Large Scale Central

So it begins, new Garden Railroad 2013

Gardening
#61

Day 4 of the build 6/1/13

Today was a long frustrating day, didn’t get much accomplished and made a LOT of mistakes!

I knew this was going to be the most difficult portion of the railway, the curve we are headed into has a slight grade to it and once we round the corner I have to start thinking of how my trestles will come into play.

Clearing the area.

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08941_zps97a49c99.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08942_zpsa0061a7c.jpg)

We hit a lot of hidden tree roots from the cluster of trees we had removed two years ago, so we had to make some critical adjustments with some stone and a few bricks.

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08943_zps8bc6d8fb.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08944_zpsbe9be3bc.jpg)

#62

So after some modifications we were ready to put in the roadbed.

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08945_zps5aae4fc4.jpg)

And we had to add some rock support to keep the edging in place through the corner as we couldn’t drive in the supporting ground stakes as often as we should have.

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08946_zps0ad60846.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08947_zps203efd03.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08949_zpsbc73eb71.jpg)

#63

So that is what was actually finished after a long 10 hour day.

We did put some curved stone in place to help with the trestles but…after installing and leveling about a 10’ section we came to realize that well…we put it in the wrong spot!!!

This is my first attempt at trying to do a figure 8 with a track and trying to use some pre-made Aristo trestles. I think we have it a little better under control and we are slowly getting it, it was so frustrating and time consuming that we didn’t even stop to snap a picture of our mistake…but trust me, it was bad!!

Hopefully I will have a little time after work tomorrow to re-adjust some stone work we attempted and possibly get some trestles installed.

That’s it for now!

#64

Vincent,It looks to be going along very well.

But, you keep on saying we while the pics keep saying she.:wink: :slight_smile: You just seem to be holding up the fence. Kinda the same way Andy C. works on his RR with his wife Jane.

#65

Dave Marconi said:

Vincent,It looks to be going along very well.

But, you keep on saying we while the pics keep saying she.:wink: :slight_smile: You just seem to be holding up the fence. Kinda the same way Andy C. works on his RR with his wife Jane.

I want to make sure she feels included!

This way she will get more enjoyment out of it :slight_smile:

#66

…winking…

#67

Dave Marconi said:

Vincent,It looks to be going along very well.

But, you keep on saying we while the pics keep saying she.:wink: :slight_smile: You just seem to be holding up the fence. Kinda the same way Andy C. works on his RR with his wife Jane.

Hollywood, and that’s a problem???

#68

Vincent, nice progress… :slight_smile:

#69

Andy Clarke said:

Dave Marconi said:

Vincent,It looks to be going along very well.

But, you keep on saying we while the pics keep saying she.:wink: :slight_smile: You just seem to be holding up the fence. Kinda the same way Andy C. works on his RR with his wife Jane.

Hollywood, and that’s a problem???

Not a problem,just an observation.

#70

Vincent, It looks great! Makes me glad my layout is done LOL. Regards,Ron.

#71

So this wasn’t so much of a full build day, but more of a figure stuff out morning! 6/6/13.

I was up bright and early (6am) to do a little work on the railroad before heading into the office this morning, spent a few hours moving things around and I think I am starting to get the hang of what to do with my trestles and block.

Had to dig up and move the curved block from the other day, and started to re-think the trestle situation and how to get it right.

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/gr100_zps40b93cf3.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/gr101_zps1da3e094.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/gr102_zps8f1c8b8a.jpg)

So that is what I got done in about 2-hours time.

I stopped there so when I get home tonight I can run a test train over my progress and make sure there are not any major dips or grade issues.

When using the level on the track it seems to be a pretty consistant and slight grade, but then depending how you look at it with the naked eye…it sometimes just doesn’t seem right!

Tonights little test with a engine will let me decide if I am going to continue or start over again!

Now I do have a bunch of trestles that I will be cutting and modifying to fit & fill in on the trestle section. I am using the spacing that Aristo suggests in the little instruction sheet that came with the trestles and it seems to be working out okay…but we will no for certain tonight!

Thats it for now, my real work is getting in the way!

#72

Ha! I have no idea why my pictures are turned, they are correct on my photobucket sight!

maybe the train will run better that way!

#73

banked curves?

#74

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/3fe8c4a6-34aa-44b2-9746-d8c356aa716e_zpsc2acb0bb.jpg)

#75

That’s better!

#76

Well it appears I will be going back to the drawing board. What I did with the curve and trestles so far does work…if I stick with just running smaller switcher type engines.
And that doesn’t fit into my plan!
I went with all 8’ diameter curves so I could run my larger engines on this layout, and with the little jog I had to put in the track to get the over/under to fall into place so it will fit in my yard it just makes it difficult for larger engines to negotiate the track without derailing.
So back to the drawing board I go!

#77

Consider why you want a trestle. Is it just to have a trestle, or is there some purpose, are you climbing to a new elevation? Answering that question might help you solve your problem.

#78

Steve Featherkile said:

Consider why you want a trestle. Is it just to have a trestle, or is there some purpose, are you climbing to a new elevation? Answering that question might help you solve your problem.

The main reason is it will work well in this particular section due to the elevation change.

I was trying to do a over/under but because of how the track is now approaching a area where we are having a patio/deck built (on Monday) it just physically does not fit…at least not without either moving my fence or where the patio is going.

I think if I had stuck to my original plan which I had drawn out over the winter, I would probably be able to be running trains by now!

If I go back to my original plan, there will still be need for the trestle and it will actually help maintain the elevation and make a easier transition heading back towards the pond.

I knew this was going to be a difficult area do to the elevation change, but my real main concern is not to compromise the track to where I can’t run my larger engines & cars.

#79

It always helps to just run a train and relax for a few!

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/NI2_zps29805234.jpg)

#80

We have the new plan in place and prepared a bit of the area for tomorrows work, hopefully I have it figured out right this time and we can complete the outer loop of the track.

Then cook some burgers on the grill and watch a train go around for a while!.

But first, off to work tonight, be home somewhere around 3am!