more pics as promised. it's not alot of work done but some done and i took lots of pics of the little work i have done hope you like. some pics you can see better than others but at least you can see them.
now the start of mainline 5 next to mainline 4 on the second level
not a real good picture, but if you look you can see where line 4 goes down and under line 5
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Reggie,
I can only think of one thing to say about your layout: Dy-no-mite!
thatboy37 wrote: i showed some of these earlier but i want to strat you guys off fresh from the beginning. this is the first curve as you enter the room. the first to ride the rails
i showed some of these earlier but i want to strat you guys off fresh from the beginning. this is the first curve as you enter the room.
the first to ride the rails
i was wondering what do you guys use for your embankments like to raise the outside of the curves. if i wanted to run my acella at top speed, and not have to wory about if flying off the edge of the table when if goes around the curve. i thought of using popcicle sticks. have any of you guys used them and what have your results been. also any other thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. the curves i'm talking about are the ones in the pics above and some in earlier pics on this post, or should i go ahead and do all the curves that way i don't have to worry about any of the trains going around any curve at high speed and flying off.
Instead of popsicle sticks to "bank" your curves, just take a long peice of insulated wire and slip it under the edge of the tie. The thicker the wire, the more banking you will create. I like wire for this because you can keep the banking constant or vary the banking by moving the wire in or out under the tie.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Amazing. In a fraction of the time it took the Chief to get off the floor you have built an empire.
Regards, Roy
Reggie, I am impressed. You really have been busy. As to what I use to bank the curve, if you go to Home Depot, back by where they sell the doors and windows, they have packs of shims. The back side is about 1/4", while the front is next to nothing. You can stage your shims so that it gains outer elevation step by step just by advancing the next shim a little further. The packs come with a good handfull of shims that are about 2" wide and 6" long. They are inexpensive and easy to work with. Just glue them down when you get the track to where you want it. Hope this helps.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Reggie, I love all the fastrack you sold me. When you get your layout up and running you're going to invite me back down to see it arn't you?
It's going to be a nice layout when your done!
John
went to the hobbyshop today to placed my order for what i wanted out of the lionel 2007 book. my list compiled of: linoel - 1-csx husky twin stack pack, 1-kathy sd70ace heritage engine, 1-legacy command base, 1-fsu collegiate box car; lionel k-line - 2-sets fireman figures, 2-sets police men figures, 2-sets train station figures; 1-girl's special edition box car; ross switches - 8-100 rh reg degree w/2500 motor, 5-101 lh reg degree w/2500 motor, 1-rh 100 foam roadbed; atlas - 15-40ft empty gunderson stack containers, 11-45ft empty gunderson twin stack car; 1-case gargraves phantom flex track, 2-cases of midwest o-scale cork roadbed.
n scale: 17 of the 50 micro-trains state boxcars still looking for the other 33 will eventually get them all, 8-cases of the midwest cork roadbed.
all the bold print i got to bring home today. also got to bring home 5 of the 8 rh switches, and 4 of the 5 lh switches.
i'm not going to do anymore work until i get rest of my switches. for when i work i dont like to be interupted when i work so i try to get everything i need to complete one project and then move to the next section. this section will consist of finishing the yard area, then move to the next project which will be to lay the cork, and track down for mainline 5. then i will debate whether/how to add one more mainline if one fits. then figure how to get my n-scale on the layout. next time i post it will/should have plenty pics.
well i got in and had a little time on my hand to do nothing. so i went to the trainroom and did some work and i got alot done 54 pictures as i went along. i have some revised plans of the track plan. i want add mainline 5 there will only be 4 for now. and i'm thinking if i want a nice n scale layout in there some how i really need to stick with 4. so i have to take down what i did on line 5. which want be to hard. the work i did was connect the rest of the yard to the 4 mainline that come out next to the round house. took about 7 hours worth of work. all curves bent by me, and cut to fit. also i have a few questions to ask at the end. hope you like.
it want let me put any more on this post so i will continue on another one. it also want let me put anymore pics on here period for right now will continue in the morning with the rest and the questions. enjoy for now.
continued.
i have 4 switches 2 lh and 2 rh. ? is should i connect these 2 switches in the picture to that spare track for a extra siding and the following picture as a combo as of how to put use to the 2 switches with 2 spurs coming off the end switch.
or should i leave the spare track there that way that track can be my service track for when i need to do service on something, and the following picture use the 4 switches as follows they are set up in this picture with 4 spurs coming off this setup.
or if you guys see where i could put them else where on the layout. please comment would like to know your idea. also i asked earlier but what will be a good way to make mountians. with all these pics you can see how all 4 lines get to and from each other. until my next sessions everyone stay safe and my prayers go out to to any who need them.
