Large Scale Central

A Raised Road Bed: A build log for the RGS raised layout.

Ric Golding said:

SOOOO, talk about the bridge approaches. What do you mean? What do you have? What look do you want?

Well those are the questions. It wasn’t something I put any thought to when I was building this thing. I figured that was something I could work on when the time came, which is now. What I need are abutments that will blend in with the module. I have made an angled form which will extend out from the module. And a short trestle piece to connect it to the bridge. Then face the abutment walls with a stone veneer from Plastruct, the same stuff I used on the TT pit walls. And most of this work has to be done on site, to get the right fit.

I’ll take a few pictures later to show what I have done so far.

It’ll be a lift out bridge, John.

So basically you want nice modeled bridge abutments in an area that, at worst, needs to be moved about once a week in the Summer to cut the grass.

OR, you need a better way to get in to the middle of the layout to cut the grass, without moving the bridge and its abutments.

Could you make the bridge more permanent and just 'weed eat" that area of the layout and forget the lawnmower?

Your going about this all wrong. What you really need is a faster lawn tractor and some Evil Knievel style ramps. Then you could just jump the layout (preferably with a train running beneath you for effect) and cut the grass in the middle.

-Kevin.

Ric Golding said:

So basically you want nice modeled bridge abutments in an area that, at worst, needs to be moved about once a week in the Summer to cut the grass.

OR, you need a better way to get in to the middle of the layout to cut the grass, without moving the bridge and its abutments.

Could you make the bridge more permanent and just 'weed eat" that area of the layout and forget the lawnmower?

The bridge is wide enough so that lifting it out of the way allows the tractor to enter. The abutments will be a permanent fixture on each module. And I use the tractor for more than just mowing in there.

dieseldude . said:
Your going about this all wrong. What you really need is a faster lawn tractor and some Evil Knievel style ramps. Then you could just jump the layout (preferably with a train running beneath you for effect) and cut the grass in the middle. -Kevin.

Damn, why didn’t I think a that…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

Ken

How about some side shots to see what we have to work with.

I’m heading up to Shawn’s Open House today, so it might not be till tomorrow when I can get some pictures.

This is what I have in mind.

The stone veneer I’ll glue to the sub wall.

Nice work Ken. Looks so much better finished out. I will need to keep that in mind as I have a similar situation to get my lawn mower through.

Another incentive with the layout where it is now is getting electricity out to the shed. This is something I’ve planned to do since I built it. So we go from above ground work yesterday to below ground work today. I feel like I’m back with the phone company…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

The trench:

The conduit is 3/4" schedule 40 PVC. The wire I used is underground pump wire. (the green, red and black stuff)

It’ll tie that into that outlet with the cord plugged in. (Temporary power to the shed)

Rather then getting cut to shreds by the rose bush, I’ll wait till fall to bury this part.

The other end goes between 2 hydrangea, easy digging.

Had to trim the crepe myrtle a bit to make room.

Flip the sod back over onto the trench, run the tractor back and forth over it a few times. Voila!

Wouldn’t even know I was there.

Ran everything up into a small pull box.

Next is to hook this up and get rid of the giant extension cord that’s been laying in the lawn for 2 years.

You said phone company not gas company. So is the dishsoap bottle used to check for phone leaks ?

Looks like you are up to no good and trying to disguise your overall evil plan. However that is just my opinion.

Naw, soapy water helps when pulling wires through conduit.

That conduit doesn’t look like its very deep.

" Rooster " said:

You said phone company not gas company. So is the dishsoap bottle used to check for phone leaks ?

Looks like you are up to no good and trying to disguise your overall evil plan. However that is just my opinion.

As a matter of fact, that’s what we did, checked the cables and splice cases for leaks. All the big stuff that was underground in manholes was under air pressure and the manholes usually filled up with water. This assured that they weren’t leaking.

And we also used it to lubricate the cables when we pulled them through conduit.

It doesn’t have to be too deep. It’s only in my back yard. The conduit is just for protection since it runs through a couple of flower beds.

Nice job there Ken!(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Nice job, Ken! I just love to read about your little yard work projects. I can sit here and read about them all day. Keep up the good work.

Well, Ric, I’ll have to get some pictures of me cuttin the grass, so you can remember what that’s like…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Update: 12/24/2017

In order to hide the back wall of the shed where Delores Yard runs, I’m planning to add a back drop. I bought 4 pieces of sintra (2’x4’) in order to accomplish this. I have one panel started with some building backs done and some scenery added to it. It’s far from finished, but I hope to have it done by spring.

On one of these panels I’ll have the side wall of Matheson Cold Storage. That may take up at least half the panel.

A layout is never finished, is it?

It would be if I didn’t keep thinking up things to add to it…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Lucky you! To be in the ‘What can I add’ stage. I’m stuck in the;‘Did I forget that too???’ stage.