It’ll make a mighty fine rabbits nest… 
Andy Clarke said:Well, hopefully not. Once the finish portal has been done I plan on building a plug door to keep the critters out.
It'll make a mighty fine rabbits nest.... :)
Maybe I should build something temporary now, before they move in
Work this week concentrated mostly on moving and placing rocks along the edge of the cut that will remain. Looking toward the tunnel… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-31-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-31-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Then looking back toward the rest of the layout… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-32-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-32-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Today the survey crew was called out to determine the track center going through the tunnel and the entry portal location. Once track center was determined, clearances were checked at several locations. The laser level was placed in the center of the existing track… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-30-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-30-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Track center and clearance at the entry portal… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-29-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-29-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] At Natural Bridge, the gray wood represents approximate final roadbed height and the laser indicates track center… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-28-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-28-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Once track center was located and the finish size of the opening determined (9" wide by 12 inches high), work began on the finish portal. First the wing walls will be poured on either side. I didn’t get the form work finished in time to mix and pour today. Tonight and tomorrow morning are forecast for rain, so after these shots were taken I covered the work area. The left wing wall form waiting for concrete… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-33-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-33-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The blue lines are the top and right edge of the portal opening. When installing the form I popped the patio stone off the top. I’ll need to repair that before pouring the portal center. I was going to just get rid of it and pour the finish portal center in it’s place, but I forgot that it’s caulked to the pipe. Oops #362 
There hasn’t been a lot of progress since the last update. A week ago I finally poured the left wing-wall of the finish portal. Spent what time I could continuing the project of lining the remaining cut walls with large rocks. Mik calls them Hernia Rocks, Bart calls them BFR’s. I don’t care what you call them they are heavy and you don’t want to get your fingers pinched by one :o This is the next rock to go in. Foot inserted for scale reference… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-38-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-38-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The stock pile of BFR’s… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-39-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-39-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Rock ready for placement. Notice the additional excavation required. This is why I rejected this idea years ago… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-34-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-34-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The finish portal is started, and transition to rock installed between it and Natural Bridge… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-35-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-35-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Another angle. Notice my attempt to cast in the lip at the top of the pour. Needs a little clean-up but it came out OK considering it was formed with concrete, not a sand mix… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-36-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-36-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] I decided to buy a fancier cap for the access hatch, lined the edges with small pavers and transplanted the plain green Hosta… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-37-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-37-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] And finally - A long shot of the work area from below Pine Summit… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-40-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-40-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color]
Looks like progress Jon. I see the BFR is still where it started.
Wow! That looks good! That was the first view I’ve seen of the Condo roof with the blocks in place. Sure turned out good.
Dave Marconi said:While not quite. It started 10 feet lower in the back yard :)
Looks like progress Jon. I see the BFR is still where it started.
Andy Clarke said:
This topic needs more pictures…
When a guy is right - he’s right!!! Long time since an update. The crew got sidetracked readying the railroads mobile living facilities for some off-site work up at the Pine Ridge Lumber & Mining Company, then traveling to Massachusetts to join the guest track crew assembled there for a long weekend. The following week CVSRy crews got back to work on this project. Forms were built in preparation for a massive pour of the right side portal wall… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-41-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-41-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Close up of the ‘re-bar’ cage… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-42-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-42-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The pour happened on the weekend. It sagged a bit and the top edge is rounded when it should be flat, but once some rock and back fill dirt are in place, it will be passable… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-44-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-44-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The concrete crew mixed a bit more than was needed for this pour. The supervisor noted that the mixer actually worked correctly when used at it’s capacity of two 80 pound sacks. With extra material the crew quickly guessed at the location of a future bridge abutment assembled a rough form to hold the excess concrete. Because this was a last minute decision, no ‘re-bar’’ was on-hand. You can see the abutment pour at the right of this photo… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-45-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-45-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Along the way, work has progressed on lining the remains of the cut wall with rocks. As of yesterday, the left or North side of the cut is now completely lined. There is still some work to do on the right side… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-43-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-43-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Here is another shot of the rock work… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-46-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-46-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] And finally a long shot from pine summit… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-47-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-47-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Next up is the finish top of the portal. I am thinking of trying to pour it so that it fits in place, but is removable to open up the larger portal hole for maintenance. I think if I just use a layer of plastic between mating surfaces that I can get this to work. Rock work will continue along the right side of the cut. It must be finished before the roadbed can be poured which will be the last step.
Progress is looking good, Jon…
Looking good Jon. Thanks for the update.
Glad to see the crew is back on the job.
Is it done yet?
Dave Marconi said:Not quite, but I 'm almost done with the last form for the portal. When that's been poiured later this week I can say that the tunnel is done :D
Is it done yet? :)
Dave Marconi said:
Is it done yet? :)
Jon Radder said:When will it be done?
Not quite
I have an urn of ashes waiting…when does the moselium open…?
Will there be room for my ashes in the future, or are all spots spoken for ?
Sweet,Fred takes page 14!
Fred Mills said:Put them in a bronze tank car and I'd be happy to spot them in the tunnel. I'll even bring them out and parade them around the railroad on full moon nights, just so you don't miss any :) No promise of perpetual care though. I can only keep this up for so long.
Will there be room for my ashes in the future, or are all spots spoken for ?
Jon,
You’ve begun a journey toward a “Chandlerism”. Steady as she goes, fair winds and following seas. 14 pages is a mear beginning of an epic tale, but it tis a fine start.
…neat idea…a mobile urn…I could tour every LS model railroad in the World.
Of course it would have to have metal wheels, in proper gauge, and Kadee body mount couplers. Nothing but the best for me in the next life !!!
So, Jon; does this mean that you are willing to do more excavation, and add at least a 6 car siding in this moseleum of yours....with the possible rent, it might pay for itself.....
I can see the ad in Garden Railway Magazine…and all us old farts, getting near the end, flocking like old roosters, to get space reserved.
What a great community service you will be providing. Great wisdom, Jon…now I see why you are taking so much trouble to preserve that old root…!!!
BTW; my old Father would have enjoyed your project. He just loved mixing concrete, and building forms. He sometimes explained that it was a great way to dispose of old used razor blades, where no-one would cut themselves on them…he just imbedded them in the concrete.
He used old coat hangers for rebar. Manys a day I helped him mix concrete in the old tray he had, and sometimes in a wheelbarrow. There is a small bit of concrete roadbed he convinced me to build, buried at the back of the pond. I soon learned that concrete roadbed is fine if you never want to change it. But if you do, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
Yes, Jon; he would admire your work, as a bunch of us old farts do too…!!!