Seneca & Chetola Line

[jhsimpson62]

Have downloaded a few pictures of the open house. Also of the completed station. You can find them here. Next will be some platforms for either end of the station.

[jhsimpson62]

Believe it or not, they were to busy chasing the trains around they didn't even think of running them. They are the grand children of close frinds so will be back again. I'll get them into it in the future. I can arrange it so its fool proof and impossible to hurt anything. I had kids in mind when I wired everything. Jack

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Sounds like one sucessful day, did the kids get to run anything?

[jhsimpson62]

Hoisted our first open house for friends from the local Elks Club. Although a sparse turnout, all enjoyed the afternoon. Beautiful weather, good friends and the trains ran perfectly for four hours. Most had heard me talk about garden railroading, few had any idea what it is really  all about and were impressed with what can be done playing in the dirt. Some attendees brought their grand childern, which were a delight to watch as they enjoyed the trains. We plan on doing this a couple times a year so people can follow the development of the railroad.

[jhsimpson62]

Sawdust, I've been thinking live steam would be great, but haven't really looked into it yet. It should be doable since I have more than enough motive power and running stock. Thanks for the info. Jack

[sawdust]

If you have the bucks, try live steam.  I power my sawmill with a Jenson #75 dry fuel steam engine.  People are just as excited to see the steam engine run as my trains.  I thing the #75 is around $195.

Allen

[jhsimpson62]

I haven't motorized the saw yet. Thats another one of those furture to do things that keep a railroad from ever being finished.

[altterrain]

The sawmill is looking good, Jack! i have on of those on my future projects list. Right now its just a siding to nowhere. Did you motorize the saw blade?

 

 

 -Brian

[jhsimpson62]

I was planning on some type of boiler and steam engine with power belts to the saw and the ramp for pulling in the logs. Also want to do some kind of wench to lift logs on to the ramp since I have no room for a pond. Haven't given much thought how to go about it yet, so I appreciate your ideas. Thanks.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Thats aswm. For the saw mill I'd make a verticle boiler out of some old PVC pipe and a funnel. Then mount a piston looking thing (I'd just hack up an old HO train) and add a wheel to it. Then add another one to the saw and run a piece of folded over masking tape to make a belt. Not much work but fills all that room and gives the impression that its highly dietaled. (See I ocasionaly have something useful to say)

[jhsimpson62]

It is hard to believe its been almost a month since my last post. Been traveling some. Did complete some of the interior of the saw mill and a switchman's tower. There are some pictures here. The tower is from Gardentexture plans which I modified a little. Next in line is a small passenger station for the other end of the siding. Also want to add some more touches the the interior or the saw mill. Provided the weather cooperates, we are planning our first showing of the garden and trains in early November.

[jhsimpson62]

Have been busy keeping the wild onions at bay. This time of year it is a daily chore. If any one knows a better way than digging them out, let me know. Did some work in the shop and have complete three buildings for the lumber yard. Here are a few pictures. I am still working on the interior of the lumber mill, but wanted to get something posted prior to leaving town for awhile.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Lookin better evry time I check in.

[Anonymous]

very nice job what can i say wow

[jhsimpson62]

When I first started, everyone was stopping by to see what the new kid on the block was doing. Now they're used to it, but still stop by ocasionally when the trains are running. They would all tell me they can't wait to see the finish product and would be mistified when I told they neither they or I would live that long. They just didn't understand; if finished I would have to start all over again. I still have some room to expand if needed.

[Anonymous]

I am part of the Cherokee Tribe removed from up there that is now in OK. Truefully I miss the Pow Pows because of my illness I cannot travel any more.

Dang man your place looking great!!! Love it. Any people around your place come over and check out what you been doing? 

[jhsimpson62]

Here are some new pictures. I took advantage of an overcaste day to do a counter-clockwise trip around the train lot. All track work and mulching are complete. Last Friday I cut lumber to scale and today started erecting a Garden Texture storage shed for the Lumber Yard. The stepping stone (last picture) is the one remnent of the garden train in Pennsylvania.

