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SCENIC LINE WORK REPORTS 15 December 2019 ('Click' on Photos to 'Enlarge') |
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14 December 2019 Crew: GaryM, KentS, GrantC, DanS & DanS Jr
Parkdale
Mear's Junction
11 December 2019 Crew: GaryM, KentS, & TomG
Parkdale
Salida
The scale track can be used to weigh incoming narrow gauge stock cars, on their way to the Cleora stockyard. The engine has to stop twice
for each switch to be thrown, but the rest of the train will be pulled slowly through the load rails without stopping. The train will stop
after clearing the scales. An operator in the scale house records the weights, and hands the results to the conductor in the caboose,
before the train proceeds to Cleora.
23 November 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, & TomG
Parkdale
Salida
Tennessee Pass
Poncha Junction
20 November 2019 Crew: GaryM
Salida
16 November 2019 Crew: GaryM, GrantC, GlennG, KentH, DaveV, & TomG
Parkdale
Salida
Poncha Junction
9 November 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, TomG & DaveV
Parkdale
Poncha Junction
Extra Board
6 November 2019 Crew: TomG
Parkdale
2 November 2019 Crew: GaryM, GerryG, TomG
Parkdale
Extra Board
26 October 2019 Crew: GaryM, KentS, TomG, RyanH, GrantC, GerryG & DaveV
Parkdale
Salida
Parlin
Extra Board
23 October 2019 Crew: GaryM
Red Hill
Tennessee Pass
19 October 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, GrantC & KentS
Howard
Salida
Poncha Junction
Crested Butte
Extra Board
16 October 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG & KentS
Howard
Tennessee Pass
Poncha Junction
2 October 2019 Crew: GaryM & DaveV
Howard
Tennessee Pass
Monarch
Crested Butte
28 September 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG & GerryG
Red Hill Tunnel
25 September 2019 Crew: GaryM
Red Hill Tunnel
Tennessee Pass
21 September 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG & DaveV
14 September 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, GrantC & TomG
Parkdale
Salida
Tennessee Pass
Poncha Junction
4 September 2019 Crew: GaryM & DaveV
Gorge
Barrel
Tennessee Pass
Jack's Cabin
31 August 2019 Crew: GaryM, DaveV & GlennG
Gorge
Barrel
Salida
Gunnison
Crested Butte
24 August 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, GerryG & BarryB
Royal Gorge
Parkdale
Crested Butte
18 August 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, GerryG, KentS, DaveV & BarryB 2019 NMRA Front Range Division Picnic!
7 August 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, GerryG & BarryB
Extra Board
3 August 2019 Crew: GaryM, BarryB, GlennG & KentS
Extra Board
31 July 2019 Crew: GaryM, KentS, DanS, DanS-Jr, BarryB, GlennG & TomG
Royal Gorge
Parkdale
Cleora
Salida
27 July 2019 Crew: GaryM, BarryB & TomG
Parkdale
Cleora
24 July 2019 Crew: GaryM, KentS, DanS, BarryB & DaveV
Salida
Cleora
Mear's Junction
Gunnison
20 July 2019 Crew: GaryM & DaveV
Cleora
Barrel
Mear's Junction
17 July 2019 Crew: GaryM, KentS, BarryB, GlennG & DaveV
Parkdale
Barrel
West Salida
Tennessee Pass
Mear's Junction
Extra Board
6 July 2019 Crew: GaryM, BarryB & DaveV
Cleora
Mear's Junction
Extra Board
3 July 2019 Crew: GaryM, BarryB, DanS, DanS-Jr & DaveV
Cleora
Extra Board
29 June 2019 Crew: GaryM, BarryB & GlennG
Staging
W. Salida
Gunnison
26 June 2019 Crew: GaryM, BarryB, KentS, DanS, DanS & DaveV
Parkdale
Cleora
Mear's Junction
22 June 2019 Crew: GaryM & TomG
Parkdale
19 June 2019 Crew: GaryM, DaveV, KentS, TomG & BarryB
Parkdale
It is obvious in the first picture below how far inside the 30 inch radius was violated, noting the gap left between the scenery and removed
roadbed. The previous track had a "flat" or lower radius portion to the curve, by probably an inch or slightly more.
The two layers of 15/32" plywood will be glued together (countering warpage effects) and
attached to risers from underneath (for accessability to adjust grade and cross-track leveling). 1/4" Luann roadbed with beveled edges
will be laid on top of the subroadbed layers.
