Large Scale Central

Millersvillanova 2.0

Track and Trestles
#1

I am new on this board, but some of you might remember me from other sites as well. Please allow me to introduce myself and my railroad: I’ve been a garden railroader since my parents finished off their basement at the old house in Bethel, CT back in 1992. That first railroad lasted until they moved in the winter of 1998. I built a second garden railroad at their new house, but by then, I was graduating college and moved out. About 2001, they asked me to remove that railroad for lack of use. In 2003, I got married. My wife suggested a train theme for part of our wedding, and I got carried away with the idea. The result was a wedding train and the creation of a new railroad, the Millersvillanova, in honor of our two alma maters; Millersville U and Villanova U.

In the fall of 2003, we bought a house and in the spring of 2004, I laid the tracks for the Millersvillanova. It was a single track over and under railroad with some big plans, but little funding. I was using mostly stainless steel track, but had to use some brass when I ran out for the mainline and side tracks. Over the years, the layout was modified to make it more usable. In 2007, we were approached by the RR museum of PA about a garden railroad tour they were putting together. We accepted and our first open house went pretty well. I had to bring in a couple of friends from nearby to operate the railroad while I played host. It turned out that this little yard I thought was great was horribly undersized and nearly unusable:

For the 2008 show, I rebuilt that in to a single track and then added a long passing siding:

Also, for 2008, I spent a lot of time raising the North loop:

In 2009, we switched to the ARisto revolution system, and the whole layout seemed to shrink overnight. Now, with only one passing siding, operating trains in opposite directions was not very exciting. I started to think of ways I could add a second mainline, but with the configuration of the railroad, and the available space, it didn’t seem likely. In 2010, we needed to replace 120 feet of sewer line from the back of the house to the street. This is how the backyard looked at the beginning of that project:

During:

I look pretty happy, don’t I?

And finally, almost done:

Continued in the next post…

#2

I like that new brick patio Mark. Is that a DYI job or did you hire a contractor.

#3

Oops. Don’t need the ;s even easier to post pics. OK, so in this whole process, I decided I was going to rebuild the Millersvillanova, too. The plan called to build it further down the line, making the backyard more ‘kid’ friendly. Oh, and also during this time, we found out we were having baby #2, due in September 2010. So, We called the RR museum, and told them we wouldn’t be on the tour because of the sewer project and the baby project!! In December, I jumped on some track from the going out of biz Ridge Road Station, and doubled my trackage to about 500 feet. In preparation for this build project, I anticipated the railroad being out of service for a few months. To bridge the gap and fulfill or need for trains, I built a small two track affair for my son and called it the Pietown and Western.

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251780_2040975634082_1535050491_2200376_4675619_n.jpg)

I held off on doing any work to the railroad until after Memorial Day weekend, since I didn’t know how long it was going to take to get things operational. But that following week, I removed all the old track:

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253535_2040977114119_1535050491_2200381_5622_n.jpg)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/246785_2040977714134_1535050491_2200383_5893147_n.jpg)

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/246860_2040985274323_1535050491_2200407_3143205_n.jpg)

Saturday June 4, I laid out the new railroad. I only had a few things that I really wanted to include in the new railroad, the double crossover and the turntable.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248755_2040979234172_1535050491_2200387_7606248_n.jpg)

Got working Sunday only to see my neighbor loading dirt in his pick up truck. Turned out he was taking it to the dump, so instead of burning gas, we wheelbarrowed it over to become the basis for my inner loop crossing over the outer loop.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250570_2040980874213_1535050491_2200393_1987712_n.jpg)

All those pavers are from the old back patio. We call this part the East End, and the mountain is Mt. Ault (for our neighbors)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251300_2040982354250_1535050491_2200397_1200220_n.jpg)

I laid out the outer loop first:

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260171_2049501847232_1535050491_2209871_8170423_n.jpg)

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248810_2049502127239_1535050491_2209872_4911966_n.jpg)

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/259803_2049502487248_1535050491_2209873_8075072_n.jpg)

Located some of the bridges and then laid the track.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/249950_2041003674783_1535050491_2200448_3189223_n.jpg)

Before tightening everything on the outer loop, I made sure the inner loop was also going to fit,

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/254472_2049502927259_1535050491_2209874_1004152_n.jpg)

Here are my two larger spans:

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254287_2049503327269_1535050491_2209876_7107189_n.jpg)

The one in the front my dad, grandfather and I built in 1995. The one in the back was a ‘temporary’ bridge to span the ever sinking sewer line last summer. All it is is a 2x4 with a 1x6 on top. THe arch is purely for looks. Painted with kilz primer and ‘stone’ spray paint. Didn’t come out too bad for a temporary structure.

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/255108_2049503767280_1535050491_2209877_1112235_n.jpg)

The focus was really on the East end because of all the work I had to do there. But the West end came together nicely:

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247071_2049505607326_1535050491_2209882_7054747_n.jpg)

Rock work on the East End inner loop:

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247284_2060466961353_1535050491_2222429_7547363_n.jpg)

9:47pm, Friday, June 17, I got a call from my parents. They were bringing a busload of seniors to my house to see the trains on Monday. They were unaware that the old railroad was gone and the new one was only together ‘for looks’. Saturday, June 18 (2 weeks in to the project), we were able to run the first train around the outer loop. Luke loves to push the trains (as Ric may recall from the ECLSTS this year), and I took this old big hauler with a stripped gear and made it a push train.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251075_2074805879817_1535050491_2242104_426179_n.jpg)

All the screws were tight and I ballasted that line, so we ran the first train that evening. Luke also checked the inner loop while he was at it. I wonder if he was having fun?

