop near the Nicol bridge that needs about 40 feet of track repaired including moving a switch to a new location in order to provide better transition coming out of a curve heading towards the Nicol bridge. Because of the nature of this repair, it must be completed before our April 13th run day.
Proposed work schedule
Workday #1 (at any time before January 27th) - Identify and build track panel(s) need to be built as well as cut replacement ties that will be installed in numerous places in the area being repaired.
Workday #2 (Saturday, February 24th)- repairing and reworking west loop track section near Nicol bridge.
Workday #3 (Saturday, March 23rd) - All repair work must be completed by this date to make sure the railroad is operational again before our first public run day which is Saturday, April 13th.
Project 1: Clubhouse and Workshop Buildout
The purpose of this project is to take three 40ft shipping containers and combine them together to build out a clubhouse and workshop to use as a meeting space and shop. When completed the space will be about 960 square feet of usable space. The structure will have electricity, water, and climate control making the space useable year-round. In order to fully complete the build of the space a lot of work will need to be done along with raising the necessary funds to complete the building project. As of December 2023, it is estimated to cost between $10,000 and $13,000 to complete not including the hundreds of volunteer hours our membership and other volunteers will put in to complete.
The purpose of this project is to take three 40ft shipping containers and combine them together to build out a clubhouse and workshop to use as a meeting space and shop. When completed the space will be about 960 square feet of usable space. The structure will have electricity, water, and climate control making the space useable year-round. In order to fully complete the build of the space a lot of work will need to be done along with raising the necessary funds to complete the building project. As of December 2023, it is estimated to cost between $10,000 and $13,000 to complete not including the hundreds of volunteer hours our membership and other volunteers will put in to complete. Below is an outline of workdays and tasks we are trying to complete during the work event.
Project 1: Clubhouse & Shop Project
Workday 1 (Anytime between now and January 12, 2024) - Get the gravel pad cleaned up next to member container #3 so the blue container can be moved. Once the gravel pad is ready, schedule to have the blue container moved. Wes will make arrangements for a Bobcat to be available and Gene has agreed to operate the Bobcat.
When the blue container is moved, we also need to separate red container #1 from #2 so we can work on installing a center pier between container 1 & 2.
Workday 2 (Saturday, January 13, 2024): Trench and pull electrical wire to shop container #1. Depending on who is available we could also trench a water line from Breeseway to the shop container area. Wes will arrange for a trencher and operator to be available for this workday. We will need to mark the path of the trench ahead of this workday and call Georgia 811 to mark underground hazards.
Workday #3 (Saturday, February 10, 2024)- Since red containers 1 & 2 are separated we need to install center piers between container 1 & 2. May also spend some time marking the cut lines for the inner walls between container 1 & 2.
Workday #4 (At any time before March 9, 2024) - The electrical panel should now be active. Some electrical work can be started in container 1. Assumption is we may install some lights and outlets but all of that is to be determined.
Workday #5 (at any time before March 9, 2024) - Slide container 1 & 2 back together. We will then schedule welding the roof line between container 1 & 2 together and mark the cut lines that will be used to cut out the inner wall between container 1 & 2 if those have not already been done.
Workday #6 (Saturday, March 9, 2024)- Cut out container 1 inner wall. Not sure if we can do container #2 inner wall the same day. I will assign a separate day for container #2 inner wall. We may also want to work on sealing.
Workday #7 (at any time before Saturday, April 20th) - Mark cut lines in container #2 if not already completed. If the inner wall in container 2 has already been removed, we will leverage this day for some other tasks for the shop. One example could be to make sure the containers are watertight at the seam. Other items will be determined prior to the Saturday, April 20th workday.
Workday #? (can be done anytime) - Install pier that will be leveraged between container 2 & 3.
Workday #? (On Going) - Continue to build out container 1 & 2 to make the space functional before container 3 is installed.
We should also start considering some fundraising options to help fund the construction of the shop & club house. Please start thinking of ideas that will help us raise the necessary funds to build out the shop & club house. The current project workday list does not account for any track work that will need to be done in the future.
Passenger Line Project 2020 - 2021
In July 2020 the club started on the “passenger line” project which added a mainline from the east loop along the fence line towards the station. This allows the railroad to operate without traveling through the yard.
In July 2020 the club started on the “passenger line” project which added a mainline from the east loop along the fence line towards the station. This allows the railroad to operate without traveling through the yard.
