Clearing the Right of Way For Layout Expansion 11-23-20

Good move, please post your track plan when you get that far.

Dan, That sounds like a great idea!  I am like you, not having room for a decent yard.  You will really be able to enhance your train operations and including a lower level for the grandchildren is a great plus!!  The Hilti is a great drill!  The guys at the power company and phone company used them a lot when I was still working.  I'll look forward to watching your progress!

Have you been able to secure the title from all the landowners in the right of way? Or did you decide to just do it like the old days and give em all a week to get the heck out of the way?

Looks like fun, will be watching this.

@hokie71 posted:

Good move, please post your track plan when you get that far.

Thanks, I will do that.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Dan, That sounds like a great idea!  I am like you, not having room for a decent yard.  You will really be able to enhance your train operations and including a lower level for the grandchildren is a great plus!!  The Hilti is a great drill!  The guys at the power company and phone company used them a lot when I was still working.  I'll look forward to watching your progress!

Thanks Mark.  I will post more as I slowly get more done.  LOL

@Jeff_the_Coaster_Guy posted:

Have you been able to secure the title from all the landowners in the right of way? Or did you decide to just do it like the old days and give em all a week to get the heck out of the way?

Looks like fun, will be watching this.

LOL.  I invoked Imminent Domain, paid low dollar, and mailed them a Christmas card early. 

@dan 77 posted:

LOL.  I invoked Imminent Domain, paid low dollar, and mailed them a Christmas card early.

Ah, the ol' "I'm the railroad and I do as I d*** well please" approach!

I've been told more than once by fairly high-ranking folks in State government that the Administrative structure of our country goes (in ascending order of power and influence):

8) Local Mayors / Town Council

7) County Judge / Seat

6) State House / Governor

5) US House of Reps

4) President of the US

3) US Senate

2) US Supreme Court

1) Lockheed Martin

0) Any Class I railroad

Looks like a worthy use of eminent domain!

I can attest to the durability of the Hilti TE-52, 72.....oh heck......anything with the Hilti name on the side. I was an electrical contractor in my previous career and also used these tools extensively.

Can't wait to see the new yard and Thomas loop.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Looks like a worthy use of eminent domain!

I can attest to the durability of the Hilti TE-52, 72.....oh heck......anything with the Hilti name on the side. I was an electrical contractor in my previous career and also used these tools extensively.

Can't wait to see the new yard and Thomas loop.

Bob

Thanks Bob.   My Dad was the electrical contractor and I worked for and with him.  In the 1990's the economy tanked and all of the employees were laid off.  My Dad and I estimated the jobs and were the only employees, so we did all the work on 6-8 commercial jobs over a 3-4 year period.   It was a very interesting time period.  LOL   

@hokie71 posted:

Good move, please post your track plan when you get that far.

Here is a crude track plan.  The layout area and return loop are drawn in 3/4 inch =1 foot scale.  Most of the rest are just estimates and curves are not in scale. 

@dan 77 posted:

Thanks Bob.   My Dad was the electrical contractor and I worked for and with him.  In the 1990's the economy tanked and all of the employees were laid off.  My Dad and I estimated the jobs and were the only employees, so we did all the work on 6-8 commercial jobs over a 3-4 year period.   It was a very interesting time period.  LOL   

I remember the 90's crash well. I was working for a contractor on a 60 house development, the builder lost 6 deposits overnight when the market crashed. I was laid off shortly thereafter. Took about 4 moths till he hired me back.

Bob