Sparky's Back Yard
Page 2
by Sparky

Jim built a tunnel fer the lecktrik train and installed it in back of the pond, so now the train has a way to get behind the pond without falling into the water and getting ruined.

Jim started with some hoses to help figger out how the train tracks are going to get around in the back yard without the trains hitting each other, but then he needed the hoses back so he could water the flowers, so now he is working with some wooden stakes that he hammers into the dirt to show him where the train track is going to go.

He already figgered out that he needs a trestle to take 2 tracks from by the pond to the hill on the other side of where the dirt pile isn't very tall, so he sawed up a bunch of boards and nailed them together to make them trestle holder things that ken do that, I think they call them "Trestle Bents."

Anyhow, Jim made a fixture out of a piece of old funny looking plywood that somebuddy made out of sawdust and glue, and he nailed some other sticks down on it to hold the sticks he cut out of a lot of scraps of old wood.  That way he ken make all of those trestle bents the same.

That's why they call them "Bents," cuz in the old days on the regular railroads, them fellers jest made them by thinking about what they should look like, then everybuddy made one that they liked, then when they went to put together the big trestle fer the train to go on, the bents was all different sizes, so they always had to bend the other boards that held together each individual bent, so then when they started building any trestles, everybuddy jest natcherly knew that they didn't have to use no rulers or levels, cuz the final construction guys would jest bend the boards to fit, then use a lot of reel long nails.

I got my own Steam Shovel so I ken help with the digging and not get in a construction accident, like has happened in the past.  I made sure to get the one that has a remote control so I can be clear out of the way when the dirt and rocks start flying.  You can never be too safe when constructing a Garden Railway in your back yard.

There's no smoke coming out of it, cuz it doesn't run on steam like the old ones that they used when they built the Panama Canal did.  That's cuz it's "Environmentally Friendly," and runs on batteries.  I would prefer the one that runs on steam, but they're not available anymore, and besides, they never did run with a remote control.  You have to keep putting more wood or coal in the fire and adding water all the time cuz all steam engines leak a lot of steam out of the gaskets and that's why they used to have big water tanks along railroad tracks.

This powerful Steam Shovel has been a big help in digging the holes for the supports for the bridge holders, cuz Jim is too big to fit into the place where the hole has to get dug, and this machine takes all the work out of it.

Click here for a closeup of my new invention

Construction of "Fearsome Gorge"

The hardest construction in this garden railway is expected is that of "Fearsome Gorge."  In order to provide crossing bridges for 3 layers of train tracks, it required a very deep hole for the underpinnings of the tallest bridge supports.

They rest on a pair of paver bricks, set into 2 inches of crusher fines and packed and adjusted until everything was firm and solid and within 1/16" of the final grade level.  Cribbing and rocks were added to further stabilize everything and make it safe fer them heavy trains to eventually cross.  Since some of my brothers and I sometimes ride in the trains, I spent a little extra time double checking everything!

The first 2 pitchers show how easy it was fer me to sit in my outdoor easy chair and run that powerful Steam Shovel with the remote control, while still remaining out of harm's way to prevent accidents.  Then, by the use of a strong chain, I was able to swing that heavy trestle bent down into the hole to check for level and that the correct grade was established so the little bridges that will be installed on top will sit level and the track will be safe fer the train.

The 4th pitcher shows how easy it was to accomplish the final level of the trestle bent, using the powerful Steam Shovel once again.

The final 4 pitchers show how the excess dirt was easily moved using the Steam Shovel to dig it, then turn around and drive it to a big, long board that goes to Gloria's great big wheelbarrow, which I filled up while sitting in my easy chair with the remote control in my lap, and a big cup of iced tea right next to me.

Not even new batteries in my Powerful Steam Shovel will be enough to get that big wheelbarrow up the hill to dump it, so Jim will jest have to do that the next time he comes out into the yard...pretty soon, I hope!