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254400_2074806479832_1535050491_2242105_2471438_n.jpg)

First ‘run’ train, mallet 3177 pushes the track cleaning caboose. The rails were extra slippery from either smoke fluid or stone dust.

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/262665_2074807799865_1535050491_2242107_6503518_n.jpg)

Watching…

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254975_2074809399905_1535050491_2242109_7817410_n.jpg)

Checking clearances:

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255745_2074808999895_1535050491_2242108_3538931_n.jpg)

I only have 3 bridges, so the other crossing on the East End is going to become a tunnel.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/264735_2074810199925_1535050491_2242110_2668747_n.jpg)

Monday, June 20, 3:10 pm, I finished the inner loop ballasting and ran to meet the 6 seniors (the bus decided not to come to my house). The first trains ran when they were here. Amazingly, everything worked well. Then I got sick. We’ve been running trains almost every day to try and pack down the ballast. I’ve got some low spots that need more ballast, which is the goal, finding the problems now and fixing them.

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263162_2152249055848_1535050491_2265899_4216791_n.jpg)

Amazingly, the double crossover, misaligned slightly as it is, works fine for 99% of the equipment. The budd car is still having problems with the outer loop at the crossover, but I suspect it is actually the yard lead switch that is the problem.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269972_2152252335930_1535050491_2265905_2457452_n.jpg)

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267917_2152252535935_1535050491_2265906_3266364_n.jpg)

I’m originally from Bethel, CT, and the New Haven (despite being gone 9 years before I was born) influence is apparent. I’ve even placed my request for NH FL-9 2019 when Wayne gets around to building them. Anyway, it’s been a busy month of work, but the trains run, and run well. The yard is the next project now that the turntable lead is in place. I’ll keep you guys updated, if you’re interested. Also, I’m under a time crunch since this year’s garden RR tour is Oct 9. Not that far away…

#4

Jon,

It was a contractor. I was going to do it myself, when I worked from home. Figured I could do it on my ‘lunch’ breaks. Then I ended up getting a new job, so I had the guy who did the digging work do the stone work. He did a good job and we’ve really loved the new patio.

#5

Nice work, Mark. Your boy is building memories as you build the railroad, that’s great! Grandfather, Father, Son and now Son of the Son. This is good stuff. By York, he’ll be running the “Timesaver”. :wink:

#6

Ric,

True enough. He had fun pushing the freight cars this past March, anyway. He’s getting good with the Revo. Just hasn’t got the patience for ‘slow down’. Likes to hit ‘stop’…

#7

Yes, he did and that was a fine start. Nothing wrong with hitting that stop button. I have more problem with the young and old that just want to see warp speed. “Stop” is a good thing.

#8

Mark,
Nice to see you here.
And certainly keep us posted on your progress.
Ralph

#9

Welcome Mark…RR looks real good

#10

Welcome Mark. Glad to see you posting on LSC. RR looking great.

#11

Welcome Mark, and we enjoy pictures, especially ones where somebody is working on their RR…:wink:

#12

Hey guys,

Not much to report from the past week or so. I did a pull test on Friday. Got every available freight car out and doubleheaded the mallet and the mikado to pull. Probably could have pulled it all with the mallet, but I’ve got at least one loose wheel on the mallet and didn’t want to have a wreck. Besides, doubleheading is fun!

And since you guys like pictures, I guess you also like videos. See this youtube video for a ride on a flat car, about 10 cars back from the locomotives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnEGlaCsf7Q

Oh, and in the first loop, you can see the end of the train on the other bridge.

#13

Kewl, and I didn’t even need a ticket to ride that…:wink:

#14

Neat ride… Nice railroad… :slight_smile:

#15

Thanks! Yeah, no tickets necessary. Donations of libations are welcomed seeing as how we do not follow Rule G here.

#16

Very nice railroad Mark! Smooth trackwork. You and Luke should be very proud. Lots of great family time this summer.

#17

Nice ride, thanks for sharing the lead to the other videos. Whose picture is on that box car about 5 cars up the train? Looks like a local politician. Is that a well known character?

#18

Nice work , Mark. Thanks for the ride.

#19

Hummmm.I don’t know whats going on with my IMAC but YOUTUBE don’t work on it anymore.
Whew! I finally got the video working on youtube again.
Now to watch that video.

#20

Mark;
The pictures blew me away.
Wow on the size of that trackage.
I really enjoyed the video.
The next video try to get closer to the loco. Now hear me out on this. You have great sound on that loco.
Be just close enough to hear the cuff of the engine and that great hobo squall. All those songs cant be wrong.
The flat car ride was great, but you know what I liked most of all was the sound of the haunting Hobo squall.
That is going to be super when you get it done.
Great job I enjoyed it immensely.
Thanks so very much for posting the video.
David