Top Loop

On Thursday plans for a balloon return loop is finalized once realized & at 8am work commenced, 1 more bridge & lots of clay to shift. Already the lower track section is raised another foot. Retaining walls for the track bed are needed & the cheaper the better.

The track is going to be lowered so its at least a foot below the G gauge.

On the top right sleepers are finally laid on the 15" gauge road bed, already I can see some right of way issues arising.  

*Friday*

Earthworks mostly done for the top loop

*Saturday*

Widening of cutting and laying mix of gravel / crushed clay.

Building up roadbed over the new bridge and down to meet the other track.

Looking down - Top Loop

Looking up - Top Loop

*Sunday* 

Embankment now in place and more than a few barrow loads of clay building the roadbed up.

*Monday* 

7 square meters of gap40 blue/brown for the roadbed, got a decent way around the layout before the rain got too much. 

*Tuesday*

Spent the day connecting the track, spreading & compacting gravel.

*Wednesday*

Finished the top loop, all track connected, ballasted and levelled off. My wagon/tool bench runs derailment free and the roadbed is very firm. The turnout needed a tweek but otherwise worked out well.

Cutting Grass

The 5 inch portland railway slowly plods along. Lots of grass cutting fun has been had. The wagons have had a coat or 2 of paint and today they ran all the way down and back without issue. Before painting I fully loaded the hopper with clay to see if the door mech could hold it which it did. Hopefully soon I can load it up with balast & get a shot or 2 of it in action.

 

Bridge #3

 Today see's bridge #3 started and finished followed by more clay extending the roadbed.

Crossing a small drainage channel with a pallet bridge. Going to put sides on it to hold the roadbed in place. and then proceed with more clay.

Cheap, effective. Since the clay was dug from the lower pond its perfect for compacting into a solid form, almost like putty.

Cutting the growth back

The next day, using boards where the track connects to ensure nothing meets at weird angles as I move & lift track around messy gradients trying to get it right.

Significantly more 5" Track..

Starting off the new year properly I came into the possession of beautifully crafted aluminum track, about 200mtrs of it with all the extras, ties, fishplates, bolts  & etc. I quickly set aside the track I painstakingly spent a month cutting & welding up in between servicing the printer every other couple hours when a part is completed.

I had a rough idea of a track plan to start with and had already started to cut a path so pretty quickly earth was being moved, track organized and so on. 

Connecting and playing with the track gives a sensation of utter realism, everything connects without much fuss at all. I loosen all the ties first, then connect 1 track only, and then work the other track in place and then bend & align the track to your leisure, once your 40 bolt tightening's in it begins to feel like the real thing. And being Aluminum its wonderfully soft yet quite sturdy at the same time. This means however the track bed needs to be pretty sturdy otherwise its going to mess up the track when significant weight is applied. Similar to my 'Peco' 45mm track when little people accidently step on the track and deform it despite appropriate warnings. 

I still wonder if I'm actually in a coma and this is all a dream.

Going somewhere.

Day 3 is pure earth works and a small bridge over the lower dam. At this point the railway takes a 120' turn to the right and follow the fence down a decent 50mtrs where it will meet the 15" railway.