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Jackson County Narrow Gauge an introduction


John M
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Its Mid Winter in New Zealand, I ran the first train in 3 weeks after removing fallen leaves and storm debris and pruning back the vegetation.

 

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The westbound freight takes the siding at Ti Tree Flats before setting out a hopper at the tipple.

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Set out complete crew prepare to back out onto the main before heading West

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Ti Tree Flats returns to it weekly slumber

 

Freight heads West through Ti Tree Flats.

 

The railway forms a large oval around the garden, raised treated pine roadbed with open top baseboard construction at yards, ground cover supported on weed mat on welded mesh on 100X50 framing. Track started out with AMS (Accucraft) Code 250 narrow gauge, tie replacement programme is in progress with approx. 50% of ties replaced with Sunset Valley RR ties as ties and rail fastenings failed due to UV degradation after 6-7 years use.

 

Locos and stock are a mixture of Bachmann & LGB, some locos modified to resemble DRGWR & Rio Grande Southern prototypes. The buildings at Ti Tree Flats are framed in treated pine to test durability and have held up well in the Humid Waikato climate

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Eight months earlier No14 arrives at Jackson City with a caboose hop from Strahan

 

The loco is a Bachmann "Annie" 4-6-0 modified to resemble RGS T19 4-6-0

 

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No 7 arrives with a log train. The loco is a Bachmann "Connie" 2-8-0 cut down to 1:22.5 and modified to resemble the DRGWR C21 class.

 

This yard is used as a terminal for point to point operation, the Armstrong turntable works after a fashion. The layout is battery or occasional steam operation at the moment, as the rail joints have to be re-bonded before resuming DCC operation.

 

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T&D railcar crossing trussed bridge. The bridge lifts out for gardening, I am planning to build an Ophir style trestle to disguise the raised roadbed in the background.

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Freight takes the siding as the railcar runs through on the main. T

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  • 4 weeks later...

The Jackson County seems to be turning into a humid offshoot of the RGS.

 

 

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Jackson City shop staff check out RGS Motor 6 which had recently arrived on an inspection trip.

 

RGS #6 is a brass Berlyn Locomotive Works model dating from 1999

 

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Loaned DRGWR K27 #464 arrived to work a livestock special before failing with gear box trouble. Luckily enough parts are still available from Bachmann

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  • 2 weeks later...

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The K27 is back in traffic with a new gearbox and motor, hopefully the loco will be good for another 7-8 years use.

 

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#464 was a regular performer on the RGS and seems to have worn her snowplow all year round

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  • 3 weeks later...

The shift from a nondescript to a distinctively Colorado style operation has become more obvious in recent weeks with the arrival of more 20.3:1 rolling stock and another locomotive an Accucraft C16 masquerading as a slightly larger C19

 

 

I managed to restore track power mainly by cleaning the track as the C16 is DCC, but have not had time to re-bond the rail joints on relaid sections of track.

 

Hopefully the new locos and stock and will be a motivator to get on with some buildings and structures

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  • 3 months later...

I managed to carry out some track maintenance over the Christmas holidays and fitted a Mylocosound sound card to the K27. A good excuse to run a freight and see how the loco/sound system performed :). I am not mad about the whiste, but the electronic chuff effect works reasonably well at speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0cT3oeoGyw

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88v3FIt8DW4

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktDmpkqEnkM

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbYDBOk04hU

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCrmVSws50g

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  • 1 month later...

I managed to catch up with a lot of the maintenance/unfinished jobs over the Christmas/January holiday period including the tedious task of completing the bonding of rail-joints and ballasting on the re-sleepered section of the main line and main yard. and actually got around to have some running.

 

I divided the railway into three DCC power districts protected by DCC Specialities PSX-1 circuit breakers set for a trip current of 6.35 AMPS this has resulted in more reliable running with track powered locos in particular the Accucraft C16 and I have been able to establish load limits for locomotive types over the main line and High Line to the garage/storage shed.

 

A single 2-8-0 is basically restricted to 7 30' cars incl caboose over the main line with its 2% ruling grades and 3-4 over the High Line, the K 27 is capable of taking 12 cars over the main and 8 on the High Line.

