Inserted ties at the crossovers and Spencer yard lead switch at Speed, WV. I ran a few trains through the crossovers, quite pleased how this area is coming together. The second track and hidden tail track extensions were placed at the NSSC Roane #1 Mine at Walton. Capacity here is now at 20 cars. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thank You, out of all of the switches I’ve built, I’ve had a couple have the points pop loose from the pc board throw bar, but it’s an easy fix with a touch from the soldering iron. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Columbus staging was recently completed, along with the northbound main track subroadbed and the southern end of Grantsville. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Enviable space! In that second picture down with the cord roadbed down, it looks (maybe it's the camera angle) like the plywood subroadbed is drooping, like it needs extra support. Are my eyes deceiving me?
I don’t think there is a sag there. The spiral of the curve and the 2% grade and the staging below being level throws my eyes off when I’m looking at it in person. I’ve checked it with a straight edge and its consistent. It does need a vertical stringer fastened below, as the riser spacing is pretty long being on the outer edge of the radial benchwork… especially on the right side. Fascia will go a long way here after the track is laid and wiring is checked.
Wow, what a great weekend! Monongah Con 2023 convened this weekend and did not disappoint. among slide and photo presentations Friday and Saturday night, we visited the Beech Mountain Railroad and were able to witness multiple trips between the A&O interchange and the coal mine which it serves. The mine has closed, so they are loading the stockpiles and will be shutting down soon. Likely a once in a lifetime experience with these final runs. Finally, more progress on the layout trackwork at Grantsville and Spencer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It’s been a month since I’ve posted an update, so here we go… The main track has reached and extended past Grantsville now on the upper level of the peninsula. Upper level lighting installation has begun. I was not satisfied with the track arrangement at Spencer, so I ripped it out and relayed the main track so the yard would be closer to the front of the benchwork. Which also caused some adjustments at the south end of town by the crossovers and tower. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Do you plan to slip ties under the switches before ballasting, or are they loosely laid so you can go back and add ties? I've never used/built my own switches, so it's a foreign concept...
Yes, I’ll slip ties in individually with a dab of glue before any weathering or ballasting is done. I can buy ready to install tie boards from fast tracks that can be glued to the switches before installing, but individual ties are cheaper and look less “manufactured”. This is the classification yard lead after installing and before the ends were trimmed. After weathering: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Main tracks 1 & 2, 5 yards tracks, a spur and an industry siding all laid down this weekend at Spencer. Feeders installed but not yet connected. Capacity for at least 58 cars, but if you still have 20 sitting here after working everything, then something is wrong. Time will tell! Also more progress on the craftsman freight car as part of the NMRA Division annual challenge. Installing the details really started to show how crude the stock details are on this kit. Only working 2 or 3 days this week and I get one night alone, so I have plenty of layout work planned for the next 7 days. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Milestones I am pleased to share that following the completion of the third level lift out section behind the air handler, a test train was operated successfully from Spencer, WV through Rocksdale, Millstone Junction and Grantsville to a point just north of Smithville. Extra 6881 North by Rocksdale. Looking from the route 16 overpass, 6881 is seen rolling through Millstone Jct. The Cabot Carbon Black plant will be on the left and the line west to Columbus, OH diverges on the left as well further back. Tail end of Extra 6881 rolls through Grantsville. There will be a small yard and a stone quarry here, eventually. Extra 6881 enters a tunnel near Smithville. 6881 is stopped at the current end of track just north of Smithville, which happens to be over the lift out behind the aforementioned air handler. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This may also be a good time to segue into a new thread as layout work transitions into scenery and structures. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Most likely, but not until the upper level staging yard is built. Maybe late spring/early summer? Hate to have a bunch of people over and then not operate Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
