blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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 | | 08/21/2008 5:10 PM |
| The building sits on parallel footings, but the ground floor was never installed. I intended this structure to be reminiscent of those historic Kennecott buildings.
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/22/2008 12:08 PM |
| Thus the first new building on the old Twin Spruce Trailer Park grounds (I dropped the name when I took over the property) was a structure built specifically to house a historic model railroad layout.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/22/2008 12:15 PM |
| Meanwhile I had a lot of work ahead of me in the old trailer park itself. The trailer in the middle would have to be moved out. One to the left of it had already been demolished and burned in place. The unit on the right would remain but would require substantial alterations. The one on the far left is my temporary residence. I anticipate that this one will remain in place after I vacate it for reasons that will become more obvious later.
My intention is to build a new cabin for myself on the south side of the dike that separates this part of the property from the river. On this side is the seven acres that comprise the old trailer park. On the other side are three more acres that are undeveloped, although I selectively cleared most of it a few years ago. It includes 600 feet of frontage along the Klutina River--a famous king salmon fishing stream.
But that is getting beyond the scope of where I am going with this . . .
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blackburn49
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| | 08/22/2008 12:24 PM |
| The year after the Kennecott model structure was completed, the trailer ground had been cleared out to make way for other structures. It would not be long before I would be contemplating ways to bring the model railroad track across the driveway to the area you see here.
The three ways to be considered:
overhead: probably too high. Requires 15 feet of clearance since large trucks have to drive through here.
protected track on the surface of the drive: possible, but would have to be very carefully constructed to protect the tracks from tire damage.
tunnel under the driveway: I am intrigued by this possibility. The tunnel would have to be close to twenty feet in length to fully allow for large truck traffic, but it is a definitel possibility.
(this one can be enlarged by clicking the picture)
But, I am not there yet. Nevertheless, I am definitely considering the long term possibilities of sending the outdoor model railroad across the driveway.
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ThinkerT
Alaska
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| | 08/22/2008 7:01 PM |
| Hmmm...
1) used to live in a trailer myself. Ah, the joy of crawling around underneath the dang thing in the winter trying to thaw out the water line without burning it down.
2) I am a bit uncertain about the exact geography here. Would a elevated route that bypassed the driveway altogether be feasible? If it is, your feline survey crew would probably vote 'yes'. | | | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/22/2008 8:52 PM |
| Posted By ThinkerT on 08/22/2008 7:01 PM
Hmmm... 1) used to live in a trailer myself. Ah, the joy of crawling around underneath the dang thing in the winter trying to thaw out the water line without burning it down. 2) I am a bit uncertain about the exact geography here. Would a elevated route that bypassed the driveway altogether be feasible? If it is, your feline survey crew would probably vote 'yes'.
No way to get around the driveway and no way to span it less than 15 feet above the ground. I'd need a huge run of track to make that ! | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/22/2008 9:04 PM |
| Then, of course, I almost forgot what happens here in the springtime that probably effectively prohibits the use of a tunnel across the driveway (click):
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ThinkerT
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| | 08/23/2008 12:55 AM |
| Ok...
1) 15 feet is a bit high.
2) Breakup does kinda rule out going under the driveway...as does getting to the trains that Murphy's law says *will* derail in the middle of the tunnel.
3) I also doubt the track would be tough enough to hold up being driven over all the time, plus there is still the flood problem.
This leaves:
1) Either making a giant detour around all this (expensive, but letting you run really long consists and making for happy felines); or
2) putting in an automatic gate across the driveway, with the top cleverly disguised as the famed Million dollar bridge.
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blackburn49
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| | 08/23/2008 2:29 AM |
| Posted By ThinkerT on 08/23/2008 12:55 AM
Ok... 1) 15 feet is a bit high. 2) Breakup does kinda rule out going under the driveway...as does getting to the trains that Murphy's law says *will* derail in the middle of the tunnel. 3) I also doubt the track would be tough enough to hold up being driven over all the time, plus there is still the flood problem. This leaves: 1) Either making a giant detour around all this (expensive, but letting you run really long consists and making for happy felines); or 2) putting in an automatic gate across the driveway, with the top cleverly disguised as the famed Million dollar bridge.
It appears to be a practical near-impossibility, doesn't it? Not one option is feasible. Not even remotely so. Oh well. Nice thought.
