Everyone have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
We’re hosting a big cookout Monday with family and friends.
Ralph
Just got back from an afternoon on the lake on my brother in-laws boat. Ours is still on the trailer suffering from motor problems. Weather today was awesome. Sunny with a few big puffy clouds, warm, but not hot and low humidity. Tomorrow I have about an hour of chores, then I’m gonna run some trains 
Ralph Berg said:Our daughters rented a cottage for the weekend on a lake two hours away, and took all the grandkids ...
Everyone have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. We're hosting a big cookout Monday with family and friends. Ralph
ah, peace and quiet for 2-1/2 days
We had a Saturday of rain. And we have rain predicted for tomorrow and even through Monday. We’ll see what happens. Not good for a Summer Holiday that is already arriving a week late and following a 4th of July that was rained out. That is, not the best for the marina business, but you take what you get and take advantage of any day off. Worked on a new turnout and siding for “Consolidation”. We’ve got a little change or addition to the track plan in that area (requests from the Yardmaster or others, because of the Yardmaster). You all have a great labor Day Weekend, we are. 
Pictures to follow - remember, it has been raining.
Jon Radder said:Shawn's summer thread is soon to expire for a fall thread so why not add to the summer thread. We will await pictures! ;)
Tomorrow I have about an hour of chores, then I'm gonna run some trains :D
Rained out too… I got 24 foot of Green Metal Models bridge decking installed with rail…
Happy Labor Day to all…
Andy Clarke said:Pictures?????????????
Rained out too.... I got 24 foot of Green Metal Models bridge decking installed with rail... Happy Labor Day to all..........
Ours is still sunny and bright so more work on the track. Have a good day whatever you do
Don’t have much planned except to relax and enjoy the last vestiges of summer.
Hope everyone’s day is a pleasant as I plan to make mine…
We have had a good week of no rain. This is a record for us this summer. I have never seen such a rainy summer before. I will be working the labor day weekend. This is our last big weekend for the season. Then we move onto the fall season, Hunting and winter. Hope everyone enjoyes their 3 day weekend and gets to run trains. Yes the fall fun thread will start up soon.
Andy, my son, don’tforget the guard rails on that bridge…it’s not hard to apply guard rails to the Garden Metal bridge ties. If you want to know how I gid it, just ask.
I took the boy to Williams Grove today for the steam tractor show. It was a beautiful day and they were running their sawmill among other things.
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Had no idea that our name was on the side of a steam tractor??
Not only your name, but in your colors too. Guess that’s your next build
LMAO…are you nuts!
If I wanted one that bad I would contract Mik to make me one as this is his forte’!
Lots of really neat stuff there including a steam powered ice cream maker.
You got that RR done yet Dave!!!
David Russell said:The peer pressure is overwhelming. In order to run trains, I need to pick up a few sticks. In order to take pictures, I need to do lots of clean-up. The clean-up lead to re-working some areas that weren't holding up to our recent heavy rains. By the time that was finished it was getting dark.Jon Radder said:Shawn's summer thread is soon to expire for a fall thread so why not add to the summer thread. We will await pictures! ;)
Tomorrow I have about an hour of chores, then I'm gonna run some trains :D
Good thing there is tomorrow.
This is a tough hobby, but someone has to do it
Fred Mills said:Fred, I'm willing to learn any secrets... :)
Andy, my son, don'tforget the guard rails on that bridge.....it's not hard to apply guard rails to the Garden Metal bridge ties. If you want to know how I gid it, just ask.
Andy Clarke said:But if you learn Fred's secrets, he'll have to kill you. And bury the evidence in the Vatican's secret archives. :P
Fred, I'm willing to learn any secrets... :)
Andy;
If you are using Garden Metal bridge ties, simply get some code 250 or code 215 rail. Light rail like this is often used as guard rails on prototype pikes.
Get some spikes. I use plain steel spikes from Micro Engineering.
Find a drill that allows a tight fit for the spikes to go through the plastic ties, and using a pin vice; drill holes through the ties…I drilled about every 6th tie, against the inner side of the existing “Nubbins” that hold the running rails in place. Don’t push the spikes all the way down yet.
Form the guard rail so that on the approach to the bridge, the rail bends towards the track centre. Press the rail against the spikes you have pushed into the holes, and then drill another hole on the inside of the guard rail, pushing a spike into it and pushing bothe the previously driven spike and the inner one down to hold the rail. Do this along the length of the guard rail. Finally, spike the bent ends of the guard rails to the ties. Apply the guard rail against the opposite side, and your job is done.
The guard rails should extend about a car length past both ends of the bridge.
I use code 215/250 aluminium rail. Before applying it, you could paint it to resemble rusted rail. Do not clean the “Rust” from the rail head of the guard rails.
The spikes on my bridges have not come loose or pulled out in any way over numerous years. If you have a long bridge, and the normal 5-6 foot lengths of rail need joining; just either spike a few more ties at the joint, or use an appropriate rail joiner. You might need to use a chisel blade on a knife to whittle away on the plastic ties where the joiner falls, but it only takes a minute or two.
Don’t try to apply the guard rails before the bridge ties are in place, with the running rails. Use bent nosed pliers or needle nosed pliers to push the spikes into the holes.
I hope this is of some help…
Fred, Thanks for the advise/instructions…
The bridge I’m working on, is 12 foot long, and will be double tracked…
Ric and I purchased some 8 foot lengths of code 250 rail, from RLD at a Springfield, illinois trainshow, to use are guard rails on bridges… (Actually, we purchased the rails, so we could get the 8 foot galvanized pipe the rails came in)… 
again, ty,
No trains for us today, but we did shuck 5 doz ears of white corn, blanch and put up to freeze…along with 1/2 bushel of Crowder peas…
Noel did a pretty nifty guard rail thingy on the Train Channel broadcast a few weeks ago. (really easy)
my kids have been building their own GRR, I need to get some pix for you guys to see…
cale