Erskine Tramway

[Erskine Tramway]

There's probably 15 acres on the flat up there, and then some more out in front of the house.

[Erskine Tramway]

The weather is holding, so I went out a couple days ago and finished putting in ties out to the 'pit'. I hauled up some ballast and did a rough lift to get a starting point for the crossing elevation. I dragged the crossing about half-way into the pit to start getting it lined up. Then, it started to rain, so I loaded up my tools, took a picture and headed back to the shop.

Here's the result. The crossing does line up with the track, I think the fact that it's leaning down into the pit makes it look crooked

Track built to the crossing pit.

Enjoy, Mike

[tomc]

Darn weather!

Tom C.

[Erskine Tramway]

Darn weather!

Tom C.

It really wasn't that bad, Tom. I was pretty much ready to quit for the day anyway, and it only rained for about half an hour. If you remember when you and Jack were here, it doesn't take much water to turn our volcanic dust that passes for soil around here to mud

Mike

[tomc]

Mike, Jack was there but not me YET! I would like to get out that way again. We will see.

Tom C.

[Erskine Tramway]

Mike, Jack was there but not me YET! I would like to get out that way again. We will see.

Tom C.

Oops, I thought I remembered you with Jack. I must have met you at Battle Creek.

Well, today, I spent some time with a pick and shovel, 'adjusting' the pit dimensions, spread some gravel at the bottom and moved the crossing into position.

After shimming up the approach tracks, I shoved the passenger car frame out onto the crossing for the first 'train' movement.

I still need to adjust the elevations, but otherwise it's ready for service.

Mike

[tomc]

Lookin good Mike. Must have been at the Creek.

Tom C.

[Erskine Tramway]

I got out the other day and raised and leveled the crossing. I cut and fitted the connections to the drain pipe and laid it in alongside. I decided to extend the block wall ot to the end of the crossing, so I dug the trench for the wall base.

Before I got tired of it, I brought some more rock up and started to ballast the approach track. I'm running out of rock, I'll have to get some more in next week Also, I'll pick up a couple bags of sand for the wall base.

Enjoy,
Mike

[tomc]

Mike, my back and knees ache from just lookin at the work. Jack walked his RR and reports thousand of ties are bad. Looks like I will be busy this season on my knees.

Tom C.

[Erskine Tramway]

Tom.......

I've got a good set of 'Duluth Trading' knee pads I used to walk the R&GN Ry. every spring with a tamping bar and 'bounce' the bar off the ties. When it would go through, I'd mark it for replacement. Then we'd 'distribute' new ties and Norman would have our welder's brothers put them in. They would do that while they were on vacation from Cutller-Hammer in Milwaukee.

After I get across the crossing, I'm going to build 'panels' up on sawhorses. That will cut down some on the kneeling.

On the other end, I'll be able to get at the track again with either 'Kitty' or 'Deere John' to haul rock I need to finish the door linkage on the ballast car to do the finish work, but the tractors will handle the heavy work. When I get more rock this week, I'll have them dump it on the bare ground past the crossing.

Mike

[Erskine Tramway]

Yesterday, I got in 5 tons of 'base course' and 10 tons of '3/4" clean' rock for the Erskine. the base course will cover the weed fabric, and the 3/4" rock will serve as ballast. Here's what the piles looked like:

[Erskine Tramway]

Well, folks......

The crossing is in and mostly 'graded'. I need some rain to settle the soil, but all the track needs is to finish screwing the rails down and 'plank' the deck. We need some rain to get us out of the 'Red Flag Warnings' too

More trackwork's in the future, after I finish some trim carpentry in our daughter's mobile home Then, maybe I can start on the car shed.

Enjoy, Mike