Brother, you are not alone. I am about to start my final layout (after a number in my younger days) and it WILL be table top in nature. I am now 75, and that bending over stuff is" for the birds". My first layout was mostly on the ground with a yard on a table top and as a result, some pretty steep up grades, but I had the right of way length to keep the worst of them at 4% and streight.
My next railroad perched its tracks on top of a fence around the yard. with a few small table tops, and was very successful, but had to come down for a move from a ranch into town.
Since then I have started 2 on the ground layouts, both of which fell to the moving monster, and each of which showed me age was creeping up on my back and knees.
I also had 2 around the living room layouts, which did not compete well with the housecats, who considered the right of way to be cat walking areas,, and had no qualms with clearing trains off the tracks to facilitate thier so using the shelves! This activity was very hard on the fallen cars! Now I have more wrecks than working rolling stock!
Now, I thought, where could damaged mdels fit in with operating ones? Well every train museum I have seen had some cars under restoration, so my solution quickly became a museum layout, with a longer than average (for a museum) main line and shop areas.
Construction will begin this year, finances willing. It will be at waist level! Wish an old man luck! Thanks.
Just a quick update. Sorry about being so late on keeping up on this.
The cinderblock walls are in place and about half of the fourty-two (42) yards of decomposed granite is in place. Bit more "pricey" than I had planned on, but think well worth the cost. Also a bit heavy. Taking me two weeks to move a truckload (4.5~5 yards) and tampping each layer into position. Money also says one truckload per month.
In the mean time, I've set up a folded figure eight on the upper patio. So still running trains while new layout is under construction.
Tom Trigg
Planning on Sunday.
Good to hear its moving along, was wondering as I havent read you here in a long while. Are you going to make it to the SWGRS in pomona in two weeks?
Have fun with your trains
UPDATE: construction goes slow.Spending most of my free time helping daughter handle the disposition of her grandmothers estate (Bonnie's Mom). Got the grocery store sold, now working on the house to get it ready for sale.
That leaves only Sundays to work on the new empire. The back and side walls are in positioned and filed, the front, well, lets just say I'm still playing with the shape of the "U" inset. At the rate things are going I think I can start the filling with "DG" in mid December. I've taken a few pix and will post them when I have something worth looking at.
gbbari Is there room for buildings and scenery?
Is there room for buildings and scenery?
I'm still calculating how far to strech the right leg of the "U" (or should I say "J") to ensure ALL existing buildings fit. Playing with chalk drawings on patio, 4 1/2 ft seems to work. Still have concerns on where to put the "fairgrounds" as it is entirely NOT SUNPROOF and only seasonal.
Thanks for posting the layout. Very close to what I had drawn up in RailModeller after reading the original post. After creating it though I found my personal preference leaning towards a twice-around single track line that crosses over itself much like John Allen's famous "Gorre and Daphetid", where the operating interest comes from the various spurs. But that won't allow two trains to run simultaneously as well as accommodate an upper independent line plus the trolley line. You have fit quite a lot of track into a small space. Is there room for buildings and scenery?
The rules and regulations for the State of California have been Revisied their for NO PERMITS are required for major reconstruction of Rail Roads or any other railroad owed property. As long as the interested partys do not sell off any assets during the rebuilding process.
Jerry Brown AKA :moonbeam
Gov... Calie
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Tom Trigg, CEO RbFSRWy, San Diego CA:
The City Code Enforcement division is hearby issuing you a Cease and Desist notice to RbFSRWy on the reconstruction of the right of way.
The construction in question requires permits, variances, licenses, environmental impact studies, and other documents issued by appropriate City authorities. According to City records, neither the RbFSRWy nor its contractors or bond holders have applied for any permits.
The construction of the RbFSRWy has already started without any permits, approvals, licenses or variances being sought by the RBFSRWy or it's holding partners. Complaints were filed over the weekend by area activists, and the Code Enforcement investigation started immediately.
No one at City Hall knew anything about the work since there were no records to refer to, and the crew members on site refused to tell Staff who they were working for, let alone speak in English.
On Friday, representatives from four City Departments - Code, Property Management, Building Inspection, and Environmental Compliance met and issued the Cease and Desist order to the RbFSRWy.
Respectfuly,
The Law Firm of Vinny, Liugi and Guido
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
Here is the latest version I sent Tom
Vic posted a link. Couple of changes I'm looking at.
1. Change from "U" shape to "J" shape. Stand in the "patio" extend the right side 4~8 foot. Haven't figured how far yet. In the extension A) Main Station & Yards, connect branchline to mainlines.
