Re: Balloon loop track question?

That's right Cindy, we always need to explore all possibilities.

The big loop at Sumpter is designed at 13 deg. (441' radius) which is about as tight as we felt it was advisable to make it. It could be tighter and still function but that would actually require more earthwork as well as disturbing additional wetland, (Big no no.) and would still require two bridges at more than a half million each.

Some time ago someone asked if it was possible to put in, on a temporary basis, a maximum degree curve without crossing Cracker Creek. I tried overlaying a 24 deg. curve on the plot of the existing survey but there was no way to make it fit. A 24deg. curve would require 477' to turn 180 degrees, which is greater than the distance between the main line and the (extended) South Sumpter spur at Cracker creek. To move the spur would require negotiating new R.P.W. agreements with two land owners.

It looks like our best bet for turning trains at the Sumpter end is still to put back the S Wye, with only one (slightly less expensive) bridge rather than two. We sure do need a sugar daddy.