Richmond Belt Line

[mark.hinds]

Coxy,

Per your request, I was able to add an image of my adjustable-height layout castors to my last post on the previous page.

MH

[Coxy]

Coxy, I had no doubt you were intimately familiar with the proto RPRC (far more so than I am, I might add).  I just tossed the schematic out there to stir the pot a bit - because it has such interesting ops potential.  Funny that you mention Crockett and Benicia because I was thinking that your visible main looks a lot more like that area - with its numerous curves - than it does Richmond/San Pablo.  That concept works much better for me as a back story than does Richmond.

In any case, all that matters is what works for you, and you have clearly thought this through in great detail.  Indeed, your reasoned and articulate defense prove to me that you have no excuse to not begin construction now!  Just make it modular, so you can move it when the time comes.  There is no substitute for a living, breathing layout.


-gfh

P.S. Where is the prototype Hensley industrial area?  Is that the area adjacent to the flyover?

Thanks Gary,

This is serious stuff man ()! Getting feedback is the reason I piped up and posted the plan and shared my thinking so I'm very pleased with the discussion so far. Please take my comments as "this is how I got to this plan", nothing more.

Agreed, the curves match areas further north especially around Hercules near the Phillips 66 refinery and Crockett near the Spreckles sugar plant. And there's three or four parallel tracks at those locations.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hercules,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=38.049897,-122.259652&spn=0.003584,0.005761&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.632176,94.394531&oq=hercules&hnear=Hercules,+Contra+Costa,+California&t=h&z=18

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hercules,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=38.056314,-122.221586&spn=0.003584,0.005761&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.632176,94.394531&oq=hercules&hnear=Hercules,+Contra+Costa,+California&t=h&z=18

In Richmond, its mainly three tracks - two mains and the Waterside. Here's a typical view near Cutting Blvd in Richmond:

Hensley Industrial is near the north end of the BNSF Richmond Terminal.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hercules,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=37.950409,-122.362536&spn=0.003589,0.005761&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.632176,94.394531&oq=hercules&hnear=Hercules,+Contra+Costa,+California&t=h&z=18

The BNSF Stockton sub is at a 45 deg angle at the lower left and flies over the UP which runs almost vertically. Slightly above the flyover, the North Richmond lead wyes off to the left and runs about a mile over to the chevron refinery tracks. If you have some play time, zoom in until google switches to 45 degree mode. The images are crystal clear, it is incredible what you can see and you can look from any angle.

It's interesting you raised the 'fit' of the back story. Now I'm located in Toronto, I hadn't thought much about operators being familiar with the Richmond area. This thread is helping a lot to clarify that back story. I'm realizing that getting the story right is important for proto-freelancers to minimize disconnect between the plan and the prototype.

Nice prod for construction, thanks! Getting harder to find plausible reasons not to start. And yes, it's modular all the way. I've kind of already started. I have two Fremo-N modules, a 3'x2' and a 7'x2'. Those are a good starting point.

Mark Hinds kindly posted a close up of the castor legs, thanks Mark! And I have been studying MC Fujiwara's outstanding Fremo-N work and paying close attention to the stub joints. Both examples have really helped consolidate the modular aspect of the plan for me.

Who knows, I may have some pictures of wood in the next update!

- Coxy

[Coxy]

Coxy,

Per your request, I was able to add an image of my adjustable-height layout castors to my last post on the previous page.

MH

Awesome, thanks Mark!! Looks great and gives me a good idea of how to proceed.

Coxy

[mark.hinds]

Awesome, thanks Mark!! Looks great and gives me a good idea of how to proceed.

Coxy

FYI, there are 2 solder joints.  The "upper" one, which was implemented by tinning the bottom of the threaded rod, tinning the top of the washer, and melting them together, is structurally weak.  I had a couple break (after which they still work, but turning the rod in the female recepticle now requires pliers).  If you make something similar to my adjustable-height castors, I suggest a larger mating surface between the threaded rod and the washer.  Another idea is to figure out a way to wedge/glue/solder the castor's vertical shaft to the inside of the threaded rod.  In my current design, the only connection between the 2 is the solder joint at the bottom, mentioned above. 

MH

[GaryHinshaw]

This is serious stuff man ()! Getting feedback is the reason I piped up and posted the plan and shared my thinking so I'm very pleased with the discussion so far.

This it the Railwire.  Getting feedback is exactly what I seek when posting here too.  Feel free to tell us to back off whenever you wish, but until then we'll hound you. 

It's interesting you raised the 'fit' of the back story. Now I'm located in Toronto, I hadn't thought much about operators being familiar with the Richmond area. This thread is helping a lot to clarify that back story. I'm realizing that getting the story right is important for proto-freelancers to minimize disconnect between the plan and the prototype.

Exactly.  I think it helps to focus your work towards something that looks 'right'.

Who knows, I may have some pictures of wood in the next update!

Can't wait!

-gfh