Windy and the End Around

The guardians angels assigned to us put in some overtime but did a great job, Hurricane Sandy passed overhead but was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time of its visit. Those Jersey swamp pines did a great job of slowly it down. The Jersey shore got brutalized but we did well. Most of the time the winds "merely" gusted to about 50 mph. So far we missed most of the rain (less than 5 inches after predicting 5-10"). The storm picked up speed instead of lingering. We still have power (only flickered 1-2 times). The 4 state area "only" has about 1,000,000 customers without power (prediction: possibly 10,000,000). Our backyard retention pond got full but didn't overflow. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Spent the time constructing one of the ends needed to join the Westville/Brooklawn and Woodbury modules. Offset the Woodbury modules by 4 feet lengthwise (over 2 modules, a 12' span) so it doesn't look as much like a big loop. Since I despise open 180 degree curves I will put both sides of the end into sloping cuts (we don't have mountains in southern New Jersey - nowhere to hide). The Woodbury side one is legitimate with a highway bridge over the tracks. The other side will enable me to use at least a couple of my 3,000 left over puffball trees!

The center duck-under will be an unsupported 30 inch span of 3/4", 6" wide plywood. Since I raised the tracks to 54-55" (better sightlines) I can swing under it (does rub the sweatshirt hood). If I get more brittle I'll slide under in a chair. I don't think it will sag but if it does, I have enough room to attach a top vertical 1"x2" to give it L girder strength.

I am wrestling, big time, with whether to close the other end now to get trains running by Christmas or going right into phase 3 and curving both ends back up the other wall (Walnut Lane arch bridge, 30th street station, and yard).  If I close it now, I'll have to add 3 temporary 4 track staging yards to be able to run the PRSL schedule. Decisions, decisions! Always more decisions!

The Woodbury modules are ready for ballasting and scenery (all but the Deepwater branch have been wired & tested!).

Next, I will detach (all the 6' modules bolt together) the new end unit and move it to the garage for painting when the humidity drops. Go away (ex-hurricane) Sandy.