Got back on the boat again, last night.  Headed, with a booster barge, for Wilmington NC.

Managed to cut in a new switch on the shop lead, and laid about 20' of track.  This track will go beside the shop where I'll be building the tie shop

Got the beamer running again..  Found a sheared roll pin, and another one about to shear.   I'm not too surprised, as hard as I've worked that little engine. lol!

Will try to add a picture to the website of the new tie shop lead.

I got home on the 1st.  After dragging 35,000 feet of 38" dredge pipe, several barges, and misc. other rusting equipment, I'm ready for a break.  Spent the first two days being lazy, and just resting up.  Played with the computer trying to get PCLinuxOS running instead of Winders.  From what I see of PCLOS, so far, I like it.  It's supposed to be a lot more stable than Winders.  Once I  got it running, it hasn't crashed since.  A lot more than I can say for that Microshaft crap.  Now if I can just get my navigation software working on it.

Cut a new switch into the shop track and started the lead into what will be a storage shed on the side of the shop.
I've gotten about 20' of track laid so far.  I'm out of rail now, so I'll have to make a trip to Ridge for some more.

fixed the problem with the Beamer.  It had sheared a roll pin in one of the drive sprockets when I was home for Christmas.  Turned out to be an easy fix.  Cleaned things up enough to see what was going on, a quick trip to the hardware store, a little tap, tap, tap, with the hammer and drift punch, and all was working again.

I didn't get any pictures taken today.  Will add them to the site as soon as I can.

Barring fog, breakdown, or encountering something bigger than a elephant, I'll be home in 24 hours.  Looks like I'll only have day, maybe two if I'm lucky before I have to go back to work.  But at least, I be there to knaw on the ham bone.
I'll be hugging my locomotive by tomorrow night!  YEAH!!

I think I'll be home for Christmas!!!!
Been on the tug for 42 days so far.  I'm ready to go play trains
I'm thinking about starting on the front loop spur that goes to the south end of the property.  It will take quite a bit of earth moving and clearing.  Hopefully, I can start on the bridge abutments for the steel bridge. I'm going to have to look into starting the crane car.  I'm sure I'll need it when the bridge building starts.

Philip,
The golden spike will really be a steel screw that is painted gold.  I'm too damn cheap to buy a real gold one. lol

The loop is finally connected..  715' total length.
I got a couple of days off this week.  Started working early wednsday morning and by noon the loop was connected.
Did enough leveling to be able to run a train around.  Thursday evening I did a night run with my first passengers. 
Ordered ballast to be delivered today and then got the call to come back to work.  Had to cancel the order.   Next time off, I should get at least part of the track ballasted..

Right now, I'm in Brunswick Ga.   Got five rafts of dredge pipe to drag down the ditch to Green Cove Springs.  That should take at least a couple of weeks. Hopefully I will get a few days off for Christmas.

Capt Turk

Since I would perfer not to put a bunch of none connected stuff on the web site, this will be the place.  Rants, raves, problems and solutions in the shop, just whatever.

I'm stuck at work on the tug right now, so I'm using the time to try to get familiar with all this website, blog, computer madness stuff.   Most of it so far has been more or less guess, and alot of trial and mostly error.

Anyway, for now this post will have to do as an introduction, and a test to see if this thing works.

Till later
Capt Turk