Watered in one more bucket of dirt. Added clamps to a couple sections of track. That's about all I felt like doing today! However, I might try to get the newly clamped curves in place tonight. Then maybe clamp the last couple of track sections tomorrow and get those clamped in. Then, I can start dropping ballast on the track and getting it finished, leveled and back in action! A quick check yesterday, I don't think I'm going to have the clearance problems I thought I might, with the K-27. Still going to check anyway!! If I don't, then I KNOW I'm gonna have problems!! Older couple walking by, as I was leveling out dirt, made a quick comment that yard looked good. Then, as they passed, they noticed the trains! And I heard "It even has a train! Oh my.........." Thought that was kinda neat! Even had a few folks show up later in the day Sunday, to watch things run for a few minutes. Wonder what'll happen once summer vacation arrives!!
Track sections have been replaced. Clamped in as necessary, for now. Have one joint that needs to be tightened, because my allen wrench does NOT fit!! Ballasting, leveling and testing should take place tomorrow!! Operations should begin very soon! Weather supposed to cool down, but not by too much, so...........
A number of errands ran today, so I didn't get a chance to work. Was windy as well, and I really didn't feel like working on the wind! A light breeze is one thing, but a decent wind, I can do without! Plus, this will let the new area settle in a bit more, and let me know if I have additional work to do, before I start ballasting track! Tomorrow should be a bit better, so I've heard! So, I'll finish things up then instead. Need a quick break!
Speaking of wind and trains, I drove past the big yard in Neenah, WI today hoping to get a picture of a different switcher I saw a week ago. I then noticed out in the middle of this yard was a wind sock like seen at small airports. Maybe you should include of those on your layout. :cute:
Or the next best thing: I have a bundle of Orange survey flags! Used those for original layout construction. Marked my track centerline. Showed where my track was going to go, and where I needed to pull out grass back then!
Thank you! Hoping to get front done this summer. And maybe get the track to the back temporarily placed, so I can get an idea of what I'll need to finish! Should give me a shout if you make it down to Colorado, and I can set up a day/time for a layout tour!! Show off inside, and out if you want! It's been fun/interesting.
I'd love to take you up on that. Potentially late this year, if at all in 2014. A lot up in the air for this move yet.
After you home and settled!! Plus, I have some other major to get done inside first!! Next summer would be better for everyone more than likely!! Although, Colorado weather can leave several decent days to run, during winter!! Or snow!! As you know from your photo trips along Moffat! A few updated photos from earlier today! Had big problems with the K, so I ended up running 3 drop bottom gons and my LGB DRGW #50, and an out of scale Aristo caboose.
Added ballast to rebuilt track areas. Started out my track testing with the K-27 and had all sorts of derailing trouble! Plus problems with drivers locking up! Had to change direction, to get locomotive to got the way I wanted it to!! So, I got out my LGB DRGW #50 and 3 drop bottom gons and Aristo caboose. Oddly, the train ran better in a CCW direction! Cars would uncouple when running in CW direction! Track needs a bit of leveling yet, along older sections. Then, maybe the K will run decent!! Following are a few photos of the #50 and train. Not sure the 50 was ever out on the mainline though! Much less in ballast service!
Ran GP40's and 11 cars after dinner last night. Had some minor derailing issues with one turnout. Quick inspection and a quick trim of throwbar, and points lined up in slot previously filed in both stock rails. Going to pull out and retry to K-27 tomorrow sometime. And at some point, I'm supposed to take oldest niece out for driving lessons!! She wants to try driving my truck, so...............Plus, I was "volunteered" for the job!!
Yikes! Hope you have some nice, empty country road to use for practicing! This could increase your gray hair collection quite a bit...
Went to Loveland with folks and Robyn instead. Soon as we got out of town and on one of the back roads my folks usually take, Dad stopped and Robyn took over! Took about 15 miles of rarely used back roads! did petty good! My truck when she decides she wants to try. Got home, and still had time to get in maybe 2 hours of K-27 runtime!! This time, it ran pretty good, in BOTH directions! With 3-5 cars, it runs OK. Slows noticeably on curves, with slightest grade! And in one section, it stalled out completely! With 6 cars. Had to back up about 6 feet and try again, with same results. Stalled out in same spot! Took at least 3 attempts before it barely made it around the curve! Think I need to find an upgrade for the K. The drivers, when locomotive stalled, would lock up, and reversing direction was the only way to release them! Pushing the locomotive helped also, but don't know if I'd damage something if I kept doing it! Overall, an interesting day!
