After a great deal of work, my summer projects on the Nasonville Valley Railroad are finally complete!
Raising the Shirley Covered Bridge
The project actually began last fall, when I started raising the grade on either side of the Shirley Covered Bridge. Previously, there was a slight downgrade approaching the bridge, followed almost immediately by a steep 4½% grade leading up toward the Genaro Trestle. The grade was simply too much for many steam locomotives. Coming out of the turntable area, a locomotive would pass through the Covered Bridge and immediately begin the climb. Even approaching the grade from the mainline could put a locomotive to the test.
The solution was to raise the Shirley Covered Bridge and rework the grades on both sides.
A group of friends helped me move the bridge from its original supports. There really were no conventional abutments—the bridge had been sitting on four 4-inch Sonotube concrete piers. We carefully braced the bridge, lifted it with forks, and strapped it securely to the bucket of my John Deere. I then slowly backed the bridge away from the mainline and lowered it onto heavy timbers, where it remained while the new abutments were constructed.
With the bridge out of the way, I began excavating the earth to give myself enough clearance to form the new concrete abutments. A good friend loaned me his concrete forms, and once everything was prepared, I ordered the concrete.
After the concrete had cured, I removed the forms. Following some very careful measuring, I attached angle iron to the new abutments to provide a secure mounting point for the bridge.
Then came the big moment. I put the forks back on the John Deere, picked up the Shirley Covered Bridge, and carefully lowered her back into place on her new abutments.
Once the bridge was secured, I built a brick retaining wall at each end to protect the wooden structure from the earth that would be used to build up the new approaches. I then reinforced the banks on both sides with concrete blocks and mortar before filling and grading the approaches.
With the Shirley Covered Bridge project completed, it was time to move on to the Genaro Trestle.
Double-Tracking the Genaro Trestle
The Genaro Trestle had originally carried a single track. My summer project was to widen the trestle and convert it to double track.
I began by removing the switches at each end of the trestle and taking up the existing single track. I reinforced and widened each bent by sandwiching it between 2×8s, and then removed all of the old ties.
Next, I widened the top of the trestle and installed 2×6 stringers across the newly widened bents. Once the structural work was complete, I installed new 6-foot 2×4 ties across the trestle and laid two parallel tracks.
Over the last two days, I reattached the railing along the trestle, bringing the project—and my summer construction season—to completion.
I really enjoy building and improving the Nasonville Valley Railroad, and this has been one of the biggest projects I have undertaken on the railroad. But I have to admit, I’m really glad this one is finished!
Below are a few photographs showing the Shirley Covered Bridge and Genaro Trestle before, during, and after the work.
Over the next few days, I’ll take care of some cleanup work—stacking the remaining lumber before it becomes unusable, picking up around the railroad, smoothing and grading the earth around the Shirley Covered Bridge, and making a few adjustments to the mainline in places where we experienced derailments during our Annual Meet last Saturday.
I also have some Hicks Yew trees on the way. I’ll be planting them in a few strategic locations to provide some additional privacy and help screen portions of the railroad from prying eyes. Before they arrive, I want to get the ground prepared so that I can get them planted this weekend. In time, they should provide a nice evergreen backdrop for the railroad while allowing the track to blend more naturally into the landscape.
And then, it’s play time!
I love the work—the building, repairing, improving, and always dreaming about what comes next. But in the end, this hobby is about running trains. So, when the last tools are put away and the last tree is planted, I’m going to roll San Pioout of the engine house, fire her up, and run her wheels off. After a summer of building, it’s finally time to hear her whistle echo across the Nasonville Valley and listen to her wheels sing through the trees.
That’s what all the work is for!
