I’m in the process of expanding the yard. Some changes to the runaround. It will be able to handle longer trains. The net effect is one additional siding and a much longer runaround. As soon as I can aquire some suitable(cheap) brass track, the plan is to lengthen all sidings. Ralph
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES079Med.jpg)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES080Med.jpg)
Ralph drive up to roosters place and take his track during the night and replace with the blue thomas track. He will never notice. LOL
Sunday turned out to be another nice day to work on the RR. Bent the rest of the curves needed to finish the outer loop. Now I just need a load of gravel.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES084Med.jpg)
Here is where it will cross the inner loop.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES086Med.jpg)
I repositioned the switch on the lead and connected the second yard entrance.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES091Med.jpg)
Reading David Hill’s post on his yard plan, I realized I hadn’t planned for a proper caboose track. Need a right hand switch and a few feet of track to finish it.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES088Med.jpg)
Ralph, what are you using under your track, are you leveling and floating it, or do you have a sub roadbed or what??? And what are you using for your ballast??? Do you have heave or track movement problems??? side to side or dipping or anything??? Regal
Jerry Hansen said:I use 1/4 gravel for my roadbed. Really don't have any problems. The track free floats and will expand and contract a couple inches over the 50 foot length. In the cut, the gravel is 8 to 10 inches deep. Works as a french drain. Working right now, as it is pouring rain here. Ralph
Ralph, what are you using under your track, are you leveling and floating it, or do you have a sub roadbed or what???? And what are you using for your ballast???? Do you have heave or track movement problems????? side to side or dipping or anything??? Regal
Worked on the roadbed for the outer loop last weekend. There’s also been a few changes to the yard, but I have to find the pictures 
Ralph
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/Misc018Med.jpg)
Is that curve on the fill new? It looks great 
Ralph Berg said:Thanks for the info Ralph!! RegalJerry Hansen said:I use 1/4 gravel for my roadbed. Really don't have any problems. The track free floats and will expand and contract a couple inches over the 50 foot length. In the cut, the gravel is 8 to 10 inches deep. Works as a french drain. Working right now, as it is pouring rain here. Ralph
Ralph, what are you using under your track, are you leveling and floating it, or do you have a sub roadbed or what???? And what are you using for your ballast???? Do you have heave or track movement problems????? side to side or dipping or anything??? Regal
Jon Radder said:Thanks, Jon. The curve is on the new fill. The "double track" was also raised several inches. The outer loop will cross over the inside loop. I'm trying to keep grades to a minimum on the outside loop. So far it's pretty level and looks like it will have minimal grade when completed. Ralph
Is that curve on the fill new? It looks great :D
Here is the yard lead in it’s latest configuration.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES113Med.jpg)
The yard still needs one more switch and a few feet of track.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES112Med.jpg)
Roughed in some more roadbed around the steps.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/TCHANGES129Med.jpg)
Womans work
David Russell said:i agree to your point of view. but please explain, how to bring a woman to agree.
Womans work ;)
Korm Kormsen said:First, you lure her into the car with the promise that you are taking her to look at antiques and you will look at them too . . .
but please explain, how to bring a woman to agree.
. . . well, honestly, after you bring her to the location, whether she’s going to agree or not remains a hair in the iffy side of the gamble.
Korm Kormsen said:You tell her that Martha at work said her trainer told her to help shovel things as it's the best exercize one can get for toning their abs and glutes :) ;)David Russell said:i agree to your point of view. but please explain, how to bring a woman to agree.
Womans work ;)
Nice work Ralph looking real good. Do you have ladder in that ballast? How much track you need?
Dave Marconi said:No ladder. I make sure the roadbed is wide enough to allow for expansion. I need about 7 feet of track. I'll probably pick up a box of 12 feet. I can use the extra to extend some of the yard sidings. Ralph
Do you have ladder in that ballast? How much track you need?
Ralph, just an idea to avoid grief later on. I would bring the run around track to the left of the ladder track past the switch and tie into the wye and have the current switch as a crossover to the run around track. That way you could bring a train in or send one out at the same time a yard switcher is working. Otherwise one will block the other and it will not take many freight cars to block the switch. It would give you a lot more flexibility. The run around track could in essence become a receiving/departure track. Depending on where you place the engine service track, the road engine would never have to enter the yard except when receiving a train. You might consider adding a crossover in the other direction at the throat of the yard to pull a departing train directly from the yard into the run around track if the train is longer than normal. This is just a thought. The yard looks good at this stage!
Ron
Ron
Thanks for the suggestion, Ron.
The yard lead has gone through several configurations. It started out rather elaborate with three tracks. including two run arounds.
At one point, it was as you suggested. But with the switch located in the WYE, trains on the far left track could only exit the yard in one direction. I was going to need two more switches to remedy that problem.
In order to save some track and switches, I changed to the current configuration. As resources become available, I’m sure it will go through some additional changes.
Ralph
I’ve managed to replace some of photos that were deleted during the big freight shed hack. Maybe this Winter I’ll get the rest uploaded. Poured a few pads for some of my buildings. The Quickcrete was very old and had hardened. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The results were variable. Every batch I mixed turned out differently. The first batch I poured the two Interlocking towers. Came out rather coarse.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/BP023Med.jpg)
Interlocking Brunt sans the “bump out” addition. I’ll use the addition for a station down the line.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/BP051Med.jpg)
The Sunny View Store…weathered the “old fashioned” way
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/BP044Lar2.jpg)
I moved the Sunny View Station down the line a piece. The new plan is for a Railtruck to service this station. I still need to finish the water tower roof.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/BP072Med.jpg)
I’m going to raise the covered platform to match the level of the depot roof. Also need to touch up the paint where I pulled off the plastic “wood” porch.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/BP046Med.jpg)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/BP060Med.jpg)
looking good, Ralph…
Nice work Ralph, looks like the weather finally broke enough for you to get some railroading in