 

I am experimenting at the moment with double heading, pusher service and doubling the hill using a combination of on board battery and DCC track powered locos. The main draw-back at the moment is reliable RC reversing of DCC track powered locos and will probably have to install an additional remote radio receiver.

 

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348 & 464 taking the High Line at the junction with a freight from Jackson City. I am planning to add a Wye track in this area for turning locos in pusher service and doubling the hill.

 

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348 & 464 on the High Line nearing their destination. Most of this area is now screened by plantings, though I may try some scenic effects using stucco on wire mesh in this area.

 

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General view of Jackson City yard main line in centre, the track on the right is mainly used as a departure road for freight trains, the track on the left acts as a passing siding and arrivals road and shunting neck for the freight yard.

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  • 4 months later...

Winter again the final special of the stock rush just managed to get through before the line was closed by falling leaves  :scratchhead:

 

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#464 arrives at Jackson City with stock cars for loading with sheep and boxcars for loading with mines concentrates and possibly Yellow Cake.

The make up of the train is not dis-similar to the RGS in its final years though a lot shorter.

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RGS Motor #4 arrives at Jackson City with the twice weekly Mail & Express from Ridgeway and Placerville.

Arriving home after a week  visiting sheep farms in King Country, the railway and most of our back yard/garden is covered in falling leaves.

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The Jackson County has not yet perfected a leaf plow so after a lot of sweeping/blowing and shredding the line and the railroad re-opened for business.

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Modified Bachmann Connie 2-8-0 & Annie 4-6-0 await their turn on an East bound freight.

Although I started out using DCC track power the railroad has been gradually converting to on board battery RC as locos come due for overhaul (tyre plating wearing out, ordinary wear and tear. I recently converted the 4-6-0 to battery power so Sunday afternoon was a good opportunity to see how the two locos would behave double heading.

 

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The train takes the "High Line" at the Junction. I am planning to add a Wye track in this area for turning locos and cabooses for adding pushers and to allow trains to "double the hill"

 

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On the High Line Although I used CCA treated timber there is decay in the splice plate immediately between the joint in the board. The full sized railroads installed flashings to control this problem on full sized trestles

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  • 10 months later...

Another Year another Autumn Stock Rush

 

Not a lot has happened on the railway since the last post, the biggest change has been completing the conversion to on board battery power despite completing the bonding of rail joints and the fitting of sound modules to the majority of the locos.

 

 

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Bushka supervises as 348 arrives with a pair of empty gondolas and a pair of boxcars as 464 waits with stock cars. 

 

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464 adds the box cars to her train 348 having turned and waits to depart with the gondolas.

 

The real RGS put up a lot of non-revenue mileage hauling loco coal from the mines near southern end of the line over Lizard Head Pass to feed the coal pockets at the more heavily trafficked northern end of the line.

 

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Almost a repeat of last years photo 464 departs with the 1st train of the autumn stock rush.

 

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Christmas Day 348 backs down to double head a north bound freight with 464. Before departure the locos must 1st re marshal their train placing an empty gondola between the locos to spread their weight on the high line trestles before picking up a tank car from the spur. Somehow or other the red tank car "disappeared" before departure for the High Line. Bachmann & Accucraft couplings are not 100% compatible with a tendency to uncouple on a heavy grade.

The conversion from DCC to on board battery control has overcome the reversing reliability issues and adds another dimension to the operation of the line.

 

 

Now that I hopefully have got more time to work on the railway I am planning to add a Wye for turning locos at the junction and start upgrading buildings and structures on the line

Edited by John M
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Further up the "High Line" 348 & 464 work their train. This areas has opened up a lot recently when our neighbour removed a feijoa tree that was overhanging our boundary fence, apart from the loss of fruit the improved lighting should help the trees aned shrubs that are planted in this area. I may realign the high line to increase the distance between the railway and fence and include some scenic work to try and capture the spirit of the Ophir High Line.

 

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Dec Running day.

 

I generally try to run one or two annual running days with our local garden railway group though members and running days are becoming increasingly scarce, though we juts about managed to keep 3 trains running in our December running day.

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In true RGS fashion one of our locos lost a bogie wheel while running the plastic axle sleeve on the Bachmann 4-6-0 leading truck splitting, I will need to turn a new sleeve as the sleeve and wheel assembly is no longer available as a spare part.

 

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Motor 4 operated the passenger/mail turn & 464 worked a heavy freight. Once they were bumped from main line service the DRGWR regularly hired the K27 mudhens to the RGS as its own locos were wrecked or became increasingly decrepit. 464 & 462 seem to have been permanent fixtures on the RGS during its final years working ore and stock trains over the heavily graded northern section of the line between Rico & Ridgeway with RGS 2-8-0s and sole remaining 4-6-0 handling the easier graded lighter trafficked section between Rico & Durango

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  • 3 weeks later...

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With leaf fall started in earnest I thought it was about time to re-attach K27 464s snow/leaf plough. The Bachmann model of 464 was released with a factory fitted snow plough and modified front plafform/pilot which I replaced with a standard platform/pilot which was available as a spare part. 464 seems to have been on permanent hire to the RGS with the plough fitted during the railroads final years of operation.

 

I temporarily secured the plough in place over the existing pilot and deck with short pieces of 1.2mm brass rod rather than use the modified front platform as the die cast framing that supports the pilot deck is weak point in the design and had fractured before I acquired the loco.

 

 

The main yard and a raised section of the railroad are under the drip line of a mature Sweet Gum and a juvenile Oak (grown to approx 5m in 10 years in the warm humid Waikato climate)

 

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Clearing leaves from an elevated section of track, I am planning to rebuild this section as a trestle at some stage during the next few years.

 

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464 has cleared the line through to the next town.

 

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I rebuilt the storage yard throat with a mixture of Sunset Valley and home built no 4 turnouts as the LGB medium radius points used were incompatible with 1:20.3 rolling stock. Turnouts are operated by Sunset Valley hand throws, I use a remote linkage to control the King point at the entrance to the yard as the hand throw was difficult to access from inside the shed.

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The track on the right leads to a turntable (4X1 hardwood pivoted on a coach screw) and 3 road loco storage area.

 

I used RC model aircraft bell cranks and 1.2mm brass rod to transfer motion from the switch to the ground throw inside the shed.

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Looking the other way into the yard. The road on the left acts as the main arrival road, servicing (battery charging) track and switching lead for the turntable and loco yard

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  • 1 month later...

Recent burst of activity on the Jackson County starting work on "The Pacific Extension" more simply a wye for turning locos and the acquisition of an additional K27 and freight stock to handle traffic and act as a hedge against 464 wearing out.

 

I had planned to add a wye and had most of the material in stock for a number of years its installation was tied in with finding the time and replacing sun bleached ties at on of the yards, locating the wye was a bit tricky as it was necessary to locate it on the inside of a curve and I ended up with a 1700mm minimum radius on one of the legs. 

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I decided to prefab the West leg of the wye on the deck rather than fabricate roadbed in situ. The curve and roadbed was 1st drafted in CAD then the segments cut out using a drop saw, all timber is treated pine normally used in deck and piled house foundations locally.post-7338-0-03635200-1528972795_thumb.jpg

 

The roadbed was supported on temporary blocking in the middle and one end then screwed to the existing roadbed.

 

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I tested the minimum radius with a locomotive before fixing down the roadbed on the eastern leg.

 

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I took a slightly different approach on the Eastern leg assembling the road bed in situ on piles as it was easier to adjust the segments to marry in with the Western leg and the main line.

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463 is a brass model with stainless steel tyres and motion which should be more robust than 464s cast motion and diecast frames.

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The Jackson County is laid out with a 2% grade on the main circuit and 3-4% on the branch from the main circuit to the garden shed. The pair of K27 and the wye will simplify running a helper service over this grade and simplify/speed up putting trains away after an operating special.

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464 with 463 as mid-train helper, the RGS in its final years used mid-train helpers on stock and ore specials, sometimes with the ore cars cut in behind the mid-train helper

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  • 1 month later...

 Track was 1st laid on the Jackson County a little over 10 years ago on one section of line sleepers/ties had become bleached out with UV light and I was not happy with the alignment of the crossover from the main line to the loop/siding on this section of track.

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West  Siding Switch at Ti Tree Flats, I need to think of a more appropriate South West Colorado name, the railway had a more New Zealand-Tasmanian character perhaps Arboles after the pencil pines after the cabbage tree in the background has died off?

