Things have been so busy around the railroad that I realized I never posted an update on the Shirley Covered Bridge. The last update I shared was about installing the new steel brackets that would hold the bridge in place. After that, I got caught up in the work and forgot to post the progress.

I’m happy to report that she’s now back in place—and sitting about 15 inches higher than before. The new abutments, support brackets, and all the structural work are complete. Using my John Deere, I carefully lifted the bridge, moved it into position, and lowered it onto the new supports. After a little pushing, pulling, and fine-tuning, she settled right where she belongs.

The Shirley Covered Bridge will soon be back in service.

I say “soon” because once I started this project, it naturally grew into something much bigger. I removed the track from the Genaro Trestle all the way past the switch beyond the turntable. With the new station pad completed, the switches have been relocated for the new main line and the 200-foot station siding. Track laying will be the next major step, but before that I have one more project to complete—widening the deck on the Genaro Trestle. I’ll cover that work in my next update.

I believe this will be one of the most important improvements we’ve made to the Nasonville Valley Railroad. Before reaching the covered bridge, the track is essentially level. After crossing the bridge toward Genaro Trestle, the grade is now approximately 1.2% instead of the previous 4.5% climb. That’s a tremendous improvement and will make life much easier for the smaller locomotives while providing smoother, more realistic operation for everyone.

Sometimes the best projects are the ones that start with a simple repair and end up making the entire railroad better.And here are a phew photos.