The Redwood Canyon Tunnel is being installed by a large team of members
August 20, 2020 Operations Council Meeting Minutes
Bob called the meeting to order at 12:30pm for our outdoor and Zoom Operations Council, with Zoom attendees: Peter Moseley in Bainbridge Washington, Matt Petach, Ron Mason, and Mike Ward
Finance Report
Kevin: We have 69 members, 69 are current with their dues. Our bank balance is $3,389.13, with no Accounts Receivable. We will have about 3K of expenses for PTR when electrical purchases for the signal system is complete.
Project Status Reports
Lumber Camp Return Loop
Almost finished. Ballast needs some tamping after a wood border is added to the edge to retain ballast on the slope and divert water to our drain system.
Tom and Carl are halfway done with the safety railing at the summit.
The signaling project is ongoing; mechanical work is done. Two overhead structures need to be designed and built for locations that otherwise limit clarity as to which signal applies to which track. similar to the signal structure where we enter the yard. One is required near the Summit and the other near the High Bridge.
Switch stands need to be revised to make them safer and easier to use. First off is the Alpine loop to the Alpine crossover. Other sites will be selected later to determine the quantity needed. Ken K. and Tom are working on finalizing the design for switch stands. Ken will get on this full time with Tom next week after he wraps up a project in building 4.
Caboose Loop
Grading and tunnel; Bruce. Saturday, Brandon welded all 8 tunnel sections together after Kevin H. got the grade consistent to within 1”. Later, track will go in with the standard profile height ties embedded in ballast. Concrete and a pumper truck arrives Friday. Tom is rapidly building cages for all the holes. Water line is complete and pressurized. Wiring for irrigation is not yet installed. Trenches will be backfilled today.
Redwood Canyon Bridge in place and used; holds up large forklift with load of lumber
Some 6”x6” PT timbers were placed on the roof. Need to cut some diagonally for all the angles that make up the curves in the tunnel’s roof.
The leased excavator will be here until next Thursday; but will have to get the tractor back after the sides are on the tunnel.
Saturday’s run day is again converted to a work weekend. We will build more track panels and start putting siding on the tunnel.
Kevin is building two left hand switches for planned crossovers along the Caboose Loop route.
Bob asked; can we start laying track from Lumber Camp to the Caboose Loop? Kevin is surveying to start that portion of the track.
We can’t lay the circle around the caboose yet, because the septic tank needs replacing for the office, which is scheduled for early next year. The retaining wall for the full radius track ROW below the Overlook house is not a priority at this time and may get delayed until after next winter.
We need a jig to lay out a 50’ radius when you can’t directly use a center point and radius. Bill is designing it and will produce it soon (to lay track in the tunnel).
We received a big delivery of low profile ties for our bridges when we replace the old pressure treated wood ones in the future.
We have enough Aluminum rails to complete the High Bridge, but then we run out of our generous gift from Bill’s friend, Dr. Whitcher. We have purchased new Aluminum rail to complete the guard rail project.
Gritty Gravel barn
This structure was in very bad shape even after multiple patches. Bruce dismantled it last week. Remainders are in building 4 to be rebuilt (mostly from scratch) wider, longer, and higher. A new cement pad may be built later when the final design is determined.
Comments, questions, & ideas
Bill: David Littlefield has hosted family and friends to enjoy the railroad and new additions, and was happy with the results and effort. Allison Littlefield has also taken a ride and enjoyed the new route and bridges.
Bob: There are lots of things going on at this time; and sometimes it is hard to keep abreast of everything as we move rapidly forward on many projects. That’s why we have weekly updates to the workdays web page and monthly meetings so we can catch up on other areas.
Ron Mason: I’m very appreciative of all the volunteers who are working onsite at the RR during these times - you’re doing an exceptional job. Peter M. echoed that sentiment.
Bob: Extra thanks to Bruce who has been working every day on the Redwood Canyon Tunnel project.
Tom and Carl re-built the staircase at the summit. Someday we might like to make that into a more rail-roady structure so it blends in more. Perhaps make it look like part of a yard tower; see idea photo submitted by Mike Masse at the end of these minutes. Other ideas are welcome!
BIll: The Lumber Camp bridge was financed by the club; the largest single donor was Rick Zobelein from GGLS who passed away before completion. Would like to memorialize this with a really nice plaque listing all the donors and place it on the bridge.
When you ride over the bridge, you get a nice clickety-clack as you go over; going down is no problem with the grade. This structure incorporates our first wooden trestle that has been driven over with a locomotive. The preferred route is around Rabbit Flat clockwise, up Alpine, left on future Caboose route, then Lumber Camp Loop, down the silver bridges, back around Rabbit Flat clockwise, then either down the Mountain Route or up Alpine, reset the switch, then down a serpentine stretch of track, for a pretty grand tour.
SDC meetings (Structure Design Committee). We’ve been making lots of progress, and sometimes we need to have SDC meetings when there is something with many competing options to choose from. So it is good to have one meeting at least every two months.
Future Events and Run Days
Run weekends for the foreseeable future are converted to work days with some running, a just a few guests. If you wish to bring a guest; please clear this with an Operations Council member.
All “big” events on hold until San Mateo county gives us guidance. Russ will update the website to reflect this info.
Safety
As a reminder, dogs are not allowed on ranch property.
Think social distancing and masks please.
Meeting ended at 1:10pm - at the end of Zoom’s 40 minute free account allotment
New summit staircase?