Rack 'em up !!!

[Postwar Paul]

You can see how it wants to slant inward. This is after correcting as much as possible. It'S a cool looking effect, though.

[Postwar Paul]

I think this is the start of many fun times in the garden !

[PVT Kanaka]

Yes, it certainly is a good start to good times in the garden! I had to chuckle inward at the rocks...I thought I was the only person that had to pay through the nose for rocks, even local rocks! I ended up salvaging broken concrete chunks and demolished lava stone features from across the neighborhood. I took a couple years to get the landscape where we wanted it, but it happened. - Eric

[Postwar Paul]

You see rocks in nature, and you think of them as being free !!

I could buy a really nice engine for the price of those rocks !!!

Paul

[PVT Kanaka]

Add in transoceanic shipping and the Jones act, and you can see why I used broken concrete!

[Postwar Paul]

Taking a break from painting the mural/ backdrop, at least until we get more paints. This section is a transition piece for the cog line.

[Postwar Paul]

The cog line currently terminates on a 16.5% grade. This transition will taper off the grade before going into a 180degree curve of LGB R2 track.

[Postwar Paul]

Extremely complex track geometry from here on. Thsee sections will be prefabricated. The ascending 180degree curve will need correction to keep the inner and outer rails somewhat level.

[Postwar Paul]

The plan is to have the cog line double back and cross over itself. Then terminate at the front near the grass and transformer station at a height about 5.5 feet. This leaves open the option of someday extending an elevated line out over the grass...possibly...

[PVT Kanaka]

Whoa....way beyond my skill level and tool set! Glad to see that I am not the only one suffering from lack of supplies. I've got a couple of projects on hold until things reopen. Eric

[Postwar Paul]

I'm happy how this turned out. Still on hold for more supplies and materials, but I have a clear vision of how to proceed.

[Postwar Paul]

[Rex in Pinetop]

Are you using a rail bender or just sectional track for your 180 R2 at the top? 

My helix was built with SS sectional track.  What looked pretty much like a circle turned out to have a lot of stress when laid.  I had to do a lot of work with a railbender to get the track to lay level and allow the sections to stay connected even with split jaw joiners.  If I were to do it again I would use brass or AL and set up some jigs as you have done to get the complex bends into the rail to get the "spring" out before laying it down.

Rex in Pinetop 

[Postwar Paul]

Hi Rex,

 the 180 of R2 is new LGB sectional track. This vertical bend transition in the picture is hand laid. And yes, the rails were pre bent. I made a block with an arch in it to bend the track.

Paul

[Postwar Paul]

Also, I should add that the purpose of this transition piece was to take the grade down from 16% to a very gentle and manageable grade on the section of 180 degree LGB sectional track. This greatly minimizes the forces that would normally cause the inner rail to be much lower. It becomes manageable, with no extra correction needed.

Paul

[Postwar Paul]

https://whatibedoo.shutterfly.com/#%3aemid%3dsite_sitecreated%26cid%3dSHARE3SXXXX

Haven't worked on the layout much since October, but I run the trains every weekend, usually Saturday and Sunday.I cut a gap rail 2 feet from the top end as a Fail-Safe to auto stop the train in case I'm not paying attention... I intend to purchase the back and forth circuit to automate the cog line. That's where things stand as of today.

Paul

[PVT Kanaka]

Glad to hear to added the fail safe! The pictures are stunning, if hair raising! Sorry for my own silence on the line. We are participating in the annual for fun build challenge on Large Scale Central again this year, and that is eating up my hobby bandwidth. I'll post a condensed version of the build log here when our project is done. Oh, and I picked up a used LGB US wood side box car. I'm getting the knack for this e-Bay thing. The key is to be able to walk away, it seems! - Eric

[Postwar Paul]

Eric, would love to see pictures of your project when you finish!

Also, really loving operating this garden railway. Smaller than the last one, but lots going on in a small space! Operating every weekend allows for " tuning" equipment, cars , couplers, track, and engines.Most sessions are flawless because of having corrected all the minor issues.

Really enjoying operating, and taking a break from construction!

Paul

[PVT Kanaka]

Will do, Paul!

 

As for routine train running, yes, much like my aquariums, the more i run the trains, the more I identify and work out the trouble spots.  There is nothing worse than having an electrical gremlin the day you are entertaining!

 

Eric