Mopac layout

MOPMAN Feb 28, 2006

  1. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Jim, good to see the progress you've made and that great looking Geep you put together. I am very much looking forward to visiting your layout next weekend since it's been a while since I've been able to see it.
     
  2. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    I look forward to seeing you.
     
  3. ratled

    ratled TrainBoard Supporter

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    Glad to see you are back posting. I have a question on your salvage yard you started back on P 27. What are using to load and unload the baler and the RR cars?
    thanks

    Steve
     
  4. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Steve, I want to use a tracked crane if I can find one the right size.
     
  5. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Now that the Plano show is over I can get back to work. I finally got to order the ties I need to finish the branch line. I also needed to build the through-truss bridge on the branch. I have laid the ties up to the bridge location and I finished the bridge yesterday. I still need to weather the bridge before installation.
    bridge_on_branchline2.jpg

    Now I need to start spiking rail.
     
  6. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am bummed that I missed your layout. I realized too late that you weren't open on Sunday....I tried getting out there anyway on Saturday but I didn't make it in time.
     
  7. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Doug, sorry you couldn't make it. If you can, let me know what your schedule is and we might work out a "private" showing at some other date and time.
     
  8. fifer

    fifer TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Georgia, Verdana]MOPMAN , Great progress on the layout and looks great so far. What better excuse to have a bud and lots of pringles!!!!:tb-wink:

    Mike
    [/FONT]
     
  9. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Its a good thing that long necks aren't good for anything or somebody might think I like to drink, lol.
     
  10. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    The past month has been interesting. With the great weather we've had, I have spent more time doing yard work than I have in the train room. Weathering the bridge is taking longer than I thought but I still have quite a bit to do before I can permanently spike it in place. Scenery needs to be roughed in around the bridge while it's easy to get to. Meanwhile I have laid the roadbed and ties for the branch and siding in Clarksville. I still need to get a little more roadbed to finish the spur tracks. Here are a few progress pics.

    This is the west end of Clarksville
    ties-west-end.jpg

    Moving east to the midpoint
    ties-midway.jpg

    and the east end where the branch terminates
    ties-east-end.jpg

    Have a great day and I'll try to get more progress pics up later.
     
  11. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Jim, simply outstanding work. Michael
     
  12. fifer

    fifer TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Those are some great looking ties!!

    Mike
     
  13. mogollon

    mogollon TrainBoard Member

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    Yes they are great looking ties...and track...and everything else. Jim is coming along, if the silly LHS would carry more handlaying supplies...oh, I forgot "NOBODY HANDLAYS TRACK ANY MORE"-the LHS "owner"...I will refrain to mention Discount Model Trains by name...OOPS!!

    Woodie
     
  14. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the comments guys. Woodie, at least they had code 70 rail, they just don't stock ties 'cause nobody handlays track anymore.

    Here is a quick progress pic of the first rail going down in Clarksville.

    first_rail_laid.jpg

    Have a great day.
     
  15. ken G Price

    ken G Price TrainBoard Member

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    I just caught up with the rest of your thread and it is nice to see how it has come along.
    Don't you know that no body hand lays track any more.:shock::we-no:
     
  16. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Ken. As to the second statement, No! I didn't get that memo. I built three layouts prior to this one that were handlaid and I just love the fact that you can build a turnout anywhere you so desire without the constraints of a fixed turnout not to mention the cost. I can build a turnout for a fraction of the cost of a commercial turnout. It may be more work, but it's enjoyable and I get a lot of satisfaction from the results.
     
  17. Wolfgang Dudler

    Wolfgang Dudler Passed away August 25, 2012 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    I like your handlaid turnouts. This way you get a smooth trackwork! I know. :angel:

    Wolfgang
     
  18. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Wolfgang. I know you know the benefits of handlaid track work. I have admired your track work for many years. Unlike you, I don't use PC ties, but the results seem to be the same
     
  19. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    Well, Nobody, you do excellent work. ;) :D

    And nuts to that store clerk. Better not tell him about several other modelers I know who handlay their track (i.e. Joe Atkinson's Iowa Interstate).
     
  20. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Bob, I'm just trying to meet that "somebody" that keeps buying the stuff "nobody" needs. Maybe he will share. Thanks for the props.

    Anyway, things progress on the Clarksville branch although I'm finding that to accomplish one goal, I must achieve another, then another, and another. Case in point, THE GOAL is to complete the branch line trackage...maybe not every spur, but at least have trains reach the actual planned end of the line by August when I host the Mesquite Club meeting. The main link in finishing the branch connection to Clarksville was to build a through-truss bridge. After the bridge was built, I realized that I needed to build the abutments and while I was at it I might as well get the roughed in scenery done around the bridge so that I don't damage the structure after it's in place...and the beat goes on. Please don't take this as a rant but some sage advice that not everything goes the way you think it will. Sometimes you've got to backtrack to make make further progress.

    So I built out the frogs for the switches on the east end of Clarksville. However, I need some micro spikes to finish out the points and guard rails. Here is a pic of the work in Clarksville so far.
    switchwork_frogs.jpg

    So while I wait to see if the LHS has the spikes I need, I'll work on the bridge problem. I built the abutments from some balsa I had laying around.

    bridge_abutments.jpg

    Now I can start roughing in the scenery so I start with the trusty cardboard web base......which means I need to decide on the tunnel portal for the main entering/leaving staging...and the beat goes on. At this point I now have the portal built to reflect the West Conway tunnel that is on the Van Buren Sub. and currently just placed to test clearances. Here is the latest pic.

    LK_west_conway3_portal.jpg

    And here is a wider view of the scene.

    LK_west_conway2.jpg

    I'm hoping it rains tomorrow to give me an excuse to work on the layout instead of the yard. That's it for now and thanks for watching.
     

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