blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
 | | 07/10/2008 12:37 PM |
| Here the consist passes through the new Chitina Junction. The old main line at this point enters the bar though the closed entry way seen behind the locomotives. The switch has to be made manually, requiring a step ladder as you see here. I prefer manual operation on all of the outdoor switches because I want to ensure that each switch is in its proper position prior to the train passing over them.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 12:42 PM |
| The train passes under the roof of the bar, then emerges on an overpass that carries it over the southwest corner of the Phase II wye. Above is a new hand rail I installed for my own safety since I have to be up on the wye to ensure the switches are all in their proper positions. The wye is seven feet above the ground.
I put the same map back up for reference.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 12:46 PM |
| Two views of the CRNW beer consist as it approaches the Kennecott Junction:
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 12:50 PM |
| The CRNW beer consist has successfully entered the new Phase II line and is proceeding down a long tangent to Cicely.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 12:55 PM |
| The train approaches Cicely, passing by and then under the new rear walkway that enables better access to the Kennecott model as well as an efficient means to travel between the two model towns that are each contained within their own protective structures.
The CRNW beer consist has now entered its own siding just prior to arriving at Cicely.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 12:59 PM |
| The double header engines pull in behind a large Great Northern passenger consist parked on the north approach line. This will have to be moved forward in order to accommodate the beer train. To the left you can see the Cicely Alaskan Brewery.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 1:07 PM |
| In the background is the GN passenger consist which had to be moved off the track on the far right, then backed into place on the long siding along the south side of Cicely, just outside the structure which houses the model town. In the middle is a short CP passenger consist headed by a GN mallet. It also had to be moved to accommodate the beer train.
Close-up of the GN passenger consist headed by the two AKRR Macs. This area strongly resembles the frost heaves that are common throughout Alaska, but the various consists that pass through this area and/or park on this siding handle the heaves without difficulty. At some point this section of track bed will have to be replaced, but not this year.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 1:13 PM |
| The beer train, with its track now clear, turns around at Cicely for the continuation of the trip back to the wye where it will then be backed into the bar at the lower Phase II level. Because this is a test run, it will not be parking at the Cicely Alaskan Brewery today. Also in view is part of the GN passenger consist parked immediately south of the town.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 1:18 PM |
| The CRNW consist leaves Cicely, heading west toward the CRD bar.
Ahead, parked under the Kennecott model housing structure is yet another consist parked on the line. This one will have to be moved forward in order to clear the line for the CNRW beer consist.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 1:25 PM |
| Meanwhile the short CP heavyweight passenger consist is brought out for a test run around the east loop:
The train had to be stopped at this point in order to cut off a fast-growing branch that was threatening the rail line.
The short consist successfully passes through the loop and heads back to Cicely.
| |
| |
|
SteveC
Moderator
Conductor
Posts:891
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 5:10 PM |
| Ron
Glad to hear that the problems needing to be addressed are getting fewer and that choices of modification are working out as you wished.
Now that the weather has seemingly decided to get with the program, I hope that the humans are able to take advantage of it and come see what you've accomplished. | | | |
|
tom h
1st Class Member
Mokena, IL
Foreman
Posts:112
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 5:36 PM |
| Great shots Ron, hey I was wondering in the pic where the Kenworth semi is parked, the Coca Cola sign on building, did you make that yourself? Or did you get that done by someone. Or is it a sign?
Tom H
I like coke products, our basement has a lot of that stuff, dont drink it, just like the the history of it, good thing Dr Pepper is around then also, thats what I like | |
 | |
|
ThinkerT
Alaska
Foreman
Posts:203
Send Message
| | 07/10/2008 9:08 PM |
| Success at last!
(I also note that the local feline population also appeared to be either slightly interested or slightly annoyed by the mechanical intrusion into their domain). | | | |
|
Torby
1st Class Member
North Chicago 'burbs.
Engineer
Posts:1664
Send Message
| | 07/11/2008 6:53 AM |
| | I'll hop in the TARDIS and be right over! | |
 "If Christianity was something we were making up, of course we could make it easier. But it is not. We cannot compete, in simplicity with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We are dealing with Fact. Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about."-- C. S. Lewis | |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/11/2008 1:39 PM |
| Posted By tom h on 07/10/2008 5:36 PM
Great shots Ron, hey I was wondering in the pic where the Kenworth semi is parked, the Coca Cola sign on building, did you make that yourself? Or did you get that done by someone. Or is it a sign? Tom H I like coke products, our basement has a lot of that stuff, dont drink it, just like the the history of it, good thing Dr Pepper is around then also, thats what I like
This is an old design that was re-created on a Franklin Mint Coke truck some years ago. I had my designer reproduce it to the appropriate size and then add it to the Brick Tavern model. A Coke sign nearly identical to this was once painted on a building in the town where I grew up back in the 1950s.
| |
| |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/11/2008 1:45 PM |
| Posted By ThinkerT on 07/10/2008 9:08 PM
Success at last! (I also note that the local feline population also appeared to be either slightly interested or slightly annoyed by the mechanical intrusion into their domain).
No way around those darn cats. I run the trains and they're right there !
| |
| |
|
kormsen
in the middle of the westparaguayan semi desert
Conductor
Posts:544
Send Message
| | 07/12/2008 5:58 AM |
| at last i begin to understand the meaning of the word "catwalk"....
| |
 construction site - keep off! | |
|
Torby
1st Class Member
North Chicago 'burbs.
Engineer
Posts:1664
Send Message
| | 07/12/2008 9:10 AM |
| | When I was a kid, Mom and Dad had houseplants everywhere. But the little tables and stands you set them on were called, "Catstands." | |
"If Christianity was something we were making up, of course we could make it easier. But it is not. We cannot compete, in simplicity with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We are dealing with Fact. Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about."-- C. S. Lewis | |
|
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| |
blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
Send Message
| | 07/17/2008 3:38 PM |
|
This is one of three new rails I have added for my own safety while up on the seven foot high platform. This rail spans a 28-foot gap that always made me nervous whenever I was working on it. Now it is not a problem.
On the left you can see the end of the one of the Kennecott models. A raised platform will be added there to enable photographing the model through the open window above. That offers a particularly magnificent viewpoint of the Kennecott model.
| |
| |
|