Hey JD, Just so you know,Espeeman & I are planning a monster house party(at your new abode,of course),complete with misrouted EL & NJT trains loaded with all the stuff needed for me to make real NYC pizzas. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
I have almost finished downloading all the pictures I want for a Tunnel Motor class, so heres a little teaser of whats coming.
Oooo, a tunnel. Where is the motor? Now lets see if I have this straight. A tunnel motor is installed at each end of a tunnel to provide a opposite centrifugal force from the earth's rotation to keep the tunnel from collapsing? Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Do What? Those Appalachian tunnels in north Alabama, Georgia, and eastern Tennessee are beautiful, so different from those out west. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Jerry, Really looking forward to the new class especially since it is going to be about tunnel motors. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Only this! </font>[/QUOTE]Well, since you put it that way, only better if it was a D&RGW tunnel motor in the tunnel... Motive power not withstanding, Tunnel 7 is where I shot that pic, and man, it is gorgeous out there! Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Ahhh yes! The vortex created by a train while rocketing past in a tunnel!!!! Seriously, were any of the tunnels very long? If so, how much room between the tracks and the wall? Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Well, to answer your question, doublestacks don't fit on the Moffat route, but autracks do. So, with all that overhang, the tunnels are kinda spacious, width-wise. Tunnel 2 is 516', 3, is 369', 4 is 174', 5 is 585', 6 is 536', 7 is 208', and 8 is 753'. Of those, 2, 5, 6, and 8 are tightly curved, and impossible to see in without a flashlite. I don't have the brass to hike thru 8, 10, 16, 19, 23, and 24. (they are all long, or curved, or both) I have hiked thru 17, and it's rifle bore straight, but at 1700 feet and change, it's a long sucker. My nerves and my buddy Mike's nerves were completely shot after that, (I won't do it again) especially w/o a light of any sort. You can see light at both ends, but you can't see anything else. And that's no joke. I will add that trespassing on RR property is illegal, and you do so at your own risk. Some areas care more than others; generally, if you stay off the trains, and not look suspicious, nobody bothers you. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
So, Jerry, you planning on a trip to Denver to come check out the REAL tunnels? Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene