Up the Hill -- Track and Wiring

After the spline roadbed had been installed and secured, I moved to installing track on the mainline from Wicopee (top of the helix) to just short of the summit of the climb. I use Micro Engineering code 83 flextrack and Fasttracks #6 turnouts for my turnouts. I had built the turnouts previously which sped up the track laying process considerably. Additionally I had "pre-wired" the entire upper deck, making installation of feeders and supplying power to the track a faster process. 

Above: Trackwork installed at the turnback at the top of the helix. Two tunnels in this scene will hide the tighter radius. Additional fascia work to come soon to give this scene at the entrance a much more presentable look.

Above: The East (North) end of the siding at Fields. Still need to install the track on the siding, but this spot promises to be quite a busy place for meets during operation as 1 of 2 passing sidings on the line. 

Above: The wiring at the West (South) end of the Fields Siding. With turnout control, signalling wires, and LED layout lighting for the below deck to come it is important to keep wiring neat and organized with zip ties. The red bus wires are for the detection zones. 

Above: Looking downhill from Noisy Creek (future site). With scenery terrain and fascia I will be much more comfortable running trains on the narrow splines. Right now it feels quite precarious. 

Above: Passing siding at Fields installed. 

Above: Looking downhill from Tunnel 4. Trees and rocks will dominate this portion of the run.

Above: Trackwork complete on visible portion of the mainline into Klamath Falls. This upper staging yard and summit sit almost 7 ft. off the basement floor and this shot offers a good perspective of the climb that is traversed from the lower level (seen in bottom of photo).

Following MEUKF 

Having completed its work in Oakridge, daily mixed freight MEUKF waits on the Oakridge passing siding for clearance to proceed up the hill on its way to Klamath Falls. This daily freight services Oakridge dropping off empties for Pope & Talbot Mill and picking up loads for destinations south. It's sister train MKFEU does the same in the opposite direction. 

After receiving clearance the locomotives flex their muscles climbing through Wicopee at the top of the helix. This train was short enough to not require helpers today, however most freights out of Oakridge will.

MEUKF is in the hole again at Fields waiting for a northbound priority freight from Roseville. On the grade, downhill trains are given priority. (Our train will remain in the hole until trackwork to Klamath Falls is completed!)

Up the Hill (Benchwork and Subroadbed)

This holiday season marks the fifth year of construction for the Cascade Subdivision railroad, and a project started many years ago has eluded my attention since: completing the track work to Klamath Falls. I originally constructed the spline roadbed in year two, however neglected completing the project for whatever reason. As Oakridge and the rest of the lower deck await scenery, it is time to bring the rest of the line up to speed.

The rebuilt benchwork at the railroad entrance to support the duck-under and lift-out sections. This in-your-face scene promises to be a great welcome to mountain railroading. 

The first mini project in this larger construction effort was rebuilding some of the benchwork at the top of the helix and the duck-under. I am really excited about this scene as it is the first one sees when entering the railroad, but had just installed "temporary" benchwork that I knew I had to modify when I was serious about construction. This rebuild can be seen in the above photo where I moved the led most joist on the middle level to the left ~5-6" to meet up with the 2x2" leg that supports the lower level liftout and the duck-under. The cross brace ties this new construction into the rest of the benchwork. 

Above: First two layers of spline roadbed clamped in place at the entrance to the railroad.

Next, I went straight into spline construction. As I have documented before, I laminate my splines before installing permanent risers so began by fitting the first two layers of spline before adding subsequently throughout the day, building up to 7 layers. Spline roadbed construction might be one of my favorite parts of building this railroad!

Above: Risers installed at Tunnel 4 just on the other side of the peninsula from Summit

As the glue for the spline dried I turned my attention to completing the installation of the spline roadbed up the rest of the hill. The spline itself was already built, but I had not got to installing the risers or securing the roadbed. I use 1x3 for the risers themselves, and work my way down the hill measuring and installing 4-5 risers at a time. 

Roadbed over Noisy Creek with two covered hoppers in place over the future trestle.

The spline is then attached to the risers with screws. This process solidifies the benchwork significantly. After everything is attached, the top of the spline is prepped for track by running a plane and sanding block over the top to smooth out any imperfections. Wiring and track is soon to follow!

Spline at the entrance to the railroad. This was the last stretch of roadbed to be installed on the railroad completing the major structural elements of the benchwork. 

Spline roadbed leaving Fields heading towards Tunnels 12, 10, and 9. Tunnels 9 and 10 bookend Noisy Creek Trestle. Fields is the last bit of respite (1.25% grade) before the steep push to Summit.