The St. Louis & Denver Railroad - The Build

[GPdemayo]

Years ago you could get Rail-Craft spikes, which were about the size of ME's Small but had much shorter/flatter heads.  I have about 50 left from the packages I got from an estate a few years ago; I save them for high-visibility locations.  I wish ME would re-engineer their dies, as I've read that they originally bought the Rail-Craft line.

The alternative is ME's 'Micro' spikes, but they bend very easily; I have to drill holes for them, which is OK when super-detailing for the Civil AP certificate, tiresome otherwise.

Hi James:
 
When I first tried hand laid track, I think those were the spikes I used and the heads we just the right size, no trimming necessary. When I got back into the hobby, the only game in town that I can see is Micro Engineering and the heads of their small spikes are to darn big and require trimming before installation.
 
I wasn't happy and called them and they suggested the "micro" spikes and said they would send me a sample. A bit later they arrived in the mail and when I opened the envelope, I found three, yes I said I found 3, spikes wrapped in tissue paper. I hope that freebie didn't bankrupt the company.
 
Guess what, I tried them and bent all three, not a good alternative, so back to trimming the heads. If anyone knows the principles of this company, you might want to let them know they have a few disgruntled customers out here.
 
Anyway, thanks for looking in and your info on the spikes James.

[GPdemayo]

Gregory,
                 Wow, I'm so glad to see & enjoy the craftsmanship of building hand laid track.  L@@ks awesome sir.  I just love seeing and can appreciate the modeling skill of building hand laid track with custom fast track switches.  Awesome.  Thanks for sharing!   Keep up the great old school.   Thanx Thom...

Hi Thom:
 
Thanks for the kind words and following along.
 
I am really happy with the way the track work is coming out and am anxious to get on with an expanded layout so I have a bunch more of this to do.
 
So, stay tuned, more to come.

[GPdemayo]

Greg

The track work looks great!

Thanks John.
 
I appreciate you looking in. I like your new logo, can't beat steam engines.

[GPdemayo]

Bob Butts just dropped by to visit and see the progress I've made and brought a little present.
 
I talked with him earlier in the week and he said "I want to drop by and see what you have been up to and by the way, I have a little something for you". When asked what that little something was, his cryptic remark was "you'll see".
 
Well, isn't that a heck of a thing to do to a body? Taunt them with the thrill of an upcoming special something and then remaining tight lipped and offering not one iota of a hint.
 
That something special turned out to be a build of Tiny Lou's Grill by FOS. As you can see in the pictures below, it is a great build for a neat kit and will be a perfect fit for the railroad, once I figure out where it will best fit for maximum exposure for guests.



Exhibit #1 - (B001)

 
Exhibit #2 - (B002)




Exhibit #3 - (B003)

 
Exhibit #4 - (B005)

 
Big Thanks to Bob for this neat little structure. As ususal, it has that Butts' special quality of workmanship that makes it a most welcome addition to any layout. How about that Tom - now you aren't the only one with a Build By Bob!!!
 
Now the St.L&D has a Butts' Original - Hot Damn !!!

[ACL1504]

Way to go Lil' Gregory. We are very blessed to have such talent in our backyard! Now you know why Reading Bob never pays for lunch at the local BBQ watering hole!

I guess this means that when he starts his layout I'll have to supply him with a custom painted brass loco. Oh, wait, he is hand laying his track so I have several more years to get ready!

Bob's models never cease to amaze me!

Tom

[bparrish]

Oh that is really cool...

thanx
Bob

[ReadingBob]

Thanks for the kind words guys.  I love "Tiny Lou's".  I've built at least three of them in addition to one "Big Lou's".  I missed out on "Little Lou's" though.      A FOS "Tiny Lou's" with those (teeny, tiny) VectorCut hamburgers and hot dogs is a winning combination.

[GPdemayo]

Way to go Lil' Gregory. We are very blessed to have such talent in our backyard! Now you know why Reading Bob never pays for lunch at the local BBQ watering hole!

I guess this means that when he starts his layout I'll have to supply him with a custom painted brass loco. Oh, wait, he is hand laying his track so I have several more years to get ready!

Bob's models never cease to amaze me!

Tom

Couldn't agree more, Tom.
 
It's great having friends with that level of talent who aren't so impressed with themselves that they come across with a condescending attitude when interacting with others and are fun to be with.
 
I always look forward to our group getting together and have really enjoyed the last 6 years that we have been trading ideas and telling tall tales.


By the way, no cracks about hand laying. If I remember correctly, someone at the A&S come over from the dark side and paid a bunch for some Fast Tracks jigs and is hand building their own switches! 

[GPdemayo]

Oh that is really cool...

thanx
Bob

I totally agree, it was a very pleasant surprise.


You're welcome Bob. Stay tuned, more fun to come!

[GPdemayo]

Thanks for the kind words guys.  I love "Tiny Lou's".  I've built at least three of them in addition to one "Big Lou's".  I missed out on "Little Lou's" though.      A FOS "Tiny Lou's" with those (teeny, tiny) VectorCut hamburgers and hot dogs is a winning combination.

Not kind words Bob, just a simple statement of fact. The hot dog and hamburger are a great touch!


I really love Tiny Lou's and promise to be real careful with a scene on the layout that will do it justice.

Thanks again Bob, looking forward to Saturday!

[GPdemayo]

Things are still progressing very slowly, but I have made a little headway. Business keeps getting on the way of modeling! I really need to find a way around having to work for a living.
 
I finished all the short connecting rail between the switches in the yard area and the last leg of the wye.  The only remaining track that I need to install in phase 1 and 2 are ties and rail of the siding for the service track structures and the rail into the engine house and tie & plank mill.
 
I finally quit procrastinating about the position of the coaling tower and laid out the footprint and cut the hole in the homosote and plywood for the pit. Sorry about these pictures, but I can't seem to find the ones of the pit excavating in progress. These were taken after the pit was installed and the markings added for the tie installation.
 
Exhibit #1 - (T416)


Exhibit #2 - (T417)


The following pictures are of the installed ties.
 
Exhibit #3 - (T419)

 
Exhibit #4 - (T420)


With  the ties installed, I am ready to install the rail, but I need to change the rail over the pit first. The coaling tower pit was assembled in the 1980's and I was using code 83 rail at that time. The branchline and yard areas of the current layout are code 70, so I pulled the old rail off the pit beams and will install the code 70. When this is completed I will install the rail to complete this area.
 
This is about all I have time for today. I will post some pictures of the test ballast when I get a few minutes.

[Twist67]

Wow,
looking fantastic...love the look of that handlayed track and turnouts....

Regards,Chris

[GPdemayo]

Wow,
looking fantastic...love the look of that handlayed track and turnouts....

Regards,Chris

Thanks for looking in Chris.
 
My favorite part of the hobby are the track and structures.


Tom keeps trying to get me over to the dark side with flex track, that isn't going to happen, but it is fun listening to him expound! 

[Twist67]

Hi,
Lol,that´s funny : the dark side.....so I´m on the darkside,too 

But have made some tries with handlaying and it was very nice to do it...still have some handlayed turnouts to be placed on the layout eventually.....

Regards,Chris

[gnatshop]

Just confirmin' that you have riff-raff in the house!
But I'm gonna lay low while y'all are messin' around with lights and that elecstrishity shtuff -
I don't want my name associated with no fars!!