2006-08-14 The deck for the Narrow Gauge Yard has been cut. A 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood has been cut to the shape of the Narrow Gauge Yard. After the edges are framed and legs have been added, it will be installed above the newest benchwork and be connected to the existing narrow gauge track. |
2006-09-07 The deck for the Narrow Gauge Yard is ready to be installed. The edges have been framed, the hole located and cut out for the turntable, and 1/4" cork underlayment has been glued to the deck for soundproofing and to provide material for the track spikes to go into. As soon as the feeders are installed on the Mainline track that will be under the yard area and the reversing section installed alongside the mainline, then the yard can be lifted into place. |
2006-09-29 The deck for the Narrow Gauge Yard is now installed, with Wayne's invaluable assistance. A lot of track needs to be laid out on the cork roadbed on the deck and installed, but that job can now begin. A short length of subroadbed now connects the narrow gauge track along the West wall to the Yard. At the far left the white half-box is the box for the Pana Switching Area control panel, shown in the Mainline page. |
Tracklaying has begun on the narrow gauge yard. As with the Ridgely Springfield Yard, the locations of the tracks have been roughed in using grease pencil on the cork subroadbed, then tracks installed according to information in the 3rdPlanIt design for the trackwork. Laying the tracks associated with the turntable will be deferred until the turntable has been constructed and installed, as was done in the main yard. |
2006-10-15 Track laying in the Narrow Gauge Yard is nearly complete. The tracks for the roundhouse stalls and the lead up to the turntable will be installed when the turntable and roundhouse are ready for track fitting. Both the roundhouse and turntable are kits, so it may be a while before they are ready to install. |
The construction of the control panel for the Narrow Gauge Yard is underway. LEDs have been inserted into holes drilled into the panel (#8 AWG holes are good for 5mm LEDs!) and the installation of the switches for the Tortoise switch machines is progressing. Inside the box for the control panel there are a couple of ranks of barrier strips to which wires from the yard will be terminated and connections made to the switches and LEDs on the face of the panel. |
2007-01-13 The turntable has been built and installed. The turntable still needs a bit of touchup painting and weathering, and a layer of cinders in the bottom of the pit, but it is wired up and operational -- all it needs is a few tracks built to it. The partially completed round house was placed about where it will be installed once it is done. Once the locations of the tracks has been determined and marked the last bit of trackwork can be installed in the yard. |
2007-01-13 The control panel for the narrow gauge yard has been completed and lettered. The turntable controls have been wired to the turntable and tested. Dry transfer lettering has been applied to the panel to identify the tracks. |
2008-01-13 The Narrow Gauge Yard facilities are starting to take shape! The new coaling tower has been constructed, painted, and installed. Installation of this structure required the addition of another track to what started out as a MOW track. Another track has been designated for MOW equipment, and these two tracks will serve all of the yard facilities. |
2008-01-13 The Narrow Gauge engines will be supplied with sand from this new sand tower and drying facility. The sand is actually real sand applied in a thin layer over foam plastic shaped with the contour shown. This facility is located near the coaling tower shown in the previous photo. |
2008-01-13 The roundhouse has been built, painted, and installed. Its three stalls will protect the Inland Lumber and Mining Company's steam engines from the weather and provide a place for routine maintenance. The fourth track, next to the building, will be used for storage and service of the IL&M's small diesel fleet. |
2008-01-22 A water tank has now joined the Narrow Gauge Yard engine facilities. Now it looks like we can get some of the ballast down in the yard! |
2008-01-24 This is the Narrow Gauge Yard with the engine service facilities in place. The placement of the Yard Office and the Signalling Department storage shed are temporary until I decide where I like them best. Not in place yet is the passenger station and shelter which will be located near the Coach Yard tracks. |
2008-05-11 Part of the switchback is now in place. This track is part of the switchback and will also give access to a mine to be installed on the hill over the hidden mainline track. |
2019-05-26 Starting to work on the scenery The gap between the backdrop and the edge of the subroadbed has been filled in with pink insulation foam and work has started on the portion of the scenery above the entrance to the tunnel under the yard. The plan is to add shaped pieces of the pink foam to shape the ground contour alongside of the backdrop, then cover the pink foam with Hydrocal in a thin hard layer. Next, cover the Hydrocal (which is hard to color) with patching plaster and paint the plaster in soil and dirt colors. The scenicing materials (grass, stone, etc.) will then be applied over the plaster. |
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