Bought bricks recently, for the eventual start of my tunnel project. Not nearly enough to finish, but enough to give me a decent start!! Went to look for a garden cart yesterday, with no luck. But, what I did find, was a leaking drivers side rear brake cylinder!! Scheduled appointment online, with new shop. Going in tomorrow at 10AM. Previous owner retired and sold! New place has currently, over 1400 5 start ratings!!
Spend several hours today, running trains, after a quick repair! Something so simple, just about wiped me out! But, trains ran, with minimal problems. The GP30’ ran along with the K27 for a change! At the moment, I’m flat wiped out!! But, had fun
Sounds like you had a good time. Wait, you said K-27 and GP30 ran together? Are you modeling the dual gauge from Alamosa to Antonito? No? Was that the sound of a prototype police siren?!? *ducks*
Was a false alarm! They showed, but I showed them the rules to MY railroad! That is: 1. This is MY railroad 2. I make the rules 3. Prototype discussions welcome, but if you’re gonna nitpick, consult Rule #1. Problem solved.
Considering I wqasn't able to do the needed maintenance over the ast 2 years, because of health issues, it actually held up pretty good! Been told there's a pretty good size washout in the back, which I have not seen yet. Tie ends are hanging in the air in places. Don't think it'll take too much work to get things back in shape! Just gonna have to go slow at it, until I get used to working again! The Geeps ran fine. The K caused a few issues Jumping Aristo frogs or snow plow hitting Aristo switch machines! Have a couple of spots were rocks are a hair too close to the track! Simple fixes, once weather warms up again! 5-10 inches of snow expected by tomorrow morning, last I heard! However, I'll believe it when I see it! Gonna show trains off in July, pending bug situation, towards the end of July. Might have the K fixed by then, I hope. Have a friend in the Denver area who is willing to help shim the lateral play in the drivers, as well as help add the necessary shims to counterweights, since I've got an original first run. With faulty counterweights. Then, just gotta slowly start placing bricks, and getting an idea of how the tunnels I'm wanting to add, are gonna work. Wanted to do that Tuesday, while I ran things. Didn't expect adding jumper wires to a switch was gonna kill me! Half the railroad was dead, until jumpers at switch were added, then things ran perfect all day! Maybe one more set of jumper wires, after I do some switch replacement. Gonna upgrade currect Aristo Craft turnouts, with all brass USA Trains turnouts. Remote switches, with NO machine above railhead, for things to snag on.
Amazing how effectively our equipment finds the flaws and obstacles in our track/ROW! We just got 3.5" of snow this morning. Been a mild winter with minimal snowfall. If I ever build a garden railroad, drainage will be a challenge!
Drainage is definitely a problem! I've got issues in the back, that I need to look at. A friend filled in the problem areas last year. However, the first good hard rain we got washed all that work away! Front isn't too bad any more.Just gotta find a way for granite ballast to NOT wash away! I've heard of folks using Portland cement, lightly mixed with ballast. Also glue, dribbled over ballast, just as in the smaller scales. Or, run it on a ladder type roadbed. Elevated if one chooses. If not for issues I've been dealing with the last 2 years, things might be much better off than they are currently! Fun, but plenty of work involved.
Is it just washing away in a specific place, or two? Or long sections? I as thinking that you could model some cribbing in a short section, just like the prototypes...
Sounds like a couple of places. I’m not sure, as I haven’t seen what happened, or how bad. Would give me an excuse to add a short trestle in back, depending on location. But, since I’m also looking to upgrade turnouts, I’ll have a chance to do some rebuilding. Maybe a slight redesign. Gotta wait for warmer weather first! Maybe I’ll be able to manage better by then! And the work won’t darn near kill me!
Ran a train about 3 1/2 hours on Tuesday, while weather was nice! Had a GP30 going for a while, before changing to the U25 I picked up a couple years ago. Ran fine in 1 direction, and derailed at a specific switch, in the other direction. But, I think I know why. Surprised trains run as wells they do, despite the serious lack of maintenance over the last 2 years!
Actually got out and did what I wanted today, started working on the tunnel project I've been wanting to work on over the last 2 years! Nothing permanent at this time. Just setting things in place for now, to give me an idea. Of course, comments/suggestions welcome. Nice to see the front starting to come to life as well! Front, in general. A few from my tunneling start. Again, all temporary for now. Just getting an idea of how this is gonna work out! This is ONLY 25 bricks!! Think I'm gonna need a few more!
