Work on the High Line commences

[Lee Gustafson]

Keith,

How do you get a track gang of people an inch and a quarter tall to lay that much track that fast? Looks good to me even for "little people" ;-)

Lee Gustafson

[Keith Hayes]

The promise of steak, and lots of it--not that the little folks require a lot.

[South Park]

  One beer goes a long way too !  

[Keith Hayes]

More progress today. I thought you all would enjoy seeing some construction photos.

This is the spline roadbed. I got some 3/16" MDF with a melamine face (I could do without that, actually), and ripped it into 1" straps. I used to glue the splines, but on this stretch I have been screwing them together. Then I screw the spline to the riser, and make sure I have a screw horizontally on either side of the vertical riser screw. I am also trying something new with the bus, and threading the individual wires (Red is the Rear Rail) through the risers. Previously I have twisted the pairs.

Next, I cut some strips of insulation to be about  1" x 1". Then, I cut in a shallow ditch and this gets adhered to the sides of the spline to form the ditch on either side of the rails. It also serves as protection in the event of a derailment. I filled in gaps with matte medium and sculpt it prior to painting the works tan.

Oh, and I put my Homabed on top of the spline. Mr. Poole edjamacated me that the ballast falls nicely to the sides of the 1/4" x 1" homabed. The matte medium seals everything up to avoid most drips, and the paint provides a uniform base color. Next, I lay the track. I drill pilot holes for spikes every three fingers and I confirm the track is level across the ties. I use 0.020 styrene as shims at spiked ties to fix the level. Feeders will extend to the bus for each track section. I laid three feet today, and hope to lay another three feet tonight for a total extension of nine feet. It is really nice to run on some open track without all those grade crossings in town! Hopefully I can do rough in some scenery this weekend too.

[Keith Hayes]

74 successfully ran to the end of track with a short train.
Actually 6-7 cars per loco looks about right. That is 120,000 pounds light plus the bobber. Probably about what a B-4-F is listed for on the west side of Fremont Pass.

[Jeff Young]

Keeping the homabed narrower than the ties is a nice idea.  I spend far too much time carving the edge of mine (and it dulls a scalpel blade pretty quickly).

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Chris Walker]

Alrighty then. Let's go!

OP-6345


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/43092/rv/singleitem/rec/3

[Lee Gustafson]

How would a "u shaped" wood working chisel work to shape the road bed and maintain a shape tool edge?

Lee Gustafson

[Jeff Young]

Hi Lee,

I do use a gouge where the roadbed is going through a cut (and I want the profile to come back up at the edge of the homosote), but the gouge tends to tear the homosote more than a scalpel.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Keith Hayes]

I checked another thread, and a handy chart I created for myself, and sure enough, the B-4-Fs are good for 6 loaded cars (235-250 tons) on 1.5%-2% grades. This also accounts for the adjustment factor.

(According to Jim, the tonnage ratings for all the lines are in the files section on the main page).

[Keith Hayes]

Let's go indeed!

Yippee, the uphill side of the scenery is in. The conductor is checking time while the engine crew investigates an issue on 75.

To give everyone an idea of the whole extension, here it is:

I ran out of paint and sand, so this project will set for a bit. I really need to get some photo backdrops going, and have been communicating with MacKenzie Brothers Timber Co. Regarding tree supplies. You can see these few trees got gobbled up and there is not even that much room between the track and the wall!
Parts for the Freight Depot should show up this week, and I can start working on that project next week.
Whew!

[Chris Walker]

Keith, you really don't need that many trees, nor fascia boards:  just don't forget those snowfences though.

OP-6342


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/43097/rv/singleitem/rec/4

[Keith Hayes]

Those are some mighty large logs heading up to Climax, Chris.

A benefit of MacKenzie Brothers tree machine is I can make the trees whatever size I choose. I am thinking I need a batch of smaller trees, both because the forest was less mature in the 30s and to help with some forced perspective.

[Lee Gustafson]

Keith,

There are some advantages to modeling above tree line! ;-) I'm also sure there is a formula that can calculate clamps, trees and the square foot of layout but I can't find it right now. It may be factored to available $'s. BTW your work looks really good. Thanks for sharing.

Lee Gustafson

[Keith Hayes]

Thank you, Lee.

Never enough clamps, and never enough trees!

[Lee Gustafson]

Keith,

I have a get rich quick scheme where we make clamps and trees out of brass!

Lee

[Jim Courtney]

Lookin' good, Keith!

Are there plans for a water tank (French Gulch or Birdseye) on your version of the Highline?

[Keith Hayes]

The P&C boys got out the growling pest to take it for a test drive.

The diesel works much better on the clean track.

[Fatbiker52]

It's been a while since I checked this thread as oldbear. Keith I love how far you've progressed. The trees look good and your description of your road bed construction is superb. Your Little people have been busy to say the least.They need more steaks taters and beer.

[Keith Hayes]

Ballast!