FINISHING THE NEW LOOP APRIL 25 to 27, 2009

EASIER CURVES - The new route has gentler curves, and here you see the new route crossing over the site of the old route.

CHECK THIS OUT - Piney the mule is checking the track.  He showed me where I needed to put some more ballast.

HOMEMADE JOINT BARS - I ran out of joint bars (left) so I had to make my own out of aluminum..  I only had 6 more to go.  they work just fine.

LAST JOINT BAR - I'm installing the final joint bar (for a while at least).  There's still a lot of tie adjustment and track alignment work to do.

ENTRANCE RAMP - I secured the rails to 2x4's which are attached to the shed floor at the far end and sitting on ballast (on a hidden cross tie) at the near end.

WOODEN RAILS - The trains' wheels run on temporary rails made of strips of half-inch plywood.  They work fine!

OUT FOR A SPIN - the Galloping Goose peeks her nose out of the shed.  Even though the track isn't quite ready, maybe we can take her for a spin.

DERAILMENT - Yes, the track needs adjustment.  Not only is the curvature tight here, the ties aren't fitting snug in the ballast yet and the track is wobbly.

GOOSE-EYE VIEW - Here's what the new track looks like from the driver's seat.  The Goose made it around OK, but there's several wobbly spots in the track.

POSING FOR A PICTURE - The Galloping Goose poses on the new trackage in front of its new shed.

CAREFUL NOW - I'm taking it slow, with a hand on the brakes.  So far so good!

LOOK MOM, NO HANDS - and I'm having a blast!