June 9, 2018
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N-scale modeler Tom Koole stopped by to give me some much needed track laying and soldering lessons. His efforts jump-started track laying for the Anchorage yard.

 

As you can imagine it takes a fair amount of tools to lay track properly.

 

 

June 14, 2018
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Tom Koole proves the theory that laying straight track has more to do with eyeballing line of sight then using a straight edge as reference.

Tom uses a razor blade to remove the tie spikes (clips) from the ends of each flexible track section so rail joiners can slip between the rail and tie.

 

 A view from the south end of the Anchorage yard.
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Tom uses rail joiners to connect the two three-foot pieces of code 100 nickel-silver flex track. Tom uses a tack hammer and nail set to drive the nail spikes into place. The head of the spike will have a small gap between it and the tie.

 
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From the balcony outside the train room Mike uses a jig saw to cut the road bed for the curve joining the APU and TwentyMile bridge. The curve joining the APU and TwentyMile bridge.

 

 

June 28, 2018
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Terry always starts our work evenings with a scrumptious home cooked meal (this time featuring her world famous homemade bread). Tonight we have a full house as daughter Laura, son-in-law Greg and twins Shane and Cody are here! My apologies to Cody as I just couldn't seem to get you into the photo.

Mike and LJ finished the curves between the APU and TwentyMile bridge.

 

 Tom is a track laying demon! He has the Anchorage yard almost finished.
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Tom uses rail joiners to connect the two three-foot pieces of code 100 nickel-silver flex track. Tom uses a tack hammer and nail set to drive the nail spikes into place. The head of the spike will have a small gap between it and the tie.

 
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LJ and Mike put the finishing touches on the plywood roadbed at the Anchorage depot (left) and Alaska Marine Lines (right). In an effort to repurpose the old layout the plywood was recycled from the old table tops. Tom giving a final check to ensure all the Anchorage yard lines are straight. Although actual railroad sidings and yards are not perfectly straight we still strive for perfection.

A more elevated view of the Anchorage yard.
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Sporting their GP40-2 #3015 shirts twins Shane and Cody pay a visit to the Alaska Railroad construction site. Shane grabbed a white hard hat indicating a future preference for management while Cody favors blue and will delve into the trades.