sorry but end of the line.

[Wes Whitmore]

It's a pretty small picture.  I tried saving it and zooming, but them it gets blurry.  i can sorta make it out though. What are you making all of these great track plans with?  It's awesome.

Do you have any real pictures of the overhead layout.  I'm sure not the whole thing, since it looks pretty big.

Thanks,
Wes

[HopperSJ]

You got some serious grades there, but it looks like you got the muscle in motive power to get it done.

 Reggie, just wanted to followup on Redneck (am I really agreeing with him?) Anyway, you probably have thought of this, but I wanted to share my "limitted" experience. I have finished laying my track on my smaller layout and was careful not to use anything greater than a 3.5% grade. The trains handle it all just fine (never strain to get up), but they do need constant attention. I am running conventional power and I can't leave the controls when the trains are on the outer loop because it goes up and down the grade. I need to rev up and throttle back too much. I love my layout plan, but wish I knew how the trains would react to the grade. I might have done it differently.

This may not be an issue with TMCC and cruise control and your grades may not be as steep as they look in the pics, but I thought I would mention it. Better to consider it now, than when you are six months down the line (like me!).

[thatboy37]

the pic got cut off a little at the bottom, but there is actually a mainline that runs right where the pic cut off at the bottom sorry for that

[Anonymous]

that works!

[thatboy37]

what about now

[Anonymous]

All I see is an red 'X'... you need to save the image on an image host and post from there.

Brent

[thatboy37]

hope this works 

 

i like it alot. i like the way you got all the different spurs running off the mainline, and into different industries. maybe once i get all my track layed, wired, and running right. you can help me plan my industries and maybe we can put a building in honor of you on the layout.

here it is sorry took so long

[lionelsoni]

I did now!  I screwed up and didn't notice that your e-mail address was already available.  So I actually sent you a message through the forum and promptly forgot that that was all I had done!

[thatboy37]

I sent a .jpg file to Reggie and asked him to post it, if he can.

 

did you send it to my email, my email is [e-mail]

[lionelsoni]

I sent a .jpg file to Reggie and asked him to post it, if he can.

[daan]

@Lionelsony; clever idea with the couplers!

[thatboy37]

I started with uncouplers on my yard tracks.  But by the time I rebuilt and doubled the yard size, I had figured out how to do without them.  I put a single uncoupler in the yard lead, with a turnout upstream of that leading to a bumper.  So, when I want to shove only part of a cut of cars into a yard track, I open the coupler closer to the locomotive to uncouple at the break, then shove that open coupler into the bumper to close it.  Then back to the yard lead, where I can shove the uncoupled cars, with couplers closed, into the yard track and pull back out with only the remaining cars.

I could use the same uncoupler for a locomotive's coupler to put the entire cut into a yard track; but I have modified many of my locomotives, including the switchers, for uncoupling on command.  I have a little circuit that remembers when a significant track voltage has been present for a while, while the locomotive is in neutral.  Then the next time the locomotive starts up, the couplers open.  So I can shove cars into a yard track (or a siding), stop, turn up the track voltage for about five seconds, then turn it off and back on to go the other direction, whereupon the locomotive's couplers open, leaving the cars behind.  To keep from opening the couplers accidentally when intending simply to reverse, I keep the voltage low in neutral and don't stay in neutral very long.

My impression of prototype yard design is that it is desirable to route the main lines outside and around the yard, so that yard activities don't interfere with through traffic.  A double-track main line can be split with one track on each side of the yard.  A proper yard should have classification tracks, which can be single ended, and some double-ended tracks for arrivals and departures, as well as specialized tracks for storing locomotives, cabooses, bad-order cars, etc.  I have 5 short storage tracks near the yard lead; and half of my 8 main-yard tracks are double-ended, with 2 of them connecting to each of the main lines, which run on either side of the entire area.

 

do you have any pics to show of your yard would love to see them

[Wes Whitmore]

I have so much to learn, Soni.

