I think this could be a first, but I am sure it’s not that common. I was asked to set up an run a model railroad with my EBT equipment by my good friend and fellow FEBT Board member. At first I was a bit skeptical that it could be done. Once I made a site visit the area was found to be quite level and I decided to give it a shot.
I told him that I would need a 1/2 yard of top soil delivered Friday afternoon. The plan was to mow the grass as short as possible along the the new ROW then put down a top soil road bed. Afterward we would rake out the soil into the grass and hopefully it would settle into the law leaving no evidence at the venue that the railroad nuts had visited. The picture below shows the newly laid road bed.
We assembled large sections of track on the tables inside the reception pavilion in an effort to not lose as many screws in the dirt during assembly. We ended up using every piece of track we had and were able to add a freight house spur with an “industrial” spur off of it. Unfortunately I didn’t have any type of structure for the industry, but some spotted hoppers with dead trees around got the point across.
The were lots weed along the forest line that were harvested to make trees and shrubs around the scene. Between 4 and 8pm on Friday we (my self and two other buddies) were able to get the road be laid and 90% of the track down. Between 9am and 12pm Saturday we got the track finished, structures placed and the trees and shrubs planted. By 1:15 the realization the the plastic battery holder for my locomotives RC controls had failed and ceased to conduct electricity. I had tested the loco on my coffee table 5 days prior and not had issues. At the time the holder was a bit corroded and warped looking but worked fine. Apparently that was it’s last gasp. One of the fellows that helped me set up was sent out to find a replacement holder or some cheap toy that we could break the battery compartment out of to use. Unfortunately he found nothing in the few options available in this semi rural location. Luckily though I was able to use a piece of tinfoil to jump the bad spot in the pack and we ran without problem all afternoon.
Here is the Groom having his got at the controls of live steam for the first time.
All the guests loved the set up and lots of great conversation and questions ensued. Tear down started around 9 and went well. We scooped out the road bed with 5 gallon buckets tossed it in the woods and raked out the remains in to the grass by car headlight. We were on our way home by 11pm.
