Large Scale Central

Kittatinny Mountain RR

General Discussion
#28

Finished my trench and put down my base layer of balast. I tamped it down with a home made tamper, worked great. My stream still leaks but i checked everything and found nothing. My guess is it is from capillary action. You can see where the water runs up the banks and makes the rocks and dirt wet. Here are some pictures. I am also going to put some cribbing in where the tracks cross the creek. I took some tree branches and going to shave/carve them. Then paint them to protect the wood. Sort of an experiment. I want to makw my wood like they did in the late 1800’s. Going to try a trestle like that too. Should be ral rustic looking (I hope).

(http://i26.tinypic.com/2ljn62d.jpg)

(http://i31.tinypic.com/2wovlhz.jpg)

(http://i27.tinypic.com/5o6tn5.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/2e3mp3p.jpg)

This is my new Lionel set I got. My brothers in-laws were getting rid of it, so he grabbed them for me. Army lionel not sure how old but my gues about 20 years old. Wish it was G scale though Good find for free.

#29

I think I solved the leaky creek proble. Thanks toad and Brian. I got all the track down and started to level it and balast it. Its too bad I have to go to work this afternoon. could have had all the track balasted. oh well tomorrow. I also stained my wood for the cribbing and trestle. After Balasting I will work on the trestle. here are some pictures so far.

(http://i26.tinypic.com/2vblemd.jpg)

(http://i32.tinypic.com/wjj68g.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/294530g.jpg)

Where the trestle will go.

#30

Hi Shawn,
It’s looking good. The water feature looks great. I see you have plenty of room for future expansion !
Ralph

#31

Startin to look like a RR…keep up the good work!

#32

I finished my cribbing and trestles. Looks pretty good for my first real wood project. I did some more work on my Mountains. I found some nice rocks covered with moss and lichen around my property. I put them throughout the mountain. Came really nice. I also ran my trains again today. My Bachmann Big hauler runs great except for one spot on the track where the front wheels jumps. Looks like a high spot. I tried to play with it but had no luck. I might try weighing the wheels down some. If no luck then does anyone have any other advice?

Tomorrow i am going to get another load of top soil so I can finish my mt. I would post pictures but I forgot my camera at work.

#33

Well I got the cribbing and trestles in. They came out pretty good for my first attempt at making anything from wood. The only thing i could do different is make the legs on the trestle more boxy looking.

(http://i27.tinypic.com/mr5nar.jpg)

This is the latest. I started taking nice moss/lichen covered rocks and put them into the mountai. (The rocks to the left of the tunnel in the dirt) I have a lot more rocks to use. this is just the start.

(http://i31.tinypic.com/358zxwh.jpg)

Trestle and cribbing. I might end up using more squared legs. This will work fornow. It is more for show rather than support.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/1jsupy.jpg)

View of part of my RR. To the right of the tunnel I am putting more cribbing and then extending the moutain to make a cut before the train enters the tunnel. Also going to make some wooden portals for the tunnel. I need plans though.

(http://i31.tinypic.com/1zp32hy.jpg)

ANother view

#34

Nice work Shawn. When I was a teenager I helped my dad build a cement pond with a stream. After months of patching efforts the stream and pond never did hold water well, so it rarely had water in it after that. In the 80’s I ran a pet/fish business and learned how to do ponds with liners. As you have found, its still a challenge to do streams that don’t leak, particularly with waterfalls. You also may be surprised at how much evaporates in the heat of summer if you leave it running. I have a large pond I built 15 years ago with a liner and it still holds water as well as when I put it in. Water, and a couple feet of leaves since I live in a forest.

For lakes, its hard to beat the preformed plasic ponds you can find at the big box hardware stores. Easy to put in and they last forever.
Good luck with the layout.

Paul

#35

The sun finally came out. I was able to get some planting done. My line is starting to come to life.

(http://i25.tinypic.com/xdfqr4.jpg)

Bears are out of hibernation. Mom had a cub over the winter.

(http://i25.tinypic.com/2u4k1ls.jpg)

Got to run some trains. Cant wait to start weathering my trains and kitbashing. Not till winter. Also added my throttle house. I put it on top of the ledges and will make some stirs or a ladder for acess.

(http://i30.tinypic.com/5pgcj7.jpg)

Another view

(http://i29.tinypic.com/15nr5lg.jpg)

Tunnel entrance. Also playing around with dead pine branches and using them as dead trees in my forested mt.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2pzdyz9.jpg)

My creek. Put some lemon tyme along the edges. Will be some time till it covers. I also planted some small cedars to the left. Picture came blurry.

