Large Scale Central

Finally broke ground on the Kittatinny Mt RR

General Discussion
#1

Well the snow is finally gone and the ground is thawed out (at least 3/4 of the ground thawed) First I have to get all the grass up, this will be the worst part but I made good progress except for the upper right half where the ground is still frozen.

Getting there. The red wagon worked out great with getting the grass up. I throw the clumps of grass in the cart and then mix the grass around and all the loose soil falls through the screening on the bottom of the cart. Good way to save on soil. This is a larger shot of the area. The ridge in the background is the Kittatinny’s There was a lot of light so it tough to see it clear. All those pine branches are from the winters storm that took the tree down. Good thing I did not have my RR built yet. As soon as all the grass is up I am going to level the area out and put a load of top soil over top. Then it will be time to lay the track down and get an idea of what I want to do. Now I just have to hope we dont get anymore snow.

#2

I started this on the garden railways forums but here is a little about how I came up with the Kittatinny Mt RR and what I plan on doing http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1339494/ShowPost.aspx

Well I started doing some research in coming up with a name for my RR. I was going to model something after some of the local RR,s. We had a few branches like the Sussex Branch and the Paulinskill. It was all part of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western RR that ran through the mountains of northwest NJ. I also was thinking about doing my own RR, because i figured it would be much easier. While doing research I learned that there were parts of the sussex branch that were scouted out beyon the town of Branchville but never built. It got me thinking. Why not finish that stretch of RR from Branchville north but have a new branch name, Kittatinny Mountain RR. Since the line would have gone over the Kittatinny mountains through an area called Culvers Gap and along the flatbrook, I thought perfect since I wanted to put a mounatin in my layout with the track going through a gap in the mountain and along a creek.

Now I just have to wait for the snow to melt and the ground to thaw before I can break ground. This will be the start of my thread for my layout. If anyone is intrested in the sussex RR here is a good link

http://www.newtonnj.net/Pages/railroad.htm

http://dlw-sussexbranch.com/

Thanks to alterain he came up with a great nickname “the Tin Kitty”

#3

Shawn

Good ideas…a simple start is the best and it saves the back and the $!

Keep up with all that is happening!

cale

#4

I like simple for now. At least until I work out the kinks and I have to make sure i have time to weed and do all the maint that comes with it. As for the layout I am still debating on wether I want to put in a turn-out or two for a siding. I hear so many people with problems and having to play with them to make turnouts work. Plus the cost right know. I might just wait until later on down the road when the funds get replenished. Here is a draft of what I plan on doing. It is not to scale though. Im sure I will change it up some once I start laying track down

(http://i25.tinypic.com/2cgd72t.jpg)

#5

No plan survives first contact!

#6

I vote for smaller pictures. :wink: (It does make it hard to read, and I’m on a wide screen!)

Simple is nice. Personally, I like the idea of a few switches, but that’s because I like to switch. But, even for continuous running, it gives you a place to keep another train you might want to run.

How are you planning on laying track?

#7

I plan on using balast. Going to dig a few inch trench and then fill it with balast. I think it is the cheapest way to go. I am on a tight budget. I would like to add a turnout and I might still. Money is holding me back though.

For some reason my pics download large on this site. All other forums I go on never come out this large. I will have to see if I can figure out how to downsize them.

#8

Shawn, For a few buck more you could add the PVC into your Subroad bed to help support your track laying efforts! I did and it has held up great! With my kids walking on and the rain washing out…I’ve yet to have any real problems…the PVC Pipe is minimal, along with the zip ties and rebar…just a suggestion…here is a link to how I did it…

http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=6875

you don’t have to do it this way, but I just wanted to mention to you before you got started! good luck!

cale