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Most of the main line trackage on the
Pacific & Eastern is raised as it passes through yards and
industrial areas. This is in keeping with prototype practice
where main tracks receive more ballast and drainage
considerations. To accomplish this the a 3/16" layer of sheet
cork is cemented to the sub-roadbed prior to installing regular cork
roadbed. Of course, for industrial and yard tracks to
connect with the raised mains, they must be ramped up as well. In
this picture a puzzle of switches are laid out over the 3/16"
cork. The ends of the cork pads will be sanded down to the
plywood where yard and industrial tracks leave the main. |
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Meanwhile,
John Gerritsma has been busy starting on the backdrops. Using
printouts from Google Earth "excursions" John is able to match color
and texture to actual terrain in Klamath County. Larry
Tuttle found that we can approximate the perspective of a person
standing next to the layout by adjusting the "eye" in Google Earth to
about 200' above the terrain and then tilting the image to show the
horizon. It's not exact by any means, but it's faster and easier
than a trip over icy roads to Klamath Falls and much cheaper than
renting an airplane. |
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After
a couple weeks of sticking and sanding sheet cork, the cork roadbed
goes down. In this picture, Carlos Furcal wields a hammer and
spikes in some cork for the SP yard. In the background Dave
Spakousky is busy in the BN engine service area. |
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Amidst
the clutter, progress continues on multiple fronts during a Saturday
work session. L to R; E Don Pettit and Bruce McGarvey
survey the work. Dave lays out the BN engine terminal while
Carlos, Wil Cleveland and Dick Stark lay cork. (Smile, Dick!) |
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With
the bulk of the cork roadbed down, the crew gets to laying track.
Here, Brad Fawcett is spiking down the crossover from the SP main to
the SP switch lead. April 4, 2009 |
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No,
Carlos isn't taking a nap while Don works. He's sighting down a
pair of No. 8 switches which mark the end of the Keno (helix) siding
and crossover to the beginning of two track main to the far end of
Pelican Yard. After what seemed like months of wiring and laying roadbed and with the Railroad Park opening to the public on April 12, the track gang shifted into high gear. April 4, 2009 |
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Meanwhile,
inside the helix, a computer of sorts is being built to power and
control the Klamath Falls District. Left to right: a mockup
of the SMINI board which will control signals; a pair of signal block
detector boards and the Digitrax PM 42 that will control power to
the peninsula. |
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By
April 7, enough track had been laid that a few jumper wires could be
connected to the bus wires and a test run made. A rumble is heard
from within the helix and out pops a BN Geep with three cars in
tow. It's on the Klamath District "Show Loop". |
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Larry
was busy installing ground throws at the throat of Pelican Yard but had
to interrupt his work (and grant the test train authority through his
Form B). The train is on the main in this view with the
unfinished yard tracks on the right. April 7, 2009 |
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Wil,
Dave and Jerry Hellinga smile approvingly as the test train reaches the
temporary end of track at the east end of Pelican Yard. By the
end of the day, the main line will connect with the SP track on the
opposite side of Lake Ewauna and the loop will be complete. April 7, 2009 |
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The test train excitement over, we get back
to work on track and ground throws. School over for the day,
Carlos has to get back to trackwork. In this picture he's showing
off the details of a switch with a green wire soldered to the underside
of the frog. This will allow for the frog to be
powered. Under his right pinkie is a 3/8" hole drilled through
the cork and plywood for possible use in detecting switch point
position. April 7, 2009 |
| It's
hard to believe we've come this far in three months. January 9, 2009 to April 7, 2009. Bare floor to running trains! We've met our goal of operating trains on the Klamath Falls District on Opening Day 2009. See you at the Railroad Park on the second and fourth Sundays from now until the end of October. |
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The track work is completed, a stack train travels over the BN, across the lake and through the P&E yard. Plus a wiring headache, some fun with backdrops and the signal system takes shape. |
Photos by Larry Tuttle
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Photos and text copyright © 2010 by the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club