I really don’t know why I’m even thinking this - but that’s how the mind works.
So on the weekend of the Ops Session on Saturday Night I brought up the subject of some changes to the KVRwy and why. This was expressed in front of a bunch of people, including Ken, Bruce, Rodney, Denny and Mark. My thoughts were to elimiate some of the track work in the front and move more toward the back yard. The reason being is we just don’t use the trackage in the front, except for the OPs Session. Now that doesn’t mean I’m pulling it all out, but I may reduce the switching at Consolidated and except for the long and out of sight runs, consider it more for staging. Yes, Cat Dump stays.
Bruce stated the idea of think of a blank slate, not tearing all the trakc out, but what would you do if none of the track was there.
I brought up the idea of having switching or staging happening in structures, so when the day is complete there is nothing to put away. This idea has always been part of the plan. That’s why Fiddle exists in the garage, KV Shops is in the garden shed, Consolidated has a structure for storage and we go in the basement.
So I like this idea of the dual gauge tracks and a standard 1:20.3 train. We aren’t talking about something big, as far as mainline trains, but more along the line of the Bachmann 45 tonner with the standard gauge trucks, the flat car and maybe a boxcar or gondola. A terminal railroad, The Terminal Southern", that is a connection betwween the standard gauge world and the narrow gauge in the Valley.
So first questions, who has a good example of hand laid track outside?
How long has it been out there?
Are the ties wood?
What type?
What was used for spikes?
I’ve always liked Richard’s “Port Orford Coast” ideas and might want to draw from that.