New Ties!

In May, The Trust received a delivery of 1500 new ties to aid in the rehabilitation of the line between Washington Junction and Ellsworth Falls. We would like to thank all those who so generously donated to our Buy-a-Tie program and helped to get this tie program started.

The Railroad also took delivery of three new pieces of rolling stock in May to add to our growing inventory of vintage railroad cars and equipment. Trust Director Arthur Pew of White Bear Lake, Minnesota and Northeast Harbor, Maine has purchased for the DRHPT a 1926 Reading Railroad caboose, a 1965 Thrall 64-foot flat car and a 1914 70-ton hopper ballast car for the Downeast Scenic Railroad. These cars were purchased from the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad and will be given a new life and put in service on the Downeast Scenic Railroad.

The Board and Membership of the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc. would like to thank Mr. Pew for his generosity and support of our preservation efforts and of the Downeast Scenic Railroad Project.

Our volunteers have been busy sanding and painting this newly added equipment, while at the same time our track crew has been busy installing ties and making other repairs to the track structure on the the 4 miles of right-of-way from Washington Junction to Ellsworth Falls which is Phase I of the Downeast Scenic Railroad project.

Tales from the Wyman Road Build p.2

Sunday, October 13

It had been previously determined that grinding the road back to the level of the rails would not be feasible as doing so would require several hundred feet. The Gradall began picking at the pavement, but due to the depth and the fact that in some places the pavement was in excess of 19 inches, a jackhammer would have to be used. As the pavement was removed, much of it was placed into a dump truck by hand and shovel, the larger pieces being handled by the Gradall. Following removal of the pavement within the crossing itself, the Gradall removed the old ties and rail. Another 30 inches of dirt had to be removed to prepare the bed. Layers of pavement on both crossing approaches were also removed. Rail on both sides of the crossing were cut back 100-200 feet to prepare for the stepping down from 115# to 100# and then to the 85# rail that makes up the rest of the line. Much compacting took place as measurements were taken to determine that the depth of the bed was sufficient. A new culvert under the road was laid in place and compacted.

photos:
1 - Bill Green and Gary McKinnon assist Mike Testa with the jackhammer
2- The Gradall removing asphalt
3 - Asphalt removal continues
4 - Cutting, trenching and removing
5 - Trench for the culvert is prepared