Pulled out the K for a bit this afternoon. Before the sky started rumbling and spitting! Ran OK for a few laps, then started jumping the tracks! Readjusted the new section that was recently rebuilt, and lowered about a 4 foot section. That seemed to help more. Still jumped the tracks at a couple of spots. So, I pulled out the big files and filed a couple of rail joints, smoothing out the inside of the joint, so flanges didn't hit/pick the slightest misaligned railhead! smoothed out those 2 sections, and the train ran great!! Even a 4 car freight train ran good. Then, I decided to really check things out!! I ran the locomotive, alone, BACKWARDS at just over half throttle for a good 10 minutes. Figuring it would jump/split the switch. Not a problem! Ran just about perfect! Maybe tomorrow, I'll run it in the other direction, and see how it does, and if I have more trackwork ahead! Pretty quick though, I'm gonna have to look at the driveline. Drivers are binding a bit, meaning I have to change direction briefly, the change direction again, to get it to run without binding. At a decent speed, it runs OK, but as I slow down, the binding becomes more obvious. at least to me, as I can hear something getting caught. May need to get replacement counter weights yet! That was the big problem with the K. If I could find a replacement drivetrain, that would be even better! Slows way down on slight grade, and speeds up considerably going down grade. And have to realign the new track section, as I can NOT get 2 trains by on main/siding without something catching. At least narrow gauge stuff. The standard gauge stuff runs fine! If I remove 1 section of track, and replace with a regular 12" section, I should get the necessary clearances! Can't do too much more with reverse section though. Gotta wait until after new siding on house is installed. So, some construction is on hold, and out of my hands! Over all, I'm happy with how things worked out today. Hoping tomorrow works just as well! Maybe after going to lawyer and exchanging paperwork, relating to SSDI benefits. Even had a neighbor, who I suspect may be a teacher, as she said she had a student........ Likes model railroading, but can't get motivated! So, she asked if she coulod shoot a quick video for motivation! Of course, I said go for it! As long as I don't derail! A good day!
It is very interesting how sensitive the "K" is to track flaws. I wonder what could be seen, if a person could hang a small camera which recorded the pilot truck and drivers as the locomotive moved along...?
Dips are a big problem, especially when on the OUTSIDE of a curve!! The outer rail drops down, and due to the long wheel base, the pilot wheel and/or lead driver rides right off the track! And if I don't notice at first, I find out when the locomotive splits a switch!! Now, to try running it in a CCW direction tomorrow maybe! Still have issues with certain cars derailing any/every where!! But, it's only selected cars, and not all of them. Finding the AMS tank cars and the 3 reefers I have are the primary culprits of this problem!! So, IF I can get track working pretty close to perfect, I can fine tune the track and/or the problem cars. If I can get something to run for a while, should I offer to host an open house for RR club. Or anyone else that might be interested and is fairly close by! Thankfully, I have plenty of time to make any adjustments necessary. Wanted to shoot a video, but @#$% media card was full!! So, I gotta clear a card so I can shoot video!
Pulled locomotive(K27) out again today. Ran in CCW direction today. Short of one rather massive derail, because I did NOT get locomotive on track right.........Everything ran great! Just as good as yesterday! At half throttle, it ran good. Even full throttle, it ran good! Gotta look into the K though, to see what's clicking and binding. May need to get new counterweights to fix part of the problem. Do NOT like working on steam. Too many potential problems!! At this point, I'm happy with how things are running for now!
Heavy rain yesterday and more and and off through Sunday, my rebuild project has survived!! So far!! :teeth: In that nothing washed out and no sinkholes. I'll try the K and cars again after things warm up! Then, I'll find out more, if things have settled in some way, if I have operating problems! Still, things are looking good!
