Rudy Run 2011

G-scale is running!

Well, I promised to have the upper loop functional for the Rudy Run and by gosh we did it! Sierra (my 16 year old daughter) and I arrived at JT&S about 12:30 on Friday 11/11/11 and set up camp. By 1:00 we were installing track panels and figuring curves for the new main. With the Help of John Griffin, Rob Moore (a new member from Canada), Sierra and I managed to fit, assemble and ballast another 75 (+) feet of track on the upper loop. By 4:45 we were running trains and working out the kinks in the rail.

On Saturday John and Rob ran trains between the rain squalls while Sierra and I worked on track power. Three 14-2 direct burial track power feeders were installed and tested by 4:30. Bob Whitt ran his radio controlled Aristocraft U25B to test the main. He made several circuits on the new loop and never stopped grinning.

Sunday was clear with only an occasional cloud. I realigned an overly tight curve (less than 3' radius) to be a lose 4' radius curve to ease train operation. I then attended the board meeting. I was reintroduced to the attending members and received a warm welcome, Thanks everybody! Sierra and a host of others took turns running battery radio control trains until we had to leave at noon.

Special thanks go to Mrs. Boardman (Miles wife) for the generous donation of track, buildings and details from Miles railroad.

Another thank you to Bob Whitt for removing the track and delivering it to JT&S.

We used a good amount of track this weekend but still have a lot more.

Next will be to start on the passing sidings and staging yard.

Stay tuned!

Don

G-scale Progress

Hello, I spent the morning of Sunday 10/16 placing the first railroad ties between the 7 1/2" gauge and the G-scale to help retain the slope. John Griffin came by and helped move soil. A total of ten ties were installed that will support the slope. A second row of ties, and possibly a few additional will be added.


While there, John and I managed to get the lower loop operational. A few areas of G-scale retaining wall will need to be added to keep the upper railroad's soil from becoming the lower railroad's.
Upon leveling the roadbed, with a laser, I discovered that a large quantity of fill will be necessary to keep the track level. After some soul searching, I have opted to run a grade of 2% or less up from the new planter to the high point at the west bridge. Another 2% grade will be installed from the west bridge to the original planter boxes and bridges. Almost all G-scale locomotives made today should be able to climb a 2% grade with a moderate sized train, so everybody should be happy.
We seem to have enough track to complete a full loop on the new mainline. Although railroads seem to eat track at an alarming rate.

Back out to JTS- 8/31/11

I headed out to Joshua Tree for another visit with Bob and John. Bob Whitt and I spent part of the morning assessing the buildings Miles left for us. All in all a good mix of buildings that should look great on the railroad.

Bob and I then met up with John at the Railroad. We did some arm waving and yelling (that is how everyone expresses themselves, isn't it?), then got down to the business at hand. The raised bed was measured and the size was adjusted to allow for our minimum diameter to be 8' or LGB 1600(0) series curves. The planter walls were realigned after some further measuring, arm waving and minor yelling. Since we were having so much fun, we decided to move some rocks so John will know where we need more dirt.

The three of us also discussed a picnic enclosure. The design we currently agreed upon is a smaller version of the main picnic enclosure. The structure will be built of lumber, painted green, with a corrugated metal roof, facing the same direction as the main structure. Some form of weather resistant storage cabinets will be along the south wall, and a custom dirt floor will be used to support the picnic bench. Power can be run to the enclosure using the existing line that runs to the G-scale convenience outlets.

We will be styling soon,

Don

JTSRR G Scale Update

One of the M.O.W. Crews hard at work on the Right of Way
Photo by John Griffin

Hello,
I have been asked to return to the task of G scale Coordinator for JTS. I'll give a little background before I give the update. My name is Don Gage, I am an avid kitbasher and scratchbuilder in G scale and have been doing so for about 20 years. To date I have designed and installed over a dozen railroads, mainly for friends in and around Southern California. I have a website of some of my modeling at:
http://4largescale.com/DonGage/index.htm

Myself along with the help of Alec and Eric Bauer built the first three iterations of a G scale railroad at JTS. So if there is something you didn't like about the earlier railroads, I'm the one to blame.

I have met with the President and several coordinators and board members to discuss the future of G scale at JTS. I created a clearance gauge that will be used to cut back the slope on the slope between the G scale area and 7.5" mainline insuring enough space is kept between the areas. The plan is to build a retaining wall to support the foot of the slope and the upper plateau. Bob Whitt, John Griffin and I have discussed the changes that we plan on for the immediate future. Our goals include improving the industrial loops operation and completing the new and improved mainline loop. The loops will be fully operational for both raidio control and track powered equipment.

Bob Whitt donated over 24 full size railroad ties for the retaining wall between the G and 7.5".

Miles Boardman's wife has donated track, buildings and other items for use at JTS after Miles passing, I greatly appreciate the kind gesture. Miles was a good friend of JTS and the prior G scale coordinator at JTS, he will be missed. We are grateful to be able to keep his memory alive by incorporating his railroad with ours.

More to follow,
Don