Hopefully whatever i do, it's usable. 

Wes

[lionelsoni]

I started with uncouplers on my yard tracks.  But by the time I rebuilt and doubled the yard size, I had figured out how to do without them.  I put a single uncoupler in the yard lead, with a turnout upstream of that leading to a bumper.  So, when I want to shove only part of a cut of cars into a yard track, I open the coupler closer to the locomotive to uncouple at the break, then shove that open coupler into the bumper to close it.  Then back to the yard lead, where I can shove the uncoupled cars, with couplers closed, into the yard track and pull back out with only the remaining cars.

I could use the same uncoupler for a locomotive's coupler to put the entire cut into a yard track; but I have modified many of my locomotives, including the switchers, for uncoupling on command.  I have a little circuit that remembers when a significant track voltage has been present for a while, while the locomotive is in neutral.  Then the next time the locomotive starts up, the couplers open.  So I can shove cars into a yard track (or a siding), stop, turn up the track voltage for about five seconds, then turn it off and back on to go the other direction, whereupon the locomotive's couplers open, leaving the cars behind.  To keep from opening the couplers accidentally when intending simply to reverse, I keep the voltage low in neutral and don't stay in neutral very long.

My impression of prototype yard design is that it is desirable to route the main lines outside and around the yard, so that yard activities don't interfere with through traffic.  A double-track main line can be split with one track on each side of the yard.  A proper yard should have classification tracks, which can be single ended, and some double-ended tracks for arrivals and departures, as well as specialized tracks for storing locomotives, cabooses, bad-order cars, etc.  I have 5 short storage tracks near the yard lead; and half of my 8 main-yard tracks are double-ended, with 2 of them connecting to each of the main lines, which run on either side of the entire area.

[daan]

As to switching cars around, I've seen a couple of layouts which used a card system. Each boxcar had an envelope with it's name on it and there where cards with a load for them written on it. For example, a boxcar had a load of bananas from the harbour which needed to go to the grocery shop, another car had machinery parts from the harbour to the engine workshop, a tankcar picking up load of oil for the fueling area etc. You have to pick up the cars from a yard, switch them to the places where they need to be loaded and then pick them up again. Drive a few rounds across the layout and then switch them to the places they needed to unload. After that the cars had to be taken back to the switchyard.

Before the game starts, you pick a few cards with a purpose out of the box with possibilities and you choose cars you'll need for the purpose. Then put the cards in the envelopes belonging to the cars and start the game.

You can make a nice game out of it which I'm also trying to figure out. Though my layout is far smaller it does have a few spurs for factory's and a small harbour. I like the idea of having a direction and a purpose for the train, which is created by those cards. I don't know exactly how the game is played, but I'll figure out a way to be able to use it. May be someone else knows how that works?

[Wes Whitmore]

That would be inpressive, and confusing...

 I was born in 76.

So I should really consider DCC then.  I didn't know people were putting electronic couplers on cars too.  That must be the solution to hands off uncoupling, unless they are really good at lining up an uncoupling track, which I haven't used.  I need to get to some layouts and see how they do it.  I would like to have a large yard, but unless I do it in N scale, it isn't going to happen!

Thanks again,

Wes

[Anonymous]

Lionroar,

Thanks for all of the effort you put into that post for me.  That was a lot of work getting all of the links for me.  I understand so much better now.  You cleared up the operation for me on the prototypical world.  I assume that you could do the same thing in the modeling world with switches, or DCC so you can have voltage on all sections of the track in the house and just pick the engine you want to use?  I would assume DCC would be the easiest, but maybe not as fun to flip the switch to power the stall that the loco on the turntable is about to enter.

Is there a place that I can find general examples of how you guys move around your trains through the train yards to store cars on certain rails, decouple selective cars, move over to another rail and pick up certain cars, and so on?  The operations are where I could really use some guidence on.  You can do it all remotely with buttons and switches, and not directly use your hands, right?  Maybe not, but that sounds like how I would want to do it.

