Heck, I thought it was in a snow storm. Man, great work Randy! I had to read back through the whole thread. When early talking about the use of JB Weld, I noticed I didn’t mention that all epoxy real needs to be covered with a pigment. The UV can really do a job on it. Cheap rattle cans can save a lot of heart break.
Looks like a lot got accomplished… Congrats…
Nice photo touch up David!
Thanks Guys, It’s pretty exciting to have something more than a 4’ diameter loop down.
Ric, No epoxy needed. I’m using brass frog inserts for all of the turnouts. I did however break out the cheap rattle cans on all the ties to add a layer of UV protection, get the color more right, and as you put it, save some heartbreak.
It’s interesting using two different types of track. I’m using ME tie strips and switch crafters rail on the end loops and AMS ties and rail everywhere else. I had the ME stuff already but the ties were far too short to look like the ones on the EBT. This is why I’m using it up on the end loops. The interesting part comes when comparing a finished srtip of track. The AMS ties really grab the rail foot all the way across the tie making it much more rigid than the ME strips where only the spike heads hold things down. Also the AMS track is about twice as heavy. This is due to a thicker tie wall and heavier rail at the head and foot. I’m glad I’m modeling the EBT because I feel that the AMS will hold up much better over time due to its robustness. However if you are modeling a back woods narrow gauge line you can’t beat the look of those Micro Engineering ties. They are just a bit more fragile.
What’s next for the Pittsburgh EBT? Well since the ROW build up is getting a bit high maintaining the 1% grade I plan to take a page out of Ken’s book and elevate the rest. I’m actually going to dig out the whole area where things flare out with that rock border and start the elevation there. Depending on how long we stay at this house I may want to slide the reverse loop down and add in mine #5. It will be much easier if I don’t have to dig it all up to move it. The added height might be a blessing in the end as well, since I’m getting close to the right height to run a train into the basement. More to come…
I was wondering where all the AMS tie strips got to. I can’t find any anywhere…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Randy and Maynard sitting in a tree?
Ken Brunt said:
I was wondering where all the AMS tie strips got to. I can’t find any anywhere…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Kinda like Rooster weather vanes
Hey now Rooster. Randy is married.
Great work, Randy! Hope the fall weather holds up so you can keep going.
-Kevin.
dieseldude, oh sure. My knees would just love that. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Progress looks great! A question about this picture if I may…
At the close end where it is built-up, do you have anything solid buried in there or is it just a mound of fines? If just fines I think you will find the weather will flatten it out again pretty quick. I have a section that is built on a fill. Originally it had no solid roadbed, just some bricks, blocks and other stuff to raise up the center. Then I used larger crushed stone (3/4 minus I think, the call it “3/4 process” here) on the side slopes to help protect them. This is an old construction photo…
In a later rebuild, I added ladder roadbed sitting on top of the bricks and blocks making the ballast just for show.
I add Portland cement to some of the ballast, and then add that to the outside banking to form a crust to hold things in place.
Thanks for the concern gentlemen, and I agree that it would not have been stable. I have removed all to the Crusher fines from the clipboard and wheelbarrow back, and it’s back to bare grass now. I have a new section of elevated bench work on temporary supports in that location now and will post a picture tonight after I attach it’s feet. I was too dark for a picture before I was done last night. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)I’m thinking of adding some portland to the side once I’m sure of things. I’m also going to backfill with dirt in a few areas.
I used rocks to outline my fills, I still expected to reballast each year because of our Monsoon storms. When the rain comes in horizontal, the ballast runs away! I can’t witness this because of the lightening, but I’ve seen the results…
John
I got a few minutes this afternoon to finish things up a bit more. This photo shows the one side finished bench work. It’s 1/2 inch screen nailed to the frame with window screen laid over it. Seems like it may be a bit bouncy between the 12 inch on center supports so I’m going to put 1x4 treated lumber under each track. I just have the tiniest bit to do to the last two switches and they will be ready to go out. I won’t get too much done this weekend We are visiting a 12" gauge live steam railroad tomorrow and have some family in town on Sunday. I guess that will give me time to get those 1x4 planks.
Great progress, but what happens when you get to the end of that red and blue slide? It seems like it might be a long way down the hill. Or is it a new tactic to keep neighborhood kids away from your railroad… “Hey look, it’s a slide. Lets have some fun… Oh no, I can’t stop… Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh…” (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
-Kevin.
Thanks Kevin, Actually that slide has become pretty dull for my son and we resorted to placing it at the hills edge and adding my left over super slick sheet of PE at the end for another 5 feet of slide. So yeah, you’re pretty much right. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
Well progress has been slow since my weekends have been full of good stuff and the sun drops shortly after I get home on weekdays. Anyway, I got the rest of the screen down and put the sub roadbed in for the three main tracks. I’ve all but got the last 2 switches done, they just need a few more spikes and guard rails. I should have them done and installed by the end of the week. Then it’s just time to put in the second loop.
A little more progress to report. I built the second big section of raised road bed, and have the track run on to it. I spent most of Sunday getting all the sections for the loop cut. I still need to figure out the shape of the parts I’ll need to connect the loop. I have lots of track assembled and waiting once I get the bench work finished. Hopefully the rail joiners and clamps will bee here by then too.
I see you’re putting all of your grade into one short section Randy. You’ll have to let us know how that works out for you. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)Nice work.
Now with snow sheds you can run through the winter too.
(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
So, basically, what you are saying is ““Progress has been made’’””…
Looks good…