aceinspp
1st Class Member
Conductor
Posts:686
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 | | 08/12/2008 5:03 PM |
| | Well it sure is taking shape and looks good so far. I'd just be a little hesitant on the steep grades. Later RJD | |
RJD Chief Engr D & S RR | |
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iowafarmboy1960
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:32
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| | 08/23/2008 8:21 PM |
| Well, after working 10 days straight i finally got a long weekend. Did some work on the tunnel. I'll try and post some new pics tomorrow.
Tom | | | |
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iowafarmboy1960
1st Class Member
Brakeman
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| | 08/25/2008 9:51 AM |
| Finally took some pics of the tunnel progress. I used some plastic siding for the forms. I was able to bend it alot more than anything else I had seen.
Here's some pics after the forms are removed and checking clearance with cars bigger than I plan on running.
enjoy.
Tom | | | |
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aceinspp
1st Class Member
Conductor
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| | 08/25/2008 11:20 AM |
| | Looks good but sure is a close fit. Later RJD | |
RJD Chief Engr D & S RR | |
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iowafarmboy1960
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:32
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| | 08/25/2008 12:34 PM |
| | I've got a LGB 2-4-0 with shorty passenger cars that I plan on running on the layout. I may try running my f3's with 2 bay hoppers too. | | | |
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toddalin
Foreman
Posts:406
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| | 08/25/2008 12:35 PM |
| You are pretty close to the outter edge. Recognize that on a hot day the rail is going to expand and push it even closer. I don't think my heavyweights would go though as is, let alone once it expands. 
I would think about shortening up the straight "lead in rails" a hair to put it all closer to the inner wall. Course then that could get tight.  | | | |
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blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
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| | 08/25/2008 1:08 PM |
| Nice work on that tunnel ! Very impressive indeed.
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lownote
1st Class Member
Arlington VA
Conductor
Posts:555
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| | 08/25/2008 1:50 PM |
| | I'd make that tunnel wider--you might want to run some heavyweights or streamliners some day | |
Evading the Midas touch of expertise
http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/magic/westover/ | |
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iowafarmboy1960
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Posts:32
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| | 08/25/2008 7:59 PM |
| lownote,
I have 5' diameter curves on the layout. I don't think heavyweights or streamliners will make it around such tight curves. I'm planning a much larger layout in the future with 10' diameter curves for my larger equipment. I'm also planning on adding another tunnel just like the first one. It will be placed where that curved track is behind this tunnel.
Tom | | | |
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cmjdisanto
1st Class Member
Colonial Heights, Virginia
Foreman
Posts:196
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| | 08/27/2008 6:08 AM |
| Tom,
That's nice work. A bit tight for my liking though. I have to ask this but have you checked the clearance of the loco you're using? I see the cars but depending on the type of motive power you've chose.....there might be some issue. The cow catchers on most steam era loco's can be just as obtrusive on the tunnel wall as a Streamliner or HW in my opinion. They also stick out further than the coupler on a box car.
I still have to say that was a nice job pouring the walls. what do you plan on using for the cap? | |
 MLS Member since September 2005 | |
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iowafarmboy1960
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:32
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| | 08/27/2008 8:18 AM |
| | I am going to pour concrete for the cap as well. I'm planning on back filling both side of the tunnel before I put the cap on. Once the tunnels are finished and all the dirt is in, you'll see why I went with corner tunnels. | | | |
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iowafarmboy1960
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| | 08/27/2008 8:58 AM |
| It rained this morning, but I took my Bachmann 4-6-0 and 1 of the passengers cars out for clearance measurements. Here's a couple of pics that I took showing the clearance.
It's close, but I think its acceptable. | | | |
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Matt Vogt
1st Class Member
Southwest Ohio
Foreman
Posts:236
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| | 08/27/2008 11:06 AM |
| Looks great, Tom! Keep us posted!
Matt | | | |
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wigginsn
1st Class Member
New Zealand
Brakeman
Posts:28
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| | 08/30/2008 10:47 PM |
| Hi Tom
Nice pour, makes mine look a bit rough in comparison 
One thought, can you tune up the track a little with a rail bender. Seems if you could get it to sit closer to the tunnel centreline there would be heaps of room.
Cheers
Neil
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iowafarmboy1960
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:32
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| | 08/31/2008 9:09 AM |
| I'm thinking about putting a 5' diameter curve piece in between the 2 6.5's to see what that will do for me. It might screw up the track plan.
Tom | | | |
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Mik
Indiana, Pa
Foreman
Posts:344
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| | 08/31/2008 5:12 PM |
| | Suggestion.... Since it is a curved tunnel you may want to allow for an access hatch -- fishing with a broom after a derailment is liable to cause more damage than the wreck itself. | |
Mik
Unsupervised children will be given espresso and a free puppy | |
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pimanjc
1st Class Member
Jim Carter - Wichita, KS
Foreman
Posts:450
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| | 08/31/2008 5:42 PM |
| As a suggestion as others have implied.... You may want to open up the clearance on the curved tunnel. Although you might not have any long heavyweights, USA streamliners, or a wide K-27 Ώ/20], someday, a friend might be over and want to run theirs. I wish I had made my tunnel clearances greater. The idea of an access hole [or two] on the backside of the tunnel is a very good idea. Murphy's law states that if an engine can stall, it will stall at the worst possible place. I have seen pictures of friends with their heinie in the air and their head and arm in the tunnel trying to fish out the train.
JimC. | |
"Never promise more than you can give. Always give more than you promise." ~JC
"You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old because you stop laughing." ~AU
Charter Member of the Roundhouse Irregulars | |
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toddalin
Foreman
Posts:406
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| | 08/31/2008 7:06 PM |
| Posted By iowafarmboy1960 on 08/31/2008 9:09 AM
I'm thinking about putting a 5' diameter curve piece in between the 2 6.5's to see what that will do for me. It might screw up the track plan.
Tom
As I noted above, the easiest way to to just remove a hair length of straight track just before the first curve. This will "pull" on the curve a little pulling it more toward the center. I'm only talking of removing a fraction of an inch (or so) of straight track and hand tweaking the curve a little to get it in position. " | | | |
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iowafarmboy1960
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:32
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| | 09/02/2008 11:49 AM |
| Well today's my day off again, but can't work on the railroad because it's raining. Hopefully it will dry up so I can get out there tomorrow.
Tom | | | |
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wchasr
1st Class Member
Western NY
Foreman
Posts:383
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| | 09/02/2008 1:04 PM |
| IFB,
I think you've done some fantastic work there! I'm as envious of you as anyone else here that actually has started working on a layout or is continually working on one.
I'm thinking that doesn't look like farm country to me? LOL! Just kidding I know better! Your tunnel actually reminds me of a farm story. I hope you can appreciate this. Was home from college and helpign a buddy work on the neighbors cattle farm. Simmentals as I recall? It was innoculation day and we were runnign the cattle thru cutting off the ones the didn't need stuck or that wouldn't or couldn't fit thru the head gate they had. Sure enough we screwed up and got a big lady thru the head gate and stuck. She wasn't supposed to be there but she was anyway. Took a good part of the day to get her out and the gate back together. Lesson learned. Make it so the largest "thing" can fit thru wihtout worrying about it later. That girl sure was tasty later! I got paid in steak of course and for a college boy that was well worth it!
Chas | | | |
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