Large Scale Central

Little River Rail Road in Doc Tom's back yard

General Discussion
#221

The LRRR gets a new bridge at “The Sinks” of the Little River Gorge Atticus was hired on by his Brother in Law ,Col. Townsend ,to work in the Accounting Department of The Little River Rail Road. While he could crunch the numbers he did not have a lick of Rail Road sense. So when he read the timetable that LRRR #2147 would be at the new bridge at The Sinks at 10:45 AM he either did not understand it or just didn’t believe it and he decided he would venture out on the new bridge and enjoy the spectacular gorge below.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/Bridge1.jpg)

At 10:44 AM he had become a believer in the accuracy of trains running on schedule.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/Bridge2.jpg)

All Boss Crumb could say was “Hrumpf”. He continues to wonder about the merits of nepotism. The new bridge was built by my good RR buddy Bill Nelson and is about 5 feet long In the background in picture #4 is the slowly progressing curved trestle at Nelson’s Gap that will eventually cross this line a little south of The Sinks.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/Bridge3.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/Bridge4.jpg)

Doc Tom

#222

It’s a good thing the train stopped for Atticus.

Nice bridge.

#223

Nice looking bridge. Getting there with the line.

#224

That curved trestle is going to be something to see when it gets there.

Tom Grabenstein said:
the wheel base is too short but what the heck it was free.
Free goes a long way towards offsetting a multitude of other factors.
#225

Where are the guardrails, and proper deck ties…as a few expect me to ask…!!

#226
Fred Mills said:
Where are the guardrails, and proper deck ties......as a few expect me to ask...!!
Hi Father Fred,

Thanks for the “eagle eyes” and noting the lack of guardrails and deck ties.

We have a case of “gift etiquette” here as the bridge was given to me by my friend Bill N. and maybe later on when I learn spiking of large scale track I could go back and redo it.

I hope to improve as the years go by.

                                                Doc Tom
#227

Here we go…

#228
Bob McCown said:
Here we go...
Road Trip!
#229
Steve Featherkile said:
Bob McCown said:
Here we go...
Road Trip!
???? Cornfused ( as we say in Tennessee) ????? What kind of road trip are we on and were we be going??? 
                            Doc Tom
#230

I think Bob means; “After my comment on lack of guardrails, and bridge ties”, that , here goes the old fart again on his never ceasing complaints about the lack of such things…!!

Tom; I appreciated your reply to my comment…thank you; well said. Keep up the good work, and having fun.

#231

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/The%20Railroad/July2007004.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/The%20Railroad/July2007008.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/march2010001.jpg)

#232
Fred Mills said:
I think Bob means; "After my comment on lack of guardrails, and bridge ties", that , here goes the old fart again on his never ceasing complaints about the lack of such things.....!!

Tom; I appreciated your reply to my comment…thank you; well said. Keep up the good work, and having fun.


Hi Father Fred,

Thanks for the clarification.

Probably the best large scale layout I have ever seen was the fabulous Sundance Central ( in 1:20.3 no less) at the Narrow Gauge convention last year. You are right it was so beautiful as it was all hand laid track on real wood ties with great bridges, guard rails and bridge ties. They have set the bar really high and I hope to jump over it some day. I have been working on this RR for 1.5 years and it still is only about 25% done. So a lot of goals are ahead including hand laying track on a bridge.

As this bridge was a gift I hope to get the next one in kit form and give a try at hand laying track. It should be a lot of fun and very interesting.

Doc Tom

#233

You may be an Old Phart, but you’re OUR Olde Phart

#234

Who Pharted?

#235

Hoof Hearted ?

Glad to know we can count on Fred for consistency :slight_smile:

#236

Thank you, Bob…

#237

Been to Mecca. I just got back from one of my favorite places in Tennessee…Townsend. Townsend was the headquarters, lumber mill and engine shops for the very interesting Little River Rail Road. I spent enjoyable hours exploring all three “prongs (branches)” of the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was a very nice 70 degrees up in those mountains. It was up these three prongs that the LRRR built its roadbed to get out the timber for the mill. I spent considerable time at the Little River RR museum in Townsend (www.littleriverrailroad.org/ ) and learned a whole lot more that will help with the model out in the back yard. For instance despite being a mountain RR NO tunnels were ever blasted on the ascents into the mountains. If black powder couldn’t cut through rocks in the gorge then a bridge was made to the other side of the Little River. So I will remove tunnel construction from the plans for the Garden RR. Also a while back I started a thread on constructing an AH&D loader in 1:20.3 scale. The museum just happens to have a loader, that I had complete access to. Here are a few shots to help my future modeling project.

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04327.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04333.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04326.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04325.jpg)

(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04336.jpg)

If you all are ever in the Smokies or East Tennessee consider a visit to the Little River RR museum in little ole Townsend Tennessee. Doc Tom

#238

It’s kinda rusty. don’t they take care of their stuff? :slight_smile: :stuck_out_tongue:

Cool loader.

Coat of Krylon and she’s right as rain.

#239
Steve Featherkile said:
It's kinda rusty. don't they take care of their stuff? :) :P

Cool loader.

Coat of Krylon and she’s right as rain.


Hi Steve,
The museum does have a newly constructed wooden “engine house” and they are restoring a 1930’s era wooden caboose in it. I was saddened to see this magnificent loader rusting away. I think it is over 100 years old!!! If I interpreted that builders plate correctly. I did join the LRRR historical association and hope to make a few of their meetings over in East Tennessee and see if we can raise the $$$ to adequately protect these industrial historical relics. The Shay outside could use a paint job too.

                                                   Doc Tom
#240

Tom looks like a great trip. The Smokies are a great place. Hows the RR going?