Lots of activity around the turntable and in Austin this past workday on Saturday, September 13.
Ken arrived early on Thursday and ballasted and levelled the approach for the turntable main lead. Thanks to the natural grade, this approach has very little incline.
John T arrived early on Friday. He and Ken completed the ballast work and tamped it thanks to the power tamper on loan from the TW&DG RR. John T had the honors of taking #478 up the ramp and onto the turntable, get turned, and proceed down the ramp.
Saturday morning:
- Doug and Bob connected the final panels of the yard stubs that were removed for trench work. They then filled in ties were needed all over the Austin area tracks.
- Ken installed a low clearance switch machine in a very tight area between Austin tracks 2 & 3.
- Tim cleaned up all remaining debris from around the turntable – leftover conduit and pipe, unused ties, brush, etc.
- John T and Sophia completed the turntable infill. Tim delivered the gravel.
- Stephen played gopher and labelled all of the electrical circuits.
- John O built forms for the afternoon’s concrete work.
- Lori and Linda prepared lunch featuring a chicken and rice casserole. 5-year-old grandkids James and Ellie helped with setting the table and cleaning up afterward.
After lunch
- Doug, John T, and Sophia meticulously set up several more steaming bays.
- John O, Ken, and Stephen added temporary supports to the turntable approach bridge, set up forms and poured concrete footers for the permanently attached supports.
Photos from Stephen
Photos from Tim
