Eighton Bahn AKA testing testing RhB

[Nodrog1826]

Better get this over with...

It was a good idea at the time, the dwarf conifers next to the outer station track were starting to obstruct the track, so several trimmings later, the plan was to move/replant them.

Idea was as they are still in their pots was to dig around, pull up, cutting roots as necessary, by feel in the soil/compost mix.

It was all going well until I had to cut a stubborn root then up came the tree, roots, and a section of cable, yep I had cut through MPD/station throat cable, one of the main track power feeds, and could I find the other end..no!!!.

So a new, now shorter power feed had to be installed, and some additional jumper wires as well...







...any how the two semi successful re located trees are re planted, and the other two have been given a severe scalping...

 

[Rhinochugger]

Better get this over with...

It was a good idea at the time, the dwarf conifers next to the outer station track were starting to obstruct the track, so several trimmings later, the plan was to move/replant them.

Idea was as they are still in their pots was to dig around, pull up, cutting roots as necessary, by feel in the soil/compost mix.

It was all going well until I had to cut a stubborn root then up came the tree, roots, and a section of cable, yep I had cut through MPD/station throat cable, one of the main track power feeds, and could I find the other end..no!!!.

So a new, now shorter power feed had to be installed, and some additional jumper wires as well...

View attachment 242772

View attachment 242773

View attachment 242774

...any how the two semi successful re located trees are re planted, and the other two have been given a severe scalping...

View attachment 242775

Do you think that thick root will grow again

 

[simon@mgr]

I'm glad other people do that sort of thing, not just me.

 

[dunnyrail]

Better get this over with...

It was a good idea at the time, the dwarf conifers next to the outer station track were starting to obstruct the track, so several trimmings later, the plan was to move/replant them.

Idea was as they are still in their pots was to dig around, pull up, cutting roots as necessary, by feel in the soil/compost mix.

It was all going well until I had to cut a stubborn root then up came the tree, roots, and a section of cable, yep I had cut through MPD/station throat cable, one of the main track power feeds, and could I find the other end..no!!!.

So a new, now shorter power feed had to be installed, and some additional jumper wires as well...

View attachment 242772

View attachment 242773

View attachment 242774

...any how the two semi successful re located trees are re planted, and the other two have been given a severe scalping...

View attachment 242775

Aha I see the reason now to the post I replied to elswhere. For no small reason do I put all my Wiring in simulated Concrete Troughing. Makes updates easier and well........Imagine my grief had I done something similar to an Air Pipe that supplies my points.

However if it is any consolation I have made my track separation too small in my new Station (Troughing and all) and will be needing to add at least 3 inches to the Baseboard width to resolve it. Then the door opening may get side swipes from a Harz 2-10-2 so that will need to be enlarged! Grrr anyone for Origami?

 

[Nodrog1826]

Do you think that thick root will grow again

It may, but I am not sure which route it will take.

 

[PhilP]

It may, but I am not sure which route it will take.

Which way is it growing currently Nod?

 

[Nodrog1826]

Which way is it growing currently Nod?

Carn't give you a + indication on the direction, in fact it's a bit of a - response, poles apart apparently.

 

[BakerJohn]

Gordon, I just took about an hour and read through this whole build. Impressive work! I'm no good at stonework, myself, but I could lean... it gives me some new ideas for my potential new RR...

 

[PhilP]

Impressive work! I'm no good at stonework, myself, but I could lean..

I think a Freudian-slip, there John?
Did raise a smile though.

 

[Sean.]

OOOOoooooo

 

[BakerJohn]

I think a Freudian-slip, there John?
Did raise a smile though.

Well crap... yup. You got me, Phil.

 

[Nodrog1826]

Now for the shock horror moment, and it aint anything to do with lecy, technically.

The plan has and always was there is no plan, but at some stage there was going to be an extension, a loop under the passing loop, from one track to the other.



The basic idea was to branch a single track off from the background point, loop round under the gap, which would be bridged/tunnelled and reconnect opposite side roughly where the yellow bucket is in the photo.

Now that was the idea, which I have revised several times, including today, when I removed the inner loop point and repositioned at the end of "Collins Cutting", installing plain track, with drilled and tapped fishplates as per Eighton Bahn practice, pictures explain it better.













So the single line loop will see the two points connected, via a falling track, from one point, under the passing loop, where it will double back on itself as it climbs to the other point, in places it will give the impression of double track, I might even throw in it passing under/over itself as well.

So at the wrong time of year, here at least, I have started the extension, not sure how far it will get this year, but we'll see.

 

[Nodrog1826]

...anyhow, as part of this warts n all, railway adventure, impromptu building work, or repair(s) have taken place, courtesy of what they are calling storm "Ali" here.

All of my railway buildings, that's both of them decided to "inspect" the double length bridge at close quarters this afternoon.

So they currently in the works (kitchen) for re fettling and weight gain...





...whilst outside, the bridges and a junction box have undergone "keep in place" line block-age work...





...mind you, some saw it as an opportunity for play...

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Ahh, random motion mobile destruction device... I have seen those before... the buildings I get, but how does it fit in the bridges?

Greg

 

[Nodrog1826]

Ahh, random motion mobile destruction device... I have seen those before... the buildings I get, but how does it fit in the bridges?

Greg

Not sure if you are referring to the wind or "Pip", but have had to retrieve the double bridge from up the garden courtesy of the wind. Maybe I didn't have the lift out rail clamps tight enough.
So the blocks are added as a precaution.

As for Pip, well he just inspects and signs off on the bridge pier, but you can have some anxious moments.

 

[PhilP]

I thought it was only cats that treated the PW as their own personal footway?

 

[Nodrog1826]

...onwards and outwards...

The pseudo "double track" extension works have commenced.

The other line will swing in to give a double track illusion, then part again as part of the dive under loop.

My minds eye sees it very clear, what could wrong, probably quite a bit actually.









...Ok it has a bit of a kink in it, looks worse on the photos, but I can live with it, now't a fillet of cement won't sort out when the time comes...



...more prep work, cutting for the next straight push, curves have to tailored as and when needed.

 

[Nodrog1826]

Bit more progress on the non triangular, pseudo double track, loop junction...







...bespoke cut slab needed to deal with the curve, when I sort the clearance needed for the double track.
Not sure how far it will progress this year, weather wise, and whilst I have enough cement I am down to my last 3 bags of sand.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Bit more progress on the non triangular, pseudo double track, loop junction...

View attachment 243830

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...bespoke cut slab needed to deal with the curve, when I sort the clearance needed for the double track.
Not sure how far it will progress this year, weather wise, and whilst I have enough cement I am down to my last 3 bags of sand.

Is that a sign of a man on his uppers, when he's down to his last three bags of sand

It's all looking rather good

 

[Nodrog1826]

Well it's now one and half bags of sand, because I have had to re-lay the first full slab as it had not taken hold.

Anyhow progress today incl. the previously mentioned slab...



...the curve needs a short section to bring it into straight alignment...



...then next slab supports are in, but the mix is not going off.. however having now split all the remaining blocks, that pallet can now be moved out of the way.



...the point is just for an alignment guide, but it has given me an idea for a reversing loop, short circuiting, distant future project.