Tehachapi, BC

[GaryHinshaw]

Lee, I had thought about a scheme like the one you suggest (it's not often we wish our tracks were roads instead...), but I think the space is too tight for convincing 3d scenery.  Right now the front side of the upper roadbed is directly over the back side of the lower at their closest approach, by design.  I think I could move the lower track left by about 2 inches to allow for some slope, but the upper tracks are about 2 1/2 inches higher, and the highway would need to be 2 inches higher still, so it would be quite steep.  Perhaps I could leave things as they are, with the dual backdrop, but still include the removable highway over the tracks.  The front backdrop would just be vertical (photographic) scenery which could help force some perspective.  I'll mock it up.

Having stared at things a bit more now, I'm worried that moving the tracks would cause clearance problems with my "freeway interchange" under Tunnel 9.  Also, I agree with Smike that there is enough foreground relief in this area to distract you from the sudden transition, so I'm going to leave it as is for now.

Tim, welcome back!  I thought maybe we had driven you away.    I remember your thread well, and was just looking it over again. I can't belive it's been 3 years since that conversation.   As you may have surmised, a lot has changed in my life since then, with a job change and cross country move, but my devotion to Tehachapi has persisted, and I was able to secure a nice space in which to execute the new plan.  It's great fun!  Please do post your progress. Tehachapi NZ sounds like a good title to me. 

-Gary

[ednadolski]

Hi Gary, looking at the latest pic of the roadbed at the bridge area, one other thought I has was maybe replacing the plywood for about a 3' - 4' section with some spline roadbed?   I've never used spline myself but I've heard that a lot of guys like it.   The key advantage in your case here is that it would not have to be cut away where the bridge will go (maybe just notched from below to the right thickness), and it likely would be more stable in the long-term, since it won't have the same internal stresses/torsions that the plywood can have.

Anyways that's just another $0.02 but might be worth considering.

Ed

[John]

Not to jack the thread .. but if I wanted to go see the real thing - where can I stop (legally) and take pics at the loop?

[James Costello]

Quite a few spots on Woodford - Tehachapi Rd, including a spot just above the historic marker that looks like a public space and looks over the loop. There was even a portaloo and bench when I was there in April. Otherwise Caliente and the Bealville Rd crossing are great public spaces.

[GaryHinshaw]

+1 on James' recommendations.  I put together a Google map to mark these and a few other spots:

http://g.co/maps/tnvu9

I recommend the Keene Cafe for lunch: old time style with burgers & mexican fare.  Take some pics for us!

-gfh

[ednadolski]

I put together a Google map...

Man, those Google images are impressive.  You can now zoom all the way in to see the individual ties, the bench at the cross marker, and even some horses.

Edit: There is also an awesome view of a stack train going thru the upper tunnels.

Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

Man, those Google images are impressive.

Impressive yes -- and invaluable!  I was using them over the weekend to help draw a profile board for the Loop hill.  Speaking of which, time for an update. As noted in WU, I made some progress on the roadbed in the Loop.  The tricky part of this step is figuring out how to support it without interfering with the helix-to-be directly underneath.  Up-thread I made a plywood extension of one beam to accommodate hidden track.  For the Loop track proper I decided it was simplest to make the whole beam from cookie-cutter plywood scraps.  As long as I was going that route, it made sense to make profile boards out of them too, so I spent some time planning the profile, then went to work.  The first shot is an overview of the Loop with the profile/beam test-fit into place:



And here is a closer view showing how it spans the gap between the higher beam on the left and the lower one on the right, while keeping enough clearance for the helix below:



I guess this is kind of turning the plywood prairie on its side...    On the far right you can see where the line approaches the Loop from below.  This part of the line is in a narrow cut, one side of which is hinted at with the profile board:



Finally, an almost-eye-level shot from across the room showing the overall progress:



Thanks for looking,
Gary

[nscalemike]

Plenty of people have already said it, but I'll say it again:  Gary, your plywood benchwork/profile board is very impressive work!  This scene looked very complicated on the plan and the open grid design initially looked to be a mess but it is coming together very nicely!

Mike

[ednadolski]

Say Gary, if you haven't already done so, check out page 83 of the February MRH (http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/), there is an article about building a photo backdrop that you might find interesting.

Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks Mike.  It's still a mess, but it's my mess.    How's your pike coming?  I want to see more.

Good article Ed, thanks.  I have to bookmark MRH so I remember to visit regularly.

-gfh

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Great job on the benchwork: looks solid, smooth & clean!

Clever, using the hill profile / support to double as a riser on both sides.

This will be a great scene (heck, it already is for us model railroad geeks and asshats).
Bravo!

[C855B]

Hey, Gary... in that last pic - great idea with the vent hood. I was trying to figure out a way to get rid of all that N scale diesel exhaust in the train room.

[Philip H]

SSSSHHHHHH - that's for his next homegrown spray booth!

[nscalemike]

How's your pike coming?  I want to see more.

-gfh

I've been working on it but slacking on the photography and updates.  I'm trying to get one ready by the end of the week though!

Mike

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks for the comments gents, feedback - yea or nay - is always appreciated.  Good one on the vent hood C855B  , but Philip is correct, it's the top of my defunct spray booth.  I hope to claim some third-floor workshop space when my youngest heads off to college next year. Then I'll actually have a decent place to paint again.

Here's a quick shout-out to Ed Nadolski (alias ednadolski) for his support of this project.  A few months ago he generously sent me the masters he made for casting his Tehachapi tunnel portals, and last week he found some spare casting which he sent me and which arrived today.  Thanks Ed!!  I coudn't resist setting them in place, along with my almost-complete Walong signal bridge from Traincat.  Here's a few quick snaps:









-gfh