Construction begins! First time layout

[TimmyMWD]

Edit: Pictures of progress on the layout so far are farther down the thread. 

 

So you know how sometimes your eyes are bigger than your stomach?  In this case my eyes are bigger than what my wife is comfortable with. So, working on a compromise - I designed a layout that would give me some operation but more importantly a) would fit in the available space and b) could integrate with a larger layout in our next house.

 

 The plan is based on old Millard in Omaha, Nebraska.  The actual line has deterioriated and most of the businesses with access to it have moved on and there's a lot of abandoned real estate.  My layout is based on the "what if" scenario of Omaha getting a rail tranist program, and them needed to use this line.  

The white area is the permanent benchwork; the track that runs in the dark gray is removeable so that way when I'm not operating it there's more space available in the room.

 

The layout has a few industries along the line, most notable the car repair shop at the top of the layout.  More importantly, its just fun to run trains through an area I grew up in.  I am open to comments and suggestions, of course.  I just got the benchwork done and the plywood down, so I'm going to pick up the roadbed and track here pretty soon.

 Thanks!

[dehusman]

Very nice, the layout of the tracks etc. is very recognizable as Millard. 

What will you do for the other half of the loop?

Dave H.

In west O

[Beach Bill]

Does the "removable" section have to be tipped to be moved out of the way, or can that be raised or lowered while level to then store above or below the main portion of the layout?   I was just thinking about the possibility of using that hidden trackage as staging...    Keeping that double-track in the "hidden" area would also enhance that capability.

 

Bill

[gerhard_k]

I don't know if the yard at the top has a basis from Millard, but you could get much longer yard tracks if you pulled the first turnout (coming from the right) back one track section and made it a left-hander. Right now all these tracks, you will find, are frustratingly short, especially since coupling will be unreliable or unworkable on the tight-radius curved tracks.
Edit: Also, that would eliminate one S-curve.
At the bottom, if you pulled the Tyson's turnout to the left into the curve, it would eliminate an S-curve there, and although you say that the benchwork is already done, I would try to make the tracks crossing to the fold-down/separate section as nearly straight across as possible. The more acute that angle is, the harder to keep the rails aligned across the joint.
In general, it is nice that you are willing to use your space to do a realistic replica of a scene you know, and avoid the temptation to cram in a lot more tracks.
- Gerhard

[Packers#1]

Looks great. Start making sawdust.

[dehusman]

Here is a satellite photo of the Millard area from Terraserver:

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=14&X=1851&Y=11415&W=3&qs=%7cmillard%7cne%7c

The railroad cuts  diagonally across the middle of the picture.  the car shop is about dead center and the "spider" of the cement plant is visible below and to the right of it. 

Dave H.

[TimmyMWD]

@Gerhard,

 Thanks for the feedback.  Once the layout went from computer plan to actual tabletop, I did some adjusting and its not nearly as sharp as it was on the drawing board.  

@Others

The removable/right side of the plan is the second half of construction and is not set in stone right now.  The plan is just to put in a temporary other half to make a loop, no plans for staging at this moment.  I'm not sure what I'll put there when I'm actually able to expand the layout.

But enough talk, now for some pictures!  I quickly learned reading/studying up on how to do this is one thing and actually do it.  The one disappointing thing was there's a small gap in the benchwork from a not so straight cut (you can see the yellow in the picture below).  Its actually really small and I plan on just filling it in.

 

 Looking into the room.  I built the layout 4 feet up because I like a higher table and if I sit on the stools in there its perfect sitting/viewing height.

The track is there so I can confirm where I want it all to go so I can start laying roadbed tomorrow.  Just for a sense of progress I put two locos and some freight cars out there (no power yet, just thought it looks neat)

Looking west-northwest down the layout with the two mainline tracks on the center/right and a siding on the left.

Tomorrow I start laying down the roadbed! I figure that will keep me busy for a while and then I'll move on to laying the track and wiring. 

[TimmyMWD]

Progress is slow but coming!  Most of the roadbed is now down and secure, I have to run back to the store because I underbudgeted how much roadbed I'd need!

 

 There's the car repair facility on the west end.  I'm going to put sheets of cork down since there's a lot of track and the track will be basically at ground level with the industries.

 

The main stretch of the double track mainline where downtown Millard is.  

The east end with the Tyson Chicken siding.  The sectional curve piece was too sharp for my liking so I'm going to use flex track for the curve instead.

 

As soon as I get the rest of the cork down (and my next paycheck) I'll get my DCC system and start laying track and wiring the layout.