Well it has been a while this time, and I don't even have the excuse that I been outside working on the railroad this time.  Truth is I couldn't tell ya the last time I ran a train.  It has been pointed out to me that I HAVE built three locomotives over the last three months though.  and I have one more on the bench and two more ready to start building.   Well I have been reading "Narrow Gauge to no Mans Land" again and it wasn;t unusual to have 2 or three locos on those trains, so I figger I can never have too many locomotives.   No1 yard has been planted, and only have some auxillary trackwork left  to do.
 
 

   Well gang, its been a while, but I been outsidee workin' on the railroad!   I'm happy to report that the mainline has been completed from No1 Yard limits all the way to the mines.  The only major track project left is to put No1 yard together from the componets salvaged from the first layout.

    I have completed rebuilding No4 into a 2 footer, she ran wonnerfully, but I did have to reinforce the pilot.  Where I shorted it it was weakened, but some strategiacally placed brass bits helped out immensely!  I discovered that she can push six cars (4 gons 2 flats, all that I had on hand) up the grade between No1 & No2 yards.  Lotta possibilities there!  Will be revising my operations soon!

    I did find a few bumpy places in the track that I fixed, nuttin like runnin trains to show the bad spots.  Also discovered that the gauge is just a bit too tight in the curve leading to AC1, I'll probably fix that one evening this week.

    Once again that pesky work is getting in the way of the important stuff, like RAILROADING!!!!  I did manage to get a small drainage problem fixed......

        Not bad for a project knocked together in about 45 minutes eh?  That includes excavating the creek! Yeah I know...since this pic has been taken more ties were added to the trestle.

    I know have a rough track plan posted too you can check it out at Plotin and Planin.

    With that much accomplished, I'm starting to develop an operating system, to decide how many cars i need and just how to run 'em around the railroad. Stay tuned for further developements!

    Well, I guess you could call it a fairly productive weekend.  I got another 12 feet of track down, its finally gone 'round the corner of the house.  I also got the frames built for eight drop sided gondolas.  With my 2 existing flats I should be able to design adeqaute yard capacities.  Trying to hustle a locomotive through the shops so I can run trains!

    This is the yard at Shady Junction.  six car maximum, the two on the left are sitting on the mainline

    As you can see, No 20 is the only one that has had a deck installed.  It takes 32  1/2"x1/8"x4 1/2" planks to do one car.  Then ther are the sides and ends yet to go!

    A view of the Shady Junction yard, the switchat the bottom will lead to the loading track for the No2 mine.

    This is the recycled curve that takes the mainline around the corner of the house.  I'm hoping that the track will blend in with the yard as landscaping progresses.

    This is the most recently installed track to date, 12 feet worth.  This is the mainline looking back towards the curve.

   Ok, its been a over a month since I made an entry, but work and Fire Department commitments have been eating into my freetime, and it wasn't until daylight savings time kicked in that I could actually do any work in the evenings outside.  Anyways, I'm up to 48 feet of track with one stub turnout in place.  I've also been recycleing my 1:32 scale switches and track, so I also have three point style turnouts down at Shady Junction and the engine yard there.  I'm poised to break new ground and lay the curve extending around the side of the house!

    This stretch of track is part of the mainline, heading from Anns Creek Collery #1 (to the right) to Shady Junction (To the left).  Formerly this area was occupied by a runaround track and two industrial sidings.

    The single stub turnout that is going to lead into the Anns Creek # 1 mine yard.  Its weathered in nicely don't ya think?

    Two MOW flats sit on the main just above Shady Junction the blue and black cables are powerlines for the fountain and path lights, These should dissapear into the landscape

    This is the yard at Shady junction.  Originally I had though to use it for MOW storage, then the thoughts of an engine yard came to mind.  You can see the three point style turnouts blend in rather well.  Even the yard tracks are recycled 1:32, can't tell there are twice as many ties that are just a bit too short can ya?

       Ok. First major progress made on the Anns Creek RR today.  Managed to bang out a turnout an 12 ft of track!  On a curve no less!  Enjoy!