Wes

I don't know of anything providing examples... What I have done is simply hang out on an overlook and watch the train yard!  Take some pictures and video, it helps.  I have done a combination of hand movement and switcher movement.  TMCC and DCS with the coil couplers is the easiest way to move cars around a yard, you really need the entire yard to be powered as one block or you will run into the 'crossing of blocks' problem that lionelsoni is constantly preaching about!  And it makes it easier to move around the yard!

BTW - One of the large layouts I visited a few years ago had a yard set up on 3 sheets of ply!  One of the largest yards I've seen modeled.  They had enough room for 3 guys to jockey switchers around!  That was very impressive.  Their 4 mainlines ran right through the yard as well, right down the middle.  So you would have 3 switchers AND 4 mainline trains going through the yard!  Talk about complex!

Oh and the post - it didn't take very long.  Roundhouses and Turntables have been a passion of mine since I moved to the Pittsburgh area in 1976 and first saw the Conway railyard!  I am one of those oddballs that could actually create an entire yard and just jockey switchers and cars around all day long.

There used to be a magazine that had a 'switcher' test every month, I think it was Trains, but am not sure.  They would give you a sample track with cars each lettered and numbered.  You had one switcher and had to reorganize the cars so they were lined up for the engines to come and retrieve them for hauling... those were really fun!

OMG!  I am a geek! 

[Wes Whitmore]

Lionroar,

Thanks for all of the effort you put into that post for me.  That was a lot of work getting all of the links for me.  I understand so much better now.  You cleared up the operation for me on the prototypical world.  I assume that you could do the same thing in the modeling world with switches, or DCC so you can have voltage on all sections of the track in the house and just pick the engine you want to use?  I would assume DCC would be the easiest, but maybe not as fun to flip the switch to power the stall that the loco on the turntable is about to enter.

Is there a place that I can find general examples of how you guys move around your trains through the train yards to store cars on certain rails, decouple selective cars, move over to another rail and pick up certain cars, and so on?  The operations are where I could really use some guidence on.  You can do it all remotely with buttons and switches, and not directly use your hands, right?  Maybe not, but that sounds like how I would want to do it.

Wes

[thatboy37]

Sorry to be a total rookie, but how does that train house work?  Are they for storing Locos and engines only?  Is the turn table rotatable remotely?  Can whatever you store in there be brought through the yard or onto the mainline without actually touching it with your hands?  Is the idea to have a small switcher round up all of the cars, and then pull the big loco out of the house and head out for the mainline?  It's a great piece, and looks really great, I just wonder about general track operations, since I don't have much experience with how to "run a train" on a layout with more than just a couple of turnouts.  I don't want to hijack your thread on the learning of basic train operations, but seeing that train house sparked some questions.

Thanks,
Wes

Wes,
Reggie has the Atlas O Turntable and Roundhouse.  These are the least expensive versions you will find.  Earlier in the thread Reggie and I discussed different TT/RH combinations and the one I suggested (the Bowser) is the more expensive version.  The Atlas is by far the easiest to incorporate into a layout.

http://www.bowser-trains.com/oscale/turntables/turntables.htm - Bowser TT/RH
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/OProducts2.asp?Scale=O&Item=151MISC - Atlas TT/RH

The Bowser requires a lot more work to get it done correctly, but their instructions are very clear and easy to follow (I don't own one, but I saw one at a trainshow a year or so ago and was able to read the instruction sheets).

Operation:
Roundhouses were used by larger railyards to perform maintenance on engines.  They were very prevalent during the Steam Era, but some survived into the diesel era and some are around even today (there is a nice example in the Conway, PA railyard on the Norfolk Sounthern (old Conrail) line.  The engine would head onto the TT, rotate so it was facing away from the RH stall it had been assigned, then backed into the stall for maintenance.  Once maintenance was finished the engine would head back onto the TT, rotated to the track it had been assigned, then head out.  Switchers were not used to move the engines around the yard.

