October 2008

I've been trying to take advantage of the beautiful fall afternoons to get some more work done on the layout.

I used more than a little bit of "mud" to raise the second tier on the tunnel blocks to get the necessary clearance. This is Tunnel #5 in progress.

And this is Tunnel #6, the last one on the layout.

I finished laying up the rainbow (sandstone) ledger wall along the east side of the layout.

This is the corner where the waterfall will ripple down below four bridges. The top bridge will be 30 inches above the level of the patio across the top of the rainbow ledger wall.

This cribbed retaining wall runs between Tunnels #5 and #6. It should be one of the primary features visible when entering the layout from the street.

Two tracks emerge from Tunnel #1 on the north end of the layout. For a long time I've thought I would pour in a concrete bridge under these two tracks. I was having some trouble with trains crossing the span over boards I was using to temporarily hold up the track, so I installed this tressling instead of a concrete bridge. I like the look and will do the same for the second track.

The portal for the north end of Tunnel #5 is partialy complete. This will be my last wooden portal. They are easy to make, but I think five of them is enough. I will need to fill dirt to the top of the posts. The inner loop of track will be 27 inches above patio level coming over this tunnel to cross a tressle before looping back to the rainbow ledger wall.

Tunnel #6 is waiting for a cover.

Most of my October time has been spent on this cribbed retaining wall. I still need to raise the wall about four inches to track level.

Here is another view. The wall is about 12 feet long.

This is the view as you approach the patio along the walk from the front yard.

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