#36

The “Tin Kitty” is coming along nicely! I like the creek.

#37
Shawn Viggiano said:
I had to use some of that spay foam for waterfalls to seel up the area where my cascade dumps out of the upper pond.. I think this is where I am getting some leakage. I also added liner tape and tight bond to where the two liners overlap. This should give it a better seal and hopefully I wont loose water.
I still have to seal the joints in my stream and tuck some of the folds in a "more pleasing manner" ;) :D. Checked at HomeDep, lady there told me to use the same stuff as the bicycle tube patching kits - said she used it for her stream - well that stuff comes in "tiny tubes" at a "great price". :) So I poked around the local "we have everything store" (aka CTC) and came across a nice big tube of ShoeGOO, tried it on a scrap piece of liner. Holds really well! Problem solved; now I just have to wait til the weather is a bit hotter, still cold at night and the stuff cures better in warm weather. Meantime the water is running.
#38

That is a great stream! Your pictures certainly show your fine work.

#39

I had a little time yesterday before work so I put my wall in on the back end of the RR. I just have to have to get some nice plants (ground cover) for top of wall. Something that will hang down nice. After getting over an inch of rain everything held up great, no washouts.

(http://i31.tinypic.com/2efs2hf.jpg)

Dry streambed coming off the Mtn.

(http://i27.tinypic.com/mcyln7.jpg)

Part of my wall I built.

#40

Shawn,
It is looking great. Nice job on the retaining wall. I have several to build myself. You must be working real hard, as you have made much progress.
Although I won’t be finished for a long time, I have about 30 days to try and achieve a more “finished” look such as you have. My daughter is having an engagement party at my home next month and let me know she wanted the train finished !
Ralph

#41

I got my wires burried that go from the outdoor throttle to the house. I alsi hooked up an electric box by my RR. That way I can have something close for my water pump and other future additions. I bought 2 more alberta spruces as well as some blue spruce sedum for on top of my wall. Other than that just been enjoying my trains. Will have some more pics soon.

#42

lookin good!

#43

You sure are making some great progress and things are looking good. Will you tell us a little about the creek? How long is it? How deep is it and how much drop does it have. Also, what is the capacity of the catch basin and what size pump are you using? I plan to include a small creek in my railroad as things get a bit farther along.

Thanks and keep up the good work,
Roy
Seven Cedars RR

#44
Roy Heimes said:
You sure are making some great progress and things are looking good. Will you tell us a little about the creek? How long is it? How deep is it and how much drop does it have. Also, what is the capacity of the catch basin and what size pump are you using? I plan to include a small creek in my railroad as things get a bit farther along.

Thanks and keep up the good work,
Roy
Seven Cedars RR


Roy I will get back to you on the stream the weather has been miserable. I have to meaure it and check the pump size

#45

It has been a while since i posted any updates. I got a few more things done, although I have slowed down some. Mainly due to rainy/cold May. I was able to get an outlet by my layout to supply power to my water pump. I added few more plants and built a small pond in the back corner of my layout.

(http://i28.tinypic.com/vg6h4o.jpg)

New addition pond. The stream is a dry stream bed. Acts as an overflow for the pond.

(http://i28.tinypic.com/25815vk.jpg)

Power outlet and throttle. I burried the wire from the throttle to the power supply located in my house.

(http://i31.tinypic.com/2wrqhsm.jpg)

View of layout. Things are starting to grow and spread

(http://i30.tinypic.com/14wtvev.jpg)

Another view

#46

Shawn, very nice and inspirational!

What did you get for spreading ground cover?

#47
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Shawn, very nice and inspirational!

What did you get for spreading ground cover?


Thanks
I have lemon thym, Plain Thyme, Elfin Thyme, Irish moss, goldmoss stonecrop, St Johns Wort, I have another Stone crop Sedum Blend (mix of different rock garden sedums), Mossy Rockfoil, Montana Sandwort, Golden creeping jenny, blue spruce sedum, Hens and chicks, Creeping phlox. I also planted from seed carpet of snow and forget me nots. I am also experimenting with partridge berry, it grows all over in my woods. I planted some on my mountain and so far it is taking very well. I have two other plants for ground cover but not sure what they are. I will get some pictures and post. That way maybe someone can identify it. For trees I have alberta spruce, Boxwood, barberry (red and yellow) Cedars. I want to add some dwarf white pines but cant find any localy.
I still have to find some ground cover for around my new pond. Not sure what yet. Any ideas?

Oh ya I also have some lavender in front of the rock wall.