Mear's Junction
Gray's Siding
15 June 2019 Chow: GaryM, GlennG, KentS, DaveV, GerryG & BarryB
Gorge
Parkdale
Cleora
Extra Board
12 June 2019 Crew: GaryM, DaveV, DanS, KentS, TomG & BarryB
Gorge
Parkdale
Extra Board
1 June 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, KentS, & BarryB
Gorge
Parkdale
Tennessee Pass
Extra Board
29 May 2019 Crew: GaryM, GerryG, GlennG, KentS, DaveV & BarryB
Gorge
Parkdale
Cleora
Tank 7
Parlin
Extra Board
25 May 2019 Crew: GaryM, GerryG, GlennG & BarryB
Cleora
Salida
Parlin
Extra Board
22 May 2019 Crew: DaveV, GaryM, GerryG, GlennG & KentS
Salida
Parlin
Extra Board
18 May 2019 Chow: GerryG, GrantC, GaryM, GlennG & KentS
Salida
Extra Board
15 May 2019 Crew: DaveV, GaryM, BarryB, & KentS
Salida
Mear's Junction
Extra Board
11 May 2019 Crew: GlennG, GaryM, TomG, BarryB, KentS & GrantC
Gorge
Salida
W. Salida
Poncha Junction
Extra Board
20 March 2019 Crew: GlennG, GaryM, BarryB, KentS & DaveV
Gorge
Gray's Siding
Parlin
9 January 2019
Poncha Junction
Shawanno
5 January 2019 Crew: GlennG, GaryM, BarryB, KentS & DaveV
Gorge
Parkdale
Cleora
Tennessee Pass
West Salida
Parlin
Gunnison
Extra Board
GaryM installed a new switch mount for the west end of the new tracks, and added new fascia and replaced the old fascia. The new fascia
still needs to be sanded/cut to match up at the corners before painting. The switch panel box for the siding switch still to be permanently
mounted. KentS and DanS Jr installed the toggle switch and LEDs to the east siding switch, and temporarily mounted to the fascia in the
previous Digitrax UP5 porthole.
DanS ran his K-36 around the layout and found it stuck at just about every bridge. There is a small bracket beneath the cylinders that got
hung up on the timber guard rails on several of the trestles. Checking with the NMRA gauge, it was determined the timber rails were too
tall and violated the gauge. DanS sanded down the timber guards on one of the Mear's trestles.
TomG and KentS worked on hooking up tortoises to the new switches.
GaryM finished adjusting the scale track gauge and successfully ran the engine through on the dead rails and pulled stock cars on the
load rails. The switch is thrown after the engine clears the throw bar, with the couplers above the bar. A marker and paint will be
added to the throw bar so the operator will be able to line up to stop the engine to throw the switch, at each side of the scale track.
Each switch now operates independently, and the new toggle has been added to the switch panel.
TomG put in track feeders.
GaryM connected the linkages to the new track scale tortoises. The points on the scale rails are out of gauge and too tight, needing
adjustment.
GlennG scenicked the tank base.
GlennG worked on the ground base around the Depot.
GaryM connected the new tortoise wiring for the track scale.
TomG finished spiking the new rails.
GaryM installed two new track scale tortoises.
GlennG added the end signs and handcar rails.
TomG spiked down rail.
GlennG finished building the Depot, with just the end signs to add.
TomG stained ties.
TomG stained ties.
TomG laid more ties.
GrantC worked on the SG roundhouse backdrop.
GerryG worked on the backdrop.
======= SFRD #314698 41' Reefer
======= AT&SF #60512 41' Single Deck Stock
======= AT&SF #68883 41' Double Deck Stock
======= AT&SF #1561 35' Caboose (assigned: Portland Turn)
======= D&RGW #833 Drop Bottom Gondola (Assigned: Baldwin)
======= D&RGW #5690 Double Deck Stock
GaryM added more color to the bare rocks. Raw sienna was tried in spots above, and light oxide in a large patch below, too light and
too dark. Burnt sienna was lightly reapplied and looks closer to the actual rocks. Foilage still to be added.
GaryM added 36 trees around the tank and along the slope to the tunnel portal, whuch DaveV had already treed. An attempt was made to
grind up pine needles for ground base under the pines, which did not work. Instead, a fine red silt dirt was used to simulate fallen
needles under the trees. Looks like another 36 tree pack or two is still needed. A few short aspen are planned past the tank toward the stockpens.
GaryM painted new foreground hill evergreens in a tricolor of acrylics, first a bright Kelly Green, overcoated with a dark Pine Green,
and the touched up with a duller but lighter olive tone, which was also applied to the previously painted dark pines.