Decided to set up the passenger cars today, with the MAC and the PA. Needed to check clearances of passenger cars! Good thing I did! The coach and Combine I have, both cleared the inner wall, by about a quaters thickness! Or about 1/32 of an inch! Until I moved 2 bricks back slightly. Since nothing is firmly in place yet, I'm gonna have a few issues like this! Next is to pull out and try the K-27. The width over snow plow and/or cylinders, could be a small issue. Same with stack height.As is, with 1 more layer in place, I'll have about 2 inches vertical clearance. Gotta wait until disability deposit, or stimulus money arrives, so I can go and get another 25 or so bricks!Already have adhesive to glue things together once I know what I'm gonna do, and how! Night check the K on Sat, gonna be near 70. The cold, rain and snow most of next week! 2-5 inches of snow forecast. Believe it when I see it though!
Lookin' good Keith! I was thinkin' maybe a large PVC pipe that you could cut in half, bury with dirt, and some nice tunnel portal at each end. Might be cheaper than all the bricks you'll have to buy!
That idea has crossed my mind. But, trying to find a pipe large enough, is difficult at best!! And trying to get something around a curve, and get needed clearances, might have been an issue. If tunnel was straight, I could have maybe used a straight piece of pipe. But, I was looking for the flexible black corrugated pipe. Couldn't find anything large enough, that was realativly cheap! Would cost me as much as the bricks!
Enjoyed what I could, of decent weather today! News says just over 5 1/2 inches of snow tomorrow! Set up and ran my Aristo Craft GP40's for a change! Plus, a clearance check wouldn't hurt! Fits nicely where tunnel is gonna be! Ran OK for a while, then I got a dead short! Pulled one unit, and the other rtan fine until I quit. Power is a Bridgeworks Mag 15, a 20 VDC, 15 Amp power supply. Also 12VDC and 12VAC as well. Find it a bit odd, that 2 GP40's would trip circuit breaker, and 4 USAT GP30's can run all day, with no issues, unless one is derailed and meets a switch, then I've got major issues! Started around 3:30, aand played until about 8:30, with maybe half hour out for dinner. Put a 3 car train on as well. Did good, until couple on one gondola flat BROKE! Wasn't hit hard, didjn't snag anything.....Just broke as train was approaching switch for the wye to the backyard! Was able to fix, since I just happened to have an extra couple set on hand. Replacedan Aristo couple on a flat car as well. With rotten weather for at least the next week, good time to start pulling a few locomotives apart, and doing some cleaning and general maintenance on them!
Sounds like a fun afternoon there Keith. I really wish I had the time a extra funds to build a garden RR.
Since it was snowing today, and gonna be rotten for the next week, I decided it was time to finally get my Aristo Craft RS3 pulled apart, to check it for operation quality. Imagine my surprise, when I fired it up, and the sound started but did NOT move! I thought it was a DC locomotive!! Turns out, it's equipped with Phoenix sound, and an Aristro Craft/Crest Revolution system already! Means I can NOT use it, unless I can get a Revolution throttle! And a throttle/reciever on ebay, starts at about $260 and UP. If it runs, I'll leave As Is, and find a Revolution throttle/reciever. Hoping throttle will work with current reciever. Not sure I want to try and fight the rats nest of wires, in an attempt to get an Airwire RC reciever installed!Need to continue clearing out handrail mounting holes so I can get new handrail stantions and railings installed! Locomotive is in Fair condition, NOT the new/Like New it was listed as!! Kadee couplers next as well.
Discovered, pretty quick, the set up in the RS3 is an Aristo Craft Revolution reciever and what is an older Phoenix sound board. So, IF I want to run it, I'm gonna have to do one of 2 things: 1. Leave As Is, and get a Revolution throttle, Ebay, starting at about $260. 2. Try to figure the rats nest out, and install an Airwire reciever, with Phoenix sound. May just go ahead and leave As Is, won't have to deal with a rewire job! It may be the oddball, but if it runs....Best not complain! Also looking into upgrading the wiring to the railroad. Using low voltage landscape wire, with weatherproof wire terminals. Have time, since weather is gonna be rain/snow/cold all week!