More progress

August 6, 2014Trackworkadmin

Here’s the station

Slow progress

May 26, 2014Trackworkadmin

Things have been moving along very slowly–both because of our summer vacation and waiting for some parts to arrive. At this point, I’ve received my DCC command station, power connectors, and track joiners, so I’m working my way around the main line getting track joined and power distribution done. Nothing fancy, and not much to see, so no photos for now.

Inaugural Run

May 21, 2014Trainsadmin

Here’s the first run of a full train all the way around the mainline loop down on the weed block in the raised bed. That’s the Piko BR-80 as before, but this time with the box car and gondola from the freight set. You can see that there’s still a long way to go, but I think this is the final form of the mainline loop.

Concrete and track down

After several rain delays and other interruptions, the concrete roadbed and track are down.

Click the image for a medium version, or here for extremely large.

Those white pipes are the sprinklers for the lawn (I’m tired of moving our lawn sprinkler tractor around) and a riser for drip watering the plants on the layout.

Track down for a test

May 1, 2014Trackworkadmin

I’ve finished putting down some track and ran my Piko BR-80 (0-6-0) around the mainline loop. Our little guy ran along side and gave commentary 🙂

Laying track

April 28, 2014Trackworkadmin

OK, I haven’t actually leveled the entire layout area–which you’re supposed to go before starting. But I couldn’t wait 🙂

So here’s my start on track laying: the station siding and rail yard area, plus the first turn on the house end of the layout. I hope to get the full oval laid out this week–but who knows with the crazy Kansas weather?

Almost done with dirt

April 23, 2014Gardenadmin

Here’s the “almost final” terrace with most of the dirt in place. It took a lot longer than I expected to get all the topsoil in, because of work, weather, and weariness 🙂

I’ll try to level it all this weekend, and hopefully be able to lay track soon.

Garden Started

March 30, 2014Garden, Trackworkadmin

I’m pretty excited to have started on the “garden” part of our garden railroad. Once I get this all sorted, I’ll be able to lay track :o)

First step: outline the terrace (at 20 x 70 feet, it’s not really a “raised bed” in any real sense) These are landscape timbers I got at Menards. Eventually the “wall” will be three timbers high.