GrantC worked on the backdrop to the standard guage roundhouse and nearby hills.
GlennG and KentS continued work on the Depot.
GsryM installed new rails to the gap at the tunnel.
GaryM's repainting continues. Iron Oxide acrylic was used on the foreground reddish hills to simulate the rock outcroppings, and
evergreens added to continue on the farther background hills.
Repainted stockpens temporarily in place.
GlennG continues working on the Depot.
GaryM continued repainting the backdrop from the girder bridge.
DaveV placed some Blue Spruce above the tunnel.
GaryM resoldered the points on the mainline turnout at the top of the summit.
GaryM began rail repair work to the gap tracks at the tunnel next to the Tank. Old rail had been dislodged from the pre-fabbed
flex ties and was out of alignment causing derailments.
GaryM painted the rocky background on the backdrop near the west side of Red Hill. Colors: Burnt Sienna and Peach.
GaryM is repainting the backdrop near the west side of Red Hill to match the actual scenery. Colors: Black and Burnt Sienna.
GaryM repainting the brown modified Walthers stockpens with a weathered gray look.
TomG put in roadbed for the spur. TomG & GaryM attached the benchwork extension.
GrantC worked on the backdrop.
Backdrop complete, ready for trees.
GlennG worked on the Depot. GaryM completed the backdrop for the gap to Salida and the Salida Granite Company.
GlennG worked on scenery.
DaveV added more cribbing.
GaryM painted background hills and started evergreen stand on tunnel.
GaryM painted base background hills.
GlennG worked on scenery.
DaveV added cribbing and a stone wall for the Mechanical Transfer.
GaryM cutout roadbed for garden tracks, painted base hills on new West Salida (Granite Company) to Poncha Junction backdrop.
GaryM painted a base backdrop.
GaryM painted a base backdrop.
GlennG added some new contrasting foilage.
GaryM worked on the scenery.
BarryB worked on soldering connections.
GlennG touched up scenery and got some help from DanS-Jr.
GaryM painted the ballast board bevel. KentS laid the ground foundation with drywall cardstock by interweaving it into a web and
securing with hot glue. TomG finished installing the #10 and #8 turnouts.
GaryM continued working on the new hill.
DanS laid more ties around the 105' DG turntable pit.
GaryM tried sculptamold on the ballast board to bevel the edges - didn'y look too good, and removed. BarryB made a plaster mix and
applied with great looking results. TomG worked on the #10 turnout installation.
GaryM worked on the general scenery adding the leftover sculptamold and began carving a hill to transition from the big hill to the
charcoal kilns.
DanS laid more ties around the 105' DG turntable pit.
GaryM cleaned up ballasting.
DaveV worked on scenery.
KentS and BarryB cleared a short on a shinohara switch by re-centering the throwbar to the tortoise.
20 July 2019 Chow: GaryM, KentS, GrantC, BarryB & DaveV
GaryM cleaned up ballasting.
DaveV cut away some of the subroadbed along the face of where the Mechanical Transfer will be stationed (we hope someday).
DaveV worked on scenery.
GaryM pried out track nails from the roadbed and lightly sanded.
DaveV stripped out the "stone cribbing" along the narrow gauge track for resculpting.
GaryM testing out preliminary blow-up of Salida Granite Company to backdrop.
GlennG worked on sculpting above the portal to the new backdrop.
DaveV's magic:
GaryM ballasted the stockyard unloading track, with DanS-Jr helping.
DaveV worked on scenery.
GaryM ballasted the stockyard unloading track, with DanS-Jr helping. DaveV stripped the pebbles and cribbing off the Barrel
narrow gauge track.
GaryM tied up some wiring from the Parkdale work. One broken wire to the handset was repaired.
GlennG prepared the area for repainting the backdrop. Unfortunately, the sky blue paint dried up. GaryM to get more.
Lots of discussion to repair the backdrop between Gunnison & Crested Butte, basically the cloth plaster tape seam had given out.
BarryB came up with a transition to strengthen the corner and a plan was developed for the scenery plug in the wye.
GaryM and BarryB devised a way to rehang the staging LED lights behind valances (plastic garage door molding), which were partialy
removed during Parkdale construction. DanS-Jr helped contact glue the LED strip to the molding, which was then mounted below the
main benchwork superstructure.
DanS worked on removing excess ballast from ties and rails. GaryM laid down additional ballast to repair areas with DanS-Jr's help.
