I attended the NGR convention here in AZ and then went up to Pinetop for two weeks while my "chief-of-staff" was on a business trip to Amsterdam. This gave me time to rake up the pine needles and rebalast the track from the winter snows plus continue adding to the layout. The list was long so I'll throw in a few pictures rather than bore you with my writing.
The gold mine got its tressel finished and its back slope dry stacked in basalt.
The helix only needed minor repairs and some rebalasting.
The logging operation got a new forest planted and a rail spur. That meant adding drip irrigation for the 53 trees I was able to get from Lowes and Home Depot. Yep I bought all they had and still need about a hundred more. I planted them in their pots so as to slow their growth. I haven't trimmed them yet. I'll do that after I set up the high line rigging.
A stream was added between the town and the residential area. It has a pond liner and several tons of river rock and pea gravel. It also provides water for the grist mill via a flume.
The south stream was dug in, lined with week block and filled with river rock and pea gravel until I ran out of rock and steam for moving it.
As you might imagine I had a lot of visitors this being a front yard layout. Visitors includes the local police (I had 5 squad cars at one time at the place) but most of all I had a great time with the neighborhood kids. They have been great. So far I only have one loco converted to RC battery so the kids have to share the throttle. They've been real good about sharing too. The only problem has been some of the little ones don't want to leave when their parents are ready to go. This picture shows the work on the lower main line.
Any suggestions for the track crossing the viewing path? I'm thinking of maybe a shallow cut with some steps over it. How have you guys done it?
Rex
Lookin' good, Rex.
Bummer you didn't get to go along to Amsterdam to hang out in a coffeehouse or two.
-Brian
Rex,
Give the cops the remote.....from cop to kid in a second!
Looks great, hope mine turns out like yours, lotta work.
Toad
Split jaw makes a track unit that you can cast or glue into a concrete cut. You can even run it across the driveway!
A guy in PA just laid his track in the concrete as he was pouring, and used some balsa to keep flangeways clear til it set up!
The trees I planted are Dwarf Alberta Spruce @ $5.97 each. Does anyone have any experience with how long they will last in their pots?
The concrete idea sounds good to keep people from tripping over the track. I used motar mix on the viewing path edges next to the stream to keep the viewing path 1/4- from mixing in with the pea gravel and river rock. The balsa masking was the piece I was missing. I'll give it a try.
Thanks,
Toad,
I did give the throttle to a couple of the cops and you're right those guys gave it up right away to the kids.
The cops are taking a real interest in the hobby. For that I'm very thankful as they will keep an eye on its security. It's very comforting to have them stop by and visit a few minutes on their patrols. I think it helps the kids too (as well as their parents) to have the cops pay attention to an attraction in the neighborhood. The kids get to talk to the cops in a fun environment.
Nice layout. It is coming along nice. I bought all my Alberta Spruces from Lowes and Walmart for the same price. Cant beat that. I took them out of the pots. I would image after a few years you would have to put them in bigger pots. If you dont they will get root bound. It might be better for them to take them out of the pots and just trim them to keep them from getting to big. If you have too many a good project for the kids to help out.
Is Pine top a summer place? If so do you have a RR at your winter place. Looks like a nice area.
How long do you think I can keep them in the existing pots before having to do something? What does root bound do to them?
Pinetop is our summer place after the "chief-of-staff" retires in December. Today it's suppose to get to 110 F here at our desert home in Gold Canyon while it will only get to 80 F in Pinetop.
No I don't have a GRR here yet but I'm thinking about it.
Rex in Pinetop wrote: How long do you think I can keep them in the existing pots before having to do something? What does root bound do to them?Pinetop is our summer place after the "chief-of-staff" retires in December. Today it's suppose to get to 110 F here at our desert home in Gold Canyon while it will only get to 80 F in Pinetop.No I don't have a GRR here yet but I'm thinking about it.Rex
Im not sure how long they will last in the pots but usually by the time you buy plants from places like Lowes etc... they are usually already root bound. 110 thats too hot for me. Although I wish it was warmer here today we had about 48 degrees with some sleet/rain and 30 mph winds.
Love the layout. I have always worried about a layout facing an open area, but it is nice that you have free security.
I have found that small trees, kept in pots buried at ground level will send roots through the drain holes in the bottom of the pot. This gives them access to extra water and nutrients. They should last a long time, provided they get sufficient water. Being pot bound alone will not kill them, remember that is how bonsai works. My Alberta Spruces planted low, or close to ground level have survived well, while those planted high in the rockery have died, mostly from lack of water.
