Vic:
Once the retaining walls are built I plan on filling about 30 inches of crushed rock, topped off with 4~8 inches of crushed oyster shell. (multiple layers of thick black plastic.) In January I will be pulling the ~10 year old trees from the "city park" and putting them into clay pots, All "planned" plants will be in burried clay pots inside plastic pots for easy plant maintenance. I had hoped you would offer a design drawing, if I give a "general plan" and scheme of operations.
I am open to any ideas from all who read here. I'm thinking of a double mainline dog-bone (flat along backside through a "tunnel".with "passing/parking" siding each) Second level above the tunnel (on its roof actually) giving plenty of opportunity for bridging (may or may not connect to lower level) "thin" dog-bone or loop to loop or loop to point. with waterfal in one end.
In the above "stick" drawing the only dimension that is absolute is the 32 ft back wall. The left wall: prefered 14 ft can extend to 17 ft. The right wall 14-20 ft can extend to max of 24 ft. preferd 20~22 ft. The "control patio" prefered 5x6 can go as low as 4x4 or up to 6x8. keeping it smaller to allow maximum space on the right side for full development of the town. After drawing this I thought the branch line should leave from the town and climb gentle slope up the hillside to a mine (or what ever) on left side. Dual track mainline has passing siding each direction so one train pulls into the tunnel and parks and another pulls out on the same track givining the appearance of two different trains runnig each way.
Curves Min: Mainline - 4 ft radius, Lower branch can be tighter. Upper level can be "pizza" tight as it will only run the roster I've acquired from you.
Once again I am open to suggestions from one and all.
Tom Trigg
Geez Tom ya scared me there. I thought you were packing it in. I'm the one who blows up their layout. Glad to hear your rebuilding it as an elevated line. Some of the elevated lines i have seen online are really cool. They can be as full of detail as any garden variety layout with the benifit of no weeding needed. Actually one of the reasons I built indoors is that I really hate weeding, a consequence of being the kid who got to mow the lawn every weekend. I wish I could help but I'm 120 miles away. Give me a holler if you need any help with planning or such. I still have the old Autocadd on the home comfuser makes laying out track really quick. I've been making quick changes to the new layout really helped during construction. Good luck with it and post alot of pics. At least here we dont have to worry about snow or frost heave so simple concrete piers are that are needed.
Have fun with your trains
Dave:
The current former RoW circles the Koi pond, which means altitude change impossible. Since I'm now living by myself, the vegi garden over produces and 90% rots on the vine. A wasted effort. Garden goes away TRAINS move in. Yes I will loose the "long run" across the back fence, but the chickens keep scratching around and burying the rails, making the "long run" useless. The new layout will be out of their reach, so long as I remember to keep their wings clipped.
I know the feeling well, I now use my stone bridge +8 inch's to place trains on the track. and would love to increase my track to + 18 inch's and up. The only problem I see is how much right of way I would lose.......
Dave, forever dreaming of a better mouse trap
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Definitely interested in construction updates and photos. Good Luck and Good Health.
Mick
Chief Operating Officer
Northern Timber Company - Mt Beenak
I am required to post this "leagal notice". Even though the quantity of rails and the equipment roster of the Rosebud Falls Senic Railways continues to grow. Plans for permenant abandonment of the current right of way have been formalized. Seems as though the grey haird "old putz" that designed the empire built it too close to mean ground level. Current elevations range from "mean ground level" +0.0 inches to +3.0 inches. Wall construction will be started soon (currently acquiring cinder blocks and supplies) to elevate "mean ground level" to +36 inches above ground level. Recent surgeries and creaping old age no longer allow access for ground level maintenance. New real estate allocations measure 38 ft by 18 ft with a 4x5 (5x6???) ft "indent". Allowance has been made for 360 walk around access. All track will be located within "sit on the wall and lean over" reach. Construction of the walls will begin next month. I'll keep a photo record for those interested.
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