Back to the Workface

[DCRfan]

Like many I have an unfinished layout so I decided to make an effort to finish the final baseboard of my Mt Albert Tunnel layout. Over the weekend I've been working on a set of tunnel frames which are now in place so I staged a few pictures.

View from driver of BE loco

Similar shot with open tunnel side blocked off. Adding tunnel lights is one of the tasks to be done

The very large concrete agitator which must be used to test clearances

The new tunnel supports. The loco has arrived at the workface with the newly refurbished bogger which is being uncoupled and moved forward onto a set of temporary rails so the workface can be worked

[Steve Bennett]

Great shots Paul, I love those views into the tunnel, they are terrific, especially the second with both sides in place, wonderful.

[Gerry Bullock]

Looks great Paul BUT how does one view this if there are two sides to tunnel

[michael]

Paul This looks like the perfect set up to use Steve's papier mache rocks for the tunel walls in an L shape or the 72 inch max length card layout challenge. The equipment looks great in that setting.

[Peter]

Amazing work Paul!

[Robin]

I like the shot in side the tunnel. Any chance of some close up,s of the equipment.

[ian holmes]

Nice.
Who was it wrote "too many ideas, too little time"?

Ian

[Catweasel]

Who was it wrote "too many ideas, too little time"?

'twas I,Catweasel

[DCRfan]

I couldn't have done it it I tried

Last night I had the top of the tunnel baseboard section off (its screwed into place) while I ballasted the track and assembled the wiring for the lights along the roof of the tunnel. As I was packing up somehow I caught the one of the pipes attached to the first section of tunnel supports. The next second I was holding the complete section which just jumped out of the layout despite it being glued into place - well I though it was
In the picture its now sitting in front of the baseboard. At least it will make the placement of the tunnel lining much easier.

[AndyA]

If it's of any comfort, the fact that I haven't posted about the mussel pier lately is that I have three segments plus a kit of parts for the fourth. Gravity is an unforgiving mistress.

As you say, though, it'll make it simpler to place the lining.

You have my sympathies.

regards
Andy A

[Steve Bennett]

Yup, been there too and probably will again, doesnt make it any easier to take, knowing you are not alone either

[DCRfan]

Tunnel supports refitted and tunnel lights in so time for a play in the dark

[Gerry Bullock]

Now that's super Paul, great modelling

[Steve Bennett]

Love it Paul, that makes a wonderful sight.
With the tunnel supports, I'm curious as to why they are only in a couple of places, is this to follow the prototype or purely to access the track and models I can fully understand if the latter, sod's law states, if the train stops unintentionally, it will do so in the most inconvenient location

[DCRfan]

Love it Paul, that makes a wonderful sight.
With the tunnel supports, I'm curious as to why they are only in a couple of places, is this to follow the prototype or purely to access the track and models I can fully understand if the latter, sod's law states, if the train stops unintentionally, it will do so in the most inconvenient location

Yes your 100% correct.

In a Wellington City Council report on their tunnelling ' The weathered, fractured greywacke rock typical of Wellington geology is mostly "hard" in nature and will stand without additional support. Council experience is that an average two thirds of tunnels driven do not require support .....'

As you have surmised this is very nice to allow lots of room for the HOG to give locos a gentle nudge if necessary.

I have supports at either end on the tunnel so I can suspend the 300 mm diameter air exhaust pipe up in the top of the arch. I'm off to try and buy two more sections of plastic tube which will be turned to spiral steel by gluing cotton in a spiral to replicate the joint.

[scott b]

Very nice, really shows very well. What lights did you use, they seem just enough to show the trains and a bit of the tunnel without overwhelming the scene.

Scott

[DCRfan]

Scott,

They are just 2.5 mm diameter 12 V bulbs (rather than Grain-of-Wheat)from the local chain eletrical supply store working through a controller which was turned to about 3/4.

At exhibitions the outdoor flood lights are turned fully up to give impresson of lights rather than actually lighting the layout, I suspect the tunnel and basement workshops (still to be fitted out) will actually be called on to provide some 'real' light.

[DCRfan]

The air extractor pipe has been finished. In the end I used 12 mm dia wood dowel with cotton rapped around to replicate spiral join. Pipe joins were cut into the dowel each scale 10 feet and the spiral restarted in a slightly different place. When I was studying pictures to see how the prototype was hung in the tunnel I noticed roughly painted numbers on the pipe which I assume is the tunnel length. You can see them in the photo.

Sorry I haven't figured how to get the camera to focus properly in natural light no flash shots.

[Steve Bennett]

Sorry I haven't figured how to get the camera to focus properly in natural light no flash shots.

No matter, it looks great Paul, a woderful effect, well done.

[Peter]

Sorry I haven't figured how to get the camera to focus properly in natural light no flash shots.

Well it must be difficult taking photographs through all those dozens of feet of solid rock

[michael]

Very nice work Paul I like the solutuion with the pipe it looks great.

[Christoph]

Very nice tunnel views , Paul

Christoph

[DCRfan]

I now want to focus on the workface end of the tunnel.

I'm aware the bogger/shovel loader was hooked to a hopper wagon which it pulled back and forth as the loader worked. Can anyone explain how the temporary track for the bogger to run on was constructed ?

I assume it used rail welded to metal 'sleepers'.

Was it loosely bolted to the main track or were the rails laid parallel so they could they be moved forward as the tunnel progresed until replaced by a standard section of track

[Steve Bennett]

Can anyone explain how the temporary track for the bogger to run on was constructed ?

Simple question, wish the answer was the same . I'm assuming that mining techniques are also used in tunnelling. The trackwork as you would expect is added to a bit at a time, often 6' or 2m lengths of portable track are used at the working end of the line, but the reach of the mucker is not long enough to clear that far in front. Due to this, you will often find that there are even shorter lengths used to enable the mucker to work forward far enough to clear enough space to get a longer panel of track laid down. The track will not normally go right to the end of the tunnel, there will often be a pile of rock and rubble, which acts a bit like a ramp and deflects the blasted rock back toward where the mucker can reach. I'm hoping that makes some sort of sense.

[DCRfan]

When your very runny glue poors out of the rock pile your trying to glue it pays to have a portable layout



The portable track is down. I made it from code 80 but the lighter rail has been lost in the rocks The bogger is slowly getting dirtier with sucessive coats of all sorts of unmentionable colours and now I need to start matching the plaster tunnel walls with the pile of rock debris



Ever noticed how all the flecks of unpainted white foam show up so obtrusively in photos but disappear as soon as the camera and flash have been put away