new track, new photos

[bman36]

Jack,
Progress takes time is all. At least you are working on it and not just thinking about doing it. For me being an armchair RR'er is just no fun. Half the fun is building the line! Later eh...Brian.

[tangerine-jack]

That's a good idea, George. I am not actualy crossing concrete, just some flagstones that I can lift up and move out of the way. My only real concern was making the track strong enough to be walked on, thus the concrete U channel. That way I can step on the concrete, and not the track. Once I get the track put down and buildings in place, the only access to the pool will be over the tracks and across the bridge.

I've got a busy weekend coming up, so I won't be able to work on the RR until Monday. I will keep you all posted with photos (go digicams!) as the work progresses over the summer. I still have a long way to go to bring my vision from paper to RR, but I am happy about the progress so far.


[oX)]

[TurboOne]

Good pic George,

and [#welcome][#welcome] to the forum.

Take care

Tim

[ghelman]

Jack here is another option for crossing a concrete walkway. I didn't want to cut into the concrete so I made this crossing. It is made from cedar sort of like a door treshold only in 3 seperate pieces. So far it has done its job.

[Tom The Brat]

T.J. Thanks for posting those pictures. You can explain how to do it for hours, but a couple pictures like yours make it clear.

Ian, I suppose we could have a big fight over whos method is the right method. Na... Let's just have fun[:-,]

[TurboOne]

TJ, I like how you explain what you are doing. Helps us newbies looking to get started. Your way looks simple and easy. I could do that.

We have been in the nintys this week, but rain forcast for friday. Sigh, somday I will get to work on hill in backyard.

Great job TJ

Tim

[bman36]

Hey Jack,
Thanks for the photos. I always enjoy seeing what others are doing. Came home today to see that my line is finally all clear of the white stuff. I too use chicken grit for my roadbed. This was the first Winter for my track. No sign of any movement whatsoever. I guess my limestone base did the trick. Keep us updated on your progress. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

This is what is great about this hobby I do not do anything like what you do when laying and ballasting track but they both work out and they both workand thst how it should be.

Good work mate


ian

[tangerine-jack]

Here is how I like to lay my track. This method is may not be the best, but it works for me

After laying out the track (see top of this thread) I mark the edge of the roadbed with some cheap paint. This way I can see where to dig after I remove the track. Not necesary if you are handlaying.



These are the proper tools for G scale outdoors. No whimpy HO benchwork here.



This is the finished trench. About 3-4" deep.




Chicken grit, here it is!




pour the grit in the trench and level out




lay the track down and level






pour a little ballast in between the ties and smooth out with a broom, done!




Now, I want you all to grab some work gloves and come over and help me do the rest of it.................

[oX)]

[Anonymous]

looking good jack waiting for mooooore pic's

[tangerine-jack]

Thanks Matt, I will take more photos as the work progresses. Time is my worst enemy at this point. The weather is just so beautiful, but my work is keeping me away from the RR for the moment. By Monday I should have the track bedded in and connected. I figure it will be another month to rough in the landscaping (weed mats covered with pine mulch), then I can select the proper foliage and plant as required.

I have a pile of waste dirt that I am going to use to break up the flatness of the area. Since this is the industrial side, I am not going too over the top with the landscaping, but I do want a little verticle interest. I am even considering escavating under the bridge and extending the pond a little. The tank farm I am modeling is on the shore of the Elizabeth River, so........................can we say "lift bridge"? It's a possibility and a project I've always wanted to do.

Yes, Iandor, I did consider a reversing loop. It is not out of the question that I will install one on "phase 3". I still have plenty of yard to fill with trains, if you look at the first photo there is lattice behind the bridge in the corner of the RR, this goes to a large area behind the pool and would be very easy to branch off the mainline through there, maybe next spring..........

I'm with you, Powlee, the bridge is awesome for watching trains/ sunsets and fish in the pond. I am so glad I built it and I am enjoying it more than I thought I would. It is so relaxing to just stand there and look at the flowers and listen to the waterfall. That is something you don't get with silly little HO scale.



[oX)]

[powlee]

Excellent Jack
I still see you standing on that bridge, can in hand watching the sunset as the trains rattle by.

Ian P

[Anonymous]

Looks very nice have you considered putting in a reversing loop; I have two and they are just so interesting.

Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

Looking good TJ! Keep the pics a coming!

[tangerine-jack]

Good observation, Vic. The track in these photos is just sitting there for planning purposes. This afternoon I will begin to actualy lay the stuff down. When I do, the tracks across the walkways will be recessed into concrete U channels and cross bucks installed lest somebody get run over by the train and sue. I like to lay out the trackage full size to ensure that when I grab the shovel and start to dig the roadbed trench is in the right place and not 8" off to one side because I read the plan wrong.

[vsmith]

Jack
A couple questions.

Are you planning on putting down a concrete walkway? and if so do you plan on recessing those rails at the walkways? might be a good idea so that the railheads are flush with the walkway. I'm just seeing a potential tripping problem there and the possibility of someone stepping on top of the track and bending it.

Or are you going to use the concrete paver stepping stones as shown in your pics? If thats the case you could raise the steps a little to get them up above the railheads. Again I'm seeing some tripping and track bending concerns here. I would install pavers on either side of the track , the idea being to provide a place to step other than right on top of the track. Otherwise looks a good expansion of your empire.[8D]

[tangerine-jack]

Thanks Tim, yes, you should see it in the summer and fall. Very colorful. I selected the plants to provide growth and color most of the year. At any given time something is blooming or something is green, if nothing more that the Elfin Thyme by the waterfall.

Those steps are to the pool and deck, they also serve double duty as bleachers from time to time, albeit for a very small crowd. It's nice to sit there and just look at the garden, munching on a freshly grilled burger. [dinner] Good living to be sure.


[oX)]

[TurboOne]

cool addition TJ. Are those steps to somewhere, or bleachers. If they are bleachers, you sure are positive of a big crowd. [:)][:)]

Good job, and can't wait to see the pictures with all the plant live blooming and growing.

Tim

[tangerine-jack]

Ok, I finaly got around to building this new "extention" I've been harping on for the last two months or so. I've got the track on station, the plan laid out, and I actually took some photos:

This is an overview of the track plan. I like to keep things simple, but this will add a lot of operational possibilities. The concrete pad will become a tank farm later this summer. Obviously I haven't trenched the roadbed yet, this is as close to track planning as I get. I like to sketch on paper, then lay the stuff out to ensure it will all work. I will extend the siding another 5ft or so to allow more cars, this is going to be an industrial section. At the upper left of the RR is the waterfall/filter. I use lava rock as a bio filtration system, and the water fall airates. I hid the works with Canis Lillies, they are just little green sprouts this time of year, but in the summer! Ah, now that is something to see!



This is the "south" switch, very simple to remove a track section and bolt this sucker in. I use Aristo-craft track. It is still early spring so my ground cover is still brown, but there are patches turning green now. I believe it is a type of Flox, it stays green until early December, and has tiny pink flowers most of the year. The tall green "grass" near the bridge is Bearded Iris. In the lower left is the "hill" upon which I put the filter and waterfall. If you look close, you can see a tiny Canis sprout (isn't he cute?)


This is the other end of the loop, the "north" switch. Right now I am using the manual switch machines, I will get something nicer later on. More ground cover here, not quite visible is my pond, I have a variety of flowering plants in there. The foot path was escavated 12" and filled with sand and gravel, then topped with the flagstones and lava rock, it is very solid, even when under water. The Chinese flagstones stand for the four seasons, "summer", "winter" etc, at least that is what the man at the greenhouse said..........




More to follow.................................


[oX)]