Update on Barry's Railroad Revamp Progress
Over the past few days Barry has sent me a number of images showcasing the progress of his revamping of his railroad. Below is his message my way including images.
Hi Mike, I figured it was about time I sent you some
pictures from my re-construction project on my railway. The demolition was
almost complete in the fall, thanks to the wonderful weather; however, this
spring has not been so co-operative. There are about 5 or 6 sets, all moving
from West to East. I will describe each picture as I go.
Everything in all pictures was rebuilt from the
ground up, and I'm sure you can appreciate how difficult that is when
retrofitting as opposed to rebuilding as new. My other obstacle has been to
have absolutely no help this spring. My friend Steve hasn't been able to make
it so far this year.
***Special Request From Barry***
Before I start, would you be willing to put
a note at the beginning of your blog asking if a small work party might be
willing to come down and give me a hand for a day - any day - within the next
month or so. You will see as I get half way to the mountain, etc. there is a
lot of re- and new construction to be done. It would be a wonderful
help.
By the way, the new, "roundy-round" track has
been a major challenge in design and build, but I have been able to design it so
there is only one interaction, similar to the "diamond" in Ottawa between
Belleville and Mount Kamaryn. The continuous running (roundy-round) will give
spectators the chance to watch or drive a passenger train independently from the
operating layout. If a crew is available, they can stop at each station.
At the interchange, the passenger train will
always have priority. It would be nice if someone would like to provide the
signalling system like you have in Ottawa.
My goal is to have trains running by the end of this month with "red tags" on certain passing sidings and priority given to operations.
The chunky pieces of grass came mostly from the expanded "Sandra Bypass" in
the eastern district.
The "Cora's Corner" turning "Y" has been covered in with
grass as well.
The nearly constant rains have been good for the grass, but not
so good for the project.
The turning Y has been replaced by a turntable nicely designed inside the sweeping curve of the new continuous running track just
outside of the Ottawa station.
You can see the caboose sitting on it in the two pictures below.
Passenger trains coming out of Ottawa can head Westbound via Orleans station or
Eastbound by heading past the turntable towards Belleville.
I had a lot of fun
designing this rather busy interchange.
One tap from the turntable serves the passenger train, and the other Quinte West
and Belleville and beyond.
There is still some finishing details to be done around the turntable.
Here is the second set of pictures heading from the turntable area to the new
Quinte West and beyond to the Belleville location.
Here we see the approach to a passing siding for passenger trains to pass
in opposite directions just west of Quinte West.
This is the east end of the above passing siding.
The short "jog" allows me to
use more curved tracks because I am still short of straights.
Quinte West is roughed in.
On the left are the passenger train rails.
On the
right, you can see the new passenger train track passing Orleans station.
Quinte West.
Here is the "roughed in Belleville
Station" with the passenger line closest to the back fence.
It is indeed very
rough, and I decided to completely remove everything and properly rebuild the
support structure.
It is extremely difficult to get everything level without
having someone else to hold the other end of an 8' deck board and get the
footings all perfectly level at all four corners of each section.
The finished
product will be seen in future pictures.
This is the east end of the Belleville yard.
It will be extended by another 3'
to allow adding the new Vollenwyder Cheese Factory and associated sidings.
That is my shadow as I am facing
east.
It gives a hint of the new passenger line as it has exited the tunnel and
will curl back and head for Cumberland.
On the right hand side the two sidings
for Craig's Transfer will actually be moved around the curve to permit a passing
track for that industry.
A wider view showing the new double-tracked Sandra
Bypass on with the service track for Naismith's Logistics.
This whole "district" needs a lot of work and
construction will still be progressing with operations already happening.
The next group of images should show most of the construction completed, and hopefully
some of the tidying up and gardening aspects.
You can see from these pics that
there is a lot of finishing to do - a lot perhaps while operations are ongoing.
This pair of shots were intended to
feature the new Sandra Bypass and alternative route via the relocated Craig's
Transfer, but the second picture gives the idea that the new passenger route
from the mountain tunnel to Cumberland Station should look pretty cool when
completed.
And finally you will notice that the oversized mulberry tree is gone, leaving what should be a very attractive look over Cumberland Station to Belleville Yard in the distance.
I
do look forward to seeing many of you this summer, if not before!
Thanks Barry for sending along these great looking images of your progress.
If any of our OVGRS members are interested in heading up to Belleville for a workday feel free to send him a message.
We are the OVGRS of Belleville & Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
