Curved Culvert Bridge Build, north and south.
June, 2014. Since the railroad mainline will have two loops, one at each end, I will have to go into the road ditch area by a little. Do not want to go too far into or completely over the ditch because if the county or state wants to clean the ditches sometime, they will not let me know and just do it. They will take anything that is in the ditch and not ask question because they have "right of way". So I decided to build this part a little different than the trestle. Starting on the south loop, I laid the track all out and level so I could take height measurements. Then took the track apart and rototilled up where the track will go before and after the culvert bridge. Put in sub-ballast and got ready to put the track back in on the lines leading up to the culvert bridge.
July, 2014. Got the track all installed except for the culvert bridge area. Then went down to the basement wood shop and decided to build the bridge panels on the curved track jig. This way I could see just where the bridge panels were giving the ties the most contact and support. Decided to build them about 5' long and 16" wide. This way it would take two bridge panels for a 10' track panel. Figured out I would need 5 bridge panels. This would hold two and one half track panels with the other half of the last track panel going on the ground. Got them built and took them out and installed. Again, put them up on pavers for support. Looks pretty good. Will let it settle and go back and shim up for any low areas.
Aug, 2014. Got the ballast installed on the south loop right up to the south culvert bridge.
Nov, 2014. Have the North loop about ready. Had to make a cut around the tree to get things level. You can see my level gauge in a couple of pictures. It is a 4' level duct taped to an 8' 2x4. Works good. Again put in the track panels to get the height measurements and then took back apart. Went to the basement wood shop and made two bridge panels. Set the pavers and installed the north bridge panels. Leveled everything out and installed the track panel. Checked it all out and ballasted the track up to the north culvert bridge. Again, will let it settle and adjust it for low spots later. Looks good. Note; in retrospect I should have made a third bridge panel or at least a half panel to help with support. Might do that later.