RH are bigger version of their single and double engine house brothers.  They were typically used to work on larger engines, like the UP Big Boy, C&O Alleghenies, PRR Decopods, and SF Cabforwards, these longer engines also required an entension to the rear of the RH stall.

TTs were also used, with and without RHs, to transfer engines from one track to another, this could reduce the size of the railyard and reduce the number of switches involved.

Another twist would be the Transfer Table.  These are straightline TTs that slide an engine from one track to another.  Lionel actually made a Transfer Table and extensions a few years ago.  There are some on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-350-TRANSFER-TABLE_W0QQitemZ180071479470QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4148QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-350-TRANSFER-TABLE-EXTENSION_W0QQitemZ180071482519QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4148QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://search.ebay.com/transfer-table

Pics of surviving TTs/RHs:
Conway, PA:
Conway was home to the largest yard on the former PRR system and a major locomotive maintenance facility, and it remains an important yard today under Norfolk Southern. Back in 1973, however, the motive power was a little different than it was today. Witness PC C628 6308 taking a spin on the Conway roundhouse turntable on July 1, 1973. Photo by Dennis Bydash.
http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/central/pc6308.jpg

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/conwayturntablelocos.jpg

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/crsd60ilocosconwaytable.jpg

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/cr6510tableconway.jpg

This is an image of the Conway yard looking south from East Rochester.  Freedom, PA is to the left and the Ohio River to the right.  The ramp leads to Conway/Baden, PA.  The yard is RARELY this empty!  Typically the entire yard is full of cars.

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/conwayyardempty.jpg

Hope this helps!

 

thanks lionroar you said some stuff that i wouldn't have said and you said it a lot clearer.again thanks and wes i hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to be a total rookie, but how does that train house work?  Are they for storing Locos and engines only?  Is the turn table rotatable remotely?  Can whatever you store in there be brought through the yard or onto the mainline without actually touching it with your hands?  Is the idea to have a small switcher round up all of the cars, and then pull the big loco out of the house and head out for the mainline?  It's a great piece, and looks really great, I just wonder about general track operations, since I don't have much experience with how to "run a train" on a layout with more than just a couple of turnouts.  I don't want to hijack your thread on the learning of basic train operations, but seeing that train house sparked some questions.

Thanks,
Wes

Wes,
Reggie has the Atlas O Turntable and Roundhouse.  These are the least expensive versions you will find.  Earlier in the thread Reggie and I discussed different TT/RH combinations and the one I suggested (the Bowser) is the more expensive version.  The Atlas is by far the easiest to incorporate into a layout.

http://www.bowser-trains.com/oscale/turntables/turntables.htm - Bowser TT/RH
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/OProducts2.asp?Scale=O&Item=151MISC - Atlas TT/RH

The Bowser requires a lot more work to get it done correctly, but their instructions are very clear and easy to follow (I don't own one, but I saw one at a trainshow a year or so ago and was able to read the instruction sheets).

Operation:
Roundhouses were used by larger railyards to perform maintenance on engines.  They were very prevalent during the Steam Era, but some survived into the diesel era and some are around even today (there is a nice example in the Conway, PA railyard on the Norfolk Sounthern (old Conrail) line.  The engine would head onto the TT, rotate so it was facing away from the RH stall it had been assigned, then backed into the stall for maintenance.  Once maintenance was finished the engine would head back onto the TT, rotated to the track it had been assigned, then head out.  Switchers were not used to move the engines around the yard.

RH are bigger version of their single and double engine house brothers.  They were typically used to work on larger engines, like the UP Big Boy, C&O Alleghenies, PRR Decopods, and SF Cabforwards, these longer engines also required an entension to the rear of the RH stall.

TTs were also used, with and without RHs, to transfer engines from one track to another, this could reduce the size of the railyard and reduce the number of switches involved.

