Rebuliding the Dixie D Short Line

I’ve decided to make this my thread where I can place all my construction photos of my rebuilding of the Dixie D Short Line. The Dixie D started out about 5 years ago as an addition to the garden pond. Over time it grew and evolved as I experimented and learned, somewhat haphazardly. Last fall, I decided it was time to pull up ties and reform the railroad into something a little more planned out, using what I’ve learned from experience and from this forum. My biggest enemy at this point is time, I wish I could just take off a few weeks and work on the railroad, but since that is an faraway dream at this point, you will get irregular updates as I complete various stages of construction, with a before and after photos wherever possible. Ok, now to the railroad!

Track- I started out using Aristo-Craft sectional track, and I don’t see any reason to change it. I like the way it screws together (I’m still young enough to see the screws!) and it has given me exceptional performance over the last 5 years. I will reuse almost the entire track, but I will not reuse the switches/ points/ turnouts or whatever you want to call them, I’ve had 2 failures in a short amount of time and that is not acceptable to me. I plan on using LGB for switching duties.

Diameter will remain 4ft (2ft radius), I know that limits me in a lot of areas, but no design I could come up with using a larger radius worked. I have a rather large yard, but my actual space for the railroad is limited, so 4ft it is.

Track plan is similar to what I have now, but I will add one or two passing sidings near the pond for more interesting operations.

Control- Aristo TE with 10A power supply, plus I am converting some of my locos to batt/RC. I am planning to automate the passing sidings for hands-off train control, automatic start and stops with selective switching. I can't think what the official name for all that is, but I will be running two trains, one goes around and when it reached the station the switch is automaticaly thrown and the other train goes in the opposite direction and the cycle repeats.

Roadbed- raised. I originally used trenched/chicken grit roadbed and it worked great. After 5 years I’ve yet to have any real problems with it. The problem I do have is that the ground cover constantly grew over the track requiring frequent pruning with a pair of scissors, not real fun. Also by being on ground level it limited the visual impact of the trains and made the whole thing very dull in a lot of ways. The new track will run on a raised brick wall and viaduct with two lift out bridges for the walkway to the pool.

Plants- Most of the original plants will remain, with the addition of 14 new species. By using raised roadbed I can do a lot more with vegetation and not have to worry about encroachment into the right of way.

Pond- Major revision going on here. I am planning to say bye-bye to the waterfall and replace it with an in pond fountain spray. Two reasons for this, the first is the waterfall uses a lot of water from evaporation and constantly leaked, and two, I need the space for a little town. The pond will keep most of the original plants, except for the ones that have proven to be too invasive. The shape of the pond will change a little and all new edging will be put in place.


Overall before shot- this was I think the first or second year of the railroad


Here is some raw material for the new railroad- I'm not "cheap", I'm "thrifty"


A before and after pic




I'm no stone mason, but I figured I could handle a three brick high wall. The orginal road bed remains in place and is used as a footing for the wall.



This is a steel bridge in progress that will be front and center when the railroad is finished. You can expect to see more of its construction later………


The brick wall transitions into a viaduct to be constructed of PVC, wood and blue foam.



More to come- stay tuned![;)]

UPDATE...........................................

I completed one of two new passing sidings. This one is on the back side of the pond near the pool. I constructed another brick wall for the siding, then (not being "cheap" but "thrifty") I filled the center portion with building debris and topped with gravel. One of two passenger stations will go here.



Here is a current overview. It's dark, I know, but better lighting is part of my plan. Compare this to the first year photo taken at the same angle.

Stay tuned....................................

...........................UPDATE..............................
All righty then, it’s time for another update. I’ve started the removal of the waterfall area and converting that into a nice little town. I’ve also removed part of the stairs leading to the pool deck and even managed to get some seedlings down.

Here is a close up of the transition joint from the brick to the viaduct. I’ve left about a ¼” gap for expansion.


steps gotta go bye-bye



Steps are now gone- look at the space I freed up! The waterfall has been flattened in preparation for the town.



Here are some of the plants I’ve got going in. The first here is Monarda Didyma “Jacob Cline” commonly known as bee balm. I have these set in the back. I also have a map of all the plantings I will post once construction is completed.


This is Scabiosa columbaria, commonly known as “butterfly pincushion”


This is a good shot of the viaduct supports and some more seedlings. Ready for planting are Petroselinum Crispum, AKA parsley, and Coreopsis Grandiflora, or Sunray Coreopsis.


Here is a good before and after shot of what is now "Coreopsis Corner" and station. The old waterfall is completely removed and a short wall put up in it's place. Squatters and claim jumpers have already moved in to what will be the town. Obviously the plants are Coreopsis Grandifloras, giving the name to the area. Off to the far right on the after shot you can see the Scabiosa, as soon as the local greenhouse gets the stock in I'll be putting Liatris Spicata (spike gayfeather) and Echinacea Purpurea (purple coneflower) in the remaining space.



All materials and workmanship on the Dixe D SL are rigorously quality checked by the calibrated eye of Spliff the Wonder Cat. No job is "certified" until Spliff is "satisfied".

More to follow……………………..