... than never.

John has been working on more buildings and details.  He definitely has an eye for these things.  John has been collecting orange rocks and strategically stacking them.  With the light and camera position just right it becomes difficult to tell where the G scale end and reality begins.  Nice work John!

Better late than...

Sierra and I were out to the railroad in November to install the bridges Gary Conley had made for the G scale pike.   We also worked on improving the new timber trestle that connects the new raised be to the old mainline. 

View of the Gary's large mainline bridge and the improved trestle.

I also added cribbing to the original raised beds for the mainline to bring them more inline with the newer sections of the railroad.  Quite a bit of subsidence has occurred on the main since it was originally installed.

Thank goodness for John...

John Griffin, the MOW foreman, building renovator, and all around handyman has kept the G-scale layout alive and active over the warmer portion of the year.  John meets visitors and gives tours of the layout, has trains running for them, runs track cleaning units to "check" on the condition of the railroad, repairs g-scale buildings and keeps the native vegetation clear of the right of way.  All I would like to say is THANKS JOHN!

                                        One of John's MOW trains highlighted by native color

 

John's homage to Mormon Rocks.  John has an eye for details and takes pride in blending the G scale scenery into the full size background

Quite a picturesque and believable scene.  John rebuilt, repaired, painted and placed the buildings in the engine servicing area on the new extension

                  
                  John's Mogul and passenger cars on Creosote curve, taking water at the tower

The original portion of the mainline is in need of repair.  The plan for this season is to add additional cribbing to re-level the mainline.  John has built new crib walls to support the track fill.  Additional structural walls will be added with additional fill.  Some of the bridges are slated for repair or replacement.  A small picnic shelter is also on the to do list. This photo is of John's Mogul on the old section of the mainline.

 

Thanks for all the support John!

 

G-scale Rudy Run Update

John Griffin's C-16 crosses the gorge

As usual the plans to be out over Veteran's Day weekend were thwarted.  My original thoughts to be at JTS for 4 days became a one day turn around.  Oh well, what else is new.  Thank goodness for John Griffin who is constantly working on improving the G-scale layout.  My daughter Kelly and I ran out on Sunday to work on the layout.  Kelly ran some trains and I worked on a replacing the temporary trestle with a driven pile trestle built in place.  Five bents were set to replace the three temporary ones.  As you can see from the photo, the bridge needs diagonals, girts and stringers, but it is off to a good start.  During the installation I discovered the next portion of the project will be to raise the height of the original raised planters and re-level the mainline.  The original planters have subsided over the past dozen years.  JTS President Tom Arnold advised me that is was decided that the plans for the G-scale picnic shelter (a smaller version of the large shelter) have been approved.

Reverse angle of John's C-16 and mixed freight on the Trestle.

A G-scale work crew inspects and adds to the trestle abutment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update 7/16/12:  Working while it's Warm or The Ramble that wasn't...

Sierra and I ran out to JTS to meet with Brian and Allan Ratliff, as well as work with  John Griffin on the layout.  It was a tad warm with temp's in the mid 90's.  The day was made pleasant with the occasional breeze (gust).  The goal was to install the new, beautiful, bridge that Gary Conley built for the G-scale.  Additionally, 60(+) feet of track was added to the mainline as well as two staging sidings.  

Sierra and I discuss the the project.  John is already testing the new track.

Allan took this about 2:00 as I was wiring the power switch for the new staging tracks.

Gary's bridge is in the upper left of the above image.  Photo by John.

John shot this image of  Gary's bridge, the temporary trestle and the (crooked) staging sidings.

(I'll straighten the inner siding on the next work day).

    All track was tested in both directions.  A few hummocks and bumps were present but the equipment ran through without any issues.  The track needs ballasting.  The center of this area will receive some rock piles, soil and structures to give some detail to the flat topped planter.  

     We are running low on rail clamps and will need to purchase some if any additional track is to be added.  I noticed that the original planter beds are quite a bit lower than the both of the new raised beds.  The plan is to set the laser level and raise the height of the original raised beds then re-set the track.  Gary plans on building new bridges to replace the original units.   The plan for Fall is to start the picnic shelter for the G-scale.  

More to follow, Don.

So I'm a Blogging Flake...

I apologize in the delay of updating the blog.  Quite a bit has gone on since the last installment.

Over President's weekend the Family and I ventured out to Joshua Tree.  We enjoyed our visit and worked on the yard crib.  John Griffin had been kind enough to stockpile redwood planks,  redwood posts and soil for the event.

The Gage's working on the Yard Crib- Lula and Belle were supervising

Ten days pass and I receive a note from John indicating that he has filled the crib and is awaiting his next assignment.  Wow this guy works amazingly fast!

Filled Crib by John Griffin

I made a one day pilgrimage to the Club to assist on minor repairs and tweaking of the rail.  Wiring has been updated to allow for both the upper loop and lower loop to be run from one transformer.  An operating pedestal has been added to make operating more comfortable from a fixed transformer. 

John's D&S Mogul pulling his red-doored Dynamite car

Gary Conley has been working on a custom Howe Truss bridge to connect the mainline to the yard crib and loop.  As of April 20th the Bridge is 95% complete and ready for installation.  More to follow... DG

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