Good Luck,
Mick
Chief Operating Officer
Northern Timber Company - Mt Beenak
Mick,
Don't know if the pictures show it real well but the trees each have a dripper in their individual pots. I'm giving them a liter of water a day while we're in the dry season. The ground is very hard. I had to dig the holes with a pick and at that altitude it was a major strain on this old body of mine. I was really sucking wind at the end of the planting. Thinking about adding the next 100 trees makes my body ache just from the thought.
Good security in the form of interested cops is great but the real security comes from the neighborhood kids who want to keep coming and playing with the trains.
Here are a couple pictures showing some of the irrigation.
Rex in Pinetop wrote: Mick,Don't know if the pictures show it real well but the trees each have a dripper in their individual pots. I'm giving them a liter of water a day while we're in the dry season. The ground is very hard. I had to dig the holes with a pick and at that altitude it was a major strain on this old body of mine. I was really sucking wind at the end of the planting. Thinking about adding the next 100 trees makes my body ache just from the thought.Good security in the form of interested cops is great but the real security comes from the neighborhood kids who want to keep coming and playing with the trains.RexHere are a couple pictures showing some of the irrigation.
Looks good. I forget you live in dry country. Over here on the east coast we plenty of rain sometime way too much. The trees make a difference.
Remember Osmocate every 4 to 5 months for them.
Rex:
Looks like you too have been having loads of fun. If you have a few minutes to spare, drop by, I've got 6 buildings in the "supply cabinet" that need to be painted and built.
Tom Trigg
I'm not finding the word "Osmocate" in my unabridged Webster's dictionary. An online search also came up blank. Is this some sort of Texas word? Let us know what you mean.
Rex in Pinetop wrote: Toad,I'm not finding the word "Osmocate" in my unabridged Webster's dictionary. An online search also came up blank. Is this some sort of Texas word? Let us know what you mean.Rex
Rex, you should know by now everything around me is a Texas word
http://www.usahardware.com/inet/shop/item/92280/icn/20-196410/scotts/279010.htm
Here is some, every one makes there own.
I would think a Texan would have a better word for fertilizer than "Osmocate"!!!!
its Osmocote Professional Fertilizer for the rest of the united states
He means to use a slow release fertilizer as the nutrients in the pots will be used up, it needs to be replaced, using a slow release fertilizer will help replenish the nutrients no longer in the pot
Spookytown,
Thanks for the info. I'm very new to the details of gardening as you figured out. I guess everyone else knew what Toad was talking about but I sure didn't. Now it makes sense.
Thanks for the heads up. I'll definately be giving the forest a dose.
Be very careful with it. Read directions and might want to put down 13-13-13 first. Your forest.... Fish waste is good to, if you can stand it. Chicken poop is hot but you use just a little in the bottom of bucket (NO roots touching it thou).
As for cow manure tea is simple. Go find some droppings that are NOT fresh but abit dry and bring a whole bunch back home. Get 2 trash cans that are all sealed up (must face sun light) 1st add water and then add many cow pies to brew and do same to other, cover with lid and wait till brew looks like a dark tea. Use it on any plant and you can water with it every day. Your wife will think you have a green thumb!
You know I share to much of my time honored stuff........poop too
Toad - The one who knows how to take cow ......... and use on flowers! Next it will be Jack Sparrow, Savy Mate?
GR could not pay me enought........better to give away for free!
Toad - This is how I knew about the Cops..... <p>
castlebravo wrote:That is looking great! While mine will be smaller I will post some pics as I get started.
Nothing wrong with small. I only have around 60ft of track on mine. The important thing is to get some track down and get those trains running. Then you can add on as you watch the trains run. Small also means less weading
castlebravo wrote:That is my goal, get something going. I just want to make sure I plan for expansion now and don't do something stupid.
Ain't nothing stupid. Just pick up and relay if need be and you might find you will.
Superb Rex, I love your trestle work and the track by the retaining wall looks great.
Cheers,
Kim
Thanks for all the great comments and suggestions. Here are a couple of pictures of the kids this last weekend. Oh and we had snow on Friday but it cleared off by Monday.
The boy in the white sweatshirt is my grandson.
Gotta start working on a bucket list. Having kids play with the trains is near the top of the list for sure.
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