 

The main line was laid in AMS narrow gauge flexible track, with Sunset Valley switches as AMS narrow gauge switches were unavailable when I was building the railway.

 

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The crossover is being re-laid with No 6 switches to provide a better transition from curved to straight track and a more suitable crossing for the larger locomotives now being used. I also took the opportunity to replace the ties on the plain track with Sunset Valley tie strip which appears to have a better UV resistance. The re-lay also provided an opportunity to inspect the treated timber road base, and replace decayed timbers where necessary.

 

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The railway is basically supported on an open grid baseboard of 4X2 treated pine on 4X4 timber piles. The framework was overlaid with 25mm welded mesh and weed mat to support the washed pebble ground cover.

 

I replaced two short sections of track base that were showing evidence of decay and extended the siding trackbase as I moved the East Siding Switch eastwards to compensate for the longer No6 switches at the west end of the yard.

 

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Track now re-laid and ready for traffic. Interestingly although bleached out the AMS ties in this area appear to be in good condition with no evidence of deterioration (cracking or spalling off) around the rail fixing. It was necessary to replace tie strips on AMS track on another area of the layout when rail fixings started failing and gauge spreading occurred 5-6 years after track was first laid.

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1:4 ESS I am planning to replace this with a 1:6 switch and have installed the switch with a short make up piece to avoid having to cut the next track panel at a later date.

 

It looks like the railway in this area should be good for at least another 10 years considering the condition of the baseboard timber and tie life.

 

I will leave ballasting until the summer, though I am planning to carry to clean/wash the recovered ballast/ground cover to remove soil/vegetable matter and hopefully improve drainage.

 

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I finally completed the wye today, this more or less completes major track improvement projects until the Jackson County scrapes together enough funds to start its Paciffic /Utah Extension & after the recent spending spree just might have enough locos and stock to stage the occasional operating session. 

 

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Installing Utah Junction Wye East Leg

 

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Replacing head blocks wye East Switch. Switch was originally in a location that was in the shade for most of the year and ties turned green. Similar conditions occur in other areas of the railway during the winter months, but moss and mold dies off during the spring and summer.

 

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On the work bench typical large scale track tools.

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General view of wye, probably look at planting low light ground cover to disguise the track bases, area on right is usually covered in leaf litter.

 

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The promised land the Utah Extension hopefully we will extend the railway off towards the swing set on the right at some stage. The tail of the wye is long enough for a locomotive and a freight car, just right for turning a loco and caboose on a caboose hop while doubling the hill with a freight for the high line. 

Edited by John M
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  • 1 month later...

Spring has finally arrived mines are opening and ranchers moving sheep to higher pasture for spring and summer grazing. The Jackson County ran a special freight with hired DRGW power to move this traffic, the sole serviceable Jackson County loco a large Baldwin 2-8-0 is only used very occasionally these days, well until it gets a sound system to add its voice to that of the other locos!

 

The real reason was to stage a test run of a heavy freight with mid-train helper and pusher assistance and to compare haulage ability of the Accucraft & Bachmann K 27 locomotives. I fitted the Accucraft K27 #463 with an on board battery radio control system with a pair of 7.2v NiMh 3000Mah battery packs, a Deltang RX65-1 receiver/power controller & RCS switch gear mounted in the tender, I retained the Phoenix PB11v6 sound system that was supplied with the loco. The receiver and sound card are mounted in the tender on a rectangular plate of 0.060" mounted above the batteries and speaker in a similar set up to the RCS installation http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/5745. The Deltang receiver/power controller is of similar size to a HO DCC decoder and considerably smaller than the older RCS power controller & 24Kz receiver combinations.

 

I mounted the sound system chuff sensor above one of the loco driving axles rather than a tender axle as standard practice, the idea was to achieve a more realistic chuff speed and capture the sound of the loco slipping. Unfortunately #463 tends to stall under load rather than slip possibly a symptom of a motor that may need replacement. Haulage power appears to be limited to 7-8 cars max on the main line with its 2% grades less than the Bachmann loco, but it runs a hell of a lot smoother with a nice sense of momentum.

 

 

Anyway #463 teamed up with #464 to move to return a train of empty stock cars and box cars from some remote part of the Utah Extension of the Jackson County to the DRGWR interchange.

