Model Train Journal

Maybe I should take photos. Have an in-the-air oil tank that the supports have gone bad. Hoisted the tank off, rebuilding the supports.

Now, whilst this is in fact 2-rail, it is #1 gauge, out of doors, dealing with 1:1 Mother Nature. The supports were wood, and not good. I cut the growth back, pulled the base, removed the pilings, making the new structure from 3/8" square Acrylic, then Styrene cross bracing when done, then back in place after paint.

Even worked all the NBW castings out of the rotted wood to re-mount later.

Last week we removed all the track on the spur to High Point Mine, reworked the roadbed, relaid the rails and ties, re-ballasted.
Always something with Mother Nature.

Almost forgot about you being one of those rubber gaugers. Nothing wrong with the way you did your fix, but my choice would have been pressure treated. I have a landscape timber serving as a mailbox support which is working on 37 years. Why don't you tell us a bit more about your pike. What do you run.....geared Loggers? Guessing something like that since you mentioned a mine.

Pressure-treated wood is usually pretty poor quality.
Cut it to 3/8x3/8 and it's fragile. Plus the treating doesn't go very deep.
Redwood works, but difficult to find.
Locos.

I have two 2-truck Shays, one Heisler, one Climax.
Pus a Vulcan Duplex I built.
Plus a 2-6-6-2T (Uintah), two different 0-4-0T Porters, three outside frame 2-8-0's, two inside frame 2-8-0's,
SPNG #9, a 4-6-0, several stored serviceable, and two K-27's (plus another in pieces in a big box).
I think that's all.

We do waybill ops, up to 20 trains running on 1500 feet of track with 100 switches, three turntables, aluminum rail, no track power whatsoever.
I have a track plan on the other computer, try to get it posted later for all to see.

Dave's empire is impressive and lot's of fun to see. I didn't get a chance to attend an operating session but Dave fired up a loco and made the rounds. (Sorry for the fuzzy photo):



Quite feat to keep it going -- It's clear that the maintenance division is the most important part of the operation.

Jim

ScaleCraft wrote:I have two 2-truck Shays, one Heisler, one Climax.
Pus a Vulcan Duplex I built.Plus a 2-6-6-2T (Uintah), two different 0-4-0T Porters, three outside frame 2-8-0's, two inside frame 2-8-0's, SPNG #9, a 4-6-0, several stored serviceable, and two K-27's (plus another in pieces in a big box). I think that's all.

Holy cow!

We do waybill ops, up to 20 trains running on 1500 feet of track with 100 switches, three turntables, aluminum rail, no track power whatsoever. I have a track plan on the other computer, try to get it posted later for all to see.

Impressive!

Jim,

Thanks for the Pic! I have NO DOUBT it all requires a mammoth amount of upkeep, but I bet it is really a BLAST to run!

Oh it is....and we have fun with fair weather modelers....indoor types who ADD scenery, while we are continuously REMOVING scenery.

Thanks for the picture!

Would be nice to see much more.

Looks like work to maintain.

SPNG (Carson and Colorado) #9 in the back on a Business Special with President's Packard.

Same location, three-truck Shay and outside framed 2-8-0 with a clearance issue.

Same trestle Jimmy took the photo on....bridge portion just off camera on left.

Other end. Trestle is 4' high, 27 feet long, 6'8" radius.

Switching at Lower Laurel.

Backside view of Steven's Canyon Trestle from Whiterock.

Whiterock on left, Confusion Junction (CJ) through steps in middle. Highpoint in far distance to left.
Good overall of full trestle.

Used to have coaling towers (about 30" tall, I think) that we blew up when we converted everything to oil.

That is 10 years old....been some changes, none significant, done for a Feature Article in Garden Railways Magazine

Outstanding. Thanks for posting the photos and map.

Dave,

Again, GREAT stuff!

I do remember a couple of those pics now that I get to thinking about it.

How many people on the maintenance crew?

Me. Get my brother in to use a shop vac three or four hours before a run session. Big projects I'll ask for help.
Help. Yeah. Since late last year I have had trouble walking, climbing stairs and ladders. Left hip. Hard to sleep. Left knee and ankle, too.
Today I went to the Ortho Doc, x-rays, hips are perfect. Bursitis below the hip. Steroid shot. Better already. Now more work.
Why I haven't worked on the 0 pike in the basement all year.

Dave,

I am even more impressed to hear you take care of all that! I have been down the hip replacement road.....not one you want to travel!

Rich