New Sidings For Ironwood Brick
Bernie, Fred and I gathered outdoors at 9:00 AM to investigate the trackwork in "The Corners" where new ties would be required to support the long sections of bare rail where we left off from our previous work session earlier this week.
Fred worked away trimming ties for me as I got down to work installing them.
Bernie headed over to the Ironwood Brick area where we earlier had discussed the idea of either lengthening the siding there and keeping it as a single spur like before or thinking about adding a second siding for the ore cars to be separated from the way freight traffic.
The tools of the trade for today!
This hammer should be on display in a museum!
A happy camper!
Two happy campers.
The Ironwood Brick siding with a turnout in place to determine if a second siding would be able to fit.
Bernie examines the real estate potential.
I get to work on the track in "The Corners" using the trusty track gauge. The bubble is not centered but no problem as the track is slightly angled to the inside of the curve - a sort of "super elevation" if you will.
This is the problem facing us. We have quite a distance of bare rail that requires support from the ties to help bed the rail down and keep it in gauge.
As I work along the track I use the truck along with the track gauge to ensure perfect tracking.
I'll clear away the ballast from between the rails when all is said and done.
The goal for perfection comes from the quality and type of tools you use.
This device helps me "pinch" the rail joiners so they do not interfere with the flanges on the trucks. In some cases I had to file the top of the rail joiner down slightly. I also had to file away the burrs on the tips of the rail.
Bernie gets down to work at Ironwood Brick.
Love the one hundred year celebratory cap for our Air Force.
(I presume the number 100 indicates this!)
Looking good Bernie!
As with the laying of new trackwork, bracing has to be placed beneath butting road bed board ends.
Fred continues to file away the nibs off some ties that I will insert beneath the bare spots along the tracks.
While you cannot see the animal clearly, a gorgeous red fox paid us a visit.
Skipper Fred was the lad who spotted him!
The ties are in place and our trusty "truck" runs along the rails beautifully!
Back at Ironwood Brick, Bernie has determined where the turnout goes which determines where the existing wooden roadbed must be cut.
Done!
A wee little break for the three of us to enjoy a drink and give our knees and our backs a short rest.
Time to bring along some of the stones to place beneath the wooden roadbed.
We conduct a "test fit" to determine if a kernel of ore cars has sufficient room on the further siding away from the aisleway.
The siding has enough space for the quartet of cars.
We only require enough length for three way freight cars on the nearer siding as that is the typical number that resides at Ironwood Brick...and if not, our Trainmasters can make the changes in our RailOps program to only ever have three cars max on that siding at a given time.
Bernie poses for a picture!
He tests the "reachability" of the two sidings.
The near siding works out!
As does the far siding! We chose to have the ore cars reside on the further siding as this siding will be addressed less frequently during an operating session than the nearer one.
We are simply "eye-balling" things at this point in time.
The far siding with the ore traffic.
We take a "coffee break" and I snap an image of the new house going up across the street from Fred's place to the east.
Fred advises the use of the C-clamps when adhering the brace sections beneath the roadbed.
We ensure that no earth or small pebbles remain between the two boards and all things line up flush.
I managed to remove this rather large stone which happened to be buried in the earth hindering our trackwork.
We test fit the turnout and determine that we must angle the board slightly.
We have drawn in the appropriate angle and Bernie makes the cut while I stand on the end of the board to offer support.
A good clean cut!
A rough look at things.
While there happens to be sufficient room for the two sidings we want the mainline to be far enough away as it is on a curve and we want sufficient clearance for passing trains.
While the process looks relatively easy, it is not. There is much measuring twice and cutting once, for sure! Also lots of digging in order to tuck the C-clamps beneath all wooden areas...and, of course, many strange angular cuts to be made!
Bernie uses his level as a straightedge because...well...it is a "straight" edge! Heh heh!
The angles are drawn.
And the pieces slide in beautifully!
The end of the inside spur track. A brace will be placed beneath this end that will radiate at a perpendicular angle to reach beneath the roadbed for the outer spur siding. There will be lots more digging and maneuvering of earth and stone before all is said and done.
Both sidings are now in!
We will have to purchase more bags of stone to support the full length of the two sidings but we are very happy with how things turned out.
This coming Wednesday we will add more ties and nail them in place to support the spur rails.
It's now 4:00 PM and we've worked basically non-stop with a wee break for a drink and for a bite to eat.
On Wednesday we will determine if existing structures can squeeze into place or if modified (or new) structures will have to suffice.
A look eastward from the town of Ironwood.
A look westward.
Lovely!
A distant shot! Bernie and I want to mention here that the work was not only done by the two of us. There was a third person who was instrumental in all the construction procedures taking place today - and that person was...Father Fred!
Bernie snapped a bunch of photos which I will post to the next blog entry when Bernie gets the time to fire them off my way.
Hopefully Wednesday's weather will be in our favour to allow us to complete what we started today.
Funnily enough, the forecast for today from yesterday's perspective called for a rainy weekend in Ottawa over both days, Saturday and Sunday. Well, Bernie, Fred and I certainly enjoyed working out in the rain all day long today! Big grin!
All the best from our WDWD crew from a Saturday...May the 4th!
So-o-o "May the Force Be With You!" It was with us today!!!
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