Finishing up a major project that has taken most of my spare time this week. I added a 14-car siding I call Hermosa. It provides more flexibility to the dispatcher by adding a third location on the line between Durango and Silverton. There's just a siding. Here's how I did it.
There was a little bit of wood subroadbed, but it was mostly styrofoam next to the existing main. I trimmed it up, then mixed up some Sculptamold to provide a subroadbed.
I had to be careful to protect the beaver habitat. I used non-toxic acrylics to color the terrain something plausible. I let the new roadbed dry overnight before proceeding. I was careful to smooth the subroadbed to make as little disruption for laying track.
I cut cork roadbed, then fastened it down with contact cement. Then I cut into the main to lay two ME turnouts.
I also visited underneath to avoid getting crossmembers in the way, etc when making final locations for tiurnouts. I used a pair of the new Walthers turnout controls, which seem simple enough and would be if the manual was a little better organized. I managed to get them addressed but have the functions backwards, so hoping to get that fixed. Plus, wiring for a switching hot frog is there, I just can't figure it out. Locos and Goose #5 all roll through without stalling so maybe it's not needed.
Got the trees back in and some ballast laid. Still some finishing touches, but trains run through just fine.
Because it's a bit rougher grade profile, the siding will be used mostly by heavier downhill trains and lighter uphill trains. The generous 14-car capacity makes it the largest siding on the RR, so should add a lot of operational capacity.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I decided that bridge hanging without support needed fixing. I epoxied some stringers underneath. Then I dug up some plaster castings of wood bridge abutments, plus added a few real wood timbers to fill those out. Next I built up some cement footings, then built the support trusses, painting them gary and lack respectively.
We were careful not to disturb the beavers in their habitat.
A view from the drone show the beavers are just getting started.
Nice work Mike!
I'm glad no beavers were harmed in the process
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hey Mike, You've been as busy as...um...
Well, a 14 foot siding should add plenty of action. I added a couple of about that size a while back. It will hold a respectably long HO train. Nice work tying it in. Dan
I've heard from a lot of married men that it's not good to wake the beaver for some reason. Nice job by the way. Looks fantastic.
Pete.
Good morning
Looks great Mike! I know getting the foam to fit when changing or adding something is difficult. You made it look easy. Quite the improvement on the bridge as well.
Some beautiful Wilderness scenery you have going on over there. Both projects fit right in like they've always been a part of it now...Nice
TF
Fantastic work, Mike!
The overall look of your entire layout is superb.
Rich
Alton Junction
Impressive scenery, Mike. Modelling well done.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Dave, Dan, Pete, TF, Rich, and David,
Thanks for all the kind comments. I sort of dreaded taking this on since it's clearly a several day project to start with, even before you run into the issues that typically come up.
I did find some code 55 to make the guardrails on the bridge work. I use ME code 70 for most of my track, but ME only makes the HOn3 bridge track in code 55. This makes your bridges look great, but introduces the problem of mating the two sizes together, I crunch one side of railjoiner, then solder the code 55 onto the top of that railjoiner already connected to the 70, but that can be a little sloppy.
Dan,
It's a 14-car siding, not a 14 foot siding (which would be very commodious in HOn3). But I like the way you think, as you're right bigger is definitely better when it comes to sidings.