Garden Railroading: New Roadbed at Hayes Falls on the Brennan Pass

New Roadbed at Hayes Falls on the Brennan Pass

Four lads spent the better part of the day at Fred's working on a troublesome area of the railroad. The first worker arrived at 9:00 AM and the last one left Fred's place at 6:00 PM.

In recent times some trains had been coming off the rails beneath St. Helens.

It was determined that the track on the curve leading into Peter's Pond was not level with some areas of the curve being super-elevated, leaning into the inner rail (which is appropriate) but other areas in the same curve actually leaned toward the outer rail.

This resulted in some very unusual stresses on the couplers of the cars.

Keep in mind that the rail here was only held in place with a bit of ballast and there was no wooden subroadbed.

These first four images were sent my way by Pat Brennan. Thanks Pat.

This shot was taken either before Pat & Fred headed off to lunch with the History Circle or just afterwards.

Bernie and I are on our hands and knees praying for the heat of the day to dissipate as Pat Brewer and Fred look on.

As with all subroadbed work, just like building a kitchen cabinet you have to 'measure twice and cut once' as we are doing here.

I'm lifting up the long board to allow Bernie to slide in a brace beneath.

The C-clamps spotted near my kneeler are a godsend when it comes to stabilizing the wood sections before screwing them together.

You can only kneel down for so long before you take a breather.

Thanks for these four images, Pat...and for your strength in moving so many of the rocks and concrete blocks as well as being a solid earth mover!

This is a video of our early test run through the existing curve before we went to work. We examined the cars closely.

I tediously cleared the tracks of debris such as pine cones and gravel that had been resting between the rails. There was now no impediments to derail the cars as noted in this video effort.

If I can back my train beneath St. Helens and the long passenger cars remain atop the rails, then I am confident the trackwork here is 'A-OK' as noted in this video.

While the routing is clear under St. Helens...it is a different story on the curve as seen in this video.

While we wouldn't be pushing a passenger train backwards, we decide to run it that way to observe how the train handles on the curve.

See what happens in this video with the diaphragms and steam generator car which is very light weight.

In this video, the cars track beautifully through the corners as I run the train 'at speed'!

In this video I have changed the direction of the train and run back through 'The Corners'.

This video demonstrates that there is now no issue beneath St. Helens - the issue is on the curve.

Through video action we see that the engine catches a rail joiner that is sticking up slightly.

Pat has also noticed that the coupler pins on the passenger cars sometimes rub against the inside of the outer rail on the curve.

Time to get to work and rectify the situation!

This next batch of images come from Bernie's camera. Pat & I continue reciting our prayers that we learned back in elementary school.

In the meantime, Brother Pat gives us his blessing!

We start with that longer board that extends beyond the curve in the tracks.

We must add bracing for the next angled board section to be screwed to.

We verify the appropriate angles by giving ourselves a 'test view' first.

Pat had marked where our angled cuts will have to be and now we fit the board in place.

Upon Pat's sage advice we added the two boards at either end of the curve first.

Then we would measure the middle board which is near straight...almost.

For me without a kneecap on my right leg, these sponges I brought from home are a godsend!

For all of us, there was so much kneeling taking place that we had to stand up and stretch at frequent intervals.

I am taking some video footage of a 'test' run through the curve before we nail everything in place.

My CN RS3 road switch has the honours on the test train!

With 'trial and error' being the order of the day, we continually adjust the track and the roadbed.

With so many tools being used on the job we try our best to place them in specific spots around the work area so as not to lose track of any.

With all the loose soil, stone dust and gravel, a smaller tool could easily become buried and lost to the annals of future time!

Pat and I are adjusting some of the rail joiners.

I check the level. We don't mind a bit of super-elevation leaning into the inner rail...but definitely not the outer one!

Pat puts a small shim under the outer track.

We later remove the shim once all other areas are tested and we are confident the passenger cars remain on the tracks. If they do, then the freight cars should have no problems at all.

