This polished steel spike will signal the completion of the demonstration piece of track now being built.
One rail is spiked down first, then the parallel rail is gauged from the first rail and then spiked.
Working on aligning the first lengths of rail to be spiked down on the Silverton Northern on October 11, 2015.
75# rail now on hand for the initial section of 300’ feet of track!
July, 2016
We will start moving the balance of the rail from the Ridgway Railroad Museum to our new track site this month. There is about one mile of rail involved here. Unfortunately for the Ridgway folks, their expansion plans to run rail around the perimeter of the Ouray County Fairgrounds facility were denied by the county. We will be offering them use of our facility once we have enough track in place. We previously have had a permanent loan from the Galloping Goose folks in Dolores for a quarter mile of rail and our plans are to start hauling that to Silverton this summer, pending sufficient available funding. The rail at both locations came from the same source in Denver.
We have pledges for funding in place to secure the purchase of our first piece of rail equipment that we can operate on our track. This as yet un-named piece of equipment will be a fun addition to the Silverton Northern and will serve also as a fund raiser in its operation.
November, 2015
The "First Spike" ceremony will take place Sunday, November 8 at 1 p.m. to signal the completion of our demonstration track. Anyone may attend.
Winter, and the first snow of the season has closed down our track laying work for 2015.
October, 2015
Silverton Northern Wish List (for track laying):
- One portable air compressor capable of a minimum 100cfm per minute air output.
- Several lengths of air hose to connect compressor to air hammer used to drive spikes.
- Air hammer to drive spikes. This is what they look like and cost: rrtoolsnsolutions.com.
- Additional hand powered spike mauls and replacement handles. This is what they look like and cost: mcmaster.com.
- Miscellaneous hand tools, like shovels, picks, pry bars.
July, 2015: Grading is complete for the initial Demonstration Track for the Silverton Northern project. This stretch of grade 300' long will be the start of the SN project. Rail, ties and track material is on hand to get started. Cutting standard gauge ties to narrow gauge length will be the first work done starting after the 4th of July weekend.
June: The Silverton Northern committee members moved the restored Silverton Northern caboose 1005 from the engine house to a location on Greene Street on May 31, 2015 to serve as an information booth to promote the heritage activities of the San Juan County Historical Society. We will also promote the rebuilding of the Silverton Northern and our first piece of demonstration track.
October, 2014: Another load of ties arrived in Silverton on October 16. We now have enough ties on hand to lay about 250 feet of track. Also due to arrive the week of October 20 is our "OTM" material — other track material — that consists of new spikes, tie plates, and rail bolts, nuts and washers. We ordered enough OTM to lay 300 feet of track. We did well enough on fund raising efforts, especially our Main Street project, that we have added 200 feet of track to the original goal of 100 feet.
A volunteer crew laid out the track alignment on Saturday, October 18, starting from where we have our rail and ties stacked. All is now ready for some dirt work to establish our grade so we can start laying rail. More fill material has been arriving at our site from various construction projects around Silverton. The weather has been erratic but we are hoping that we can get work done on the track before real winter sets in.
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