Here is a video showing the mainlines in operations as of this morning:
Here are some pics to look at things in more detail. First the loops around the coal mine area:
Next the area heading into the town (one of these days I'm going to have to start naming these places)....
A further look around the town area toward where the depot will be:
Continuing further east along the layout:
Finally the loop above the helix:
After the video and above pictures were shot, I began to work on some train protectors along the hidden part of the track. These protectors will help stop the engines and/or cars during a derailment from falling off of the roadbed on the upper level onto the lower level or, even worse, onto the floor. With the cost of rolling stock these days it only makes sense to do this to help prevent destroying the rolling stock. I'm only installing these on what will be the hidden track, as the visible track will have scenery around it to catch any derailments.
I'm building these with 1.5" wide strips of 1/8th inch masonite hardboard and some 1 inch corner brackets screwed to the bottom of the wooden subroadbed. Here is a closeup that shows how it is mounted:
Here is another area showing some of the protector boards. As you can see, the corner braces hold it in place, with a few screws here and there to secure it. Doesn't have to be pretty, just effective:
Here is the coal mine part of the layout with all of the protector installed on that side:
Next couple of weeks things will slow down some, with the holidays approaching. I'll work on a few odds & ends during that time, mostly some DCC stuff like installing decoders and working on routes. However, I already have plans made for over the Christmas holidays to pick up some styrofoam sheets to start the scenery contours!!
One final video before we go. I shot this for our friends at N Scale website, a great resource for the N Scale Model Railroader. See y'all soon!!!
Hey Frank,
ReplyDeleteI just checked up on your latest update and I believe congratulations are in order for getting the layout running! It's always a significant level of achievement when one gets his layout past the heavy construction stage of benchwork, tracklaying and the headache (to me at least!) of wiring.
I only wish I was at your stage of progress, as I find spare time an increasingly scarce commodity these days. Hopefully over the holidays I will be able to complete the tracklaying on my layout and I can finally put an end to the constant queries about when a train will actually move under its own power around that plywood and lumber monstrosity in the basement!
It's bad enough that I took down my HO layout and switched over to N scale about a year ago now, and was faced with endless questions about why I would do such a thing. And now that work has almost ground to a halt, I get comments about the slow pace of progress.
It was a bit of an adjustment for me working in a smaller scale and I suppose that handlaying all of my turnouts doesn't help getting things moving faster either.
But after watching your videos I must say I am inspired to go downstairs and start making a push and get some things done! As always, your layout reflects a high level of craftsmanship and skill and you do very neat and organized work.
I am eagerly looking forward to see what's next!
Best regards,
Frank B.
Dorval, Canada