Major update on the RGSNH

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

There used to be a railroad here! an engine house to be exact.

the engine house has been removed:

the plan: the new roundhouse will be in the crawlspace.

the three existing yard tracks get extended as well. An approximately 32 high x 7’-2" opening in the concrete wall.
the old engine house is potentially available. because it was up on a bench at eye height, the far side roof and walls were not covered in corrugated tin, and some floor boards are loose because the screws holding the structure down were under those. PM any interest.

so this was phase two of the project, to open up the crawlspace to remove earth behind. I had bought on eBay a 16" concrete saw, and before it arrived saw a bad review on YouTube, so was skeptical of success, and finally got up the courage to give it a try. it works fine 1" at a time, i did try 2" but it didn’t like it and tripped out the breaker.
as you can see i have had success with phase two, opening up the entrance to the crawlspace just below bench work height.

next comes further earth removal.

AL P.

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

Wow, ambitions plan! So this isn’t the crawlspace beyond the stairs, where the track exits to outdoors, but a different one I didn’t know about?

Be cautious about how much of that load bearing block you remove without a header.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Jon,
This one has been obscured by the old engine house, and the backdrop.
I plan on putting a new header in the 7" opening, and will probably just frame in the old window opening.

lots of work

AL P.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Update on the Big dig. this past Thursday I had three friends over and we made a big dent with a bucket brigade, and in the three days since motivated have removed even more to the point i think i am past the halfway mark. the new engine house will be in this area.
View from the first opening:

view looking towards the new engine house location

once it is all dug out, i can start on removing the remaining concrete.

Al P.

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

Nice! Do you know how deep the block goes before you reach the footer? Wouldn’t want to run out of foundation wall

[Cliff_Jennings]

Hi Al, wow, I agree with Jon, ambitious and, for me, a bit scary!

But I’m sure you’re approaching this with all your magnificent engineering brain, and that the house won’t fall down on you while you’re hand spiking code 250 rail under there.

And I’m sure the result will be amazing, but I’m having a hard time imagining where the new track will squirt out into the layout, and a what elevation?

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Cliff, go back to my original post and look @ the 2d drawing. the existing opening is on the left, the new opening is yet to be cut out where the track will extend into.

Jon, i think i found the top of one of the footer on Sunday. the new framing will be just above it.

AL P.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

As of today i , along with the Help of Phil Johnson, Ron Bart, and Joe Brodbine finished the major earth removal in the crawl space. Credit Phil for today’s Pictures.

Next up to finalize plans for removing more concrete.

AL P.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Well the day has finally come i have a new hole in my wall. a little more cleanup and i can start to build forward. Moore concrete cutting did a fine job and stayed within the quoted bugeted price.

AL P.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Today Ron Bart came over and i secured all the osb to the 2 X 6 studs that support this section. we started putting up the Masonite sheets on the rafters, but was running out of energy

soon I will locate the center of the turntable., and lay out the tracks. No more playing with Dirt.\

AL P.

[Korm (Korm Kormsen)]

i don’t know your age, but i doubt that you will be very happy, when you have to snake in there for repairs and maintenance.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Korm,

go back and look at the original post. the turntable is very accessible. i will get in there only to turn on my locomotive needed for a session.

Al P.

[Korm (Korm Kormsen)]

i had not seen/had forgotten (?) the plan.
so, apart from one turnout, you got just plain straights in that crawlspace, right?

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

Yes, and the turnout will be on a servo.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

I have made great progress in the last week or so. almost all the homasote is down, and the straight yard tracks are taking shape.
you can see i snuck another short siding in as well. i hoped to locate the turntable today , but found i needed to run to HD to get another sheet of plywood. the closes yard track need the turntable homasote in place before i can finish. about 12 cars additional room so far.

Al P.
.

[RGSNH (Al Pomeroy)]

After a little bit of pontification i decided a full sheet of plywood was needed around the turntable area so off to the HD . I had them cut the sheet so i could fit in my car. after that the saber saw did the work. I had Ron Bart come over today and we fitted up the base and located the center pivot. so naturally placing the bridge and checking clearances was next. i have more work to do to finish the pit and ring rail later this week.

Al P.