Another twist would be the Transfer Table.  These are straightline TTs that slide an engine from one track to another.  Lionel actually made a Transfer Table and extensions a few years ago.  There are some on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-350-TRANSFER-TABLE_W0QQitemZ180071479470QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4148QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-350-TRANSFER-TABLE-EXTENSION_W0QQitemZ180071482519QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4148QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://search.ebay.com/transfer-table

Pics of surviving TTs/RHs:
Conway, PA:
Conway was home to the largest yard on the former PRR system and a major locomotive maintenance facility, and it remains an important yard today under Norfolk Southern. Back in 1973, however, the motive power was a little different than it was today. Witness PC C628 6308 taking a spin on the Conway roundhouse turntable on July 1, 1973. Photo by Dennis Bydash.
http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/central/pc6308.jpg

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/conwayturntablelocos.jpg

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/crsd60ilocosconwaytable.jpg

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/cr6510tableconway.jpg

This is an image of the Conway yard looking south from East Rochester.  Freedom, PA is to the left and the Ohio River to the right.  The ramp leads to Conway/Baden, PA.  The yard is RARELY this empty!  Typically the entire yard is full of cars.

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/conwayyardempty.jpg

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Awesome work there Reggie. You can obviously see that the GG/Ross combo is much better looking as compared to the FT you had. In good time that layout is gonna really be the best for the space and amount of trains that you have.

I have my dreams of having my ultimate layout, but unfortunately for now that is all it is, a dream. The lack of funds being my biggest barrier and not having a home nor space pretty much kills my dreams for a layout, and im pretty fed up with not having the funds to do anything trainwise.

Anyway, I got two books, one on wiring and benchwork so at least I can get educated on those ends. As for track I plan to go the GG/Ross combo myself, but no LHS in my area carries any of their track so i'll have to order online to get an idea of what the pieces look like in person and how it fits.

Keep up the good work Reggie and keep us updated with the progress of the layout. A big switching yard is very nice indeed. The big yard here in Grand Rapids I saw the other day was just filled with boxcars.....lots of ideas to embark on looking at the real railroads to get more an idea what I'd like to have for my model railroad. Gonna be a long process though.

I also like the roller coasters too.....I have a couple Knex sets that I may somewhat use in the future to complement my railroad...just have to wait and see. 

TrainMaster,
I was in your shoes a while back!  Big Dreams, lack of funds.  What I did was set aside some money each paycheck ($20 or so), and put ALL my change in a large jar hidden from my ex (she would have dipped into it every so often to buy clothes).  Then when I had a few hundred saved up, I would go on-line or to a trainshow and buy something!  It didn't take long and I had a pretty nice collection going!

Can't help you on the space thing though.  It has taken me 15 years to finally have a shot at having enough space to build a big layout!  I settled for the 8' x 6' Christmas layout till now!

As for the LHSes not having Gargraves/ROSS, go to a trainshow.  Many dealers there will have their products (maybe not ROSS) and you can see how it all fits together.

Best of luck!
Brent

[Wes Whitmore]

Sorry to be a total rookie, but how does that train house work?  Are they for storing Locos and engines only?  Is the turn table rotatable remotely?  Can whatever you store in there be brought through the yard or onto the mainline without actually touching it with your hands?  Is the idea to have a small switcher round up all of the cars, and then pull the big loco out of the house and head out for the mainline?  It's a great piece, and looks really great, I just wonder about general track operations, since I don't have much experience with how to "run a train" on a layout with more than just a couple of turnouts.  I don't want to hijack your thread on the learning of basic train operations, but seeing that train house sparked some questions.

Thanks,
Wes

[Anonymous]

Awesome work there Reggie. You can obviously see that the GG/Ross combo is much better looking as compared to the FT you had. In good time that layout is gonna really be the best for the space and amount of trains that you have.

I have my dreams of having my ultimate layout, but unfortunately for now that is all it is, a dream. The lack of funds being my biggest barrier and not having a home nor space pretty much kills my dreams for a layout, and im pretty fed up with not having the funds to do anything trainwise.

