CONSTRUCTION PLANNING

With the completion of full-size track planning, construction planning and materials lists became the focus of activity.  Using the full-size plans drawn on newsprint on the floor, L-girder benchwork was spotted onto those track plans.  A critical part of this process was allocating space for the switch machines.  The following picture shows a section at the railroad west end of Eugene.  One L-girder was drawn with pink highlighter.  A companion L-girder will be mounted on the post, seen in the upper center of the photo.  The stringer locations were outlined in orange, while the space for Tortoise switch machines was outlined in green.  As expected, several stringer locations were adjusted to clear space for the switch machines. 

Eugene RR-West end plan with switch machine locations and benchwork outlines.

The full-size plans were used to estimate track and switch purchases. The track plans were measured for an estimate of track requirements.  The current estimate calls for about 900 feet of Code 83 track and almost 1000 feet of Code 70 track.  The current plan calls for 180 switches, with about half of those planned to be Micro Engineering #6 Code 70 and another ten ME #6 Code 83.  The remainder of the switches will be #8, built using Fast Tracks jigs.

The full-size plans helped illustrate a good opportunity to use manual switch throws rather than Tortoise powered machines.  Blue Point switch mechanisms will be used to provide a switch for switch frog polarity (hot frogs) and an additional contact set that might be used for input to the signal system in several locations.  About 70 switches in Eugene, Springfield and Oakridge will get manual throws.  The rest of the layout requires powered (Tortoise) switch machines as it is in CTC territory.  The reverse loop staging at both ends will get powered switches to facilitate easier control of those switch ladders. 

Another construction preparation task sighted a height reference line around the basement.  A laser level was used to spot the reference line.  This line will be at a nominal 36 inches above the floor at the central post.  This line should remain visible below the benchwork, which should be important in the more open structure area of the mountain climb.  A secondary reference line will be drawn 12” above the prime reference to achieve the 48 inch base level for the layout.  

Laser level setup with prime reference height of 36 inches at the basement center post.  Vertical alignment of the tripod shaft was set with a level.  Tripod base plate also was set with a level.