You guys scare me. Old phart stage is just around the corner. I do hope you fare better in the future.
Pulled out a bridge today, that want going to work as hoped. Have another idea or two though. Set a couple of cinder blocks next to my track as well, to start getting an idea of how and where a potential tunnel is going to go, and how it's going to fit. Once in, I'll probably cover it with pond liner material to prevent water and/or mud from seeping in. As well as keeping the dirt out! Should work out, with the changes that Mom and I have decided need to be made. And I'm going to be lifting my track at the same time, on half the railroad. Want to lift it about 2"-3" to cover up a couple of potential problem areas. Where dirt would be washing from under patio and front sidewalk. Shouldn't take too long to make that change. Will do a bit at a time, when the temps aren't so doggone hot! Mid to upper 90's in Denver, which means maybe 5-7* hotter here. Close to 80* last night as of 11PM. So.......
Ugh. I hate summer. Which I have stated repeatedly, previously. As in your example, too warm to even enjoy a favorite pastime. Where's the enjoyment in that? I have never understood what people see in sweating, gritty and sleepless months. Bleh.
Just shy of Midnight, and temp outside is still hovering maybe just a hair over 70* yet! Gonna cool down a whopping 10* for Monday. Not much better the rest of the week! I like late spring, and early fall, before it gets too hot, and before it gets too cold! In the shade, it isn't too bad, but bad enough.
Supposed to hit near 100* today. Shop crews have pulled DRGW GP40 #3085 into the shop for a maintenance check up! Found I'm gonna need a gear/wheel puller to remove wheels, so I can access gearbox for cleaning and greasing! And have to grind out a slot in a stripped screw, so I can access the other truck now! Will oil the motor bushings, wheel bushings and gearbox bearings for now. A quick test run when done is all that's currently planned for today! And maybe pulling the #3082 in for same maintenance check up and test run. And maybe try to find out HOW to remove K-27 drivers for modification, or replacement of counterweights. Gotta either find my instructions, or find them online! With the intense heat outside, what better way to spend the day, but inside, in the A/C, doing much needed locomotive maintenance!
Breezy, cool and have had a bit of rain here. Perfect day for model railroading stuff. (Sixty outside.) Yesterday they were even talking possible snow on Marias Pass!
Been working on one locomotive cooling system. Have 3 mini fans about ready for final install. All that remains, is to wire them in, reinstall plugs that I had to r move, to separate body and frame! And hope everything works when powered up!
Railroad is officially down for an unknown period!! Started the process of lifting the upper half of the railroad. Supported on bricks, and will be filled in with dirt, starting tomorrow maybe. Lift will raise track about 3" and helping hide the edge of the sid walk to the front door, and fill in the gap under the 6x6 timbers framing the patio. Should also keep a switch machine from being buried by dirt, as it falls out from under said patio timbers. Thankfully, my wrist and hand are cooperating to a degree! Still have problems, but very slowly improving!!
Yeah, at least some run time. Was quite nice after dinner, so I decided to get started. Hope to get fill dirt dumped in place Sunday. At least some, before it gets too hot! Shouldn't be too bad though. Hopefully, I can have things done and testing in progress in a week or so. Not gonna guarantee it though! Have a few half size cinder blocks to pick up next. To be used as square culverts for water drainage. Specifically, from downspouts from the roof.
Was able to get half a wheelbarrow load of dirt moved into place. Had to take personal break. As I was getting ready to return, Mom came down and said not to bother going back out! It was starting to pretty goodby this time! And we looked to be on the edge of a yellow/orange Storm cell as it approached. Might try to get a little more done, soon, as long as its not raining! If/when it does rain, it'll help ssettle the dirt. If not, I'll water it down as I go. May grab a few photos of progress, before I get too far along!