Anyway, I got two books, one on wiring and benchwork so at least I can get educated on those ends. As for track I plan to go the GG/Ross combo myself, but no LHS in my area carries any of their track so i'll have to order online to get an idea of what the pieces look like in person and how it fits.

Keep up the good work Reggie and keep us updated with the progress of the layout. A big switching yard is very nice indeed. The big yard here in Grand Rapids I saw the other day was just filled with boxcars.....lots of ideas to embark on looking at the real railroads to get more an idea what I'd like to have for my model railroad. Gonna be a long process though.

I also like the roller coasters too.....I have a couple Knex sets that I may somewhat use in the future to complement my railroad...just have to wait and see. 

[thatboy37]

thatboy,
Do you have a trackplan?  Was wondering if you are working off a print-out or just winging it?


I am going to be building a rather large layout in the near future (as soon as we build the new house, move in, and I claim my space)! I moved the Christmas layout to the basement and have been messing around with different configurations for next year... have the plan done now, so the wife informs me that I have to stop tinkering with the trains and focus on fixing up the house to get it on the market!  

Like the amusement park!  That roller-coaster is awesome!  First layout I've seen with an amusement park AND a roundhouse!!!  That is some awesome space!   

 

#1 i'm just winging it. because i see something in a magazine that i like and want, or on the forum from you guys pics and i want to put it on my layout.

#2 congrats on the new house, and trainroom. please take the wifes advice on gettting the house on the market, because you messing around is only prolonging you getting to the new house. i think i know what you will do.

#3 that isn't all. there will also be a intermodal yard, try to get a full scale runway so i can put the airport and terminal (there will be a airport regardless though), a small town, drive-in theater, passenger pickup station for acella, passenger pickup for polar express, and maybe either football, or baseball field thats all for now

[daan]

@trainmasterz, there is the real usability of cardboard. Use it to cover the things which need to be kept clean while plastering. Also, plaster has also the benefit of not really sticking to metal or flat surface plastic, so after it dried, you can easily undo your track from spilt plaster. Only if you use gargraves track the plaster will stick to the wood.

[thatboy37]

Question - 2nd to last pic, what is the accessory in the distance?

 

it is a pedestrian walkover with scale speed sensor that the trains pass under/ or through. you hold the button down as the train passes under it and the speed reads out on an lcd screen that is provided the the accessory. the item # is 6- 14082 hope this answers your question.

 

 

[thatboy37]

# 1 & 2: yes they can go from 1 to 4 via the yard or 4 to 1 via the yard in either direction. one of the trains will go through the yard but the other three will not. i still haven't gotten all my switches from ross. once i get those the pictures will be alot clearer and you will be able to see exactly where the switching will happen to get train 1 to line 4 or 4 to line 1.

# 3: line four will actually be the loop that goes up to level 2 and back down you can see the inclines thats i built for the rises in place a little farther up in the post. level 2 will havethe appereance of 2 trains being on that level  running at once. you also can get from track 4 to track 5 via a few switches but i cant do anything until i get the switches. so you will see train four on level 2 and then turn around and see it on level 1. i think that i'm going to have to order the switches from ross instead of having my lhs order them for me and it takes forever to get them in, but i like doing business with my lhs owner as he gives me great deals on everything i buy. there probably want be any other lines on the bottom level as i'm building up and there will be 3 levels total. the 3rd level being the polar express, i hoping to make that level one of the ones that disappear for a long time and then reappear about 5 minutes later. i want that one train to bable to go from level 3 to level 1 on its own mainline. so you will see it on level one then disappear and you want see it until it gets back up to level 3 then you see it for a minute or 2 then back to level 1. hope you understand what i'm saying.

