Highly Productive Work Session on Llano Branch June 30, 2012

RPI's June 30, 2012, work session on the Llano Branch resulted in a great deal of work getting done.  RPI member Ron Pereida brought a large tractor to Llano and graded the ROW along the north tail track of the wye, finishing up the job that a skidsteer had begun.  Other RPI members cleaned up the remaining tree stumps and limbs along the ROW, resulting in a clear view in both directions.

After working at Llano, Ron took his tractor down to Kingsland and used the box blade to scrape off the excessive gravel covering the crossing at the Antlers Inn.  Everyone in RPI greatly appreciates his work at both Llano and Kingsland during this work session.  Here's some photos of him hard at work in Kingsland:

Frank Glatzl and I deployed the rail-mower once again, having replaced the mower deck belt, which was worn away until it snapped during the last work session and fixed some of the problems that were causing the wear during a "rail-mower work session" at my place.  This time the rail-mower worked well all the way down to Scobey Spur and back into Kingsland.  Just past the Antlers it quit working because an E-ring on the governor rod vibrated off, but by then it was time to head back to Llano at full speed anyway.  The rail-mower works most effectively while proceeding at 2-3 miles per hour, which means we can never mow the entire 26-mile line perfectly in one work session anyway, so we have to pick and choose which section needs the most attention.  If we can mow at 2-3 mph and then come back through the same section with the rail-mower on, it will do a very good job indeed, as you can see from the following photo:

The tall weeds on the left were all over the tracks when we mowed in late April, making this particular spot (just west of the most eastward Campa Pajama Lane crossing) virtually impassable.  In fact, Frank and I and another RPI member had to try to push my Woodings CBI motorcar and the rail-mower through, Leland ruined a belt on his M-19 trying to push the combo from behind, and we only got through because Jerry Light came around with his hy-rail Gator and pulled us through.  This time we were able to mow through this section without much difficulty precisely because we were able to mow it in April.  (And, BTW, the reason it was almost impassable was primarily because the weeds made the track so slippery we could hardly get any traction).

We did have a little down time on the way into Kingsland, waiting for the main group to catch up with us.  Here, Frank is waiting at a crossing in the CBI with the rail-mower behind it.

One major development this work session was that the former Hill Country Railroad A-car was successfully deployed.  Jerry Light took the initiative to locate an acceptable 40 foot storage container and to organize its delivery and setup at the north end of the wye tail track.  Leland obtained an amendment to the Capital Metro RR lease allowing the location of the container on the track and Jerry obtained a Llano city building permit, just to cover all bases.  The container allows the A-car to be stored securely, safe from the weather and vandals or thieves, while awaiting its next use.  This large motorcar can be used to transport multiple RPI members, especially those without motorcars, so they can participate in work session.  New RPI members Jason Fowler and Cecil Walston, for example, rode the A-car this work session, while President Leland Stewart operated it.  Here's a photo of the A-car as it was being put to bed after the June 30 work session:

Plans are in the works to install 25-lb rail inside the container so the A-car, the rail-mower and trailers can be accommodated.  Ultimately, the A-car is the natural rail vehicle to pull the rail-mower since it, like Jerry's Gator, can power through difficult terrain conditions such as slippery rails, heavy vegetation, etc.

A lot of work has gone into making it possible to use the A-car again.  Jerry has fabricated special rails to bridge the gap between the end of the rail and the container boards or rails once the doors are opened.   Leland got the carburetor refurbished on short notice down in San Antonio and Jerry re-installed it, resulting in the engine coming back to life in time for the June 30 work session.  RPI members have donated $ 500.00 toward the cost of the container so far, helping defray the $ 2800.00 cost.  We are now poised to ensure that all RPI members can enjoy a work session experience on the Llano Branch and that is a great step forward.