Ask and Ye shall recieve! Progress as of yesterday. Finished yesterday, from center of curve, to brick under switch points. No ballasting yet. That will be done, when dirt work is done! Will be placing 8" square half cinder blocks under the straight sections of both tracks, for drainage. Current cinder blocks are where a tunnel is planned. Only 2 blocks in length, or about 36" at most Keeping ease of access in mind!! Final placement when dirt work is done. An overall view of work zone. From bottom edge of blocks, back to switch, and section between switches to be filled in yet. Needs it, by patio timber. Dirt slowly washing out from under timber! When done, it will be about 2" under the dirt. Switch control won't be buried either, as dirt washes out! Todays progress. Filled in from switch points, to first block on left, and about halfway to block straight ahead. Current dirt supply is out. Need to get another small load, plus cinder blocks for drainage. Gotta do that Wednesaday. Won't be able to see tomorrow! Eye exam in the afternoon. No work. And yes, I'm planning on leaving the bricks holding track, in place. Might help keep track level. Or at least at the switches! Leveling adjust, side to side, when I'm ready to start doing trackwork. Going fairly quick, so I'm thinking it may not take as long as I thought! May run a test train up and down, to check the grade before long. Even though I'm far from finished! Should give me an idea of anything that needs to be changed before I get TOO far along.
No eye dilation. Ended up being too hot to work anyway. Spent some time after I grabbed lunch, watching BNSF crews doing more rail replacement. Cooled down later in the evening, so I took time and started moving a few rocks over, to hold back the dirt! A load of dirt and 4 cinder half blocks on Wednesday. If not too bad in the shade of the tree, I might be able to get a fair amount done. Or at least get other areas filled in and track graded. Might be able to run a test train in a couple of days maybe. A GP40 and a few cars, and the NW-2 with a few narrow gauge cars. Shorter locomotive, so coupler swing won't be as big a problem. Works out good, until I can get the K back in action! Still need to deal with counterweight problems. A few updated photos to come later Wednesday night sometime!
Most of the dirt work is done. Blocks purchased. A 48" wooden bridge installed even!! Photos tomorrow, as it was too dark by the time I finished working for the day. Tested an engine and caboose. Have to add a clamp and a power jumper now. Have a dead section of track again, from moving things around slightly. Otherwise, everything ran pretty good! Hope to try a longer train with both locomotives tomorrow also. See how a longer train handles the rebuild. Maybe the NW-2, with narrow gauge cars as well, to see how the narrow gauge equipment handles. A quick question for anyone that may know: What is the minimum track diameter needed for a BLW K-37?? Found one up for auction. Asked about curve requirements, but haven't heard back yet. Will check else where for this info as well.
Keith I am enjoying following your work as I am considering creating an outdoor layout for the G Scale equipment I own. In response to your question, Accucraft's Live Steam K-37 (1:20.3) requires a minimum 4 foot radius or 8 foot diameter.
Would be able to run it then. Using 5' radius/10' Diametr curves! However, I also came across information that indicates that it requires much fiddling with, to get it to operate correctly!! That the driveline is a weak point, as are the side rod rivets! Looks nice, but think I'll find something to compliment, or replace, my K-27, unless I can get the @&$ thing fixed!! Still gotta do something about the counterweight problem. Got both GP40's, 3 cars and caboose out this evening and ran for a bit. Found a couple of troublesome spots, after lifting track! One spot just needed minor work. The other, took me a while to figure out! Turns out it was a slightly kinked clamp that was causing derailments. Small hand shovel under joint, and a bit of pressure to bent opposite direction helped! Think once I start to do actual ballasting, any problems I have might be easier to either find, and/or fix! Hope to get drainage brink in place next and get that section of track filled in and checked. With tunnel construction to follow shortly after, I hope! To dark for photos tonight, so I'll grab a few tomorrow and update things things tomorrow night sometime. So far, despite the derailing problems, I'm happy with results to date.
Good news and bad news. Bad news is, couldn't run trains today, without uncoupling constantly, in new, rebuilt areas, or derailing in same. And this was with as few as 5 cars! Same train that had no trouble last time I ran. Had found that 7 cars was about the maximum length I could go, with out problems. Also the maximum train length for siding. Good news is, 2/3 - 3/4 of the railroad has been torn up. Will tear out the rest, over the next however many days it takes. Not sure yet, what will happen next. Could rebuild, sell track, or throw I all in the garbage can Wednesday night. For permanent disposal Thursday AM. Equipment could be sold in some fashion. Haven't decided yet. Never able to find help/information on bridge abutments. Never got any useful information either, about body mount Kadee couplers for Aristo Craft and USAT cars. No one in club is G Scale, and no group/club around that I could get help from. Deciding that it may be best to just give up.
Wow. Sorry to read this. Unless you need the cash, maybe pack it away for a while and let it rest a bit?