 

 

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Utah Junction general view.  463 & 464 on train on main line, helper loco 348 and caboose have arrived from the DRGW interchange and have turned on the wye before assisting the train of the High Line.

Reversing the train and turning the locos at Utah Junction to climb the High Line to the DRGW interchanged involved a fair amount of switching.

 

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Conversation piece with 463 & 348 at the Utah Junction ore tipple. The bunker is based on a similar sized bunker at a small South Island (New Zealand) coal mine.

Switching at Utah Junction

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348 & caboose have set back along the main line to clear the wye to allow 463 draw forward with her portion of the train and turn.

 

464 has stopped at the siding clearance point as 463 and her train draw forward to clear the West leg of the Wye.

 

463 uncouples from her train and draws forward towards 348 clearing the east leg of the wye.

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The wye is just long enough for running round 463s portion of the train, at this stage the tail track is only long enough to accommodate a loco and one car. In practice a train crew would try and complete the turning/run round with a few movements as possible,

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463 has turned and is pulling her portion of the train onto the siding, while 464 prepares to repeat the maneuver though her portion of the train is too long to run round via the wye!

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464 has recoupled to her train and drawn forward to take water. 348 will attach the box cars on the left to the rear of the train before the whole ensemble draws forward on to the Utah Extension main before setting back to collect the caboose!

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The whole train then sets back along the main past the siding switch before in order to get a run at the High Line.

Some how or other Utah Junction acquired a water tower and depot building between the beginning and end of the filming :scratchhead:

 

The trail went well the only problem was one of the radio transmitters/controllers failed when I was putting the train away and I had to literally carry 348 home luckily it was still light and not raining.

 

 

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Edited by John M
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  • 1 month later...

Another operating day on the Jackson County with a westbound stock special and a general freight out of Jackson City. The original owner of our 1924 property was a Jackson and the name also has family connections.

 

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#463 poses on the turntable. The table is a piece of 4X1 decking timber that pivots on galvanised plate washers & a coach screw, crude but effective.

 

 

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DRGW#463 & RGS #20 pose outside the Jackson City roundhouse, I am planning to replace this building with a more typical brick roundhouse, but have renovated the shed after 7 years in the Waikato weather.

 

#20 started life as a Bachmann Big-Haulier 4-6-0, modified with new (plasticard) cab, new running boards, shortened smokebox, new funnel and other modifications to resemble #20. She is a bit light for the heavier 1:20.3 scale freight cars but can manage 3-4 cars over most sections of the line.

 

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Line up at the Western end of Jackson City yard. #464 waits to depart with stock special on the main line, #463 waits with a general freight on the departure road, while an eastbound freight waits in the siding of her loco to back down after taking water.

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#464 arrives with stock special at Utah Junction box car and empty tank car at the rear, gondolas await collection by the general freight.

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#463 awaits to pick up 3 cars at an intermediate station. Haven't fixed on a name for this station, yet the crossing siding is short, but I am extending the spur road over a dwarf wall with what looks suspiciously like coke ovens.

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#279 (Live steam) waits to run way eastbound way freight. Loco usually runs eastbounds otherwise you got to lean over loco to observe pressure gauge if working a westbound train.

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#463 has added gondolas to her train at Utah Junction and awaits departure. The train was over the load limits for #463 and she needed a helping hand with her train on the difficult curved approach to the 4% grade. The main objective of the exercise was to return the trains to covered storage as quickly as possible, so I did not use a helper or divide the train this time!

 

 

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Edited by John M
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After a brief spurt of activity preparing for a garden railway convention in 2011 the Jackson County has been pretty neglectful about providing covered accommodation at Jackson City for its staff and the very odd passenger that might want to ride the line.

 

After toying with the idea of a NZR style building, I settled on Ophir Depot on the RGS as a potential depot/company head office.

 

 

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A rating valuation elevation and floor plan are available on line, a reasonable start for designing a mock-up to see if it would fit/not over dominate the scene.

 

The real Ophir Depot was on the inside of an almost 180° curve, Jackson City Depot will be on the outside of a 90° curve.

