“Boring” along
on my tunnel project, I have begun fitting the cast pieces together. As I cast the final tunnel liner half
segments, I can see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Time to assemble the pieces and test. Previous posts on creating the parts for my
tunnels can be found at:
A number of the
castings needed to be trimmed to fit the individual tunnel installation. Most liners needed to be trimmed top to
bottom so the portals can stand vertical. The liners are on the 1.8% mountain
grade. I used a hacksaw for the primary cut,
followed by sanding with 60-grit sandpaper.
The second liner
trimming has been side-to-side to keep the portal square to the track while
allowing the liner to angle somewhat.
This was needed for tunnels on curves.
My HO scale 50 feet long liners (about 7 inches actual) are as long as I
care to go for a straight segment around my 42-inch radius. Combined with the generous tunnel width I
built into my portal and liner design (about a scale foot extra clearance
around an NMRA gauge), my test of long rolling stock through the tunnel liners was
successful.
Test of long freight
cars through Tunnel 22 leading into Oakridge.
Autoracks on 89 ft. flat cars have the greatest overhang on curves of
any of my rolling stock. Note the
offsets between cars for the pair of cars between liners in the middle.
I assembled the
liners, portals and wing walls (when needed) using Liquid Nails for
Projects. The assemblies are just placed
on the layout as there are several more steps to go. A critical test will be to have the portals
and liners in place for my regular January operating session.
Herewith a
sampling of the tunnel portal installations:
East face of
Tunnel 22 joining Westfir to Oakridge.
The M-Tech resin portals have been installed, but the wing walls await a
flattening procedure. Tunnel 22 was
built during the true Harriman era on the SP.
Oakridge served as the end of track for over a dozen years while the SP
fought a break-up effort by the US Government.
West portal of
Tunnel 21 at the entrance to McCredie Springs.
This is the first of the standard tunnel portals from the 1926
construction of the Natron Cutoff—the Cascade Line.
East portal for
Tunnel 20.
Tunnel 12.
Tunnel 9 leading
into Cruzatte (to the left).
Tunnel 3, the
summit tunnel.
This has been a
long project to create the tunnel portals and liners and assemble them. I still need to paint these pieces, but I
want to let the casting plaster cure a bit more. I also need to paint the track and ballast
before installing these tunnel ends more permanently. One more operating
session will reveal whether adjustments to tunnels or track are needed.
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