Well I got to walking around well enough to finally pull the weeds from the CBAM&J today. Charged up both locos and have been running both trains all afternoon. It's been very relaxing. Hope to have the buildings back out this evening or tomorrow and then time to start a new trestle going off the other end and to a town I haven't built yet. Still it's been great to get everything back out and running. Not even one derailment, unbelievable! If my HO layout ran 1/3 as well as this has today I'd be ecstatic. A well spent Sunday. Rick H.
Went out with the folks today. Was able to pick up the latest Garden Railways magazine. Had an article that really caught my interest! Building bridge abutments!! Have been fighting that, as to HOW I was going to build support for a 48" wooden bridge as well as 4 GMM deck girder bridges. Now, I think I can add a few bridges and/or even a short curved trestle at some point! Definitely more character to the railroad if I can add that in! Just gotta wait or a DRY day to do some needed work yet! 15 of the last 16 days have had rain in some fashion!! And looks like plenty of snow in the mountains,
Have my Disability Benefits hearing in late July. IF I'm lucky enough to get back benefits, I'm wanting to build myself one more train! Again, IF I can locate the equipment I want! Hoping to locate a 3 pack of USAT Rio Grande GP30's, and 12-15 coal hoppers. Most Rio Grande, but would also be content with Burlington, Missouri Pacific and maybe a UP. Or all undec, so I can decal my own cars! I'm also looking into maybe the upcoming AML Rio Grande GP60's, due sometime in fall. Only 2 road numbers done, but to renumber a 3rd unit, shouldn't be that hard! Then, I could have all 3 Rio Grande GP60's instead! Gotta wait and see though.
I wish you all the luck with that hearing. They're going to do everything possible to minimize the amount, or reject you.
Rejected first time, since I tried to go it alone! This is my second go, WITH a lawyer on my side this time! Same one that my BIL used when he went for disability. They looked at it, and figured that I had a good chance. If they didn't think they could win, they wouldn't have taken on my case. I'll take whatever I can get right now!! From luck, to crossed fingers, toes, or even eyes!! If it helps! :teeth:
Yeah I have come to think that system is set up to make you get a lawyer involved so they can spread some of the money around. My experience says you have a good chance at this. The lawyers have this system all worked out already. As for new equipment, the garden railroad convention is in Denver this year I think. Not sure how far you are from that but there should be plenty of vendors and used equipment available there. Might be worth a trip to check it out. I found several good pieces well priced there last year in Tampa. About to do a re paint on a U-25 I got for $100. I also got 2 box cars and two passenger cars, some buildings all for less than $200. Good deals can be found. Rick H.
Not gonna do me much good to go, if I don't have the cash on hand! Wasn't all that interested last time the convention was in Denver. In Longmont, about an hours drive from Denver. Or longer, depending on traffic, weather and where I gotta go. If I don't have to go, I won't! Prices tend to be outta sight much of the time as well, so that doesn't help much either. Depending on what I'm looking for. Can't do much until some time August, when a decision will be made. So, until then.......
And now, I gotta tear some extra stuff out for now!! Folks are having new A/C installed, tomorrow late morning. A bigger unit than what we currently have. And weighs in at about 350 lbs. So, most of my track from front to back, comes up until A/C is done. Will also be a while, before I can do much more. Storms/isolated rain 8 of the next 9 days!! Plenty of mud!!
With track laid out temporarily, no major redesign is required!! I need to pull up a bit more track in the morning, before the guys show up to start A/C installation. Gonna be an interesting day!! After all necessary work is done, track position and landscaping details can begin. Right now, with everything that's going on, I figure I'll be lucky if I can get the minor work/repair project done! Although, I have plenty of other indoor things that need my immediate attention as well, so......