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I planned the mock-up/shell of the building in 12mm treated ply, buying 2 1200X600 panels from a local DIY warehouse, funnily enough 2X600X1200 panels were $6 cheaper than a single 1200X1200 panel, be interesting to see how a full 1200X2400 sheet works out. Plywood is manufactured from locally grown Radiata Pine which is fast growing and tends to twist all over the place, even when bonded into a sheet of ply.

 

I cut out the basic outline of the platform elevation with a battery powered skilsaw and cut out the window opes with a drill and a jigsaw.

 

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I was a bit worried that a 1:20.3 scale building might over-dominate the scene, so did a mock up with the basic elevation and depot floor, before cutting out the door and window openings.

 

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The ground floor of the building was clad with a combination of horizontal and vertical weatherboard, the roof and upper storey in shingles. The weatherboard is a Midwest Scale basswood product, the lower panel edge is rebated to disguise horizontal joints the top strip overwidth to compensate.

 

I cut out the window and door openings using a sharp craft knife, openings will be trimmed with L shaped strip to form the timber flashings used round doors and windows with this form of construction. The weatherboard is temporarily fixed in place with double sided tape.

 

The section below window level was clad in vertical weather board with a dado rail between the two cladding systems, the large opening between the doorways is for a bay window which incorporated the telegraph operators office.

 

I am looking at the option of laser cutting for forming doors and windows, fixing individual shingles to the roof and upper story would be time consuming but could be very therapeutic depending on your outlook

 

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Ophir Depot like most on the RGS was a combined depot and freight house for LCL traffic and seems to be reasonably in proportion for the site without reducing to 1:22.5 or 1:24 Scale

 

 

Edited by John M
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  • 1 month later...

Finally got a decent dry spell to ballast the main line and siding at Utah Junction following tie track re-lay resulting in a big improvement in the overall appearance.

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463 has pulled up to the depot to pick up a Train order. 

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463 has pulled up to the water tower clearing the switch behind the caboose.

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Ballast is 4-9mm  pea metal ( crushed stone chip) screened through a 6mm mesh secured with 50% dilute concrete bonding agent. Until recently I have used graded river pebble for ballast, but crushed stone is likely to be less subject to movement and stay in place longer.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Do you have any live steam locos ? and how long to clean your track for dcc operation?

We regularly operate live steam locos during conventions and when the local garden railway group visit the railway. I have an Accucraft C16 2-8-0 which is awaiting conversion to radio control, the C16 is challenging to operate manually on account of the grades and good at finding the weak points in my tracklaying/maintenance.

 

Currently running is either RCS on board battery RC or live steam. I abandoned DCC operation mainly as a result of un-reliable reversing when using DCC radio throttles outdoors rather than track cleaning or pick up problems, tyre plating wear/spark erosion was also a factor with some locos that had run on DC.

 

I used to clean the track after steam running or before running if the railway had not operated for several weeks, most locos had pick up on driving and tender wheels and a couple had Lenz decoders with UPS.

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I introduced live steam on the Jackson County with an Accucraft C16 almost a year ago. Loco was second hand though had not been steamed. I have not fitted radio control yet, though quite controllable by hand even with a light load.

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248s cab gas tank is in the tender which carries water to regulate the tanks temperature

 

The beginning of another Autumn Stock rush with JMRI Operations car dispatching system thrown in to make operation more interesting. I basically am experimenting with operating one or two through freights from the staging (Placerville) to the main yard (Jackson City) with trip workings of Turns with smaller locos to hand local freight work.

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1st laden stock special of the season and a manifest freight wait departure from Jackson City, 348 waits to haul in 248s train once she has finished her running!

 

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463 approaches Arboles as 248 waits in the siding. No fixed signals strictly Train Order or TWC territory.

The raised switch stands at most other yards  act primarily as point indicators.

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348 pulls into Arboles on a Turn. The loco is an Accucraft DRGW C-16 re-numbered by a previous owner as a slightly larger C-19. 

 

Before switching the yard 348 will set back with her train and drop the caboose on the far (West) side of the bridge. The tank car is routed to the spur track on the left hand side of the loco, the box cars to the siding (Passing loop) on the right. The siding is a bit short for a passing siding and generally used for local freight traffic.

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348 has finished switching at Arboles and has picked up her caboose ready to depart for Utah Junction her destination with one flat car.

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