Work on the High Line commences

[Keith Hayes]

After talking about it for six months,  Mr McKenna came over to help relocate some bench work so I can start working on the High Line.  This is where we started.



And this is what we ended up with.



The bench work is recycled from my previous layout. The legs need to be shortened, and then add new L-girders added to connect the two parts. Then we get twenty more feet of track.

After we got some boxes back in place, Mr. McKenna gave the passenger a test drive.



A few stops on dirty track, but no derailments.

[Jim Courtney]

How far will tracks extend?  All the way to Climax?  

What are you going to use for Three Mile and French Gulch water tanks?  I'm puzzling about how to build the Dome Rock Tank (c1909, not the tall industrial tower of later years!)

[Keith Hayes]

Well, Jim, it is not far enough to warrant a water stop. Just around the corner from the High Line there will be a pass, and there will be a tank there. I am partial to the larger tanks, but have a Banta model of Baker. I have a couple Crystal River kits, though I suppose I could either scratch build a tank, or bash one from a PBL kit. The model of Idaho Springs was built from scratch.

The photos of Solitude always hit home--a water stop in a lonely place.

[Keith Hayes]

At Leadville I used dual T5 fluorescent fixtures behind the valence. I made wood brackets to both mount the lights and the brackets. But, I did not paint the brackets before I hung the lights.

What better way to spend a hot Saturday than to paint the brackets for the reminder of the upper deck valance.

[Keith Hayes]

Today I took some time to work with large wires. I finished up a wall patch and got it painted. Then I installed the light brackets and the lights:

I got a couple wired before it was time to move on to something else.

All the wise owls tell us to prep the layout room and finish everything before starting layout construction.  Gosh, those owls are right. I am being much more methodical working on this part of the ceiling and valance.

[Keith Hayes]

Some progress! I happened to have two eight foot lengths of valence ripped, and trimmed them around pipes and duct.

Now to remove them and paint the backside.

[Keith Hayes]

I've been thinking more intently about modeling Climax atop Fremont Pass. Previously, I had imagined a large coal breaker like that at Floresta on the D&RGW. I am basing my track plan on the one Dave Adams developed for his layout, an he has a similar feature. Coal breakers generate a lot of carloads (why I am building ten Phase I coals!). But, a molybdenum mine would generate a greater variety of carloads of all types (except stock). Plus it would be both a destination for loaded cars, and a shipper. Though it is well documented on this blog that the mine was worked by the eastbound freight, I could generate another job by creating a Leadville-Climax local.

Does anyone have a valuation map for Climax in the 30s they are willing to share and/ or post? There are a handful of photos from afar, but it is difficult to make out the track layout. Looks like a long spur with a number of sidings next to large buildings.

And, lest you think I have been idle, I have the valence painted am in the middle of getting the benchwork truss for the extension in place. Okay, it is not really a truss so much as a frame with deep sides. Like a D&RGW 6500-series flat car.

[Keith Hayes]

Now we are cooking with gas!

The bench work bridge is up and work on roadbed can commenced in earnest.

I probably should level everything up first though,  eh?

[South Park]

 "I probably should level everything up first though,  eh?"

==========================================

  Why, ....  will you be modeling the Kansas Central ?  

[Keith Hayes]

The grading crew has made some progress.

Espee, they are aiming for a 1% grade and some nice, wide (for narrow gauge) curves.

[Lee Gustafson]

Keith,

Your grading crew does excellent work!

Lee G.

[Keith Hayes]

Thanks, Lee.

Crews are moving rail, spikes and fish plates to the end of track.

[South Park]

  In full scale, those green handled clamps dwarfed even the largest of C&S
rolling stock/motive power !  

[Keith Hayes]

The end of track has advanced to the D&RGW crossing.

At this point, the Ibex Branch crossed the C&S main just past the roundhouse.

[Chris Walker]

  Isn't that crossing supposed to be 3-railed on both tangents......?

[Robert McFarland]

Keith lost his contract with LIONEL.

[Keith Hayes]

I clearly get no respect here. No matter the time zone.

[Jim Courtney]

You have my respect, Keith.

You and Darel are the only ones I know, who are actually building a C&S layout in Sn3.

Jim

[Chris Walker]

Certainly not disrespecting you Keith, just wondering why.  I am fully aware of limitations and compromise, I'm having do that everyday on my fullsized Tram.

[Darel Leedy]

None for me either Jim? Lol



Alright, Roper says since I haven't touched the layout in 8 months, that technically I'm not building one.