The plan for the original trestle is to convert it into a gauntlet track. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought—how to create the necessary frog-like crossovers and lay a second set of rail. After weighing several options, and considering how straightforward the Accu-Tie switches are to build, I’ve decided to go with switches instead.

One major advantage is flexibility: using switches allows me to reverse direction at any point. It also gives me the option to bypass the Mountain Division Extension and run entirely on the original main line if I choose.

Two weeks ago, I built two Accu-Tie switches in under two hours. Then last week, a friend and I removed the old Culp Rail from the trestle and replaced it with heavier-duty Accu-Rail. We also installed a new switch at each end of the structure.

For now, I’ve used wooden ties to create a temporary transition between the rails. Later, I’ll install proper transition plates that my friend Bill Zingham (God rest his soul) made for me a few years ago. I also have aluminum stock on hand to fabricate additional plates as needed—and I’ll post photos of those in a future update.

For now, here are a few shots from the past few weeks of work.