Ken, the backdrop behind the yard is a panorama I took of Sunol (from just above the 10th tee at the Sunol Golf Course). The Donner Lake photo I got off the Internet. I am thinking there might be some UP through the 20th century line ups this weekend.
The JACALAR RR company is pleased to introduce its latest addition! While an East Coast locomotive, this classic K4 4-6-2 Pacific, from 100 years ago, was acquired and lovingly restored by the workers at the JACALAR. Its operating condition will allow it to be an active member of the JACALAR RR's excursion fleet, and the PRR livery of a century ago adds to its glamour Here we see the unit as it is initially brought onto the JACALAR property from the shops which did the restoration The classic steam fleet, mostly of western equipment, appears to display interest in this new addition Close up on the turntable bridge
Here we see 5440 getting ready to pull out of the roundhouse area on its first sojourn on the JACALAR Approaching the Laurel Gulch station, 5440 encounters a vintage stage coach Cruising through the mountains in Laurel Gulch
Actual work has begun again on the JACALAR! A few years ago, I had gotten to the point where most of the track and wiring were finished. I had the yard area still to go, and, while not fully hooked up, feeders had been dropped from all the mains (feeders dropped from nearly every piece of Unitrack). Well, that was when I pinched a nerve in my neck, was laid up for about a month, and was never physically comfortable getting back under the layout to hookup the last of the loose feeders. Time passed, and I would try to get under there, and would call it quits within about 10 minutes, so I knew not to try. Instead, I worked on FreeMoN modules, scenery, buildings and running trains, all the time wondering when and if I would finally be able to finish the yard area. I didn't want to scenic it until all the feeders were done. Well, today, I decided to try again. And, I was able to work under the bench work for an hour and a half. I got about 2/3s of the already dropped feeders hooked up to the wiring bus. I called it after that, as I didn't want to push and reinjure myself. So, I should be able to finish that power district with just one more session! Then it will be time to finally drop the remaining feeders for the final power district (I had not dropped those, so that I wouldn't accidentally mix things up). I had made a goal for 2016 to try and finish the yard area this year, and I may just be able to do so! I am so stoked!
Great news. Glad you wre able to get at it again. A little over twenty years ago, I learned the hard way to never push. The results can be disastrous. It took nine months before I was able to walk again decently. And have never fully recovered.
Glad ALL my wiring is done. I feel older every day. I find things I could do not that long ago...tedious these day. It now takes me 3-4 days to mow the front and back yards. Just 2 years ago it was a few hours work. Rick...hope your wiring gets done and you dont have to go under there anymore
Alright! That power district is all hooked up, so I can now start pulling the different sections of the last power district up and attaching the feeders. That will go reasonably quickly (but still, a lot of track). Since these are all yard, I will also apply a black wash over the Unitrack roadbed and paint the ties a light (weathered) grey while it is up. This will aid in getting the look of the yard, even before spread ballast.
Whew! A little over 2 months since the last update, but this weekend I finally finished the rewiring of the yard, with all connections under the layout nice and neat! (pictures to follow). What this means is I now have feeders to virtually every piece of Unitrack on the layout (virtually, since there are a couple where it was impossible to place them, due to benchwork. In those cases, I instead soldered wires between them and the adjoining tracks) I paced myself, no more than an hour / hour-and-a-half per work session under the bench, and only once had a back/neck issue following. That, and being away, I feel great about the progress. The ballasting should go relatively quickly. But first, I am going to do a major track cleaning (nothing has really run on the layout for most of the year), and retest everything in the yard, with multiple trains and consists. With all the track having been taken up and relaid, no ballast/glue until trackwork is verified. Yesterday afternoon, I cleared everything off the floor in half the shed, and with a scrub brush, did my best imitation of Cinderella. This morning, the other half of the shed was scrubbed. While I sweep/vacuum out there, it is amazing the amount of grime that gets on the tiles. For my next trick, I will go through all the junk that accumulated under the layout in boxes, and see if I can throw out a bunch of stuff. (Was amazed how many half sheets of used sand paper I found)
Good to hear your yard tracks are completely wired Rick. Wiring each section of Unitrack takes time but the rewards are worth it for a permanent layout. I remember when I wired each and every piece of Unitrack on my around the room layout. I haven't had at any electrical issues in almost eight years since the layout has been fully operational. You received some great advice from a mutual friend of ours. Staying cool and having fun with it...... Shades
I wired every 3rd stick of Unitrack and every stick coming off every leg of a turnout. No problems and its been 4 years. I figure it was 2/3 less work...
Aiiyiiyii, and that's all I'm going to say. Nice layout Rick, you are farther ahead of me. Nice, very nice.