Oak Ridge Update

[FJ and G]

With Peanut Ridge completed, grading and trackwork continued on Oak Ridge and the Hound Mountain Chain beside the warehouse.

Photo one shoes a 9-foot-long single stretch of track ready to be installed on the upper mainline near the warehouse (shown installed further down with ballast not yet brushed away from rails). As you can see, the track is self-supporting, as there are 2 battons below the ties, a requirement in garden RRing for “floating” in the ballast as it gives a bite.

Photo two shows 2 trestles I’m building, the upper one I’m rebuilding. This time, affixed ties to the steel using Gorilla Glue and the upper longitudinal wood runners are affixed with Titebond III. THEN, I stained with Thompson Waterseal (learned from my mistake to do that last!!!)

Photo 3 shows a curry plant my sister gave me. Smells delightful!

You can see in the next photos the newly installed track with ballast not yet brushed. Another lower track spur, the bed prepared as you can tell, will run beside the warehouse for boxcars at the 8 bays.

The next photos show Hound Canyon River and some wild daisies that sprouted up on their own, as well as the small oak tree that the ridge takes its name from.

After the hard 3 days of labor, time for some barbequing. BB the beagle is guarding the grill against intruders. The bread you see here really tasted yicky. It was my first attempt at bread making and I used molasses as the sweetener. Maybe that’s why?

BB enjoyed some sun bathing.

Last photo shows some of the tools I was using.

Cheers!

[Train 284]

Dave, you are making great progress! Keep up the good work!

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

I think Houndzilla would prefer you spend LESS time on your layout and MORE time here...
[;)][:p][:o)]

[FJ and G]

thanks guys; agree; the hound is the master and the connosoire (sp?)

[Anonymous]

looks an interesting start, but i couldn't figure out what you are doing; no doubt all will be revealed down the track.

Well done

Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

Great work Dave!

[tangerine-jack]

I agree with Ian from Down Under, I can't get a good overview of the project from the photos. Maybe a wide angle shot would help, or a track plan? It does look good; it probably will look great in context with itself. That’s your cue Dave to give up some more info![swg]

[Anonymous]

I admire your barbeque mate.

Ian

[FJ and G]

Not much to look at but...

OK, you asked for a nasty construction photo and map so here it is. Phase 1: A loop of O scale track about 30 or so feet long and about 15 feet wide.

Peanut Ridge is in the foreground; Oak Ridge is in the background; the 12-foot long warehouse is at the left side of the picture.

It’s a lot more developed than when this photo was taken about 1 month or so ago.

(the beauty of O scale, btw, is that you would need to double the size of the area to fit the same amount of track in large scale)

On the map, solid orange lines are the trackplan and dotted are future extensions. You can align the map with the photo by looking at the locality of the warehouse.

[Anonymous]

I'm still confused but i am easily confused.

Good luck anyway.


rgds ian

[Train 284]

Cool picture Dave! I di'nt know it went under your deck, thats pretty cool!

Maybe when your done, all of us from the forum can come over, run trains, and you can grill us up some burgers on that fancy grill of yours! [;)]

[FJ and G]

Thanks, Matt and others.

Ian,

I risked my life going up in an airplane to take some aerial views for you. Hope you like. [:D]

Progress Continues





Using battens to anchor track





Used Quickrete to form piling portion; pulled it off after 3 hours and much of the concrete came off; like the “weathered” look so am gonna leave it! Lesson learned, Quickrete AINT quick!!!!!!!!!!!!





more aerials (pilings not done)









Mainline all finished except for the 10 foot stretch shown above with battens; need rails laid; ties stained; then have 3 spurs to work on to finish Phase A and start operations!



Houndzilla was seen prowling through my vinyard

[tangerine-jack]

All right, rock on Dave! I should be up your way latter this summer, I'd love to have a look and see your work in perspective.

[FJ and G]

Stop by any time; just give me your order of type of beer and BBQ first!