The mainline is completed and we get trains running again
08/13/04: By this time I had the main line finished around the back of the upper curve and had started heading back and crossing over the main line. I propped the track up with some blocks and pieces of concrete to get an idea where I would need fill. I ordered 3 1/2 yards of top soil and carted it from the drive way to the back yard one wheelbarrow full at a time. After dumping the fill I got the track installed by the coal mine and installed the sidings for the mine.
8/20/04: Once I got up the curve by the mine I had to cross the large valley where the main line below entered the tunnel and the stream from the waterfall. I tried a number of configurations before deciding on a combination of a LGB truss bridge and a series of Garden Metal Models steel deck bridges. I ordered and received the LGB bridge but it was going to take longer to get the GMM bridges so I made some temporary bridge out of 2/4's and painted them black.
8/23/04: Today we got the last section of the mainline reconnected and ran our first train all the way around the layout. After working on some track adjustments and a little leveling our main line was officially back in operation. I ordered another 3 yards of dirt to fill in the hills (ugh!) Next I started working on the sidings and the rebuilding of the yard at Spruce. We got the yard back together and started working on the wye.