Author: Stephen Balkum
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Continuing Around the Loop
Another great crew at the Austin & Texas Central. Panels were built. Track was laid. Ballast was spread.
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Rounding the Curve
A great turnout today to build panels and lay track around the curve beyond Austin. Of course, the end-of-the-day chat session is just as important.
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Ballasting into Austin Track 1
Thanks again to Tim for taking photos. We see Bob, Ken, Johnny, and Richard was busy shoveling ballast while John was working ahead filling in ties at the joints.
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Panel Building
Photo credit goes to Tim. Stephen, Tim, John, and Ken spend the day building panels, rebuilding old switches and contemplating track alignment in Austin.
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Switch stands ready
The Tumbleweed and Dry Gulch Railroad found a dozen spare switch stands in inventory and has donated them to the A&TC. (Thanks Philip!)
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Recent Work Day Activities
Thanks to Tim for remembering to take photos!
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Lanterns for #13
Finally, #13 gets lanterns and is ready for night running.
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A View from Above
Kari brought her architect friend Vanessa this morning. Vanessa programmed her drone for a low altitude flyover. The resulting image of the entire ranch will be used for detailed surveying going forward. Kari and Vanessa then filled the trailer with root balls for the burn pile. (Stephen unloaded the trailer the next morning and positioned…
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A Little Shop Time
Stephen spent a little time Sunday in the shop addressing a couple of small projects. First task was to prepare fish plates for the upcoming work day. Using Ken’s rail slot punch with Stephen’s fish plate jig, approximately 150 fish plates were made in short order. Timing tests show it takes 20 seconds to punch…
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Clearing and grading
Kari, Tim, Paul, and Stephen worked the morning clearing downed trees and branches from the Austin loop Saturday morning. This included two large dead cedar trees that the February ice storm brought down over the right of way. Stephen was able to grade the right of way from Austin around the loop and it is…