Flaxton Creek Railway Build Log

Neil_Wiggins · February 7, 2025, 6:25am

January update - just to keep Craig on his toes.

Unfortunately I got bit by the rework bug. I was pushing a bit too hard at the end of the holidays to ‘git it done’ and I got some levels wrong - I matched the edge of the fascias up, rather than the cross members on the 3 sections before the yard.

No matter how much I played with the design frankensheet I couldn’t make the grades work - essentially I lost 5m of mainline downgrade.

Luckily it’s somewhat modular and screwed together so I managed to drop each section 2" without too much money going into the swear jar.

And finally, some stain.

Still have to drop the loop return framing but that is a job for another weekend as it’ll probably involve a few more posts.

There might actually be some track installed in the next update…

Cheers
N

Eric_Mueller · February 7, 2025, 2:56pm

Ugh…nice save, though!

ctown2 · February 8, 2025, 7:41am

Thanks for the reminder of my lack of progress. We just had 3" of wet sloppy 32° snow a couple days ago and I told my wife that I was bummed out I couldn’t run a train on the railroad because of the construction mess. I told her, by next winter the layout is going to be operational. Let’s see if I can I can actually hold up to that “threat”.

Neil_Wiggins · February 8, 2025, 8:08pm

Thanks Eric, I was kinda bummed when I found so took my sweet time before I tried to fix it. Wasn’t too bad in the end.

I had the Mik to distract me - so many entries this year I almost couldn’t keep up.

Cheers
N

Neil_Wiggins · February 8, 2025, 8:14pm

Ha ha, I have full confidence you’ll find some detail (or 10) that needs full attention for a good portion of that 12 mths. Looking forward to the first end to end video run!

I’ve got the convention in 12 mths so there is a roundy round plus (some) scenery deadline coming at me head on.

Cheers
N

ctown2 · February 8, 2025, 10:15pm

Oct 4th is the next RPM meet and I really want to bring a completed train. My goal is to work on that stuff while I’m waiting for the weather to get better. My wife tried telling me to get outside and work on the railroad when it snowed because I had an unexpected day off. I said I wasn’t in that big of a hurry.

My goal is to just get the layout up and running and not work on buildings or other stuff like that. This summer plans are wide open at the moment so hopefully I can make progress.

Rooster · February 8, 2025, 10:47pm

Is it really or should Neil just say screw it then rip it all down and start fresh!

Neil_Wiggins · March 3, 2025, 7:52am

Mar update.

Well, no more track down yet. I’m kinda holding off till I sort the ties out.

Mid loop benchwork is all but done. And some tractoring last weekend got some mulch in, and the low spot that is underwater in winter raised up.

A smart person would have put the mulch in before installing the mesh…

The seat is where we’re going to put a (much) nicer one to honour my step father who passed away last year. Another steam fan/train nut gone to the engine shed in the sky. He’ll get to watch the over a yard just in front of it named after him.

Looks like the track fixing method is working ok (hard fix in the centre of each 5’ length, then slots for 2 fixings each side). Took these pics at 3pm on a hot (for us) day. The slight waving you can see is there on cold days too so looks like no obvious heat problems. Time to add some loose ballast on top and call it done.

Progress - slow and steady.

Cheers
N