The 2016 Season

[Doug Frederick]

Hi everyone, this is Doug Frederick, the big guy on crutches that drives the -Delivery Express-(10,500 miles since May). I have asked for this forum to be created so that Team Leaders, and those interested in job organization, can exchange gripes and ideas about equipment and procedures so that we might have an even better 2017.

First question from me: As we go into our slow season, the Planning Committee already has a very healthy list of upcoming projects for us to plan. Team Leader or not, what tools, materials, or accessories, did you feel you were without this year? How can we avoid these shortages in the upcoming year? Help us better prepare for your next visit.

Doug

Please do your best to separate Chama problems from Antonito problems.

[Rich Murray]

Doug, this is a really good idea and I hope this forum gets a lot of action.

[Paul Davenport]

Doug,
First, I think this is a good idea for sharing ideas and information about things that can be handled during the off-season to make work sessions more productive.
Second, the tree and brush crew's paperwork for 2017 will include a request for some new loppers, because most of the ones that the Friends now have in Chama are worn out after many years of use. The Projects Committee's honchos are aware of this need and receptive to getting some new ones, so I'm mentioning this probable procurement here in case anybody has suggestions on specific brands or models that are of good durability and reasonably priced. The tree crew uses loppers mostly for cutting brush and trimming live branches off aspens and fir trees. Other crews may use them for other types of trimming.
Paul

p.s. thanks again for your help this past week in getting on-site measurements of the oil loading facility for the sign crew.

[Paul Davenport]

Doug,
The tree crew could use an inventory of the working chainsaws and powered pole saws that we'll have on hand in 2017. This will help the tree crew's planning and possible equipment requests in case we again receive requests for area clearing for trackside photo locations for charter trains.
Also, can you check whether the tool cars have any protective chaps for chain saw operators? The team member who operated the chainsaw this year has a pair and used them, but we might request procurement of another set to help productivity.
Feel free to send my a PM about these requests.
Thanks,
Paul

[Doug Frederick]

Paul, I'm now getting trained on the FIDO PO system, so I can check on the pruners, although no action will be taken till after January. Check with me then.

There's a (brand spanking) new chain saw, donated, and all the other chainsaws run. They may need fine tuning in the Spring, but they all start for me. I think the switch to canned gas, which I will now keep in stock, and, maybe a class on how the different chokes on the different saws work. The one pole saw we have has been repaired, a 0.06 cent clip from NAPA. You guys got into some bailing type twine, and it got behind the drive cog and leveraged it of the clip as it wound in the line. Good as new, and has been used several times. Remind me in the Spring, when I dig them out, and I'll give you a count. I even have the little yellow one (donated) with the 12 inch bar fixed.

I will have my 1099, Jason, check for the chaps. He says there are chainsaw helmets and stuff in there.

Doug

[Doug Frederick]

Doug, this is a really good idea and I hope this forum gets a lot of action.

Rich, I have a list of Team Leaders and their e-mails on the way from Engs. I'll light a few fires so we can be prepared for 2017, and not have volunteers standing around and painting picket fences!

[Paul Davenport]

Doug,
Thanks for the update on the chainsaws and for repairing the polesaw. Glad the repair didn't cost much and I appreciate your work on that. Either myself or Ron Hassell will touch base with you in the spring to coordinate availability of saws. It'd be helpful if you could circle back to me in the meantime about what chainsaw protective gear such as chaps and faceguards are on hand. The 2016 deadline for TLs submit their tool and equipment requests was 3/31 so it'd be good to know before that date in 2017 about any protective gear on hand in case I need to request any procurement. Thanks again.
Paul

[John Cole]

Doug, is there any way you could use 100LL avgas? It doesn't have the ethanol in it and has a much longer shelf life. Ernest Vigil at the Chevron station at the Y in Chama tells me that the gas he gets is 7% ethanol and that stuff has a much shorter shelf life, eats up rubber carburetor and fuel line parts on engines. I know Chama international airport probably doesn't have gas, but there another general aviation airport nearby?

[Doug Frederick]

John, in my ignorance, I don't know if 100LL will burn up the saws.They would sure run good. Holy smokes, Clyde could do wheelies in the Gator!! What I did this year was keep mixed gas from Ernie's in the gas locker, for use around the yard, and I sent our the tree crew with canned gas. That seemed to work pretty good.

[Doug Frederick]

Hope everyone is well! May will soon be upon us. I have received some requests from team leaders so far, and we'll begin sorting Chama out as soon as the snow subsides (more today).

[Doug Frederick]

For those of you who may not have it, my new phone number is 575.235.9313. and my primary e-mail address is popeye8762@gmail.com

Please make a note.

Doug