After a move to a house with a basement (for the 1st time in 8 years) last July, I have started drawing trackplans, and have decided to build a 4x8 on a sheet of plywood for a short term solution. When I finish designing and start building my "big" layout, the 4x8 will be my "display" layout I'll take to shows.
I don't have anything started yet, except I have a pile of lumber waiting for me to do something with it. I'm planning to have the benchwork finished and track done by Christmas, so my 8 year old girl and 2 year old boy can run "their" trains after Santa comes.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Well...Once the outdoor chores are done...The first project in the Trainroom is to build two double crossovers for the double track mainline between the two levels, one for the top of the hill and one at the bottom (helix) and then I can go nuts with laying track!
Time permitting, before the 1st. of the year, I would also like to "do" Sawbill Junction, the town first seen when intering the Trainroom. Most of the rack is down but the town and scenicing still only exists in my mind!
The rest of my track and turnouts just came in today! Will lay the track down this weekend including turnouts and glue the foam base and roadbed in place after I'm sure the trackplan fits properly. Just finished grading six grades - all 3% - came out great. Golden Spike could go in as early as Sunday (minus power to turnouts and service tracks).
As for the rest of the year:
2 bridges to build, 8 Digitrax DS64 stationary decoders to be wired to 42 Kato turnouts, ballast and weather track, build 2 two track tunnels, about 10 structure kits to build and 2 scratchbuilt factories, scenic entire layout and individual scenes, build 3 towns and 1 city, finish converting 3 Kato RS-1 diesels to ESU Loksound and one Proto2k S-1 switcher, install 130' ft turntable and build a 9 stall roundhouse.
I'm very busy working on the RR and loving it
Think I am going to build a small switching layout, maybe 10' by either 18" or 24". Mainly just to give me something tangible to do while I am away from my family and practice/try out some scenery techniques and of course to eventually run some trains.
Rick
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
This is the time of year I get back into the hobby. Most of last winter was spent completing the main yard and engine terminal which I posted pictures of. My first few days have been spent on general cleanup and getting organized. I had several unfinished structures started and I completed one of them.
I've decided to start this year by first concentrating on finishing the industrial switching area to the east of the yard. This will require laying the spur tracks and building several structures, the largest of which is the Walther's dairy complex which consists of several modular structures as well as some structures recycled from previously issued kits. I've already discovered that I needed to swap its original intended location with a produce warehouse I just completed (Walther's Citrus Packing company). I couldn't get the spur tracks to fit as originally planned and I think I will like the way this looks and operates better. Also I will be building a kitbashed brewery with the Walther's Brewery as it's main component.
That will probably take me well into December and by then I will turn my attention to the layout west of the yard. I want to get the base scenery estalished so I can run the entire mainline west of the yard with no bare benchwork. Then I'll start adding the structures and detail along the way. Before I tackle that, I need to make a decision on a problem area of track. The west entrance to the yard requires trains to negotiate several S-curves as it goes through the crossovers. I thought I could get away with it because I use #6 turnouts, but there is one spot that is causing frequent derailmentss. If I can't get the bugs out of it, I'm going to move the entrance farther up the line and eliminate problem S-curve.
The last planned project is to complete my second largest town which is at the west end of the layout. This is a critical junction in my operation scheme and right now there is nothing but track and one fairly well detailed mountain/tunnel which is at the entrance to the west end staging tracks.
I'll be a happy man if I can complete all these projects by next spring and actually begin some real operating sessions.
SilverSpike wrote:I started my layout project in May 2006 and have worked on it steady since then. I have complete about 95% of the first level benchwork, and about 75% of the sub-roadbed for the same level. I have also put down about 60% of the cork roadbed. I hope to finish all of the above and get some track put down by Thanksgiving, I have the next four Friday's off from work so that gives me some extra time to devote to workin on the railroad. We want to run some trains for the holidays!
I hope to run some trains by the holidays!
Being that I haven't hardly touched my 4x8 layout at all this year, I plan on getting some stryofoam to put on top and then hopefully buy some flex-track so I can get started on the layout. Might have to buy some cork roadbed as well. Not really sure. I don't have much money as I had to make a down payment on my apartment for next school year, bought a new guitar, and made some other costly purchases. I'll be looking for a job next semester and hopefully have my job for the winter and next summer.
I'd like to get some buildings up and on the layout but what those are is still up in the air. I have the ADM grain elevators that will be on there for sure along with some other grain buildings. Also thinking about having a scrap yard area so I can run my gondola's. Along with a fire station and some other buildings that a town would have. Locomotive purchases and rolling stock are also on my priority list. Hopefully I'll be able to get some money.
For now, being at college it's just thinking and looking at other peoples' layouts...not my own.
The goal is to get the yard complete so we can use the turntable. Also, get the trackwork complete and functional in the RH.
I am brainstorming a work bench in the corner under the layout. It is a good thing that I am short. HaHa.
If I have any spare time, I will finish a rock section, carve some large fir or cedar trees, and place vegetation on a 1 x 4 foot section.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
this week i am finishing the bookcases that the benchwork will nestle right on top of....
then its time to start doing some scenery.. inch by inch all winter :)
and weathering some cars when i get tire of ground foam!
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
I'm going to lay roadbed and hopefully track as well until the supply & funding run out, and hope that it's enough to run a train.
Then I'll buy my kids cork roadbed and #4 turnouts for Christmas...
"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley
I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious. -Stephen Wright
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
Now that enough of the benchwork is in, I'm about to start cutting (plywood) cookies - beginning in Down Staging (aka Mikasa,) which is both the lowest projected track level and the farthest from (theoretical) Tokyo that freight runs on the JNR Nichigeki Route. Meanwhile, operation soldiers on at the 1980-built module that will be the colliery at the end of the line for the Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo.
Interestingly enough, that module will be the highest "JNR standard" (1067mm) gauge track on the layout, directly above Down Staging.
Since I'm not working to any kind of construction schedule, it's anybody's guess how long it will be before the first unit coal train departs the colliery for (eventually, with an engine change) Mikasa. Judging by the rate of progress to date, holdeth not thy breath!
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September 1964, since 1964)
Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!
Go Big Red!
PA&ERR "If you think you are doing something stupid, you're probably right!"
I have a history of diving headfirst into something and going full tilt until I get burned out. I sort of did that with the benchwork, splines, and track-layiing between April and the first of June. Then I did nothing for nearly three months...at least train-related. Since the beginning of September, I have built all my topography, scenicked in rough, painted many of my ties shades of gray and brown, and have ballasted about 70% of the trackage just since yesterday.
Still to come by end-January, is weather the ballast, paint the rails, build roads and a town, install the turntable and roundhouse, and build a yard with passenger depot on the side. This includes finishing one double-slip using Fast Tracks jigs and building another.
So much to do...
Hey guys its November with 2 months left in 06 (thanx god this year is almost over but thats not really train realted) I am going to begin track laying this weekend on my extension! ya iv only been talking about it 10 months..... I should have the golden spike down by Christmas. Scenery will start in January. I can not weight for 2007 since this year HAS REALLY SUCKED. Hows your RRs next 2 months looking? Tim