Category: Railroad
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Removing Roots
Stephen spent some time on the tractor Sunday, November 9, removing yaupon root balls for the new facilities. Construction on the kitchen shed will begin soon. Kitchen area The walkway from the social area back toward the driveway From the walkway’s grade crossing toward the site for the restrooms and the driveway where the transfer…
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Clearing for Facilities
The first workday after the recent meet was attended by an enthusiastic group – Ken, Linda, John O, John T, Sophia, Paul, Janet, Doug, Kathy, David, Rick, Tim, Mike, Bob, Nick, Abby, Stephen, Lori, and little James and Ellie. We began the morning with a post-mortem on the recent meet and then jumped right into…
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2025 SWLS Fall Meet
The Austin & Texas Central Golden Spike and SWLS Fall Meet were a huge success! Well over 80 people attended over the weekend. Trains were running all day, each day, and into the night requiring nearly continuous tower dispatching – hats off to our dispatcher, Johnny. 8 steam locomotives and 11 diesel locomotives were on…
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Final Meet Prep
Starting on Saturday, October 4, the final preparations for the Fall Meet began. Tim, John O, John T, Sophia, Doug, Kathy, David, Paul, Janet, Johnny, Ken, Linda, Stephen and Lori were on hand Saturday. Ballasting of the Austin yard and the relaying the curve at Coleto Junction were the primary work items. Janet provided lasagna…
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Transferring to the Table
Lots of little things and one big project were completed this past week ending on September 27. During the week, Stephen was able to clear a few items off the task list: position and level the steel span for the yard lead. He also installed the remaining solar light posts and the dinner bell. Ken…
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Ballasting San Jacinto
Light crew this past weekend, September 20th, with just John T, John O, Ken, Linda, Lori, and Stephen working. On Friday, Ken installed all remaining switch stands and attached angle iron rails on 2x6s for the transfer table. On Saturday, the guys moved many tons of ballast to San Jacinto to ease the grade. John…
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More Around the Table
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…
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Round and Round
Johnny arrived Friday afternoon (September 5) and welded the turntable rail to the brackets. By sundown, the turntable was rolling on its own rail. The rail required no shimming! On Saturday, the crew was scattered throughout the Austin area getting important tasks accomplished. Before lunch… Lunch was prepared by Lori and Linda – a taco…
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Concrete Actions
This past weekend, the crew poured the concrete foundation for the turntable ring rail. This was accomplished before the lunch break. Lunch was a chef salad, corn casserole, and two cobblers provided by Lori, Linda, and Esther. After lunch, the crew made progress on the ramp for the main line turntable lead. Tim and Tim…
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Prepping for Concrete
This past Saturday, August 23, the A&TC crew completed the final preparations for pouring concrete for the turntable ring rail. The form was given a final level check, backfill was added, rebar was bent and tied off in the form. Everyone made quick work of this primary task. (Paul, Alexander, Rob, James, John O, Ken,…