[jhsimpson62]

Scot: Don't know for sure how the name ended up down here. The area was populated by the Cherokee's before the settlers moved in. I'll put my wife to work on that. She is really into that historical research stuff (maybe she already knows). Will get back to you after the weekend. Jack

[scottychaos]

Jack,

great photos and railroad, thanks for sharing! :)

When I first saw the name of your railroad, I assumed it must be somewhere in upstate New York! ;) Here in NY, we have Seneca Lake (one of the Finger Lakes) named after the Seneca Indians, who are a member of the Iroquois tribe..

but after taking a look around your webpage, I see you live in the city of Seneca, South Carolina! I have never heard the name "Seneca" used outside of NY state before...do you know how your city got its name?? is it somehow related to the Seneca Indians?

just curious..

thanks,

Scot

[jhsimpson62]

Finally had a break in the weather. It was only in the 90's a couple days this week. Have finally finished mulching everything. Even had the Connie out yesterday to make sure I had enlarged the portals enough to permit her to pass through. No more problems!! Got the camera out for some pics, but alas the batteries were dead. Got them on the charger now. Will be away for the weekend so will have to wait till next week for next pictures. No its on to building some structures.

[jhsimpson62]

very little accomplished sinced last post. Took a weeks vacation and since returning the heat has be horrific. Had some fines to use up so I went back and touched up some of the first ballasting. Now the last section is ready for mulching as soon as the weather breaks a little. By nine oclock today it was already in the 90's. Weather man says it should break over the weekend.

[jhsimpson62]

First will be a logging camp. I have the bunk house finished and the plans for the saw mill and a lumber storage shed. These are plans from Garden textures. After that, who knows, but will be some sort of village and a farm. There is a nice looking station downtown and a small country church close by that I would like to scratch build in the future. Jack

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Exelant work. Leaves me to wounder what the structures are gona be, whatever they are I'll bet they'll be great!

[jhsimpson62]

As promised, here are some pictures of the latest progress. I have since mulched the areas shown in the pictures and planted some more ground covers and plants in the sections. Completed ballasting the inner loop and hope to finish the logging camp spur today if the rain holds off.

[jhsimpson62]

Its been almost a month since my last update. Been busy finishing up the tunnels. Have completed and installed portals on the tunnels. Mulched and planted some greenery in front of the waterfall. Also built a "Throne" for the CFO. Hopefully in a day or so, there'll be some new pictures posted. The throne started as a swing purchased in March. CFO decided it should be placed where my dirt pile was located, so had to wait till the pile was used up. When attempting to level the area it became necessary to erect a small stacked block retaining wall, then she wanted pavers under the swing. In the end the really good deal she got on the swing was multiplied several times in preparing the site. Next in line is to finish ballasting the last 50 feet or so of track and another 2 or 3 loads of mulch.

[jhsimpson62]

I found some suitable stones for the tunnel ends. Also modified the waterfall somewhat in order to get several streams of water rather than just one wide one. Also placed a water plant just behind the lip of the waterfall. I think it looks more realistic. Here are some pictures.

[jhsimpson62]

Looking good Brian. The water fall is more what I had in mind. My pool is a "disappearing pool". With all the sun and no shade I have I wasn't sure I could or wanted to keep it clean. Going to look for some stones to finish the tunnel entrances and than maybe rearrange some of the water fall.

[altterrain]

Here's the pond and waterfall I just finished up.

 

-Brian 

[jhsimpson62]

Brian, Thanks for the comments and the advice. Thats kind of what I am thinking. Had I done it myself, I would have used all flatter rocks to resemble a mountain face with the river rocks just in and around the pond. I am going tomorrow to look for some such for around the tunnels entrances and maybe a few for the front face of the mountain around the waterfall. Jack

[altterrain]

Looking good, Jack. You certainly have some red clay soil there. Our clay is more of an orange color. I see we use the same tunnel construction method.

May I offer a suggestion on your waterfall? If you could stack up a series of flatter rocks, slightly stagger back, for the water to run down it would give it a bit more visual interest. Just be careful of it not splashing outside your liner area. Also, mixing in smaller sizes of river rock will blend in the larger rock to the landscape. I am current finishing up a similar project for a client and will grab a few pics today.

 -Brian