15,000 Feet and Counting

Newly Expanded Eagle Point Yard		Yard in Full Use for Card-Order

The Eagle Point Railroad is on 37 acres of some fairly rugged terrain for a riding scale railroad, so some basic ideal standards are not possible. The track has been built to standards from the beginning in 2000, however, those standards had to be adjusted early on, as broad sweeping mainline curves do not fit well in a mountain branchline setting. About 95% of the track is on grade and curved.

There are three types of track; mainline with 2% grade and 60' radius, mountain branchline with 2½% grade and 50' radius, plus over 60 industrial tracks, along with several yards.

All track is for 7½" gauge trains up to 2½" scale. Standard clearance is 24" from centerline, however, there are some obstructions at 18"; keep your knees and elbows in…

Basic Track Building Standards
Track screw pattern holds gauge and keeps ties from folding; same as prototypes.	All screws have washers.

Track and Roadbed
An ideal track would use a 48" base, a mountain railroad is lucky to get 36". Most of Eagle Point track is 36" ballast shown in dark gray and medium gray profile.

Track & Turnout Construction Area	Turnout and track jigs.	Custom wye turnout on jig.
Staining 15" ties.	Assembling 10' panels in jig.	#8 turnout in jig.

Laying Track Process has change little since 2001
	Set ballast frame, fill, tamp, add 10' of track. Done 1500 times so far.	Track laid from 30° to 95°	Ballast for last panel at Promontory.
Laying in Small Yard
Set frame.	Fill with ballast and tamp.	Add track, set next frame.	Finished 3-track industry.
Laying Track on a Steep Slope
	Set frame at grade and level.	Add retaining wall & tamped dirt.	Finished wall and track.
Adding New Branch Just drop in a turnout.
	Cut out existing track.	Lay sub-roadbed for new branch.	Completed new junction.

Custom Track Laying Fairly Routine
Several custom fits to make it all work.	Installing tight-fit crossing	Wye turnout & curved turnout starting at frog.	Pair of crossing on curved shop lead built in place when new yard added.
	3-way turnout with removable points to close overhead door.	Wye in the valley.	Wye over the mountain gorge.

End of 88' tunnel.	Trestle work past rock outcrop.	Adding track on an overhang.	Arch over Stillhouse creek.
Any help on the cut was welcome.	Last days of cut after 18-months.	Turnout in cut.	Continue up or go back down.
Routine scenes on railroad.	Annual weed control work.	Happens a couple times a year.	Red means approaching train. Must be snow plow...

Dealing with Extreme Rains.
Wye track under water. extreme rain.	Area before drains were added.	Shows why concrete footers were used.	Clogged drain pipe.
Why ash-pans should be checked.
As built.		Repairs required after fire.	Rebuilt with fire pans.