moth balls as ballast…
I’ve been remiss at keeping the photo log up-to date. I missed the pour-in-progress picture of the roadbed with ‘surgical drapery’ in place to protect the new rock walls from attaining unwanted concrete splash. I also missed the post-pour picture with the forms removed before back-filling, and tonight it was dark by the time I finished placing the first sections of track in the tunnel.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, I need to cut a fill piece just under 5 foot to join the tunnel track with the switch, then dress the visible track with ballast. Then I can say it is finally done 
Fred Mills said:Good idea, but I'm having a heck of a time trying to find male moths.
moth balls as ballast.....
Jon Radder said:NICE!!!:lol:Fred Mills said:Good idea, but I'm having a heck of a time trying to find male moths.
moth balls as ballast.....
The rusty clamp ceremony was held today as the last section of track was cut and placed to join Pine Summit with Deep Cut Tunnel. The weather was quite ugly so none of the dignitaries attended and only these few low-light photos exist… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-80-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-80-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-81-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-81-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] Inside the tube the roadbed switches to 1x6 PT lumber, then back to concrete in “the vault”. In an attempt to center the track in the portal and vault openings, I offset the track to photo right on the PT plank. Looking at the alignment, the shift right may be a bit too far as the track tends to curve right where it should be nearly dead straight. It’s easy to correct now, so I may pull the tube track track and shift it left just a bit, but I need to measure the clearances first. That last rock on the left may force me to stay where I am.
Good job, Jon. It really looks great! Is it finished???
Mario McCarthy said:Except for a little track tweaking and ballast, yes. But I can probably milk a few more pages out of this thread with some operational poses :D
Good job, Jon. It really looks great! Is it finished???
That turned out good Jon. You know how we are about pics 
Go on and milk.
That came out really great.
So are you going to ballast the tunnel?
Doug Arnold said:
That came out really great.So are you going to ballast the tunnel?
Yes up to the point that it can’t easily be seen. I will probably leave most of the switch pad ballast free, but since it’s down-hill that won’t last long
I ran a train in to the tunnel last night. It will take only about 4 cars. In order to get a photos of an engine exiting the portal it will need to be a 2 car train and no MU diseasles unless light 
Unfortunately, by the time I had the track cleaned up enough even to run a battery powered train it was too dark for photos. This weekend for sure.
Dangit missed page 20!!!
[url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-80-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-80-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] See all that carefully planted and trimmed moss? I thought it looked pretty good. Today the birds disagreed. Going after small bugs seeking shelter in the moss, the birds pulled up, shredded and tossed more than half of it. GRRR - thinking of putting birds in the same class as tree rats - GRRR I spent over an hour trying to salvage what I could, but it will never look the same unless I pull it all up and start over which I have no ambition to do. I did this instead of taking pictures of the train in the portal and cut like I had planned. GRRR some more.
Dave - I can now officially say IT’s DONE!!! With ballasting complete the LV 215/216 consist mad a special photo run to Deep Cut. Here are a few of the best shots… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-82-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-82-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-83-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-83-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-85-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-85-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-86-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-86-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-87-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-87-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] I’ll post a few others in different threads
Looks good, don’t worry about the moss, it will take care of itself over the next couple of years or it wasn’t suppose to be in that area.
Thanks Ric. I managed to get most of it put back, but instead of the 1 foot square pieces I started with, I now have hundreds of several inch square pieces in patchwork. I know it’s a crap shoot on growth, but I’ve had good luck with the same moss in nearby areas. All of it was transplanted from other shady areas of my yard.
Yesterday I spent 12 hours in the basement, hiding from the high heat and humidity. I completed installation of a Battery/Track switch and Aristo style M/U power cables on one of my 45 Tonners. If I can figure out how to get a coupler height match with my 1:20 stock, then I’ll try and take some of the BIG stuff out to the cut for a clearance check and photos.
Jon,
All the hard work has paid off. Looks great.
Tree rats, flying rats…all part of the challenge
My rats have 4 legs and are supposed to be man’s best friend
Ralph
Impresive job Jon. The tunnel looks to fit right in from the pics.
Today was F Scale Clearance Test day. Yesterday I spent 12 hours in the basement setting up a Dizzie for Trail Car Battery Power so I could get some F Scale cars up the mountain to test the cut and tunnel. With the exception of Dizzie not having enough weight to pull a long string of heavy cars up my curving 4% without slipping, the tests were 100% successful. First test was backing an AMS caboose under Natural Bridge and past that one rock the encroaches on the right-of-way… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-90-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-90-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] No problem there. The clearance is a little close, but there is plenty of room. Next test, the wing walls and overhead of the portal… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-91-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-91-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-93-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-93-800.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 look at End-of-Track inside VAULT. [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-94-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-94-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The train turned on the wye once more, and tested clearance with the locomotive. The Bacchman 45 Ton diesel is the largest loco I own. I wonder how it compares to a K both in height and width. Here you see that the test passes, but this spot will require a Close Clearance sign… [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-95-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-95-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] The wing walls and overhead of the portal are no problem at all. [url=lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-96-1200.JPG]
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DeepCutTunnel-96-800.JPG)
[/url][color=blue]FF: Click to Enlarge - IE: Right Click Photo and select Open Link in New Window to Enlarge[/color] With clearance testing now complete, Deep Cut Tunnel is officially open to revenue freight and tourist excursions.
Glad it worked out for you Jon. I think I’d look to reposition that rock if you’re going to run 1:20
Don’t forget an alter for an Urn.
Jon said:"That last rock on the left may force me to stay where I am. "
Time to blast Jon, blast!
Nice job Jon on both the tunnel and the photos. Looks great!