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Illinois Live Steamers!
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Illinois Live Steamers!
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7.5" Orchard Yard Project (Written and Photos by Carl Baskin) Face it, there can never be enough space to park trains on a miniature railroad… not only during point-to-point (P2P) operating sessions or when members need to take a break from running trains, but also when visitors come with their train equipment as well. As the membership and member equipment roster continued to grow, it became evident that there was a need for even more yard storage space on the ILS 7.5” gauge railroad. Location: When you talk about buying a home, you hear that the most important aspect is location…location… location. The same is true for a railroad yard. Several parameters were established to determine the ultimate location for a new 7.5” gauge yard at the ILS. The intended yard site had to satisfy the following criteria: - must be reasonably level (or can be made level), while still allowing for drainage - must be easily accessible by rail from the loading/unloading facilities - must be large enough to accommodate several trains (including long trains) - must be designed to minimize passing pedestrian traffic, and -
must have provisions for electric service for battery powered locomotives
in need of re-charging. Site Selection: A site near the 7.5” Orchard Station was selected. While sacrificing “valuable” picnic area, it was determined that the new yard with run-around track to the West side of the existing station would provide the best location satisfying all of the project criteria. (Click pictures for larger viewing) Work Begins: The first step was to move several “yards” of earth. Not only did enough soil have to be excavated for ties and rail, even more earth had to be removed for the sub-ballast that provides drainage. Therefore, top-of-grade needed to be about 6” below the intended railhead height. Excavated earth at the South end of the yard (near the station) was loosened and pushed to the North to raise the grade. Leftover earth was used to build a berm on the West side of the yard to prevent vehicular traffic from parking in the railroad yard. After excavation, a stack of donated creosoted lumber was used to build a retaining wall for the earth berm. Eventually, this will be planted with ground cover plants to eliminate grass cutting and prevent pedestrians from walking through the yard.
Sub-ballast: Ground cover cloth was rolled out over the yard sub-grade. This was done NOT so much to prevent weed growth, but rather, to keep the sub-ballast from disappearing into the earth. After the sub-ballast was distributed over the entire area, a compactor was used to settle the rock and prepare the area for track installation.
Yard Ladder: The 2001-2002 Winter months were used to fabricate (33) 10-foot track panels and 5 turnouts needed for the yard ladder. Knowing in advance that the yard ladder would be about 96 feet in length, it was determined that the first turnout to be installed would be the switch in the station for the run-around track. Working backwards determined the final tie-in point for the turnout in the existing station siding.
Yard Tracks: With the yard ladder installation completed and ballasted, installation of the 4 stub tracks could begin. The shortest track will provide about 70 feet of clear storage while the longest track will provide about 90 feet of clear storage. Track center-to-center distance was set at approximately 45 inches.
Runaround: With the installation of the (4) yard tracks completed, final leveling and lining was done. Plastic ties were inserted under the turnout in the station. These spreaders will support the deck planking crossing allowing passengers to gain access to the station. Work on the station runaround track continued to the South to reconnect the track with the Station siding. A turnout was installed that will eventually be used for a stub end siding. This provides an “escape” for a yard engine during operating sessions.
Retaining Wall Blocks: We unloaded hundreds of blocks to be used for the retaining walls. That was lots of fun. Jason and his crew started putting up the retaining wall by the new sidings.
Orchard Park Station: The patio stones were installed along with the wood walkway and fencing to keep visitors from wandering on the track.
What’s Ahead: All of the yard tracks will be “set” in place with ballast. The ILS uses driveway roadmix for ballast. Once this ballast has been rained on, the ballast settles and “locks” the track in place. A ballast shoulder equal to one shovel width (square end shovel) is used to provide enough material to prevent track side-to-side movement. The rest of the area between the tracks will be filled with coarse rock to maintain drainage. After that, end-of-track bumping posts will be installed. Two of which will have receptacles mounted and wired for battery charger use. So much for a little yard project. |
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