Updates are still slow. Too many other projects taking up the precious dry weather time. I did manage to finish the roadbed across the diamond over the weekendā¦ [url=lsc.cvsry.com/NewSw-43-1200.jpg]
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[/url][color=blue]Completed ladder roadbed - FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] When cleaning up the garage last year, I found a nice supply of thick wall aluminum conduit. I put it aside for use as the supports for the ladder. I experimented with it on the short siding beyond the diamondā¦
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[color=blue]Close-Up of aluminum conduit support[/color] Itās too thick to drive a deck screw into. I didnāt try self-tapping screw since I didnāt have any stainless ones in stock, so I drilled a clear hole for a bolt and a pilot hole for a deck screw and matching clear holes in the roadbed. I then drove a 14 inch section into the ground with a 4 lb. hammer. Aligning the pilot holes turned out to be a bit of work. I ended up using the clear hole as a grab point to rotate the tube to align the pilot holes. This turned out to be too much work, so the conduit will be relegated to other uses. I cut some PT 2x2 for the balance of the uprights. [url=lsc.cvsry.com/NewSw-45-1200.jpg]
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[/url][color=blue]Looking down the roadbed toward the new diamond from Indian Hill Junction - FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The grade between Indian Hill and the diamond is a fraction over 4%. When this photo was taken, I aligned the roadbed to an even climb to the diamond. I realized as soon as that was done that it would not work. I couldnāt transition from the 4% to the dead flat crossing without a significant bump. Tonight I went back and increased the grade at the Indian Hill end to just over 5% which matches the mainline in this spot. I gradually reduced it to just under 2% at the last support before the crossing. This looks like a workable solution. The short siding after the diamond was set just a hair down-grade toward end-of-track to keep cars spotted from rolling out across the main. Since these photos were taken I got the track down on the short siding and landscaped a new trans-load facility (a team track with docks) in that spot. Iāll start a new post on the first industry on the outdoor division. That spot needs a name. Iām still working on that. Is Walk Landing too nautical?