Top Level Kinda Sorta Wired - Videos of Full Run

[Frank53]

The bench work beneath the site of the second reversing loop is finally built:

 

Couldn't resist the temptation to jimmie up some track work and wire the balance of the connections to give it a test run.

This is trickier than I thought it would be, but after some trial and error and reworking the phasing between blocks, I got a drive by of the New York Central F3.

Had to run this really fast, as the track is a mess and I was hitting bad spots and cycling the e-unit to neutral. Once I got the speed set, it made it all the way around for a few laps:

New York Central Video

The trickier part is running both loops at once. Again, the dirty track was an issue and getting these in sync takes some patience. Here's the NYC  and Santa Fe doing the suicide run::

Two Trains Running In opposite Directions Sharing Top Level Video 

I figured out that parts of the run are noisier than others. In front of the abandoned warehouse is pretty quiet, in front of the Lionel factory - loud. I figure I am getting some echo from the factory, which is plastic and has a big empty gap behind it. I am going to pick up some recording studio style foam and place it behind the factory, as well as in the hollow area beneath the top level to cut down on the noise.

Here's a short freight of post war Sunoco Tankers:

Sunoco Tank Car Video

Only took 18 months to get this far - now I can start building that bridge to hold up the loop.

[csxt30]

Those were great to watch Frank !! I watched the tankers twice !! You're really making progress now !! 

Thanks for sharing !!

[USNRol]

Two trains was neat but I was left jonesing for freight then I saw the tankers...YES!  Very nice  I could sit there and run trains forever.  Are you planning on having any other siding besides by the crane in the right hand loop?  I could see myself wanting to add a (Passing?) siding to the lower level....would mean a shelf extension I guess.  The left reverse loop is planned to be just a trestle bridge with no siding like on the other end?

I'd be more than happy to clean that dirty track for the chance to see that layout up close!!

Roland

[Brutus]

Man, that is a nice layout!  Great work and great videos, thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

What a great layout!  It is a lot of fun watching the progress that you're making on it, and that small turn-about seems to handle the train very well.  I'm very impressed, keep up the good work!

[fifedog]

Enjoy watching your posting, Frank.  Thanks.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Frank....As always, you have some great videos of a great layout. And.....love that tubular track.

Chuck

[dwiemer]

Frank....As always, you have some great videos of a great layout. And.....love that tubular track.

Chuck

What he said!

Dennis