work session
It has been a long time since I have done much on my railroad itself, other than some track cleaning and maintenance.
I got up there this morning and did some track cleaning , and then addressed a problem.
I had been wanting to run Southern Railway passenger trains into Harlow Tn., but my Bachman Southern RR Green and gold 2-8-0 could actually negotiate two out of three of the branches of the code 55 three way stub turnout at The Harlow Terminal, it dropped it's lead truck up in the cut, under the highway underpass, where the track transitioned from code 55 hand laid track to code 70 flex.
Careful study showed the track was all in gauge, and the problem was due to a vertical curve ( a change in the grade). By adding a code 70 guard rail at the offending spot, I was able to get the hefty 2-8-0, which runs very smoothly , into and out of Harlow Tn without a problem.
My original plan was to have the Southern Passenger train move forward into the Terminal, and back out. However The KD permanent under the tie uncopler magnet caused problems. It is absolutely necessary for the smooth operation of my freight interchange; so for now the Southern Railway passenger train will back in and head out going forward.
The Bachman 2-8-0 is a excellent running locomotive, and is very well detailed. In it's very well done Southern Green and Gold passenger scheme, it is not acurate for the steam era. This was a freight locomotive. One of these survived to be a part of the Southern railway's steam program in the 1970's, and was painted Green and Gold for steam excursion service. This paint job is correct for this locomotive, but just barely. I retain it, because I don't feel like building a proper Southern railway passenger locomotive, and could not do this good a job with the iconic green and gold paint job.
you can now ride into Harlow TN. on a Southern passenger train, to begin your travels in Gorre County TN. on the DG CC & W RR
The photos show the SR train down on the southern staging tracks two levels below Crooked Creek, the Bachman 2-8-0, the train in front of the Harlow Terminal, and the gaurd rail that makes it all possible
Bill Nelson