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kormsen
in the middle of the westparaguayan semi desert
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| | 08/23/2008 4:50 AM |
| 3) I also doubt the track would be tough enough to hold up being driven over all the time, plus there is still the flood problem.
for durability one could use "L"shaped iron profiles instead of brassrails at the crossing.
against the flood-problem one could raise the driveway at the railroadcrossing a couple of inches..
the main danger from a level-crossing might be distracted drivers.
using automated 1:1 red signals/trafficlights, triggered by the trains or even automated raiway-gates might be the solution to that. | |
 construction site - keep off! | |
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sschaer
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| | 08/23/2008 5:27 AM |
| Posted By blackburn49 on 08/21/2008 4:51 PM In that same year (1999) I had one of the very last surviving CRNW lineshacks moved from Chitina to this location.
isn't that the shack i slept in when i visited you in 2004 ? | | | |
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John J
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| | 08/23/2008 5:45 AM |
| | Stan Ceaderleaf made tracks that he could drive across in his driveway a few years back. Contact him and see if he has any pictures of how he did it. | |
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/23/2008 1:05 PM |
| Posted By John J on 08/23/2008 5:45 AM
Stan Ceaderleaf made tracks that he could drive across in his driveway a few years back. Contact him and see if he has any pictures of how he did it.
Were I to decide to run track across the driveway, I would pour a concrete base and embed stainless steel track. There is a narrow point where it could be done , but it would have to cross at two points.
Here is one potential scheme for the very long-term:
click image for larger view
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/23/2008 1:55 PM |
| Map showing possible Phase IV (yellow) as an extension
of Phase II (red)
(click)
A Phase II extension to Phase IV would ultimately bring the model railroad to the banks of the Klutina River and in the process make this layout one of the larger model railroads in North America. On a longer-term basis, this is no longer out of the realm of possibility.
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/23/2008 2:52 PM |
| Posted By blackburn49 on 08/22/2008 12:24 PM
The three ways to be considered:
overhead: probably too high. Requires 15 feet of clearance since large trucks have to drive through here.
✓✓✓protected track on the surface of the drive: possible, but would have to be very carefully constructed to protect the tracks from tire damage.
tunnel under the driveway: I am intrigued by this possibility. The tunnel would have to be close to twenty feet in length to fully allow for large truck traffic, but it is a definite possibility.
I am now thinking that this option can be accomplished using a very hard track, which means stainless steel laid in concrete perhaps?
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SteveC
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| | 08/23/2008 3:23 PM |
| Ron
As JJ suggested you may find what Stan Cedarleaf did to cross his driveway on his first layout of help. And since you run battery power the same as Stan does, it may give you some ideas and modify the design to your needs.
Stan's Driveway Crossing | | | |
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blackburn49
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| | 08/23/2008 3:42 PM |
| The Ultimate Northern Layout:
Thus, the final layout could eventually very well resemble something like this:
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/23/2008 3:44 PM |
| Posted By SteveC on 08/23/2008 3:23 PM Ron
As JJ suggested you may find what Stan Cedarleaf did to cross his driveway on his first layout of help. And since you run battery power the same as Stan does, it may give you some ideas and modify the design to your needs.
Stan's Driveway Crossing
Thanks for that link. I will check it out.
My regards,
--Ron | |
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/23/2008 6:29 PM |
| There are many considerations before I can even realistically contemplate a Phase IV or Phase V model railroad line. What MLS allows me to do is develop a kind of scatchpad. I can place the possibilities out where all can see them. Then I have a basis for realistic planning.
I will go ahead with a segment of the Phase IV plan in the next year or two simply because that is the phase where I begin bringing the track down to ground level. The three possiblities for the crossing of the driveway are still out there and I will carefully consider all of them.
Now, where was I when I diverted myself in this direction ? | |
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blackburn49
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Copper Center, Alaska
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| | 08/23/2008 9:28 PM |
| Posted By SteveC on 08/23/2008 3:23 PM Ron
As JJ suggested you may find what Stan Cedarleaf did to cross his driveway on his first layout of help. And since you run battery power the same as Stan does, it may give you some ideas and modify the design to your needs.
Stan's Driveway Crossing
Thanks for the suggestion. Now that I've spent a little time contemplating it, the method makes sense.
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