G scale Rio Grande Southern Engineering Report

[Dave V]

If you're raising it by a foot are you putting anything under the ballast or just using a lot of ballast?

Pavers, rocks, and re-ballasting.

[Dave V]

Repairs included rebuilding and stabilizing the retaining walls on the western loop, raising the western end so as to reduce the overall grades, reassembly of track, tamping, leveling, and ballasting.





Here's a closeup of the ballast.  The polymeric sand is a complementary tan but binds the ballast almost as if I'd glued it in place.



BTW, I think I'm still behind Chris and DKS on having multiple concurrent layout engineering threads...   

[Dave V]

We've had record rains lately so today was a good day to test out the roadbed.  I had some settling in spots, but nothing bad...  Fortunately no wash-outs.



Ranger has taken an interest in herding the train...

[eric220]

Ranger has taken an interest in herding the train...

Does the train herd as ordered? 

[Dave V]

Does the train herd as ordered? 

He finds the train generally stays near (but not always on) the tracks...much like the real Rio Grande Southern (the Penn Central of the narrow gauge circle).

[Dave V]

Ranger and I did some outdoor railroading this weekend.



Russ' track was in rough shape when it arrived, but the Colorado high-altitude sun (with its increased UV) has been making short work of it.  Tie ends keep disappearing and the track is brittle.  I imagine within a year I'll need to replace much of it.

At that point, I should know whether I'm here for the long haul and if so, I'll be building permanent roadbed.  The result of the warm/cold spells is visible in the wobbly track.  I don't want my RGS to derail as often as the real RGS!

[wm3798]

Would it make sense to apply a coat of paint to ward off some of the UV?

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What's happening to yhe track? Is it decomposing?

[Dave V]

I dunno if it's UV breakdown or not.  That'd be my guess...At 6,800 feet above sea level my backyard gets something like 25-30% more UV than you guys do (and it's generally much sunnier...240 days a year).

Paint the track?  Possibly.  I've painted some of it already, so it may be worth looking at how that part is faring.

Once I know for sure I'm here for the long haul I think I may revisit the entire trackplan anyway.  The simple loop was fun (and cheap, since I had most of the track on hand) but now I'd like some more interesting stuff.  Maybe a spur out to the far fence line...

[Dave V]

I should add that the LGB track is holding up just fine...  It's the old USA Trains or Aristo-Craft track that's brittle.

If I replace it I'd go with Piko (essentially LGB) or Bachmann's new brass-railed stuff.

[tappertrainman]

I was just going to add that before seeing your post @Dave Vollmer .  From my years working at LGB, the plastic used by Aristo and USA Trains track was not as UV resistant.  Piko seems to be as good as the old LGB track and a bit cheaper (depending on where you purchase?) so that's also a good option.

James

[Dave V]

Getting the itch to make this track plan much more interesting but I must be fresh out of creative thought...  I'm not sure what all to do.  Then there's part of me that thinks my G scale budget, what little there is, should be used to convert the loco to R/C battery.

Remember that while she has the train-set quality shell, she's on an Annie chassis with Annie motor.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Post up some interesting RGS scenes that you like to get the juices flowing.

[Dave V]

[John]

I kind of like this one