DaveV found acess through the hatch to continue working on re-scenicking.
TomG and GaryM completed roadbed for the industrial siding. They mounted the new mainline and passing siding to the old risers. New
risers were installed to the industrial siding, which was built 1/2" lower and then leveled. The bottom layer of roadbed was mounted to
the risers with screws and cross-leveled. The two sheets of roadbed were glued together and screwed down again to the risers. Additional
tweaking may be required, but the roadbed was crosswise level prior to gluing. Next, roadbed will be cookie cut out of luann plywood,
installed, and roadbed bevel will be added with sculptamold or such.
TomG and GaryM prepared a cardstock template and laid out the mainline curve to approx 30" radius, the passing track with a 2 7/8"
gap, and the industrial siding. They cut out the two layers of 15/32" subroadbed (each) for the curves and most of the siding. The
siding will drop about 1/2" lower than the main and passing track, which will remain the same level. A #8 left hand turnout will be
added to the west end for the siding (creating a "ladder"). A #6 left hand switch will be installed on the main just east of the west
switch from the main to passing track.
DaveV has started planting more trees along the edges. As more scenery has grown closer to the fascia, use care and extra precautions
transversing the aisleways with equipment and avoid leaning or resting against fascia edges. We may need to add more plexi-glass
shields.
15 June 2019 Crew: GaryM, GlennG, KentS, TomG & BarryB
GlennG continued adding scenery vegetation.
TomG removed the east #6 switch and prepared the track to add a new #10 turnout. TomG worked on the subroadbed. GaryM and TomG
worked on laying out the new subroadbed on 15/32 plywood.
GaryM ballasted the stockyard loading track with dark grey ballast. This is only a few shades from the mainline black slag ballast, and
only a subtle contrast.
GlennG continued adding scenery vegetation.
GaryM and TomG removed the mainline and siding rails, and subroadbed.
GlennG added more scenery vegetation.
BarryB pulled out some landscape.
GaryM put in a cardstock form to make for a backdrop of the The Salida Granite Compnay, with some help from GlennG.
GlennG added scenery touches.
BarryB began the demo at Parkdale to build the new industrial siding, eventually adding a 3 1/2 extension on the south side of the track
between the corner and the gully bridge. When all this is complete and the siding built, we will have a much needed 2nd SG passing
siding which will also help enable the implementation of time-tables.
GaryM worked on the ballast.
DaveV began rescape #5 (or #6?) and redid the riverbed so that it flows downhill for one thing. Hopefully DaveV will be able to replant
all of his recent beautiful fall scenery. The roadgraders and bulldozers have left, and soon the grass should start growing back!
Mountains continue to spring up on the horizon thanks to GerryG's diligent efforts and paint pallette.
GaryM added more ballast.
GaryM add another coat of stain to the SG roundhouse ties. GlennG modified the new trees in W. Salida to make one removable from the lift shelf
and moved one to the permanent scenery.
GerryG painting backdrop.
GaryM stained ties at the SG roundhouse stalls and worked on the turntable dollies. GlennG got a lot of details and trees added to the "Women's Boarding House".
KentS worked on Tortoises in the Transfer Yard.
GerryG was back at touching up and painting new backdrop.
18 May 2019 Crew: GrantC, GaryM, GlennG & KentS
GaryM used up the available ties at the SG roundhouse stalls. KentS replaced Hankscraft Switch #2 with a Tortoise, and built a mounting
plate for a new Tortoise at #8.
GaryM started laying ties to the SG roundhouse stalls.
DaveV resculpted the unfinished area in the Mear's loop and laid down some ground cover.
GlennG added some talus along the Gorge.
GaryM installed the pit rail to the 105' pit.
GlennG worked on some details around the new "Ladies Boarding House" he installed.
TomG tested his C-21 and discovered issues with the east mainline and wye turnouts, that he and BarryB worked on. BarryB grounded the
cases of the two boosters together which should also help brass locomotives.
DaveV reworked the cut.
GerryG painted more backdrop.
Several have been contributing to the paint project in the Gorge, especially DanG.
GlennG cutout the platform to fit the Train Order Boards. The depot will move over to place the new signal just off a joist.
GaryM placed some safety blue barrels as holders for the flags (used as car stops).
GlennG installed the Train Order Boards in front of where the TP depot will sit.
GaryM placed more safety blue barrels.
GlennG had to move the D&RGW station slightly back from the track to fit in the Train Order Boards.
GlennG had located the Train Order Boards, which also moved the mock-up Gunnison depot slightly back from the track.
