S.A.& A.P. Maintenance of Way builds

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Truly Contest Quality Work Manny!

I was not aware that there were 23 trestles on the SAF&N?

Has the line been documented in photos?

Get some sleep Manny, you look tired!

Joe Toth

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Yes, quite documented, and photographed.

Location of Trestles and Bridges on the S.A. F & N Ry.:

MP 1.0
MP 1.3
MP 3.3
MP 4.1
MP 4.6
MP 5.6
MP 6.2
MP 6.3
MP 6.9
MP 7.3
MP 8.2
MP 8.9
MP 10.7
MP 11.8
MP 12.7
MP 13.0
MP 14.4
MP 16.0
MP 17.3
MP 18.5
MP 19.5
MP 19.9
MP 20.7

The railroad ran from MP 0.0 (Fredericksburg) to MP 23.8 at Fredericksburg Jct, on the Kerrville Branch of the S.A. & A.P. Twenty three trestles, twenty three miles of track. Quite an engineering feet.

Shortest bridge was 25.5 feet in length. The longest was at MP 8.2, which spanned 742.7 feet and contained over 372,000 feet of board lumber. Total bridge construction cost on the line was $35,680.83. The railroad suffered some bridge damages throughout its 29 year run. The most memorable was the MP 8.9 fire in 1938 which was arson and the 1936 flood that washed away over 1000 feet of the deck and rail 200 yards down river at MP 19.5.

What's interesting is that the S.A.F & N suffered NO, 0% train wrecks due to trestle failure, unlike the S.A. & A.P. who suffered them continually. It appears that the former learned the lessons of the latter and made sure that their trestles were built adequately. The S.A. & A.P. was known for its "short-cuts" and the 1890 bridge wreck lead the railroad into its first receivership, which it never really fully recovered from.

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

The driver section of the car is finished. Only the hoist winch remains. Here are the pics (with a twist)...

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Thank you Jim for the compliment. I built the hoist last night. I'm going to paint it shortly. I have some modifications to do to it which are simple steel reinforcement plates. The casting, which is some 20+ years old, needs a little help.

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

The hoist is almost finished. I just have to go to HobbyLobby and get some Dark Silver Rayon Thread. Then I can rig it. After that, a few accessories on the deck and the pile driver is finished. Then onto the PD's idler flat.

This hoist was difficult to put together. None of the parts really fit and you had to finagle them to get things to line up. I still have to add the blow off valve and steam pipe and the in-line steam connection pipe that runs to the locomotive.

Here is what she looks like right now. The rake will disappear as when the hoist is on, the operators deck will be level. I will be fixing that as this is not going to be a motion piece, but permanently locked down in the transporting position. S.A. & A.P. PD No. 2 will be a working hoist on a scene where new track is being laid over a creek and the pile driver will be driving home the bents supports. That project will come a little later.

Manny

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Manny, you do such good work, I hate to ask, but I will. Is the pile driver deck fully seated? It appears that the bearing blocks (?) won't be riding on the car-mounted rollers and the pile driver deck is slanted.

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Hey OG,

I'm not offended. I don't know why I have a rake like that. The kit is built according to the instructions. I just double and triple checked. I've got a call into Rio Grande Models right now to find out what is what. Stay tuned for more details.

Thanks,

Manny

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

I found out what the problem is. Rio Grande Models instructions are not complete. On the prototype, the rollers attached to the flat car are on built up on boards so that they are level with the rollers that sit on top of the ring gear in the center. RGM instructions DO NOT say to do this, or show it in pictures. Hence the flat car rollers are lower than they are supposed to be, hence the rake. I am going to take a look at it and see if I can correct it. If not, then it will just have to be how it is.

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Not really Jim. The flat car deck rollers are CA'd on. I'm not so sure I want to try and pull them up. I can possibly build the two roller areas up a little to help even it out. Just frustrating when a kit manufacturer doesn't get their instructions correct. There is nothing that shows the flat car rollers elevated unless you look at a prototype picture of the operators deck off, which I just found. After looking at it, I'm afraid I'm going to have to level her out and glue her in that position. I'll see if I can find some wood the right size to build up the OP deck.

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Fixed. She sits level now. Pics up when the paint dries...

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Big Kudos and thanks to "Old Guy" and to Jim for moral support. OG, if you didn't have the courage to point that out to me, I wouldn't of corrected it. I had just accepted the rake to be "normal". Just goes to show you, being open to listening to others can pay big dividends, and Old Guy just cashed in $1,000,000.00 for me! Thank you OG. You da Man!

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

No problem at all. So many give here, and I don't have a lot to share - yet.

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

To fix it, I built up the underside operator's decking rolling plates. Now she sits level. A slight tilt right which will be fixed when glued. Thanks again OG!

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Taking a break. Gotta go get some groceries and the rayon thread for the cable. Be back in a few...

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

Looks good. That would be my suggestion for a fix. Kinda like a "wearing surface" that can be replaced..

 

Re: Next project: S.A. & A.P. Pile Driver No. 1 - MOW

I weathered the underside, so it blends in now. You can't even tell that the pieces were added. The operators deck is now level and looks much better. No gaps underneath.

I added the two safety stakes up front. I decided to paint them red, and mark them "DANGER". Can't have too much safety. This is my little personal touch.

I realized that I messed up on the hoist and in trying to remove a key part, I broke it, so I have a replacement coming. Once the steam lines are in place, I will position the forward throttle. That will be the end of the Pile Driver. I am considering making an overhead cover, but the jury is still out on that.

Here's what she looks like now.





I will begin work on the idler flat while waiting for the detail parts to come in to complete the rig.

Thanks for looking. Constructive criticism is more than welcomed. It's appreciated.