Large Scale Central

C.V.S.Ry. Rockhill Shop Division

Indoor and Micro
#241

I suppose. It wasn’t purposely designed as one! With some restrictions, the three track section under the storage could be the Inglenook Sidings puzzle.

To say I miss the lumber yard in Orbisonia that just closed is an understatement. I did learn that the hardware store in Mt. Union is now carrying lumber. I picked up a 2x4x8’ from them today to re-do a little of the framing. I like the wood quality better than what I got at 84 in Huntingdon, and it’s 20 miles closer.

I’ve made my layout decisions for everything West of the curves, so I’ll be trimming plywood and updating the framework tomorrow. Then that section of track can be permanently installed.

1 Like
#242

Jon, I’ve really been enjoying your layout work in the shed.

On a severe tangent…We’ve talked about lumber quality over the years, and I ran across a good explanation on why our modern lumber is crappy. Thought you might enjoy it as well. I really like this guy.

#243

I haven’t watched the video yet but I can make assumptions. Forrest products are grown too fast never developing strong grain structure and the lumber producers over process all of it.

I am fortunate to live in an area where there are several small sawmills that will, at very reasonable prices, custom cut any dimension you want (within their capacity). There is lots of logging done in these parts too, so it’s all natural growth. It is all rough sawn lumber, so if you want smooth studs you need a planer.

I’ve not taken advantage yet, but will when I start working on repairing the main beams under my house. The guy who got it ready to sell used 4x4X10’ on either side of a beam that is sagging. Concrete blocks on the dirt and screw jacks on top to jack it up. The span is over 16 feet so those 10 footers just make a hump in the floor. I knew all this before I bought it. The price was right and the location is awesome!

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#244

Yep, close. As a timberman he explains the how and why, and does so in an entertaining manner I think.

That’s pretty great that you’re near custom-work sawmills.

Sounds like you’re contemplating some 16+ foot beams to replace just the patch job, or also the original beams as well?

#245

An Inglewood Puzzle! I couldn’t remember what that type of switching puzzle that was called. There used to be an online version of the Inglenook and the Timesaver Puzzle.

#246

a good video.
reminded me of one of the reasons, why i gave up my ranch.
when we all still believed in green being the way to go, i had planted 10,000 Paraiso gigante, a quick growing tropical wood on nearly 80 acres.
producing the plantlings from seed and planting was relative easy.
as was watering them, about half a gallon per tree/week for the first two years.

then came the war against branches. trees grow branches for “food” and air through their leaves, but as well to protect their stem and bark against too much sun.
so that meant to visit each and every tree at least once or twice a month to pinch off the new twigs/branches, until the tree can build its crown above a stem of about five yards.
that was for later harvesting about 15 foot of knot-free trunks.

that stage we reached after six years.
here i can’t give more details, because a 6 year long drought killed about 90% of the trees.

but, for commercial reforestation one “can” produce knot-free wood.

2 Likes
#247

I have no plan as yet. The crawlspace has a bunch of trash, abandoned heat ducts and tons of abandoned satellite and cable TV wire. Also much of the electric wire is just strung loose. I need to deal with all that first and then do a survey and make a plan.

I’ve got a guy coming in early April to deal with the trash and cable wire. I’ll have him quote taking out the abandoned furnace and duct work while he is here. The furnace will need to be disassembled as none of the openings are big enough.

#248

That video was pretty informative and entertaining!

#249

Today I finished the framing for the South wall…

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Then I trimmed and screwed down the plywood…

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Tomorrow I’ll put down grass mat then screw down track starting at the west wall working toward the switches. I made a bunch of spacing jigs for the track centers and distance from the wall. Ill take a picture of them and post it later.

EDIT: The picture is in a new reply.

4 Likes
#250

how much weight do you put into your roling stock?

this bench does even like overkill for a bunkbed.

or will you hide a gold-hoard into the landscape?

1 Like
#251

Yeah Korm. I am starting to wonder if Jon is going to use 130 lb rail inside, and install a switch on the EBT ROW.

I think we are going to need to move ShedOps to Radder’s place in 2027. That will give him time to put up some bleachers outside.

#252

This is lightweight compared to what I built in CT! I want to be able to lean on it and not worry. CT was built to sit on. Without adding some legs, this one is not.

If I had the gold hoard I could have afforded 1x3 and built it lighter. Ripping common 2x4’s in half ends up costing less. It might come close if I purchased 1x10 pine and ripped it down, but that’s more sawing than I care to do!

#253

Looks Great, Jon!

#254

I didn’t expect a bunch of replies before I got to post this picture, so I moved it here. The Aristo “wide” or 10’ diameter switches, when attached together to form a crossover, result in 6.5" track center spacing which works for my widest equipment. Setting the outside rail center about 4" from the wall also works to allow my widest equipment to get by flats or photos on the wall. To easily maintain this spacing as I build, I cut these spacing jigs…

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I spent the morning unpacking and consolidating a few more boxes. The goal is to clear the large bench I built earlier so I can continue beyond the corner. I’m about half way there.

#255

How did you get anything done when you had a 40 hour a week job

#256

I worked a lot later and slept a lot less! But I hear ya. My older brother warned me that once I retired it would be hard to find time! He was right!

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#257

Today was work outside and do a bunch of chillin’ and watching the Easter Bunny trains. Yesterday I got down what grass mat I had left and started assembling track starting at the west end. I only screwed down the outer track, # 1, as I am concerned about the crossovers. I’ll run a C-19 through them with a few cars to be sure it’s workable before committing any more track with screws…

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#258

Steam has arrived on the Rockhill Division of the C.V.S.Ry. as test runs continue with C-19 #4…

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Surprisingly it negotiates the S turn through the crossovers pulling two cars with no issue.

I did discover that on track 2 (center) I can only fit one 30 foot car and the C-19 without fouling the crossover switch. Not much I can do about that without loosing a lot of the track 1 (outside) capacity since the switch is right at the start of the curve. I would loose 18" or 1 car of capacity on track 1 and only gain 6" on tracks 2 and 3.

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#259

There are curved switches available that fit in the curve and save space?

#260

New switches are not in the budget, and the bench top has already been trimmed to the inside of the curve, so that wouldn’t be an option. But I like how you think!

1 Like