Rainier Great Western Const Update

Director, 4th Divison of the Pacific Northwest Region, NMRA.

 

Sorry for the lack of updates this past week, been um, preoccupied.







I'll get back to hard work next week. M

 

So, after an all too brief respite, it was back to work on the RGW last night. We set out to get new subroadbed in place and specifically to get the helix track out onto the main table.

This pic shows our unusual solution to the top of the helix. The bizarre trapezoid accomplishes three things, it strengthens the top of the helix, gives us a base for the track that traverses over the top of the helix (hence the inclined status of the structure) and the splines give us an attachment point for the masonite that will eventually wrap the helix.



Here we show the helix track exiting the structure and beginning its trek over the main table.



We also cut subroadbed splines for our mainline curves in the SE corner. We will have four tracks in that area, all with 30 inch radius curves.



Here is the return loop to lower staging taking shape.



Next week much more subroadbed and we will start putting in the grades. Thanks for checking in.

Michael

 

Last night we spent most of the evening cutting and installing subroadbed. Associated with that process is installing the subroadbed at grade. Here are some pics of our progress.

This shot shows our attachment point to the existing upper line. At this point, the upper line splits away from the transition line. The transition line is just to the right of the upper line in this shot. The upper line is headed to the helix.

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In this shot, the sweeping curve of the upper line swings around the SE corner of the layout. It is set at a grade of 1.8%. It will continue at that grade for about 12 more feet of run, then level of again. If you look closer you can see other curves laying on the benchwork. These curves were laid in place to check clearances. One runs from the Renton Yard (extreme right of shot) to the front side of the main table, the other is the curve for the transition line that runs to Maple Valley. You also get a different perspective on the return loop under the main table.



Here is a pic of the line approaching the top of the helix and a little expansion of the subroadbed at the helix exit.



Final shot is a look at our minibus for the electrical hookups of our helix.



We take next week off to go have an operating session at a buddy's railroad, so next update maybe be two weeks out.

Thx for checking in. Michael

 

Thanks Jim. Ken, your support of this thread is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Spent parts of Saturday and Sunday working on the sub base for the lower staging yard. This yard will be the main location for all trains that enter and exit the RGW.

The primary carcass supports the plywood sub base, then we'll add a layer of homosote and then track. This section of the layout involves irregular angles and complex cuts to fit the plywood to the carcass. There are numerous 2x4's to navigate and the layout makes a hard turn to the northwest right in the middle of the yard. In order to pull this off, I chose to create paper templates of the area, then transfer the dimensions from the template to the plywood.

Years ago we purchased a roll of paper for the kids to use to draw. I cut the paper in 8 foot lengths, then tape one straight edge along the front edge of the table. I then use a sharp utility knife to cut the paper to the dimensions of the table. At the 2x4's I use an x-acto knife with a new blade to cut that area to size. Once I am satisfied with the cutout, I tape that to the 4x8 plywood:



I move the cutout on the plywood sheet until I am sure I maximize the piece with the fit, I trace the cutout onto the plywood, using a straight edge for the longer lines. Since this plywood will get covered by homosote, I am not that concerned with how pretty the lines are, just a good fit will do. In these two shots, you see the plywood laid in place. You can see that it's a bit rough, but we take care of that in the final stage. The second pic shows how we navigated one of the rods supporting the helix. Off to the left of the rod is part of the cutout. I will put that back in place before installing the homosote and support it with a splice block from below.



Here is a shot of both subroad sections that were installed this weekend using the paper cutout method. Before we put on the fascia we'll hit the front edge with a belt sander to smooth and plumb the boards up.



More Tuesday. Thanks for checking in.

 

Not really, in fact I probably made more of it than neccesary. Wanted to minimize wood taken out to the left of the rod, as it is my intension to run the inside helix track to the left of the rod so I wanted maximum support there; knowing full well a support piece would be necessary under the cutout.

 

Tonight we had a small crew so we split into two's and tried to complete two tasks. The first crew set about cutting plywood into four pieces; two large pieces which will form the bases for Renton and Maple Valley and two smaller pieces for subroadbed that will hold a passing siding above Maple Valley. The 4x8 sheet of plywood was first cut lengthwise at 24 inches, then again at 16 inches. The remaining 8 inches was split in two for the passing siding.

The other crew finalized the grades in the helix return track, then when the passing siding subroadbed was ready, installed it.

Here is how the two crews' work came together. The plywood on the frontside (left) of the table is Renton (Boeing, Paccar and several serviced industries) while the plywood on the backside of the table is Maple Valley (industries to be determined).

The plywood will be cookie-cutter once we determine the location of the industries and their service trackage. They are temporarily screwed in for now. We were also using the curve templates to assess entry and exit to Maple Valley.



Here is a lower angle view. A view block of 1/4 inch masonite will be placed on the camera side of the elevated track, so this shot won't be available too much longer, we will keep Mt. Rainier visible from this angle however.



Thanks again for your interest, the RGW crew appreciates it. M

 

Completed the return loop connection to the helix yesterday. May go out and start the Maple Valley connection or Renton connection sometime today.



Thanks for checking in. M

 

Mentioned in the last post that I would probably try and put in one of two runs and given it was plus 90 here today, the air conditioned train room was a no brainer. Spent about 3 hours putting in the Renton line to the helix. Here are two pics; one looking east toward Renton, the other west toward the helix.





More Tuesday night. M

 

Well, a big night here at the RGW, a full crew and lots of progress. Dual crews again as last week, so we decided to tackle the Maple Valley (MV) line from opposite ends. For one crew that meant finalizing the track that transverses atop the helix and then heads to MV. For the other, tying into the south wall transition track and heading NW to MV.

Now all that said, the first thing to get done had to be the placement of MV itself. Why? Once its elevation was established, the grade from either end could be set to meet MV's elevation.

So, here are a couple of shots of the helix crew's work. First shows the subroadbed installed at grade atop the helix. The second shows Wain, Ed and Scott putting in their final subroadbed section of the evening. The grade over the helix is 2.1% and levels off to 1.5% thereafter.

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Doug and I worked the other end. These shots show the MV base at elevation (53 inches off the floor) and the subroadbed back to the transition track running along the south wall.

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In the last picture above you can see how we intend to transition from the Renton Yard (lower right of picture) to the City of Renton (far left of picture) by running under the high lines that go to MV and Black Diamond. The curve cutout is lying in place to assure clearance is acceptable.

Thanks for checking in. M

 

You sure are doing some lovely benchwork!

Mike

 

Thanks Mike.

 

Not sure what happened but the trainboard website does not show all the uploaded pictures, while tapatalk does. So here they are again.

First two referenced:



And the last three:



Sorry for the confusion. M

 

Funny (or sometimes not) how technology throws you a curve. In this, just like shampoo, lather, rinse, repeat.