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UPDATE on the  BC & CS  RR.   (Berkley Concord & Central Sierra) see far below for details.  Benchwork, Lots of It.  But it's something Unsual that I am doing that's why i've taken 5 weeks to accomplish something in this arena.   I created a stowaway layout that can be put away in a space that would occupy a large high Couch. The "box" to put away the train is "converted" to a couch.   The box allows me to place 4 "drawers" of  74' x 36'  layout  workspace with a verticall separation about 7 inches.   Now each 74' x 36' section, has foldable legs.   These 'Legs'  is acually a modified heavy duty ironing board.  For Each Drawer/platform,  I am using 3/8 plywood with a frame of 1'x2' cedar with a central crossmember to give it good rigidity.    Why the heck use ironing boards?? simple,  when lowerd their legs crossfold underneath flat.   When deploying them upright pulling on a tab and realeasing it when you have the height desired "fixes" the ironing platform.I've had to build a simple wood "Crane" to lift each drawer to the right height to grab at the center.  since I cant Reach the 36' inch span to properly pull up the 10lbs of board/ironboard combo.  I need a counter weight on the backend of the crane.  (yes leverage works against you too) I am working on a system of easily joining the tracks power grid/switching.  No It will not be bridge style for obvious reasons.   Basically I am going to bypass direct rail connection and go for an under side 24 Pin/Socket wiriing on each side to join power between sections.   I am going to divert all power and swichlines to those two locations, so that power failures during alignment disappear.  Alignment for wheel on rail purposes will still be timecosuming,  but I dont believe that kind of alignment is as hard as puting 24 pairs (8 for each section) of rails into the those damned rail joiners (gonna use soft modeling clay to hold/Jostle the aligment in as needed (hidden under a clever ruse obcourse.)   The main drawback to shelving style that I am doing is that ridges/gorges/bridges will be limited to to about 6 inches in height, unless you have removable pieces, which I intend to have.   The other drawback is that you have to have auxilliary support for the surface area for each section junction plus near the ends.   But these are just small columnar units with a good base and top section to pop in place.  (it's really so your layout doesn't sag at the edges, and  so that a falling person, doesnt take out your  Ironing board get up. (which cannot widstand a huge weight on it.)  Remember, Tear Down Ability is the key for me, everything else is a bonus.  Cheers, Rob Theme-- SF East Bay Delta -Sacramento-Sierra Foothills, Period:  1950-54.Rail Users.  UPAC, WPAC, ATSF.  &   BC & CS RR  (Berkley,Concord & Central Sierra RR, FrLnc)Unique Features: River Harbor slip & Freighter. AirField w/ small Air Line. 3rivers snaking thru.Status: under construction, Bonds Sold, investors demanding results.
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