The Rubber & Rawhide Railroad

Progress Report for 27th February 2009

This Page Created on February 27th, 2009

Phase IV-B Completed!

Everything seemed to go well today. Even the brief shower didn't dampen the enthusiasm of our track laying crew. They made quick work of installing around one thousand scale feet of track to complete the Memorial Bell Tower Loop. Or should we say to start it? It's something of a joke that the ending half of the route was finished before the beginning segment. Remember that the Leather Oaks Pond inhabitants clamored for early rail service, before the Lot Circumnavigation route had been completed?

Memorial Bell Tower Loop Approaches

Phase IV-B at first glance seems to directly parellel the more interesting Phase V-A. The latter with its closeup views of the big Sago Palm and direct connections with Horse's Plaza, not to mention the big Cantilever Bridge across the Rubber Creek certainly has its visual highlights.

In its own way, so does Phase IV-B. It's the only shared pedestrian/railway bridge on the Rubber and Rawhide's extensive route structure. No where else can you see and perhaps experience the celebrated Pewter Spitting Frog. The Aspidistra grows floridly and threateningly close to the right of way, while even the industrial/Power connections are tastefully hidden under a big, yellow rubber boot! (Look back at the previous picture, to the left of the track at the bridge!)

The Pewter Spitting Frog Guards the Bridge Over Lake Orin

The Memorial Bell Tower Loop's North Country Beginnings

The Memorial Bell Tower Loop departs from the Lot Circumnavigation Route just West of the Garden Path Fork, cunningly dodging the Parasol Plant Grove. This photo was made from the Bridge Over Lake Orin, whose planks one can see at bottom left.

Rail Broom on the Live Oak Plain

Completing the Memorial Bell Tower Loop ends all mainline and branch route construction currently planned for the Rubber and Rawhide! Yes there still is a matter of five additional sidings in the East Garage Yard, but their completion is being delayed in favor of a thorough Yard Grooming of the Leather Oaks Gardens!

With the cessation of roadbed and track construction, our operating personnel were eager to begin rail service again. In this photo, the Rail Broom has just completed two passes on the Lot Circumnavigation Route, and is making an obligatory but unnecessary pass by Jupiter on the Live Oak Plain.

Passenger Service Returns to Jupiter Plaza!

Not long after the track was cleared, Passenger Service was restored, and of course our Jupiter was one of the first to benefit. It turned out that two diesels were unnecessary. In fact, the engineer successfully backed the whole train up the adjusted grade of the Jupiter Loop!

Passenger Service on the Serpentine

We never can resist a photo opportunity for the Serpentine! Viewed from well into the front yard, the progress of trains up this segment seems inexorable at first, as they only gradually come fully into view.

In our excitement at getting the R&R RR running again, we neglected to take any action photos of the newest opened segment! But yes, the Memorial Bell Tower Loop has rapidly become the default passage for trains between Neptune and the Leather Oaks Pond. (Well, that is excepting those excursion trains calling at Horse's Plaza!) It does add about a third of a scale mile to length of the whole route, but who's counting?!