Large Scale Central

The building of the M&M Railroad

Mark, Just thought of another prototype you might consider adapting for your elevation issue. Getting a railway across the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney was a challenge because surveyors found every valley terminated in a Cliff, not a pass. The rugged terrain of the Blue Mountains presented a formidable obstacle as they pushed west.

Engineers tackled the major elevation challenge by constructing the zigzag railway, which used a series of switchbacks to navigate the steep gradients. Completed in 1869, this engineering marvel facilitated the expansion of the NSW railway westward, opening up New South Wales to trade and development.

It’s been reopened as a tourist line. If you can convince your other half for a 21 hour flight, you won’t need a car. It can be reached by intercity train👇

I’m sold!

I think that’s a great idea for a vacation but my other half has trouble with a three hour trip, I can just imagine a 21 hour plane ride if I could even get her on one.

The nice thing about living on a big island, there’s always the option of stretching a 21 hour plane trip into something much longer… When we visit America next time, Herself wants to us come back a little more slowly (21days) on something like this…

https://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=18192

EDIT: Just realised page won’t open without signing in/up

IMG_8335

UPS delivered this along with the receiver, and power supply. I am glad my wife is excited about the RR as it would be hard to get the approval to spend this much.

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Lovomotive bridge/trestle test run 1

Here is the video, I finally figured it out :smile:

Bog,Streams and Pond video

Here is the video I promised of our water gardens. It starts at where we are going to put the town and goes to the bog a small stream to the small pond and water fall under the bridge to the next stream and another water fall to the big pond. The last stream goes through our stone patio with a flat stone for a bridge.

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Test run with second tunnel 5/1/2024

I laid some track today and started working on the second tunnel, still have to put ballast in and more rocks on the mountain. There is a gravel bank about 5 miles from me that should have some thing that will work, get it loaded in my trailer and off I go. Be a couple days before I get to do that, I have to work on our camper to be ready to go in a couple weeks.

With tunnels try to use the longest track you have so your not trying to fiddle with joints in the middle …

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I did, 60 inch USA train track in the tunnel. :+1: Tunnel is about 40 inches.

I have a complete loop now, switches for the second loop are in too.

Video: Video is now required
stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

[First loop video 5/26/2024](May 26, 2024 https://youtu.be/7zCO32L_c1U)

Not the best but here it is. I will take a better one next time I have the trains out running.



Laid some more track. Ordered some curves to finish the loop. Hope to test run today and will post a video.

[Switches are working. ](G scale track switches. https://youtube.com/shorts/jQhV-SXX_JY?feature=share)

Got the track switches working. They are fussy, the track leading to the switch was twisted, keeping the switch from working. They also short out if you try to go through them when they are not switched the right way. :man_facepalming:

The last of the track is down. The one that ends is a siding, it will have a creamery at the end.

We are going to have a stream though our village this is where it is going to start. There will be a water wheel and grist mill there.

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Testing the water wheel.

Short video of me testing the water wheel on a temporary stand.

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How fun! Great work, Mark!

I’ve never seen an overshot wheel work that way, usually the trough goes over and lightly past the top center, so as to get the best use of gravity. But I’ll bet there are prototypes using your method, so I’ll admit ignorance here!

Keep at it, your layout’s looking great.
Cliff

Cliff, I believe that’s called an undershot wheel.