With the nice spring weather back with us, the R&GVRRM has cleared the way for the grading for Phase 3 of our new siding west of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad. This phase will see the addition of an additional 200 feet of track added to the 400 feet of track that has been installed, but not yet ballasted, tamped & leveled. Before the additional new track can be put down, the land had to be taken down to grade. As has been done in the past, the R&GVRRM is able to do all of its own excavation. Here are some images and YouTube videos of the earthwork from two different work sessions. It only took four work sessions to complete the grading for this phase. Some really nice work!
A panoramic image looking at the area to excavate in the forefront with the currently installed siding to the back left side. The track passing through the center of the image is the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad.
The R&GVRRM’s 1968 Cat D7E dozer makes quick work of the project as it piles up some of the earth.
The R&GVRRM’s Bucryus-Erie 20-H hydraulic excavator helps in the process.
The D7E finishes up some grading duties. Some of the railroad equipment on the new siding can be seen in the background.
The R&GVRRM’s Huber-Warco road grader finishes the fine grading duties. In just four work sessions, the museum had the next phase to grade and ready for stone & track install.