More progress on the upper loop

Today I finished up work on the second trestle segment and decided on part of the track alignment for the upper loop. I'm just about ready to start work on the next trestle segment but need to give a little more thought first to exactly where it will go.

The trestle segment I had built earlier in the week was finished except for the last trestle bent which I could not place until I had rebuilt the rock retaining. I secured the track on top of the completed trestle so I could determine exactly where the track would be headed.

With track alignment decided, I built the rock wall up higher than it had been, and I then needed to move some dirt here to build the land up higher.

I then put the last trestle bent in place and let that sit overnight.

Today I laid out the track on the raised bed and then secured it with ballast once I was happy with where it was.

I thought that I had enough track in place on the upper loop to merit a a test run. I shortened the train and then shoved it up the hill very slowly past the switch.

The test train then headed out across the trestle and bridge.

And here the train is nearing the end of the line as it loops around the tree.

This will be my next area of focus. I need to decide on how this loop will line up with the next trestle and decide on the final placement of the second bridge.

Today's flower pictures all come from my yard. This is Lewis flax (Linum lewisii).

This is Microseris nutans which only blooms in the morning. I've seen a lot of this locally when hiking this week.

Shrubby penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus)

This is the species of little sunflower we have in eastern Washington, Helianthella uniflora.