I just made an updated post in the BNSF "detour" topic, as I sit here coughing..... Sure glad my hobby is indoors!
Fence is done. Started laying track yesterday. Didn't get far, before it got too dark for me to see what I was doing!! Got to work on things this afternoon, and now I'm just about done! Need to figure out my track arrangement, to connect to the loop in back! May have a few tracks that will need to be cut to fit. But, I'm hoping that won't take too long! Might be able to get track completed tomorrow!! Photos to follow later. Got too dark to work and take photos. Electrical is ordered and on the way at this time. Once I get track down, then I can start working on landscaping a bit. Gotta get landscape timbers in place eventually. Maybe work on building a short tunnel, by the A/C unit! Strong enough to walk on, as needed. Or a place for A/C service guys to put their tools etc....And not block the train(s)! Pleased with progress so far!
There's something interesting. How do you protect against people who don't understand, or don't care?
I figure the tunnel, by the a/c unit is gonna be needed. Not enough space between it and the fence to walk past. Not without the chance of stepping on the tracks! Put a nasty, unwanted bend and/or kink in the rails!! As for placing tools there, that's only if they need to do something inside the a/c housing. The folks that did the install, and those that do the twice yearly maintenance, seem to enjoy Seeing the trains. But then, they've seen the changes made, and heard of my plans for expansion. Which is, oh so close, to finally being done!! Moe landscaping to do, before I finish track though. Landscape timbers to add along both sides of track. One side to hold back rock, the other at the base of a chain link fence. Preventing something for getting kicked onto the track, or into equipment. Original placement of track was about 6" closer to the fence! Of course, photos of my progress, as I continue. Should finish track work today, if all works out well.
Got a little more track work done. Wasn't planning on doing anything, as I was in a fair amount of pain. Got a bit more done anyway! Connected a few loose pieces of track. Trying to get turnouts lined up, for loop. Having trouble getting things to line up right. Need to get one line down, then I can work on fitting the remaining tracks. So far, so good. New track, from wye towards the back. Looking from back, along house, to front. Can see where I'm trying to get connected. As well as main/siding headed to front. A different angle of the back yard loop. This may take a bit longer than expected, as I'm going to have to cut and fit a few sections of track! And maybe move the entire loop a bit, to line things up better. Toggle switched and 24V AC/DC LED's are in transit now. That will be my polarity control for both loops. Landscaping to continue, after I get paid next week. Hopefully, this mess will be figured out by then!!
Shouldn't be. Planning on carrying the water drainage over the tracks and drop down along the fence, where it can drain, or soak in, depending on how severe the downpour is!! Started thinking, maybe design it as a mining waterway, or some sort of mining era sluice box from the heavy mining era?? Something that might be still standing strong, albeit heavily weathered, or worn out to the point that its on the verge of falling down. Have some time to get that figured out. Gotta get the folks thought on how to go about getting water over the tracks so they don't wash out!! Don't need the constant maintenance headache there!!
In my area, I have seen may indications on blueprints, of pipe, sluices and more, carrying over tracks. Sawmills, drainages, etc.
Have some ideas. Just not going to,be doing much, again, for a while. Right knee is acting up again. Hard to move, but not real bad yet!! Think I landed just a bit too hard recently, and that's what's causing the trouble this time. That or walking around the Moffat Tunnel area over the weekend. Plus a bit of walking at the Museum, for a weekend event,, Train Robbery and/or gunfight. Which one you saw, depended on which train ride you took. But, despite any potential problems, it was an enjoyable weekend!
Spent a little time outside today, working on the railroad! Since my knee wasn't too messed up. Made a few modifications yet again, and got things laid down. Still need to make some last minute changes to my backyard reverse loop. Need to get that track lined up, so that everything connects properly!! Might be able to get that finished tomorrow, IF I feel up to it!! Got the weather proof toggle switches I ordered today as well. Just waiting on the Red/Green LEDs and I'll have my reverse loop control and signaling on hand, and I'll be able to get my track wired pretty quick!! Might be able to run something front to back and return yet!! Before summers grinds to a halt and it gets too cold out to do track work. Need to get landscape timbers now, so i can hold back gravel and help hold bottom side of chain link fence in, so trains aren't knocked over if neighbor kids kick fence while trains are running. Major work should be just about finished this year. Minor stuff, and whatever I don't finish this year, I can complete next spring/summer. Just about 8 years in the making, and I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!! The excitement grows as I get closer to completion!!
Should have something soon!! At this time, it is official, tracks from front to back are DONE!! Still have a few joints to screw and/or clamp together yet. Plus adding power feeds, once I get power drops of some sort! Figure I can use at least 10 connections, to help spread the power. Once I get the worst of unevenness leveled out within reason, I can make a test run, and if that works, then I can make a video of new trackage!! Landscape timbers and maybe a little ballasting coming soon. Photos maybe tomorrow. Have a good 3 hours in today. Too tired to do anything else right now!
My Red/Green signal lights came yesterday. Was able to get one eventual reverse loop control assembled and lights working the way I was hoping! Some minor box building is next, after I get the price sticker removed, mounting holes drilled and components mounted. Will see if I can get a photo of the parts tomorrow. Wasn't sure if I was going to get the lamps to work as I was thinking. A little experimentation helped!! Took maybe 15 minutes to get the wire connections right. After checking it, it's gonna work just as I had originally planned!! Now, I need to get it wired in and make sure it works as planned!! So far, so good. A few updated photos tomorrow sometime.
One step closer, after today! Original wiring has been pulled out. Heavier gauge wire run to new track. That section, from front to back now runs!! Tomorrow, I'm gonna get more terminals/connectors. Should have the front loop and new addition running! Just have to build my reverse loop control for the back and install. Might be up and running in a couple of days! Test ran the SD70MAC today, to make sure I had my wires right! If wires are wrong, ditch lights won't work! Getting more excited, knowing things are just about finished!
As far as having trains running, maybe! Landscape and full track ballasting done, not even close!! At this point, I'll be happy to get new track level. Have a crossover right now, that has a nasty lean to it! My SD70 pilot gets hung up on opposite switch machine and/or track joint in one location, because of the uneven track! Small shovel, torpedo level and some loose dirt should level out the worst spot(s). Does not seem to be too bad overall. A couple of rough spots, which is really nothing too unusual either!
A bit of wiring done yesterday. Finished wiring today! Can now proudly state that Stage 2 of the railroad is done and running! The line down the side of the house is in, wired. The loop out front is rewired, as my reversing section. Had to swap toggle box, to get lamps to light according to track. Just have to assemble my other toggle control,many get it wired in, and I'll be able to run front to back and return! Just have some minor landscape work to do! Have to clear one track of gravel, that's too close, and get a couple of switches lifted so trains don't lean to one side so bad!! Spent some time running trains through the new, reversing direction!! And just getting out and running something for 2-3 hours! Think after I get track in back clear, and get things smoothed out a bit, I can maybe run my video camera on flat car over the entire system!! Within the week maybe.
However, I could run a camera flat down the new line, to isolated joints, just to give an idea of what's yet to come! And show how bad things currently are!