Boston Mountains Sub-Division

The intensive effort shows, looks great Joe.

 

Thank you guys for the compliments!!!

This has been a fun project to work on. I got all of the vertical beams cut and started assembling the north lift tower. Still have to add more cross braces to the tower but have the basic structure done. Spent most of the day in the planning stage and searching for more photos.

Joe

 

Does anyone know where I can find two pairs of large winch pulleys for the top of the lift towers?
Or if you have any suggestions on how to make a couple your help will be greatly appreciated. They need to be about 0.60 to 0.70 inches in diameter or close to it.

Joe

 

Thank you Tom, I will check them out.

Finished the structure of the north lift tower, ready for the counterbalance and winch pulley. Altogether there are 27 pieces in the tower. Will start on the south lift tower after dinner.

Joe

 

Joe Plastruct has ladders with cages Joe. But I am not sure on sizes they offer. I have got them before from the though. The bridges look great. Nice work.

 

Joe this is bigger than you need but you could do the same process. this is how I make pulleys from washers stacked up:

 

Looks promising Steve, will stop by Lowe's tomorrow morning and see what they have. If they don't have what I want a auto parts store may have it.

Thank you for posting!!!

Joe

 

Steve, I bought some nylon washers and a couple of spacers like you suggested for the main span pulleys. Looks like they will be perfect.

I made a mistake on the north tower, it's too narrow, the old one is one inch wide and should be two inches wide. Must have had a senior moment in my old age, my 64th birthday is tomorrow. LOL
So I'm working on a new north tower right now and will assemble the lift pulleys also.

Joe

 

My friend, Stephen, on Trainboard.com is making the main span pulley end plates for me using 3D printing. They should be done in the morning and he will post a photo shortly after. The drawing he posted looks fantastic and matches the bridge photo perfect. Looking forward to seeing them, is it morning yet. LOL

I'm about halfway through with the new north lift tower, still have the diagonal braces to do.

Joe

 

Here's the drawing and photo of the winch pulley end plates that Stephane 3D printed for me. The printed plates will not have the grooves on the edges and they are 0.70 inches in diameter. He is going to clean them up after work. They look great, there is no way I could get the details right doing them by hand. I went to Lowe's again and bought some nylon spacers for the center hubs. Now back to work on the north lift tower.

Joe

 

Stephane did a fantastic job on the winch end plates, he is also looking at some photos and dimensions I posted of the columns on the Ft Smith Depot to see if it would be possible to 3D print them.

Joe

 

Those are awesome Joe. How big are they?

 

Steve, the winch end plates are 0.70 inches in diameter and 0.10 inches wide.
Stephane did great, they look very close to the photo of the bridge. Hope he can print the columns for the Depot. Looking forward for the mail soon.

Joe

 

The new wider north lift tower is done. There are 32 pieces altogether and measures 1.5 long x 2.1 wide x 5.5 inches tall. Next is the south tower which will be the same dimensions.

Edit: The north tower is ready for the winch pulley, safety ladder and a few other details.

Joe

 

Just found the spacers needed for the center hub for the lift winches in my collection of odds and ends box. They are 0.50 diameter and 1.00 inches long, the total length of the winch will be 1.20 inches. Now all I have to do is order a couple of safety ladders for the lift towers.

Joe

 

This evening I finished the main structure of the south tower, will install the diagonal braces in the morning. After that will place the entire bridge on the layout and take a photo. Really looking forward to seeing it all together. Will start making piers and getting set up for a more permanent installation after the north tower is done except for details.

Joe