Greendale Control Point Status

 Building crossovers with the Fast Tracks jigs requires a certain order of operations.

I build each component turnout of the crossover, using the outside (non-frog connected) stock rail and points first. Then I will install the frog, of which, one leg of is the stock rail for the other turnout in the pair.

Once you have that, you can square the turnouts up, notch the stock rail (if you didn't measure it correctly first OR if you haven't notched it already) for the points and then finish your soldering job.

During the build, I realized that I had to build the LH crossover with a RH turnout immediately following the crossover to get to the Amtrak station. My first set of partials didn't have a long enough stock rail.

Oops.

I had to recut points and frogs and restart the build.

Building complex trackwork like this will make you wish you could buy ME rail in lengths longer than 3'; I could use 6' or longer pieces without issue.

Progressing Slowly

 More track is down and I've been spending my time lately grooming the DCC wiring to make it sustainable versus hacked together.

I have pulled a couple of new bus runs to support the track that's down.

Currently working on the crossovers in Greendale and then will start putting the station tracks in.

If we get some sunny weather in the next couple of weeks, I'm going to get subroad down to get me into the Acca area, but with February, you have no idea what you get. Today started rainy, then went sleet, then snow and it all had melted away by 1 or so.

I have been taking pictures so there will be fodder for more posts in the nearish future.

Greendale Ladder Build

 A couple of shots from the ladder build.

Shot of completed ladder.

More pictures are posted in the gallery at richmond-terminal.org

Nor gloom of night

 Had a power outage in August and couldn't let that stop me from making progress.

Interesting effect, don't you think?

Custom Turnout Build Finish

 The turnouts that were custom built and mentioned in a previous post [insert] have been installed.

Ties were placed singly with plain old Elmer's white glue, sanded and then the turnout was spiked down.

I ended up having to redo the ties for the turnout closest to the aisle when I mis-installed ties and cut them too short. A round of "WWKD" made me pull the ties and fix it.

Working alongside a Christmas gift - new light to go along with my new driver/drill set.

The back track is a stick of Code 70 ME flex, but as the front spur is too short for a full piece, I refrained from cutting a stick of 70 down for it as I'm into my last bundle of it. Got to keep my eyes peeled for a sale in the future.

Backdrops

 Some shots to better illustration this item being checked off the list.

More photos in the gallery at richmond-terminal.org

Roadbed to Staples Mill Station Control Point

 Old hard drives are a great thing to hold down cork that comes off a roll.