Having finished the ladder roadbed, I can now get back to shovelling dirt and moving stone before the snow flies. Also need two or three Indian Summer days for the last application of RoundUp.
Then winterize the water features; I can see it already with a down to the last minute rush.
Moving dirt I discovered that I better start the bottom row of concrete half-blocks for the next tunnel and get some more “hand rocks” to contain the dirt where it belongs. Ah well, could be worse, it could be a job!
PS if someone needs pictures … they’ll be a-coming real soon.
The bottom row is in, tomorrow I need to get more rebar and concrete to get the one wall finished. The forecast is for good weather, perhaps they get it right for a change.
Good weather is holding; kind of nippy in the morning, but once it warms up very nice to get jobs done … without a sweat.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/BerguenSeedorfTunnel03_s.jpg)
Now I need to decide if building a wall (to the right of that tunnel) will fit in — like a fascia on indoor layouts.
Hans said “Ah well, could be worse, it could be a job!”
What do they say, a bad day working on the RR is still a better day than at a real job. Or something like that. Winter is coming quick here too.
That gentle curve out of the tunnel towards the rocky cliffs is going to be a nice photo spot for railfans when it is done. That ladder bed will make for a very sturdy base.
Looking good.
Thanks Todd.
I try to get as many railfan positions on the layout as possible, preferably with natural depth and where that isn’t possible I will eventually dig out my Canon DSLR to control the depth of field. I figure I can cheat,just like the rest of the gang.
The wall question was run by SWMBO and she is of the opinion that it will be a lot easier than building a rock wall. How about that?
Got the material and work will continue tomorrow.
That should be high enough for that “mountain”.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/BerguenSeedorfTunnel04_s.jpg)
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/BerguenSeedorfTunnel05_s.jpg)
For stability I ram rebar down the cavities in the blocks well into the base, then fill up with concrete. Natural rock will be added to the textured front (12 to 18" high), the space to the tunnel wall gets whatever fill is around at the moment, with more of it next Spring.
The concrete is setting, some more of the same tomorrow on the tunnel wall. And … picking up some BFRs before returning to shovelling.
I like the look of that textured block.
Yes with a bit of additional mortar to hide the joints it will do.
I got the rocks and placed them, still need a few small ones to fill in. Then let it sit over the winter and in early Spring use some quick-set concrete to fill the gaps to the wall.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/BerguenSeedorfTunnel06_s.jpg)
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/BerguenSeedorfTunnel07_s.jpg)
The guy at the rock place said “What? Just a little load?” It was plenty to lift the stuff.
For today’s Hehehe factor:
SWMBO mentioned this morning that I should leave off the top row of blocks.
WHAT???
Sorry dear that concrete has set!
Can’t you just knock to two blocks off?
No dear, there’s rebar in them there blocks.
She’ll like it when she plants the trees and ground cover and it is right in front of her.
The first time in many years we’ll head into Winter - got my XC pass yesterday - without mounds of dirt, crusher and gravel in the garden. A bit of turned-over grass that can rot over the winter. What’s left of the staked line will be walking path and what’s to the right will be replanted in grass.
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Footpath01_s.jpg)
More rocks, a yard of soil along with gravel and crusher planned for Spring. Flagstone etc. to follow.
Then it will be time for more trees and ground cover.
PS This is in the “One more mountain to climb” category.
One more item off the list. This is Piz Styro.
…
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/PredaShelter16_s.jpg)
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/PredaShelter17_s.jpg)
A shelter for the railfans. If you look closely in the second picture you see one of them by the shelter. That is a 1:24 figure. The tree (sample) is an “El Cheapo” Christmas tree from CTC chopped in half and trimmed. Supposedly suitable for the outdoors; time will tell.
The Fall jobs are done, I wrapped Piz Styro in HD drop sheets. No fear of paint drops during the winter, the damn pheasants that roost in the cedars, just above that section, are another story. GRRRR!
Time to get cracking on the gazillion Winter jobs.
Note: For Steve F and John B (just down the line), presently it is -10ºC (14ºF).
Nice way to finish the season. Looks good. XC ski season is just around the corner. I think that’s the only thing that gets me through the winter.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
The Fall jobs are done, I wrapped Piz Styro in HD drop sheets. No fear of paint drops during the winter, the damn pheasants that roost in the cedars, just above that section, are another story. GRRRR!
Time to get cracking on the gazillion Winter jobs.
Note: For Steve F and John B (just down the line), presently it is -10ºC (14ºF).
Shoot, shovel, shut up. 
Note for HJ, it is the same temp here.
Shawn,
10" of packed base, green wax and sunshine. Nope I haven’t been up there yet, still cleaning and prepping for the winter jobs. That styrofoam is always messy and … there’s never enough room in the workshop.
That’s 10 inches more then we have. we might be getting a storm next week. Hopefully the skis will come out of hibernation.
Nice work, I really like the Styro.
Thanks Nick
“The best is yet to come” meaning the scenery needs a lot more work.
