Post by raymbo on May 26, 2012 13:36:11 GMT -5
We have been cutting ties, securing rail to them, buidling switches, and shoveling ballast--mostly in the early morning when it is cool.
We have about 300' of track built and as each 10' panel is built we install it, then start ballast.
We have all three of the #09 switches built and two are installed. I suspect we will have to get some more cast frogs and put in a couple more, a passing track maybe just in case someone comes to visit and brings a train, and another track into the barn to store the equipment.
Here are a few photos of the progress as of today.
03 switch being fabricated by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Fabricating the switch on the track jig
04 straight track being assembled by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
10' section of track being built in the jig
05 two new 10' sections ready for ballast by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Two of the 10' track panels ready for ballast
DSC00429 by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
05 switch installed at the house by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Switch installed at the house for the reversing loop section
06 switch installed at the south side of the train room by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Switch to the track in the barn is installed south of the train room
We are laying the track over some black 6mil plastic then shoveling ballast on. Leveling and lining the track is very similar to what the section crews did back in the 50s where I lived.
We are shoveling every load into a cart behind the tractor then shoveling it on to the roadbed. This way we are sure to keep aligned with the planned route and not killing off any of the grass where there will be no track.
It is going to make mowing more complicated but it was getting boring just running a straight line across the lawn area, this will make it more interesting--well if you like mowing to start with.
We plan to make the road crossings with 1/2X1 inch CRS bar welded to some 1/8X1 metal ties and probably bury it in concrete. That is going to be a way off though.
We have already used 5,000 screws to secure the rail to the ties and we are only 1/4 finished but screws are easy to come by so what ever it takes we will get.
We have about 300' of track built and as each 10' panel is built we install it, then start ballast.
We have all three of the #09 switches built and two are installed. I suspect we will have to get some more cast frogs and put in a couple more, a passing track maybe just in case someone comes to visit and brings a train, and another track into the barn to store the equipment.
Here are a few photos of the progress as of today.
03 switch being fabricated by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Fabricating the switch on the track jig
04 straight track being assembled by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
10' section of track being built in the jig
05 two new 10' sections ready for ballast by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Two of the 10' track panels ready for ballast
DSC00429 by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
05 switch installed at the house by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Switch installed at the house for the reversing loop section
06 switch installed at the south side of the train room by Ray Grosser, on Flickr
Switch to the track in the barn is installed south of the train room
We are laying the track over some black 6mil plastic then shoveling ballast on. Leveling and lining the track is very similar to what the section crews did back in the 50s where I lived.
We are shoveling every load into a cart behind the tractor then shoveling it on to the roadbed. This way we are sure to keep aligned with the planned route and not killing off any of the grass where there will be no track.
It is going to make mowing more complicated but it was getting boring just running a straight line across the lawn area, this will make it more interesting--well if you like mowing to start with.
We plan to make the road crossings with 1/2X1 inch CRS bar welded to some 1/8X1 metal ties and probably bury it in concrete. That is going to be a way off though.
We have already used 5,000 screws to secure the rail to the ties and we are only 1/4 finished but screws are easy to come by so what ever it takes we will get.
