Bob,
After spending a good number of years ‘up a tree’ as the climber, both Ken and Larry are correct. Heavy equipment, when it can be utilized, will speed the process and usually make for a safer removal. However, as Ken eluded to, any climber ‘worth his salt’ should also be able to do the job with out and further damage. Choose your service well, and ask for several references, whichever direction the service chooses to go.
Bob C.
One other thing Bob is that using a crane does not mean more money. It all depends on the nature of the job…including…probably yours.
Thanks Larry. We can get a 3-cord firewood truck into the back yard, not sure about a crane, though. There’s some tree overhang that might be a problem. If these trees wern’t leaning TOWARD the railroad, I’d drop them myself, Ive taken down pines of similar size, but these are too hairy for me.
I need to ponder my next steps. Thanks for all the input, everyone.
Preliminary damage assessment on Burke Yard and the Lower Loop.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/Oct2011/2011-10-31_14-51-41_65.jpg)
Barn for the farm house took a direct hit. Now the barn matches the house!
Without shoveling the snow off the benchwork, it APPEARS that the track that took a hit survived. At least its doesnt appear broken.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/Oct2011/2011-10-31_14-52-04_324.jpg)
Back part of the lower loop took a direct hit with the top of the oak tree there. It forced the spline down off the supporting posts, and popped up the track.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/Oct2011/2011-10-31_14-53-14_661.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/Oct2011/2011-10-31_14-53-21_405.jpg)
I still cant see much on the upper loop yet, I have to move a lot more branches/tree bits, but it appears the loop shifted a bit. Stay tuned, probably tomorrow!
Sorry to hear about all the damage Bob. Its tough when you put so much work into something and this happens. Latley I feel I take two step forward and ten steps backwards and these storms have not helped. I have a spare room that got soaked from the hurrican. Everything has to go and get replaced even one side of the wall with beams Ugh. I also have to get my wood stove chimmney recapped and redone because of the hurrican (but it is usable though)
On a good note Im back on the grid still a lot of closed roads and damage in my area.
Last I heard (last night) Jon still had no power, internet ect… but he is hanging in their.
Reporting from the Great White Northeast…
I haven’t had a chance to look through this entire thread yet as I just got on-line at work for the first time since Saturday afternoon. From the pictures I glanced at, it seems like there was a lot of damage. I’m sorry to hear that.
I haven’t done a full assessment of the railroad, but noting large fell near it so I’m probably OK. We had one limb drop on our roof, no visible damage, another hit our Pontoon boat which tore a cushion. A third landed on top of the Travel Trailer. I haven’t been up on the roof to asses that yet either. By comparison to some of our neighbors, we lucked out. The big stuff all landed in the driveway where I normally park my car. Luckily the car wasn’t there - it had been moved to the street end of the driveway for easy escape without shoveling.
We awoke this morning to day three of no power. Looking at the damage to the feeder lines headed toward town it will be at least a week before we are back on. We have a generator and have been able to keep our food OK. We did loose the freezer. Brown outs just before the power died must have fried the electronics. It will start, but won’t stay running. Luckily we were able to save all of the food from it. Yesterday I set up my oil furnace with a plug to connect to the generator so we now have heat. Our community water is down to one of 5 wells running on a generator. Water trickles in, but at least we have some. Of course there is no hot water, if there was wouldn’t be enough pressure for a shower or bath.
I winterized the RV a week ago. If I had been thinking ahead I would have de-winterized it on Saturday and filled the fresh water tank. Propane hot water heater and a fresh water pump would run the shower just fine. Hind sight is always 20-20 isn’t it.
You certainly have had a rough time Bob. It is a shame your RR was damaged and it is also sad when trees have to go or are blown down.
I hope the damage is soon rectified and the costs not too high.
Jon glad to hear you r doing ok. If you need anything let me know.
Good to hear from you Jon. Bob now I’m really sorry about your damage I started clearing out the fallen branches today. I pulled out all I could move without help and then assessed the situation. I had three of the large branches fall close to the track and I need to cut those up before I start moving them. The first landed about 12" away from the track.
(http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/dltrains/trackwork/HPIM2546.jpg)
The next one hit the retaining wall I just put in this summer.
(http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/dltrains/trackwork/HPIM2545.jpg)
And the last one landed over the track. Now I don’t know about my grade of luck, or what spirits may be watching over me, but some how the last branch had to twist over 180 degrees straight down from where it broke off the tree to land like this. ( This is camera sitting on the rails to see under the branch )
(http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/dltrains/trackwork/HPIM2544.jpg)
I had two other sections of track that were hit by smaller 2" branches, but no damage was found.
Hi Bob, It’s clear that it.s a Silver Maple …my advise…get rid of it. They get huge and brake easily… When they get full size they run $2500 to remove…if we can reach it with the crane.
Shawn said:If you could, drop by with a case of beer. The beer fridge is empty :)
Jon glad to hear you r doing ok. If you need anything let me know.
From the good news / bad news dept: Since the power went out our water has been tricking in. We have been saving it in containers for drinking and the tub for toilet flushing. Yesterday they hooked up a generator to one of 5 community wells and we got some pressure back. That was the good news. This afternoon we got a call from the association. “We hope you haven’t been drinking the water since the pressure dropped; it’s probably contaminated from back-feed”. This after drinking quite a bit of it over the last few days including this morning when the pressure came up. [Insert Mr. Yuck Emoticon here]
Jon Radder said:Shawn said:If you could, drop by with a case of beer. The beer fridge is empty :)
Jon glad to hear you r doing ok. If you need anything let me know.From the good news / bad news dept: Since the power went out our water has been tricking in. We have been saving it in containers for drinking and the tub for toilet flushing. Yesterday they hooked up a generator to one of 5 community wells and we got some pressure back. That was the good news. This afternoon we got a call from the association. “We hope you haven’t been drinking the water since the pressure dropped; it’s probably contaminated from back-feed”. This after drinking quite a bit of it over the last few days including this morning when the pressure came up. [Insert Mr. Yuck Emoticon here]
I think he is more looking for the alcoholic based beverages Shawn. Nothing like booze to kill beaver fever.
Shawn said:Beavers get fevers ? how can you tell ?
Lets hope you dont get beaver fever from it.
Dave Marconi said:Ya put a thermometer up their butt.............;)Shawn said:Beavers get fevers ? how can you tell ?
Lets hope you dont get beaver fever from it.
OK…Just behave Rooster…we know the Beaver fever comment is killing you! Corner Now!!!
For those that dont know what beaver fever is
What is giardiasis?
Giardiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia. It is a fairly common cause of diarrheal illness and it is estimated that over 2,000 cases occur in New York State each year. Cases may occur sporadically or in clusters or outbreaks
