Topic: Erskine Tramway grade extension

[MikeD]

This afternoon, I laid out some rail to "mock up" the mainline junction.  Here's the result...the alignment will need a little "tweaking", but it's basicly sound.  Now, I need to get some "honey do's" done before the weather gets bad, so that I can work on the track    I've got a bunch of ties already cut....they'll need drilling, and some switch ties cut too.  I've got to find my tie spacer too 

Enjoy,

Mike

[MikeD]

Before I went to work last trip...and it was the trip from heck, I had a "new hire" Conductor who is psycho about "safety", and thinks she knows the rules better than I do after 49 years  ...I worked on the grade some more.  I will not work with that woman again.  Tom, tell Jack I might be following him into retirement sooner than I thought    Sorry, rant over.

Anyway, me and Mr. Deere, finished moving sub-ballast onto the grade all the way out to the "end of wall".  So, now I've got the base prepared for any track I might get to build this Winter    Herewith, a couple photos.....enjoy

Mike

[MikeD]

Thanks, Tom....

That's a great looking waycar you guys are building 

Mike

[tomc]

Mike,  thanks for posting the pics.  Nice to see you are making progress.  Lot of blocks in that wall!  Keep us posted as you progress and GOOD HEALTH to you.

Tom C.

[MikeD]

Well, folks......

It's been a long time since I posted on this subject.  But, in the meantime, there has been progress.  I finished up the retaining wall the other day, and today I layed down some weed fabric and covered it with sub ballast.  Now, I have the grade ballasted all the way to where the mainline switch will take off for the "North 20".  Tomorrow, while we're up in Rapid City shopping, I'll pick up another roll of fabric and, hopefully, ballast around the mainline curve to the end of the wall.  That way, weather permitting, this Winter I'll be able to get some more track down.

Deer John, our new tractor, made hauling the rock a whole lot easier than the way I used to do it, with a shovel and wheelbarrow.

Here are a few pictures.....enjoy.

Mike

[MikeD]

A few missing ties wouldn't hurt anything, but it's really hard to hold the gauge when there are none 

Sir Arthur's ties were cast iron, so steel wouldn't be far "out of line".

This is as far as I will probably get this year....I don't know if the lumber yard will get me any more blocks until Spring.  Maybe you can see where the loading dock switch is lying....above the wheelbarrow.  I was thinking while I was at work, that I could cut a switch into the dock track, and come back towards the corner where the wheelbarrow is.  There would be room for a turntable and even a small roundhouse inside the mainline curve.

If I'm home long enough tomorrow, I'll get the new ties cut.  I think the track will hold up better with ties 

Mike

[Ferd]

Hi Mike
Would be very cool to do steel ties in true extreme narrow gauge style. I noticed they just put down a long stretch of steel ties in the ffestiniog. To me it would be very Decauville in style (very fitting with 15" gauge Heywood operations) Its always fun throwing out ideas, the line does look narrow gauge with the missing ties.

[MikeD]

Hi Ferd:

They do look good when they are finished.  They are the most expensive part of the project.  I didn't buy the blocks all at once, just one or two hundred a month over a couple years, so I can generally get them paid for out of a paycheck    In the process, my wife's got several new flower beds, so I got points for that 

Here's today's work looking North.  I really need to cut some more ties 

Best,

Mike

[Ferd]

Hi Mike
That's reasonable - the retaining blocks we have in the back slope are 10.00 a block and are only 9X6" 9" deep - adds up when you need several hundred.
Still even at 2.00 it adds up as you go through enough of them. It looks great so far, and I still love the 1/2 scale. 
cheers Ferd

[MikeD]

Tom:

A little less than $2.00 a block....so far there are about 1900 of them.

Mike

[tomc]

Mike,  it nice to meet you also.  Ferd was doing a clinic but i missed it so didn't see him.  Just out of curiosity,  what is that wall costing you?  I see a lot of blocks there.

Tom C.

[MikeD]

Hi Tom:

It was nice meeting you at Portland.  Here's where I got to today.

Don't worry about my back, I've got my "Company" issued back brace belt    The heaviest thing I handle is a wheelbarrow of base course.

Mike

[tomc]

Mike

You are making progress.  Don't throw the back out.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Tom C.

[MikeD]

Hi Ferd:

Thanks, the cars are Sir Arthur Heywood's design 

Here's what I got done today....twenty feet of landscape fabric and sub-ballast (base course, we call it around here) and ten feet of track.  I also went to the lumber yard and picked up enough tie material (treated 2x4's) for 30 more feet of track.  When I get one more ten-foot section down, the cars will be able to reach the next section of wall     Ballasting will follow....I can do that when it's cold.

Mike

[Ferd]

Hi Mike
What an extensive project - I am envious. I really like the look of the 1/2 scale wagons you are running. Looking forward to seeing the locomotive.
cheers Ferd yy cd