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Post by raymbo on May 3, 2012 19:41:11 GMT -5
We managed to lay our first track today. I had to build a bowstring truss to get the cars and eventually the engine, out of the barn and work table. The work table will be the jig for the track and switches so the cars have to be moved out each time we build track. RJ had to move some of her flowers in order to get the track out to the main line area and switch but it was simple because they are all bulb type flowers. We bought some 610 non-spec gravel for the ballast, it is much cheaper than DGAs. This stuff will eventually tamp down to almost like concrete once it is in place and the track is leveled. 01 1st track is installed by Ray Grosser, on Flickr 02 first track .jpg by Ray Grosser, on Flickr 03 bowstring truss by Ray Grosser, on Flickr 04 head wall for the bow string truss by Ray Grosser, on Flickr We will be using ground contact treated wood for the majority of the cross ties. It had to be ordered because no one stocks the correct stuff. The material used in the standard treated wood at the local building supplies and box stores has a treatment that will react with aluminum rail and the fasteners. I was surprised about the amount of wood that will be needed--3 whole bunks of 8 foot 2X6s.
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Post by Ed Hume on May 4, 2012 7:33:19 GMT -5
Looking good Ray. Do my eyes deceive me or is there a traction engine in the background?
Ed
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donw
Gandy Dancer
Posts: 11
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Post by donw on May 4, 2012 9:45:42 GMT -5
O.K. Ray, just had to join this website so I could critique your activities....Super start to your new RR pursuit!! Truly amazing: You two certainly do not waste any time when you decide to dive into a new project, and the results are impressive! Those cars look better than the real ones. Your track laying crew seems to be pretty efficient, too! Thanks for including us in your communications - It is most interesting!
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Post by raymbo on May 4, 2012 9:49:14 GMT -5
Ed
Yes, it is a 1917 Frick Eclipse and it belongs to a friend of ours who has no place to store it presently. It is an operating machine and quite well maintained, well restored.
I would love to be able to afford steam but it is beyond our budget plus if my wife wants to run the train when I am not home, the diesel would be a far better machine for her. Years ago a roundhouse foreman told me that steam took 3 minutes to find a problem and 3 days to fix it, with a diesel it took 3 days to find the problem and 3 minutes to fix it, but the problems happened much less frequently with diesels. All we will have to do is turn on the key and set the throttle.
We plan to lay track as soon as the wood for the ties arrives.
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Post by raymbo on May 5, 2012 13:56:44 GMT -5
A Tale of Two Crossings It was the best of times--it was the worst of times. Crossing the paver foot path was a bit of a job but we finally built up the grade to get the crossing installed. Then it rained. All the ballast is WET and heavy, but the road crossing had to be built. I decided to try something new. I replaced the self gauging plastic ties with some I made from Trex that we got at Lowe's. I also picked up some 1" Trex board to make the crossing timbers between the rails. It is working great and I am very pleased with the $.50 Trex cross ties but I will make the main line ties from treated wood as soon as the special stuff arrives at the yard we ordered it though. Here are a few photos of the crossings. 01 road by Ray Grosser, on Flickr The ties are installed and ballast is in process of installing and leveling the track. 02 road by Ray Grosser, on Flickr The finished crossing with the Trex timbers. 03 road by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Close up of the crossing 04 path crossing by Ray Grosser, on Flickr The first effort crossing at the paver footpath. We used treated wood for this one and it is installed over the gauging plastic ties. From now on I am going to save those ties for areas that are exposed and use Trex at all crossings. flat car by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Thanks to Connie Miracle and her excellent graphics, I have our first car lettered and finished except for couplers. They are due in the next few weeks from Tom Bee. We plan to continue the track to where the switch will be for the main line and hopefully the wood will arrive so ties can be cut for the turnout. Ya'll have a good day.
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donw
Gandy Dancer
Posts: 11
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Post by donw on May 5, 2012 15:29:51 GMT -5
Ray, you might have noticed my first post, and wondered who the heck I was, acting like I knew you, etc. It dawned on me that there was no recognizable connection in my post. Let me re-introduce myself. I am captain of the HMS Pictou.
You sure have been moving forward on your new RR at an exhausting pace, and certainly have some outstanding results!
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Post by raymbo on May 5, 2012 18:48:57 GMT -5
STRUTH! I went right past that first post but I certainly do KNOW who you are and welcome!
Not only exhausting--I am loosing weight. I sweat at least 3 pounds a day. UFFDA!
We are going to be at a stand still until the wood arrives for the turnouts and other ties. I have the pieces made for the track work on the turnouts but we cannot start until we get ties.
The hard part is the ballast. I used to be able to shovel that stuff with a #9 grain scoop but now I think I am doing well just getting into the cart and on the roadbed with a hardware store shovel.
The caboose build is on another link in this thread. The sawtooth boxcar is on another link as well. Both are nearing completion and the boxcar will be done when we get the graphics on. The caboose is a way off but I work on it a little here and there.
I guess you know I sold Surprise to fund this latest hole into which to pour money--but we are having a blast. We still plan a trip later this year and we will be in touch when we get up there.
All the best.......
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Post by raymbo on May 6, 2012 13:24:48 GMT -5
I started making switch points today using the method Richard McCloy uses on his Mill Creek Railroad. I do not have a milling machine so I set up my Delta table saw with a Lenox steel cutting circular saw blade from Lowe's. I have cut a lot of steel with this type of blade, all the underframes for the cars I am building to the bow string truss bridge and if you are careful you can make a lot of steel sawdust with one of these. 01 sawing channel by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Setting up the point jig with the saw. The jig has an angle on it that cuts the 1" channel to the right angle, the other side of the jig runs against the fence. 02 saw by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Sawing the channel 03 finished cut by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Finished cut 04 welded throw seats by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Welded throw bars 05 welded pivot points by Ray Grosser, on Flickr Welded pivot points
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Post by raymbo on May 6, 2012 18:22:40 GMT -5
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