Spent time over the last several days, relaying my track. At least that that was removed for A/C installation. Have it back down, and changed a bit from original, with the idea of attaching it to the fence, or a separate elevated section. Rest of the track out front has been relayed also. Part of it ballasted, and the one time siding, is now my connection to the back! Which also gives me, with the addition of a switch, a longer front loop as well. Pictures available, gotta get from Mom and see what I have. A bit more dirt removal to lower track, and I should be ready to do ballasting. Still gotta figure out HOW to build bridge abutments, for a set of 4 Garden Metal Models girder bridges, and a nice 48 inch wooden bridge. Photos coming, eventually!! And since I was able to ballast abut 4 foot of lowed track, I also took the time to grab the GP40's, 3 boxcars, new converted to track cleaner, and a caboose. Ballast, run train, ballast a bit more, run train, give up and quit, mosquitoes getting bad! So, some work, even if half an hour at a time, is being done. Between rain/thunder storms. Short enough time so as NOT to overdo it too much, and start hurting too much!! Because, getting down is easy, gettin' back up is the problem!! My health issues don't help in that matter much either!! As long as I can work on my railroad though, I'm good.
For my first site trophy!! Managed both. Got track realigned and connected. Ran trains over the new alignment for a while, to test the track. Worked pretty good one way, but had problems running in the opposite direction. Minor track work again, helped that situation. Tried running my Aristo/USAT passenger cars. Had constant derail trouble with them!! Super elevation of my curves in the wrong direction. Putter rail was slowly sinking! Was causing my derailing!! Fixed that problem, in part, and most of my trouble stopped. Still have some curves that need rework and a section that needs major ballasting work. But runs OK right now. Gonna head out right quick, with Mom and get more blocks, since the stones in on area were used elsewhere! Gonna check into what I need, to maybe get some bridge abutments built, for at least 3 bridges to start!! Been working, and continue to work, from upgrading track, to scenery related projects. Photos to follow at some point!!
Should be having better weather for a while now. Or are you getting some of the recent lightning storms, etc, to my south?
Been much drier lately. Some rain showers and/or thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Possible showers tomorrow sometime. And thunderstorms for Friday/Saturday. Hope to get yet MORE rock tomorrow after unloading the wall blocks in truck yet. Maybe a load of granite as well. Not sure on that yet. I need it as a stockpile for ballasting, and Mom wants a load for around and under an 18"x18" step stone path in the backyard. Still a matter of time, money and weather!! With nasty weather coming in soon, I'll have a couple of days rest!!
When you gotta move several decorative blocks and about 1,380# of granite, yeah, it can be hard! But, Mom and I both do the unloading. Usually goes faster. And maybe more moss rock today, before the rain kicks in later this afternoon. Anyway, a few photos of the current state of construction. Original main on right, new alignment heads to the left. Rock garden between, in progress. IMG_01 by Keith posted Jul 3, 2015 at 5:51 AM Curve track is original main. New alignment barely seen behind dirt pile. Switch at mid right, will continue to the back yard. Other switch, just out of sight, by end of timber. Also to the back yard, and creating a wye, for turning trains and operational interest. IMG_02 by Keith posted Jul 3, 2015 at 5:51 AM Opposite side view, of new trackwork. Switch seen, goes to the back. Switch, right behind timber, will keep grains in front, or route to the back. Small wye here as well, for operational interest as well as changing direction of the trains. IMG_04 by Keith posted Jul 3, 2015 at 5:51 AM Looking at most of latest construction zone! Track on right, is original main. Track to left is new alignment. Switch near top left will create longer loop in front, or route trains to the back. Along with switch and track, next to blocks along fence, a small wye will be installed here, to change directions and provide operational interest. IMG_05 by Keith posted Jul 3, 2015 at 5:51 AM Shot photos just as it started to rain! Called it a day by then anyway. Not too far off, from at least getting most of the front complete!! A bit of ballast work, old and new and leveling track, so.......
If I could send rain, I would!! Spend a bit of time before dinner, and again after dinner, doing General track maintenance, adding ballast where needed, adding minor super elevation to my curves and generally getting track level in ALL directions!! Getting close. Another 2-3 days maybe, depending on how fast I decide to work!! Then, all I really have left, are my bridges. Have an idea, but...... Also need suggestions for water/weather proof auto reverse circuits. For the small wye out front, and the reverse loop in back. Would like to just set up a train and watch it run, without having to change track polarity!