The Helix

[Mike Trent]

I don't know what the Tractive Effort was on those Uintah Mallets, or if that changed after the big saddle tanks were removed. But the four C&S heavy engines, #74-#537, were each rated at 21,000 lbs, which rated five loaded cars on the ruling 4% grade. For what it's worth...

[Keith Hayes]

Rich, this is more like what I want the layout room to look like:

The room got a long, overdue cleaning. Old layout parts and small wood scraps that I will never use have been removed and disposed. Loose parts are stowed in rolling stands and projects have been consolidated into project bins.

I am looking forward to see all the C&S-ers and Sn3-ers at the Symposium next week. Please stop in and visit the layout Saturday.

[Chris Walker]

Ury #50-51 were rated at 185Tons each on the East side of Baxter Pass 5%, with 42,075Lbs T.E.

[tonyk375]

OH sure Keith!!  Make us all look bad!  No I feel the need to actually do some cleaning in my disaster area!!

Looking great Keith!!

Tony Kassin

[Chris Walker]

Keith,
do you have a trackplan?  That Hoisthouse off in the distance looks the part....

[Keith Hayes]

Chris, the latest track plans are posted on the main page where layouts are featured.

The hoist house you see is the Miles Montgomery, named after my grandfather. It is a clever ruse to distract your eye from a pipe. The structure is actually an HO Bar Mills model I bought for the castings for Carleno's Grocery. I pondered the kit a bit and decided with a dormer for the hoist shive, it would fill the part. I am glad you like it1

[Chris Walker]

Keith Hayes wrote

Chris, the latest track plans are posted on the main page where layouts are featured.

Thanks Keith,
for those who have not yet made Detective... C&SBlog:Leadville

[Keith Hayes]

With the Sn3 Symposium over, it is time to resume the march. Last weekend I cleaned out and disassembled two recycled kitchen cabinets that I thought would make for good benchwork.  Nice idea, but not good cabinets.

I had pre-fabricated L-girders and legs last summer,  so assembly went quickly. Sky blue paint was obtained and the rear of the fascia was painted. Yesterday a trip to the big box found my car full of 1x4s. I thought to look at the label and saw this:

The pine came from NEW ZEALAND!

Chris, there is a little bit of Kiwi at the base of Fremont Pass.

[Chris Walker]

Just what did you pay for one of those fourbeewones, Keith?

[Keith Hayes]

The March continues. Norm Acker brought Dusty Thomson by today to visit Leadville. After they left, The parts and tools came out, and the last bit of benchwork was assembled. Now the end-of-track can connect to the helix and track can be laid up the Blue River as far as Braddocks,  without the big tools coming out again!

Chris, I forget exactly how much the 1x4s cost, I think the current price is about $14 for wood that is clear,  knot-free, and reasonably straight. I don't know how much tarrifs add to the price. I do know that The same sticker is on wood in much older parts of the layout. My big box store offers no alternatives.

The two sides use an L-girder design with 33" clear under for my rolling storage bins. The end wall has 1x6 sills, rather like a flat car, and spans between the two side pieces. It is quite sturdy, considering it only needs to support about 50 pounds of models and scenery.

Here is the current,  working track plan.

The window in the upper image will be on the right.

[Norm Acker]

Thanks Keith, the benchwork looks great! And thanks also for the bag of printed goodies - I had to put one of the clubs on the layout right away. :)