WOW!
that's just a monsterous undertaking.
That would be some scenery job . . .
Heck, it's taken me several months to run a SHELF around my spare room! Very nice layout..
I'm dying to see the scenary myself. I've just about finished with my trackage..Momma is gonna tackle the scenary..we'll see
Hey Reggie, It is really coming along. Need to get your little girl in there (start her off in the hobby at a tender young age). As to your question, I like the idea of a maintenance track, but you could still do some scenery around it. One suggestion, if you get CTT, they have the new offering on building a yard on the cover jacket of the magazine. You may want to check this out and see some options. Keep up the great work. PS: hope you like the new job.
God Bless,
Way to go! A suggestion for scenery - foam. As a base for a layout as large as you are building, collect all the foam you can find from packaging for TV sets, PCs, etc, and cut into blocks that you can use to rough out the scenery forms. Then use a hot wire foam cutter to shape it further. I glued mine together with Liquid Nails for Foam, but it takes a while to set, so I used toothpicks to stabilize it until the adhesive set. I have not tried this myself, but a friend recommended auto upholstery glue which is foam compatible and sets quickly. I have seen the spray kind in an auto supply store where they sell trim and paint supplies. I think it comes in gallon cans also.
Tie your maint track into the layout so you can easily move trains to and from the maint track. Make it a siding with minimal scenery so you can work on the trains.
thanks for the compliments.
dwiemer: yeah i get it. i have a 3 year subscription. i will go with the service track. ? for you do you see anywhere on the layout that i might beable to put these switches other than where i want to put them. ohh she's up there alot with me.
wrmcclellon: do you see any other possible spots of interest for the rest of the switches.
I went back and looked at your track plan. You might consider a couple of sidings off the mainline on the opposite side of the layout from your yard so you have a place for some industries to set and pick up cars. Could be a place for some operating accessories such as the saw mill or various coal loaders/unloaders.
I like Roy's suggestion. If you want to have more scenery, yet still have the tracks for car storage, etc., one way you could go is have a descending line that goes to a hidden "yard" under the layout. You would be able to store whole trains (consist and all) under the main level of the layout. Then you would be able to assemble trains as you like and then bring them up. I know the guys in OGR talk about this. I have heard where they will use LEDs or even a video camera to indicate which hidden tracks are occupied. If you do want them up and are not too worried about room for scenery, Roy's got the best idea ( less scenery with access to the trains for working ).
Good Luck,
PS: both of mine can usually be found playing with the boxes under the layout. It is great to keep them involved.
I would be interested in seeing how you blend in the rest of the scenary with the man fishing under the bridge diaroma.
George
Reggie, I will look for the information on identifying occupied track, but for the hidden track method, they just use a switch to lead one descending line down to a sub level. From there, you can have several switches with dead end lines under the layout. You can then load up several different trains on different tracks. Use toggle switches to kill power to the lines and this will allow you to store trains below. Then, you can bring any train up on line any time you want. The only issue may be if you use DCS, the engines may nead to be addressed again. The reason for having a method of knowing occupied tracks is to prevent trying to move a train on to a occupied line as it will be out of your view.
now time to wire this up. i know how to wire this up using a buss wire. to get the best results how and which way do i need to wire and i'm using lionel tmcc. i see on some other topics they mention something about block wiring. how is that done,what does it do, and what is it.
Really looks great.
Ed
First off, I would get a copy of the Kalmback book on Command Control that discusses block wiring and everything else you need. As to wiring the hidden tracks, if you were to run the power feed through a toggle switch to the center rail, this would be how you could kill the line with a train in "storage", yet, because the outer "common" rails are intact, you still maintain the TMCC signal. You could isolate one side of the outer rails and run a light indicator off that to show an occupied rail, but they mention some other ideas too.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month