Geoff, The garden layout at the Medford park isn't really set out well for live steam, anyway. It doesn't have the equivalent of steam-up bays, it isn't built at a consistent and/or reachable interior lay-out height and there is a great deal of local noise (sometimes including noise from adjacent 1:1 scale locos) that would make it difficult to manage our steamers even if our oil, spit, clinkers and alcohol fires don't annoy the sparky folks. But there are several areas in and adjacent to the park (including a nice shady lawn next to the picnic and parking areas) which might be tolerable for one or more portable tracks. On the other hand, this is a public venue and many of us have had nasty experiences with little kids trying to touch hot locos, unconscious looky-lou's blocking our path while we were carrying perking pot boilers and folks complaining about getting steam oil in their sodas (or beers or burgers, etc.) because they didn't have the sense to stand back from the trac k. And then there are the annoying questions and remarks (oh, is it hot?).... If we can acquire a portable track or two, we will undoubtably enjoy ourselves a great deal more in more private places. I am aware of several other possible venues that we can explore if we have a portable track. (This is where being a local native is a definite advantage.) None are indoors, so weather is an issue. On the other hand, we are pretty safe if we look at July, August or early September, in Southern Oregon. I also want to thank everyone for the great information you have provided in this discussion on raised track (portable and otherwise.) As many of you know, I have been involved in building three raised tracks including Cmdr. O'Connor's exceptional layout and the PCLS portable track. Those two have marine plywood tops with roofing wrapped tops which I painted with a heavy exterior primer and both latex and high quality acrylic paints. The edges of both tracks were rounded to allow runoff. And the Commander's home layout also sports drains in low lying or particularly wide areas (such as the big steam-up bays.) I think the major factor in determining the style and type of materials for a raised track is the available skills of the builder. I happen to be married to a guy who is a talented home builder, as well as a highly qualified welder, so the possibilities are pretty broad. But, my own building skills and experience would probably cause me to choose a raised bed garden setting more like Mark Horowitz's backyard layout in Denver. I do concrete, simple carpentry and gardening best. I would like to have a portable track one of these days, too, and the criteria there depends on one's means of transport, as much as one's construction and engineering abilities or one's ability to hire someone else's skills.
Geoff Spenceley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Well, there are a lot of good ideas coming in and good >information, too. Especially since most of you have had experience >with them. Of course I have seen your track a number of times Bob, >and seen you bringing it in and man handling it, not to mention the >manhandling your vehicle from the Shangri-la of the of the southern >mountains! I don't have much to offer in ideas except that we should try and make it as light as possible, after all, our little locos can't weigh much. There are newer materials coming on the market and I also like Gary's honeycomb idea. Also, would PVC or ABS legs of sufficient dia be be suitable? They could be made easily adjustable for height I would think. As for radii suggested by Larry, I don't think they should necessarily have to accommodate the Aster and Accucraft main line passenger and freight engines, it might make the portable track too cumbersome. I have NG locos I could run and be happy. Pity about the Medford RR park- although I can understand the sparkie groups desire to keep the track clean. There could be separate days for running, but that would cause conflicts of usage I am sure. John, where is that cabouse-- looks like it might be in Florida-- Walt probably owns it! Anyway. it's delightful. Thanks again \ GHeoff. > >Larry and all, > >The Medford Railroad Park is very much alive and active, April through >October. >The Garden Scale Layout was quickly repaired and improved after suffering >vandalism a year and a half ago. However It is not really suitable for >running live steam (grades, sharp curves, and above all the steam oil mess >would not be tolerated by the sparky engineers who make up 98% of the club. >I am the only active club member at the moment interested in running live >steam. There are others in the general area who would definitely jump in to >help with a track and fire up live steam equipment once we get the ball >rolling. > >The best location for a portable SSLive Steam track next to the present >garden railway was just taken over by the full-scale guys. They built a >full-sized track on which they plan to run speeders this 2006 season. But >I'm sure we could "stake out" another area somewhere in the park. I'll >eye-ball scan the remaining real estate next time I'm over at the park. > >My home real estate would allow for square elevated track perhaps 50 ft. on >a side. I'd have to erect a chain-link fence, before I would put up any >right-of-way in the front yard. That would allow well over 100 ft. straight >runs north and south on each side of the house. Hmmm. > >John P. >_______________________________________________ >SSLiveSteam mailing list >Send messages: [email protected] >Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam >Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html _______________________________________________ SSLiveSteam mailing list Send messages: [email protected] Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html Vickie-Marie Ward -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://postfix.45mm.com/pipermail/sslivesteam/attachments/20060120/cd276439/attachment.html _______________________________________________ SSLiveSteam mailing list Send messages: [email protected] Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html
