TEAR IT OUT!!!
#1
I have a hidden staging yard below my layout. There is about 26 feet of track to get to it of this 26 feet of track about 3 feet of it is easily accessible. Now we all know where problems will arise. This evening a train got stuck on it and started to tear it out!
Thi is very difficult to do as I really like where it begins on the layout.

[Image: 100_1154.jpg]
this is not a tunnel

But it is history. I have come up with another route and destruction/construction has begun. With the new route there will be about 4 feet that is difficult to get to. For me that means I will have to crawl about 4 feet under my layout to get to it and that is very hard to do. I will get pics tommorrow and keep you up to date. I can't wait to get it done, I am excited about this.
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#2
A man's gotta do what he's gotta do....I hope that slip-switch is going to stay.... Nope
Gus (LC&P).
Reply
#3
Tearing it apart to make it better is always exiting. Have fun!

Loren
I got my first train when I was three,
put a hundred thousand miles on my knees.
Reply
#4
Steamtrains Wrote:A man's gotta do what he's gotta do....I hope that slip-switch is going to stay.... Nope

It will be moved to a new location.
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#5
So let me get this straight...you're tearing out three inaccessible feet and your solution ends up with FOUR inaccessible feet of track? I must not be reading this right.

Galen

Edit: Okay, after a reread I see it was ONLY 3 feet out of 26 accessible vs. 4 that won't be after the tearing and weeping and gnashing of teeth. That does sound like an improvement, actually.

Ellison used to call a hidden staging yard 'Shangri-la' that needs to be opened up and shown to the world (made into a scene, not just an operational prop). Looking forward to pics.
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!
Reply
#6
inaccessible is the wrong word here. It is accessible but not easily. It involves removing scenery for some, standing on your head for the rest. Now the scenery is designed to be removed and standing on your head is an exaggeration. Before I had a stroke it was no big deal but now it is all but impossible.
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#7
I'm not sure what sort of contortions you need to go through to get to the "inaccessible" part of the staging yard. I'm also not sure what your physical limitations are since your stroke, but I wonder if a mechanic's creeper would work for you. The one safety thing to remember is to wear safety goggles to keep stuff from falling into your eyes if you use one.
Reply
#8
I like the looks of it, looks like a branch that comes off the main. If I may make a suggestion, I'd "abandon" that track. By that I mean, I'd pull up the rails off that diverging track and leave just the ties, and add weeds and debris.
Tom Carter
Railroad Training Services
Railroad Trainers & Consultants
Stockton, CA
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railroadtrainingservices.com">http://www.railroadtrainingservices.com</a><!-- m -->
<!-- e --><a href="mailto:tomwcarter@railroadtrainingservices.com">tomwcarter@railroadtrainingservices.com</a><!-- e -->
[Image: gaugetraingifsigUP.gif]
Reply
#9
Russ Bellinis Wrote:I'm not sure what sort of contortions you need to go through to get to the "inaccessible" part of the staging yard. I'm also not sure what your physical limitations are since your stroke, but I wonder if a mechanic's creeper would work for you. The one safety thing to remember is to wear safety goggles to keep stuff from falling into your eyes if you use one.
I have thought of that. If not for the carpet I would try it and sit on it but a creeper needs a smooth surface. I have a gardening seat on wheels that I use when I need to get to things under the layout such as wiring or switch machines. It is to high to get under under though.
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#10
I don't know if you have a Harbor Freight store in your area. They sell a steel framed creeper with sort of underslung wheels. The wheels are 2 3/8" diameter which may be big enough to roll on a carpet.

This one is the one I'm talking about:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?itemnumber=3674">http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=3674</a><!-- m -->

You could also make your own stool out of wood with a low enough seat to get under and under sling the wheels to allow larger casters which is what is needed to easily move on carpet. If you go to:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://harborfreight.com/">http://harborfreight.com/</a><!-- m -->
Type "casters" into the "find by keyword" box and you get 6 pages of casters.

I also have not seen a pic of your garden stool, but you might be able to modify is to sit lower. If it has the casters bolted to the bottom frame of the stool out near the corners, you could go to a metals dealer and pick up some heavy duty 3 or 4 inch steel "z" material. The dealers have cut-off saws and may have some short scrap pieces of what you are looking for. They will probably cut the pieces to the length you need. You might need to buy 5-10feet to get 4 pieces 4-5 inches long, but steel is not an expensive metal. Drill the flanges to match the mounting holes on your casters, and bolt the steel on your garden stool to under sling the wheels. Bolt the casters to your new steel brackets and your stool will sit 3-4 inches lower with the same size wheels that allow you to maneuver around under the layout.

This post got kind of long, but I hope there is something here that will work to solve your problem.
Reply
#11
I do have Harbor freight near me. I will have to go look at the creeper. I have thought about building my own. which I might still do, The changes I am making in my layout will help with the biggest problem but there is still needs for getting under it. The real railroads have to dig ditches for things don't they?
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#12
Here is a pic of a train preparing to leave my hidden yard. If you look above and behind it you will see the track I am doing away with.You can also see the bottom of the layout. This is one of the problem areas I have now after the stroke but could get to easily before.
[Image: 100_1150.jpg]
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#13
You asked for pics so here they are.
First what it used to look like

[Image: 100_0917a.jpg]

Now it looks like this.

[Image: 100_2040.jpg]

Here we have a road that used to end at the edge of the layout . Now it will cross the tracks before falling into the abyss

[Image: 100_2041.jpg]

Now the town of, oops I forgot to name it. will get a station instead of just the tracks running over head.

[Image: 100_2043.jpg]

Here is another pic of the same town.

[Image: 100_0873.jpg]

And lastly this is a pile of trees and other stuff on the team track. In the upper right you can see the old track and lower left you can see the beginnings of the new.

[Image: 100_2044.jpg]

How is that for pics. More to come as I progress. Might not be much for the next week as my 4 year old grandson will be here. He is like Ford, he has a better idea.
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply
#14
Like the layout and the idea for change, cant wait to see more. Oh and good idea inspireing the next generation of railroaders Thumbsup
Harry Check out my blog at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://newyorkontariowestern.blogspot.com/">http://newyorkontariowestern.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->
Reply
#15
Just a quick update note. Bought some material and, well thats about it.
Les
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/">http://www.lesterperry.webs.com/</a><!-- m --> Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/lesterperry/
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)