New Direction for Zalma Branch (photos)

Discussion in 'General' started by Jim James, Oct 3, 2011.

  1. WindsorSpring

    WindsorSpring Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Jim James warned: "I don't want to bore folks with these progress photos..."

    Au contraire, confrere! I agree with Friscofriend's 3 observations (see post 13 below) and will take it one step further. Vacation took me away five days leaving 2 pages of unread Frisco.org posts. The Jim James by-line and "...(photo)," made me jump right to yours! It looks great and like a lot of fun.

    George
     
  2. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Jim:

    On this forum you are allowed one mistake of this magnitude. I'm sure that we had people scouring the Internet and calling their favorite hobby shop looking for code 88 track. Maybe even a couple going to their layout and sighting down the track looking for rail height irregularities especially where they were having frequent derailments thinking they had got slipped a ringer (piece of code 88 track) when they purchased their last batch of code 83.

    Consider yourself warned!
     
  3. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    I've Bright-Boy'ed the code 100 flex track on my little layout so often since it was built in 1973 that I'm sure I now have code 99 everywhere.

    LOL

    Ken
     
  4. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Ok. You guys are killin' me. No more code 88. I'm in the process of laying track and I'll take a pic of the golden spike ceremony but it might be a day or three. I can't find my code 88 to code 83 transition rail joiners.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 7, 2011
  5. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    If you can't find them, Jim, try searching for some Code 99 to Code 88 transition rail joiners. Ken Wulfert sounds like he might have extras. :)
     
  6. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    With the price of gold these days I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't at least a $50.00 difference between a code 83 and a code 88 golden spike! You might have to go over to Rick McClellan's and bum some peanut butter. With all of the new products in the pipeline I heard he just stocked up!

    While we are on this subject, I became reminded of a prank that was pulled on me years ago when I started working at a local shoe store. They told me to go back to the shelves and make room for a new style in a place that they knew in advance there wasn't quite enough room. When I told someone I couldn't get them all to fit they said they had a "shelf stretcher" but it was at another store and to call out there and have them send it which I promptly did. Later that day a shoe box arrived on the truck that transferred shoes back and forth upon which someone had written "shelf stretcher" ith a black marker. Upon opening it I found nothing but crumpled newspaper. Does anyone know where the forum's "rail stretcher" is?

    klrwhizkid: I think we just found him!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 7, 2011
  7. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    No progress pics? What??? Somebody go give him a small smack upside the head and bring him back to reality! WE LOVE PICS! More of them. More! More! More!
     
  8. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Speaking of early tie spacing, here is a photo of my modified Atlas flex track for the siding at Greenbrier. You can compare with the track next to it in the photo.Nothing is glued down yet and the mainline will be modified as well but not quite so rough. The old photo I have of this siding backs up my technique in overall appearance. The yellow headed stick pins hold everything in place without binding or mashing the trackwork and soon I will add tiny amounts of CA to secure it. I plan to use real dirt from the area for ballast. Yardwork (lawn care) has slowedmy progress a bit.
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 5, 2011
  9. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Looks good, Jim - very nice trackwork that should look good and run well. Let me know your dirt source; I've heard of good results with dirt specifically designed for baseball diamonds.

    Best Regards,
     
  10. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    My experience with baseball diamond dirt has produced less than desirable results and here's why. I live in Kansas and although the dirt on baseball diamonds looks very fine and powdery when it is wetted to adhere it it darkens and becomes clay looking. This is because it's just that, clay. People that live in other areas may have better results but I would doubt it in Frisco country because of the sedimentary base.

    Having said that, I am having good results with dirt from Scenic Express. It is available in three sizes or grades and the fine mixed with a sprinkling of the medium around creek beds etc. seems to look good. It comes in two sizes 3/4 cup and quart. And yes people thing I have rocks in my head for paying $11.98 for a quart of dirt, but it works!

    http://www.sceneryexpress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SE0403
     
  11. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    I will experiment with real soil from Geenbrier. Should be interesting. I'll post up some pics of course.
     
  12. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Jim, I'll look forward to seeing the results with bonafide Bollinger County dirt!

    Bob, that's good to know before I start trying to scenic our HO-Scale Olathe. If I go the baseball dirt route, I'll try a small, inconspicuous area first and see how it turns out. Frankly, the price for the Scenic Express doesn't seem too bad to me. However, it is a tough proposition to explain to a non-model railroader!

    Best Regards,
     
  13. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Jim,

    I am with Bob with regard to using soil for scale ballast. The same rule that applies to manufacturing one's own ballast from limestone, et al applies here. Go the commercial route.

    Clays will form from sedimentary, igneous, or metaphomic sources, so they are present to one degree or another in most soils. Clay molecules consist of silica sheets and alumina sheets, and in general, the lattice structure has an affinity for water. The montmorillanites can hold quite a bit of water, and therfore this clay is very expansive.

    When you apply your wetting and bonding agents to your ballast, the clays will absorb the water and expand. As your ballast dries it will shrink. Even after this initial exapnsion and contraction, the clays present in your ballast will continue to absorb or release moisture to/from the atmosphere depending upon the humidity.

    Having said this, in the past I have used the clay residuum from the Springfield area for "ground cover". I tried to stabilize it a bit by adding 30% (by vol) plaster . This process helped a little, but my ground did form cracks over time.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 19, 2011
  14. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Wow! Thanks Karl!

    It's sure nice to have someone with a chemical and/or geological background on the forum that has the ability to take those big words and explain them in a manner all of us can understand. I now know why our clay soil turns to mud and cracks when it dries. I'm being very serious and appreciative when I say this.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 19, 2011
  15. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    I don't know what happened to my post. It apparently didn't go through. No biggie. I just wanted to say congratulations on a job well done. Your siding is what mainline track on the SA&AP looked like based on the photos I have. You captured the look tremendously. I like the multi-colored ties and the unevenness of them. Plus, the crooked ones add such realism. Please continue to post up pics! 5*'s for this one ole boy!
     
  16. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    "I'll look forward to seeing the results with bonafide Bollinger County dirt!"

    "My experience with baseball diamond dirt..."

    "I plan to use real dirt from the area for ballast."


    Damn horse, you've infected this thread. Die already!!!!

    [​IMG] ..... [​IMG]
     
  17. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Yikes! Guess I need to rethink my idea of using prototype ballast so to speak. I'm driving to Greenbrier this weekend and I will pick up something off the ground to connect with. I'm just sentimental like that.
     
  18. DanHyde

    DanHyde Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    Just for FYI, on the outdoor track, I use " Granny Grit" It is pulverized granite used for chicken feed suppliment. The feed store locally has it for $5.00 for 25 Lbs. Right in our budget!!
    Dan
     
  19. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    OK. I went to Greenbrier and got some soil from the old right of way. I sifted this and baked the soil in the oven to kill any bugs and whatnot.
    Then I painted each tie on the flex track either wood or dirt or earth (after removing about 30 ties or so from the 3' section). Then I glued the track down with a spot of CA applied witha toothpick every 10th tie or less.
    I then sifted the soil/ballast onto the track arranging it between the ties and such. I then sprayed it down with wet water and drizzled a mix of water and white glue onto it all. Here is the result. I have more weathering and stuff to do but thought it was time for an update. So far so good.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 5, 2011
    Joe Lovett likes this.
  20. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch ( photo )

    One more photo showing the siding and the main at Greenbrier.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 5, 2011
    Joe Lovett likes this.

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