Thanks for sending all these images my way Bernie.

The remaining pictures come from my ancient 'point and shoot' camera.

Pat's trusty mirror is brought in to enable him to 'scope out' what is happening beneath St. Helens.

Because debris such as pine cones, vines and, yes, 'gravel stones' for ballast - work their way between the rails under St. Helens, we have determined to remove the station from its perch along the fence line and we even decide to remove the long board that acted as its perch!

This allows us to easily lay atop the rails and look beneath the length of trackage beneath St. Helens with ease...although...yes, although...hmm...hmm...Hamer is getting a thought in his little brain.

"Hey guys!" he shouts out! We could fit a siding in along the fence in the opposing direction from the other sidings here at St. Helens like we did down in Rat Portage!" All Hamer got was some strange looks from the other lads! 😎😁💥😁😎

This center board will be lifted and its screws removed. Then the board will be placed back with no screws attached. This means that if ever there is any issue beneath St. Helens we simply lift this section momentarily to examine the problem.

I must note right now that when I examined the trackage beneath the length of track under St. Helens...I found many stones tucked up to the insides of the rails. It's no wonder we were having difficulties here the last few sessions!

Pat observes Pat in action as Fred looks on with Bernie in the immediate foreground.

Bernie is adding stones beneath the subroadbed here.

I use the crowbar to lift the longer board and the bracing beneath to add stones below.

Bernie snaps some of his images with his iPhone.

Pat demonstrate brute strength!

He is returning some of the earth, gravel and stone dust we had earlier removed back to the work area.

All smiles the lad is!

As is Father Fred.

Pat gathered some more gravel for the job.

He gets out the trusty hoe.

Hoe Hoe Hoe - and it's not even Christmas yet!

Indeed we had to remove a great deal of earth in order to fit the boards for the subroadbed in place.

By the way...here is the new location of the St. Helen's station. Passenger trains will still run along the further track as the nearer track will be needed by the way freights who have to switch out St. Helens.

While a job of this nature appears that it would take only a little while from start to finish - not a chance.

It's always a matter of creative thought processes and plenty of discussion between the lads as we approach each step of the way.

Pat is finding a tool from our well-labeled tool cart!

Lunch time!

We only took 20 minutes for lunch as we were "On the clock" as Bernie so wisely stated.

Train operations on Saturday were dependent on us finishing the job!

We are about to screw the angled board to the brace Bernie has inserted.

Our level dictated every step of the way as Bernie removes some earth at this location.

Fred got into the act removing some of the 'tougher to remove' rail joiners from the ends of the rails.

A dedicated trio if I ever saw one!

Hey...nice new belt Fred! Where d'ja get it! 😎

Bernie screws the timber to the brace beneath as Fred continues to work on the 'sticky' rail joiner.

A fuzzy image of Bernie and Pat...as by this time in the day our heads were all fuzzy from leaning over so much!

The subroadbed is now solid as rock!

Pat works on a small shim that is required at this moment in time but is later removed.

Seeing the tracks take on the curve is so nice.

Next Workday Wednesday I will add ties beneath the rails where there currently are none. I will shave them down slightly from beneath for ease of sliding beneath the rails.

Bernie is all smiles.

As is Pat.

Yeah! Success at last in this video effort...even though we have yet to nail the trackwork to the subroadbed.

Backing through the curve on video before we nail the trackwork down.

A slightly blurry video that checks the diaphragm clearances while running the passenger train forward.

Fred is pleased as punch as this video declares!

We have now nailed the track in place and video the train in reverse mode.

Looking good video!

Fred has a few words of appreciation for the lads in this video as I bring my steam locomotive into service just to see how a steamer navigates the curve.

We steam off into the sunset with this final video from our day.

Indeed, "We've been working on the railroad - all the live long day!" And...we had a ton of fun! 😎😍😎😋😎