Large Scale Central

Romocomaka RR up and running

General Discussion
#21

Thank you for your comments. I am hoping the running part is as flawless as possible, Then I can get to the scenery part. Not sure what I can do, but I am hoping that visitors will make suggestions that will perk it up. I like to run the trains, but the scenery would definitely make it more interesting. About the only scenery that I know I am going to have to do, is the tunnel to the right of the access bridge to eliminate the expansion problem. We are having some more dead and dying trees taken down this week (the Ash blight is terrible, so we’re planting Maple trees in their place). We have 3 siding areas where we’ll be able to do industry, etc., and the area in front of the access bridge may be converted to a “town” layout in the future. Time will tell.
Again, thank you.

Noel

#22

Take as many of the trees down around the railroad as possible. Don’t replant any trees closer than 20 feet from the pike.

Least of all trees with leaves like Maples. Their leaves are a pain in the Fall…I consider myself lucky that I have mostly Spruce. Their needles are bad, but better than leaves.

I gather that operation is not in your game plan, as I see few if any possibilities for industrial trackage, or switching of any sort.

A raised pike that is built like yours, lends itself to continuous running, round and round…even with live steam at high speed, but is hard to add scenery to.

On a very positive note…it sure looks like you have put a lot of hard work and money into the railroad. I do wish you many hours of good fun.

#23

…I also notice that you used deck blocks, rather than trying the “Post in the ground” method. I have been using the deck blocks in my deep frost area for over 20 years with great success, and wonder why so many still try putting posts in the ground…let alone encasing them in concrete.
With the deck blocks, it is also very easy to make changes to the structure without having posts in the ground where you don’t want them.
I guess you used the old idea, of not disturbing the soil any more than you had to, when positioning the blocks…as the soil if not disturbed is well compacted over years and is unlikely to move much. We have found that there might be a minor bit of frost heave, in the Spring, but it soon settles down, to normal, if you leave it alone.
Nice work.

#24

Hi Fred,
Thank you for your thoughts. I am actually trying to save as many trees as I can, although, if you look at the pictures you might think otherwise. The many stumps came from dead or very dying trees. The 7 that are coming down this week are in the same condition, and I worry about my grandchildren playing near them, although the trains are also a consideration.
As for operation, I must admit, will be challenging. There are three large sidings positioned in such a way as to make them functional in terms of using them, but far apart in terms of trackage. In fact, two of the siding areas can be operated at the same point on the layout, but in terms of getting to them, at a scale 50 mph, they are 12 minutes apart.
I agree, scenery, never my strong point, will be a challenge, but one that I cherish, because I love tinkering and constructing. If I am by myself, I could see running a few trains on the mains, and running a switching operation at the same time, the perks of battery operation.
I love the Dek Blocks, and the only thing I did to the land was to scrape it flat and level, use 2" of stone, and then build away. Out temps aren’t as low as yours, even though we do get some extremes (-24F to 112F), so haven’t seen to much heave.
Again, I thank you for your thoughts, and, if you’re ever in the area, stop by, run a few, drink a few, munch a few, and enjoy.

Noel

#25

It looks like a giant slot car track :wink:

Noel Arnold said:
This is the upper loop and main freight yard

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/noela/_forumfiles/MVC-633S.JPG)

#26

Hi Forrest,
Thank you for the comment. I must admit, it would make one heck of a slot car track. You’re not the first one to notice this. Actually, it was a free lance layout designed around the obstructions and limitations (trees and water lines when it floods), I really didn’t want something this big, I wanted to get running quickly, but, as they say, the plans of mice and men sometimes go astray.

Noel

#27

Thank you for the invite…