Wow, that was a really long spell of no trains. I last worked on the layout back in June. Six months without entering the train room! No man should be deprived of trains that long. š
At least I have a somewhat decent excuse. This summer and early fall was devoted to an outside project – new horse fences. I drove a couple hundred 4×6 posts, tore off a ton of old fence rails and wire, and put up even more new. I didn’t get the replacement rails portion of the project finished. Ran out of weather at about 2/3 way round. Next spring I’ll get back after it. Here’s a pic showing about 1/3 of the front pasture and where I called it quits on the rails for the year. Even though the weather was really nice at that time, I was doubtful I could get another full lift of lumber, 768 bd ft, put up before snow. Last thing I wanted was to plow snow around half a lift of lumber sitting in the barn drive.
The old fence rails were plain pine and had been in place since 2005. Most were at least somewhat rotten with others totally rotted out. The tearoffs made three EZ Dumper loads for my buddy to use in his wood burner. They were replaced with GC treated lumber attached with stainless steel screws. Even replaced the standoff with stainless wire. Hoping this new fence never needs replacing.
The saga continues… since stopping work on the fence I have moved indoors to another project that needed completion – my workshop. Long time readers will remember posts from years ago about me roughing in a workshop in the basement. Now, I am finishing what I started back then. Building a wood storage rack, a cutoffs bin, shelving, adding a vacuum system, and much more. Once the workshop is tight and right then it will be time for trains once again. Hooray!
Thank you to everyone who commented or sent me a note inquiring why I was absent from the train room. It is touching to know people care. Worry not, I am fine. Just been otherwise engaged.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
Nice to see that you will be working on some different “rails.”
Knew you were still around because of your posting on the Railpro forums. Glad you are back and will eventually getting to the layout. We just did in September and October, over a mile of new fences for the horses. The son In law and crew but I did supervise! Tom
June, eh? Where does the time go? That’s quite a spread you have there and I’m sure the maintenance is never really finished, eh? Funny, I always envied your work space the way it was, so you’ll be doubly productive in the improved space…right? heh heh.
Thanks for the update Alan! Looking forward to see progress over the winter.
Please to hear that everything is good. Nice looking fence.
I was just thinking about you last night while on another web site. I remembered I thought that you were going to be occupied on other things for the summer. Glad to know things are going well and you are getting back to the hobby.
At least someone was productive. You are a top-tier finisher.
Bit late with this, but good to see you back. We need to see more of your most excellent model railroad work.
I’m looking forward to your next post
Alan..What happened? You were moving along on your fantastic
railroad and it came to a stop.
I do hope your not having 2nd thoughts as you have been a great motivator for us pretend modelers
I hope everything is well with you and your loved ones and really am looking forward to more of your railroad and some of your meticulous building.
Hope it happens.
Cheers,
Gary
Gary,
Thank you for your concern. There is nothing wrong nor am I having 2nd thoughts about the layout. A long laundry list of other things requiring attention had built up over time so I have been working on getting them done. I’ll be back working on the layout soon.