# 4: i greatly appreciate the advice as it has helped me in many ways, plus i wouldnt be this far along with my layout without the helpful advice these great guys on this forum have given me. the scenery part of the layout is the issue i will worry about once i get to that point, i don't know what i'm going to do as of yet with this aspect of the hobby. maybe i will get someone to come in and do it for me, once i have tried to do it and can't get it right. i have some type of idea but not quite sure yet. hope i can get some more great advice when i need it which i'm pretty sure that i will need once the time prevails. if i haven't said it to anybody thus far thanks for the advice and keep it coming, and if i have any advice to share which i will i will do the same.

will definitly post more pics as they come, but for now the progress is on hold until i get the switches. so please think of me as you guys get to work on your layouts as mine is at a stand still for now.

i want to be on the cover just as much as you guys are saying you see a future ctt cover story. so if the publishers are looking at this post please keep me in mind and dont book all the covers yet as i'm trying my best to do a layout to the standards that you guys require, but until now hope you like what i'm doing thus far.

 

 

[Anonymous]

thatboy,
Do you have a trackplan?  Was wondering if you are working off a print-out or just winging it?

If you have a trackplan, can you post it so we can see how things are progressing in the different areas?

I am going to be building a rather large layout in the near future (as soon as we build the new house, move in, and I claim my space)!

I moved the Christmas layout to the basement and have been messing around with different configurations for next year... have the plan done now, so the wife informs me that I have to stop tinkering with the trains and focus on fixing up the house to get it on the market!   But in consideration of the big layout, I guess I can make do.  BTW - I have a 6% grade on the Christmas layout... sent the Christmas 4-4-0, Berk, and docksider around the loop pulling the 3 new x-mas passenger cars, each pulled them with no problems!   I was worried about the 4-4-0 because it is such a light-weight engine, but it pulled those cars just like its heavier brothers!!!

Like the amusement park!  That roller-coaster is awesome!  First layout I've seen with an amusement park AND a roundhouse!!!  That is some awesome space!   

Question - 2nd to last pic, what is the accessory in the distance?

[trainmasterz]

Reggie,

First of all, I love the fact that your layout is so big that you cant fit the whole thing in one picture.

Second thing is, I know that you have mentioned that you have 4 main lines that all can connect via the yard area, (which looks amazing in the pics youve posted).  I couldnt tell from the pics ( I get lost on your layout since its so big) but, Im assuming that the 4 mainlines dont have to go through the yard?  Like they can bypass it on the loop?  That way you can have 4 locos running at once?

Third thing is, are you planning on doing any inner loops?  Not that it matters i was just wondering.  With 4 main lines so big it dosnet really seem necessary.  But youve got the room.

Fourth,  Your gettin alot of great advice from these guys on everything.  It is interesting to see the many different ways they do scenery.  Im not an expert by any means (im finding out), but I worry about putting anything on the layout other than track before doing scenery cause its soo messy at least for me.  Maybe I should be more careful.  I guess you have to set everything up so as to make space for it, but pull it off and do the foam/plaster mess and put it back where it belongs.  Some of these guys have posted some really good stuff.  I forget who it was that had the pics of his 2" pink foam layout (maybe Buckeye?) but it looked great!  I suppose that plaster may be the way to go since your layout is so big, but then again, maybe a combination.  Also, youve got so much flat ground to cover, you might wanna consider stapling that green paper "grass" paper they sell for tabletop layouts down on the plywood, you know, cut it to fit around your tracks, you dont have to worry about getting too close to the track, your ballast will cover the transition. (thats what we did on the pics i posted way back)  The grass paper is easy to doctor up, it gives you a starting point vs plywood. 

Just some thoughts.  Thats all I can think of right now.

Keep the pics coming! 

We are looking at the future cover of CTT!

 

[ChiefEagles]

I don't know if this has been mentioned but when using wire mesh or chicken wire, do yourself a favor and attach a ground strap to it before finishing.  This way if you run TMCC or thinking about adding it you can attach the ground strap to an earth ground if you have any TMCC signal issues.

That is very good advice, Marty.

WOW, you are doing a great job.  Wish I had that much space.  Keep up the good work.