Hello,
It has been a while since I have posted any progress photos of the Joliet and Western Railway. Was very busy this summer. But something this massive takes time and resources.
The Progress Photos are attached as a PDF. Each photo has a caption of location and description.
As you can see some good progress has been made especially on the High-line bench work and fitting track. It took a while figuring out the High-Line grades (2.2% overall average, yes I cheated over the prototypical max 1.5%).
To summarize the layout: Two mainlines each will be about 300 feet each (currently 250 feet each), divided into two operating divisions (Eastern and Western, maybe a City Division or more), The minimum curvature and turnouts on the mainlines are 0-48. Although there are a few 0-36 turnouts for industrial sidings off the Mainlines for a local to operate. Power and wiring will be for both Conventional and Command operation. Also All areas have to be reachable, hence the perimeter and main aisles.
But I ran out of track and need to order another box of 50, 10" straights, two loops worth of 0-48 and 0-60 curves, plus some short curve and straight sections.
In order to loop the High-line from the bridges back down to grade at the crossing complex, I will have to add another 50-feet to each Mainline and loop it around the fireplace foundations. I had planned to use that space for my "L". I will figure a away to fit it in. For a Chicago L with the MTH CTA cars you can cheat on grade and curvature (Think 0-36).
The yard is mostly manual but reachable 0-36 switches with room to make and break trains with a receiving/departure track and yard leads. Good enough for a yard engine, But I will have to splice in some 0-48s to get the larger road engines to the turntable.
I modified the main access aisle by increasing its length to provide better access to the turntable on one side and the 22.5 Degree crossing complex (under the bridges) on the other side of the now expanded aisle (20" minimum).
I still have to install the double track (Lionel) arch bridges (4 sets) for the Low-Line and permanently set the High-Line Double Track Truss Bridge at the Canyon.
A few notes:
- The track is snug not tight fitted at this time in order to install the 24 sheets of foam board stored in the garage and install all the electric leads (50-70?) from the tracks thru the platform to the main buses. Ultimately all tack will be tight fit and screwed.
- Have some minor benchwork fill-ins to install and create two pop-out hatches for landscaping access.
-Need to install the perimeter wall aisle stage runners elevated about 8-10" to reach over the High-line.
- Still have to install the remainder of the High-Line that will loop into the city, install the city mainlines (hence the next $500.00 track order). The curve tracks at the 4-90 degree crossovers heading back to the bridges will fit.
- Clean the track!!!
- Install a few thousand feet of wiring for track power, switch constant power, grounds, building, street, track side signals and accessory power. Most of which are in boxes seen in the far background of the photos.
- Build control panels. Install fascias and under platform shelves and lighting.
- Post a revised RR-Track Drawing.
That should get me through the winter with some head scratching.
Thanks for taking the time to look at the Joliet & Western Railway Progress Photos.
Comments are welcomed
Tim
President & CEO,
Joliet & Western Railway,
Joliet, Illinois.
Thanks for posting all the pictures. It's fascinating to see a mega-layout like this take shape. (Is this taking up the entire basement??)
