Search found 7 matches

by stickfigure
Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:53 pm
Forum: Milling Machines
Topic: Rotating the head of a Bridgeport clone
Replies: 1
Views: 4722

Rotating the head of a Bridgeport clone

Hi all. I'm "inheriting" a friend's shop, which means moving it. It includes a ~2500-lb turret mill. I need to rotate the head down for transit, but the manuals have long been lost. I haven't operated one of these in 25 years (but itching to get started again!). Quick sanity check (picture...
by stickfigure
Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:10 am
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Is the live steam hobby in decline?
Replies: 96
Views: 58858

Re: Is the live steam hobby in decline?

GenX'er here. At 44 I'm finally moving to the country and building a RR. That wasn't going to happen while I was excited about city life. I don't have much perspective on what the hobby was like before (riding LALS as a kid doesn't count), but I've been reading old books in preparation for this new ...
by stickfigure
Thu Jan 18, 2018 1:20 am
Forum: Riding Scale Railroading
Topic: Surveying techniques?
Replies: 27
Views: 21072

Re: Surveying techniques?

Thanks for all the feedback. I suppose this is mostly a 'working' railroad in the sense that it will provide avenues to the interesting far-flung parts of the property without trampling the hillsides with roads or footpaths. I'd love to try building John B's Class A Shay but 99% of the time I'm inte...
by stickfigure
Tue Jan 16, 2018 2:58 am
Forum: Riding Scale Railroading
Topic: Surveying techniques?
Replies: 27
Views: 21072

Re: Surveying techniques?

I have about 90ac of hills to work with, with an elevation differential of ~200'. Much of it will need to be "benched" into the hillsides. It should be plenty interesting but I'm a bit afraid of pushing the limits for grade and curve :-/
by stickfigure
Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:36 pm
Forum: Riding Scale Railroading
Topic: Surveying techniques?
Replies: 27
Views: 21072

Re: Surveying techniques?

Thanks all - sounds like I'll have to wander the property with a laser level and various lengths of rope. I found a few youtube videos, it looks straightforward enough. A copy of Civil Engineering for Outdoor Railroads Vol 1 is on its way. Truss Fun arrived yesterday. Are there any other must-read b...
by stickfigure
Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:17 pm
Forum: Riding Scale Railroading
Topic: Surveying techniques?
Replies: 27
Views: 21072

Surveying techniques?

Maybe this is a dumb question, but I am new to the hobby (hi all!) How do you go about deciding on the exact route, and how do you ensure that construction follows the plan? What tools do you use to ensure that grades stay even and within your planned percentage? Transits? Laser levels? Or do you ju...
by stickfigure
Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:30 am
Forum: Riding Scale Railroading
Topic: Track Circuit Occupancy Detection
Replies: 21
Views: 15918

Re: Track Circuit Occupancy Detection

What do folks use to electrically isolate blocks on hobby-sized railroads? I mean literally, what are the isolators and joiners made out of?