Jerry B44 Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Levels figured and they are treching to put the crushed concrete in and tamp it down. Monday they start laying block. Orangeline shows where the 'canyon' goes across to the other bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 Making progress. Crushed gravel base with concrete on top. Blocks moartered to the base and lower level. Rebar also and drains.. 4 blocks high on the low side of the yard, 3 on the high side. 12 x 17 x12" Caps on top of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Sr. Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Looking good Jerry. I am looking forward to watching your build. Looks like a class act in the making. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted July 15, 2018 Author Share Posted July 15, 2018 The high side is piling up well. Rain has held up some work. This dirt was from all the digging. Ordering some more. He still has to lay the lower side. He put in drains and I laid in wire for track power and lights in blue conduit stuff. Shopping for blocks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Looking good Jerry, and you will finish yours before I will, I can see that, as you are moving fast. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan 80 Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 I read about this construction work elsewhere, Jerry. It certainly is a major task for which I can clearly see why you got the boys in to do it. I am sure I am not alone in waiting to see it finished and the inaugural run by your first train. I hope you like the new place and are settled in now. Both my wife and I would hate a move of home: we collected so much, junk and memories over the last fifty-three years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 He got the islands all enclosed. I had 14 tons of dirt delivered, but that only did the small island, so two truckloads next week. Then a load of rocks and I can start laying track. I have been buying plants since I moved here in April, knew few would be available now, so should get a good start. Nice step he made for each island. Walls are 27" tall on the high side of the yard and 40" on the low side. Still need some her, since it will settle. Other island has some scrap dirt in it, but will need a load and a half or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 One more truckload of dirt and I can start laying track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Sr. Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Nice ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan 80 Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 I guess those 'islands' will save some wear on your knees Jerry. Awaiting the golden spike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted August 1, 2018 Author Share Posted August 1, 2018 More dirt comes on Friday, if no more rain. Then a gravel path around it, since it is all dirt and is a quagmire if it rains. Did dig a trench and aim the house sump pump to the canyon gravel area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 It's really looking good Jerry, wish mine were that far along, but maybe someday. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 Last load of dirt was not too good, so hope it works out. My son and granddaughter came up to help move the dirt after the skid steer left. They were a big help. She works out a lot and did more than me and my son. Before and after pic. I put down some pre-emergent and have 45 bags of mulch. I plan on lots of mulcsh and rocks and some plants. Getting too old to weed . TOwn will be on a piece of tile back board, had good luck with that in Nebraska. Once I get some rocks I will start laying track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Bought some rocks locally and he helped haul them over and put them in the layout. Big/strong guy, I died the small stuff. Four pickup loads. North end here is about done, was getting hot so we stacked the rocks on the blocks and I can get to them, once it dries out again. Rain again, sheesh. Lots of mulch is next and then put down the plants I have been babying since spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Rain keeps holding me up. I want to get the plants/mulch/rocks laid out before I lay track so I don't have to be careful of stepping on it. Supposed to be hot and dry after today, so it is possible..... Did have one day with no rain and I got down a gravel path around it, so that helps some. Irrigation boots get heavy after awhile! Doesn't look like much but it was many trips from my truck to the layout. Glad I shipped my lawnmower and trailer. I was beat, at least it was cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrown7713 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 That looks nice Jerry and I also like the long girder bridge, tell me something about that, as I will need something like that to be able to remove it to get into the center of my layout. Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted September 1, 2018 Author Share Posted September 1, 2018 Thanks. The bridge I researched for a Howe Truss, as I recall. Drew up my own idea from that and made a jig and cut all the pieces to fit.. Buddy of mine welded it together. It's 14' long and has two tracks, don't recall the width/height. Got some rocks moved that had just been tossed in when it was too hot to mess with them. Will fit some plants in and around I trimmed the Alberta spruces some, spider mites helped me out there messing up some trees quite a bit, so some are pretty bare. Once the mulch is in I can get the track down without having to be carefull all the time to not step on it. Pretty tired today. I work in the morning's before it gets too hot. Not sure how all these pix got in. Ray, maybe you could delete all the ones below? When I look at Alberta Spruces I always check the trunk, sometimes you will find you have two trees, or at least a double or triple base. Makes for some interest. I also trim the foilage to get away from the Christmas tree look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan 80 Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Good progress Jerry. The steel bridge look fine. Do see a covered bridge in the background? Did you bring that with you from your previous home? I like covered bridges. They are scarce over here, there are some in Switzerland however. My covered bridge is based on one in Cedarburg WI. A friend there, when he saw a picture of it, said "hey! Alan that looks just like the bridge down the road from me". I said it is, I modelled it on that bridge; Google was able to show me three sides of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted September 2, 2018 Author Share Posted September 2, 2018 Alan, both bridges were moved down here to use. Incorporating them in the build resulted in the two 'island' set up. I made the covered bridge years ago, build is on my web page, maybe in the projects button. The wood bridge is just a generic build for an impression of one by the viewer. Now that things are closer to a viewer I may have to detail things a bit more. My son helped with mulching the south island and a little this and that, we were pretty wet with sweat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan 80 Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 HI, Jerry. Yes, I thought I recognised your covered bridge that I had seen in photos of your previous railway in AK. In my view they are a great asset to any garden railroad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted September 4, 2018 Author Share Posted September 4, 2018 Got the south island mulched and pretty much done. My son was a big help. Hardi backer board is where the town will be-someday. I've started laying track, but is a slow process. Have to clean the clamps and rail ends good, then use die-electric compound on them. Once I have the rail bent finally with my dual rail bender I will gradually solder jumpers on each just to be sure of good track power Tragic plane accident in the canyon. South end with the board for the town buidings. Not planning on a lot of vegetation, some trees/mulch/Roundup is the plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Sr. Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Looks good Jerry. Maybe the Veterans Dash 8's will be delivered by the time your finished with track. They are on the recent MTH shipping schedule for arriving this month. Laughing at myself as I say that . Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Coming along nicely Jerry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Larry, I sure hope you are right, can't remember how long ago I ordered that. Be fun to have it pull my military train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B44 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 I got the track all hooked up for the main loop on top of the blocks. Getting the buildings and a few more trees in. Nice to be able to run trains again. Using mulch quite a bit, not a lot of groundcovers planned, weeding that wore me out on my old layout. Familiar buildings that I borought with me. Almost have them all re-wired. Keeping it all simple. Few buildings to go, not sure how many cars/figures I'll put out this late in the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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