2. Flip the passing siding on lower level branchline. gives room for point 2 point automated trolly line.
3. Delete my plan of 32 ft tunnel. Create 2 "mountains" to support both ends of the upper level loops. NOW I have a "reason" to build a double track LONG bridge. (I like bridges!)
4. Thinking I can sneak in a point 2 point automated goose line along the inside of the mainline on far right, climbing the side of right mountain climbing to "top" of left mountain. MORE BRIDGES!!!
Email it to me, I can convert it...
You can also load irfanview (free), open the pdf, and save as jpg...
Pretty nice photo editor that I've used for years:
http://www.irfanview.com/
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Layout-TTrigg-mockup2.pdf
Here is the PDF of the last version I sent Tom, it should open for anyone with Adobe or similar.
ttrigg I don't know how to convert PDF to JPG. Guess I'll have to print then scan it.
I don't know how to convert PDF to JPG. Guess I'll have to print then scan it.
Tom, try BING.COM, they have some freeware and some not free.Just type in convert pdf to jpg
Dave
So are we going to see a drawing of the new & improved 10 lbs-into-3 lbs layout?
Al
Tom, if you have any things where you need some extra help, I'm just a few minutes down the coast from you. I still work for a living, but go past your place basically every day coming home from work.
Still light in the evenings.
Greg
No problem Tom, glad I could help. Look forward to seeing it built
Guys, Vic has once again proven his skill of packing 10 pounds of fun in a 3 pound bag. The current RbFSRWy has the limited ability of having 3 prime movers (engines, geese, & trucks) in operation at one time. He has given me drawings for the NEW AND IMPROVED RbFSRWy where I can have 5 prime mover in continious operation with 2 more in controlled intermittant operation sharing the local branch lines. I want to publicly thank him for his contribuition.
Thanks Vic!
ttrigg Dave: I'm adding 1+ to the number of friends that have also lived through 13 Presidents! (I'm a year behind you). Still waiting for the title "Grampy", signs indicate that will not be too far away. Daughter has been "poorly" most mornings for the last three(?) months, caught her "shopping" girls infant/todler sections. I've been looking at the 50610. Mostly just looking for a "reason" to buy, thanks for the "reason"! This will allow mainlines to run unimpeeded.
Dave: I'm adding 1+ to the number of friends that have also lived through 13 Presidents! (I'm a year behind you). Still waiting for the title "Grampy", signs indicate that will not be too far away. Daughter has been "poorly" most mornings for the last three(?) months, caught her "shopping" girls infant/todler sections.
I've been looking at the 50610. Mostly just looking for a "reason" to buy, thanks for the "reason"! This will allow mainlines to run unimpeeded.
As a Grandfather to 9 with 1 due on Labor Day and 1 due around my B-Day. I can proudly add my fiirst grate-grand child will be a boy Also due around my B-Day. Yes I will require name tags if they all get together. Thank you for adding me to your list of Friends, I keep moving away from mine and since I don't plan on moving anymore.We are still un-packing boxies from the reno house AKA storage. Let me konw if you find a good source for the bridge's I may need one or two unless I get creative over the rainy season ( winter ). So far this summer I haven't had many trains running since I Smoked my Connie for the second time. And we have been very busy every weekend since June first, I did get my 4 RS-3 repainted and relettered .
vsmith Geez Tom ya scared me there. I thought you were packing it in.
Geez Tom ya scared me there. I thought you were packing it in.
I was thinking the same thing.
I hope that wall will be built with old RR ties
Tom, Everyone's concern was, why do i want to fix something that work's. money was not a concern because it's my money I'm spending not budget or whatever it's called these days. As in no CFO interaction required. And not rebuinding before next spring lets the board members think of ways to help (Fat chance ). I think they all forget I will be pushing 68 next year and won't have any trains running till late summer and will have new granddaughter roming around looking for PopPop's toy's ( I don't share ). I do plan on one more big run this year for my birthday in Nov, HD vidio will be posted..
The LGB 50610 make's a nice liftout bridge, just under four foot. Plenty of room for spreding rear ends............
Quick after thought! Instead of mainline going around the "patio" extend a set of "wing walls" with a 3 ft lift out bridge putting the patio on the inside of mainline. Possibly curve the wing wall on the right side to 4 ft radius?
Vic: I assume the problems come in getting around the "patio". How about shifting the patio 2 ft to the right, and carving the 90* inside corners to a 2 ft radius? Move the patio to the right so the penusilas are 12 and 14 ft? Will that give me the 8ft min dia's?
Dave: I no longer have anyone to seek approval, other than Liz and Evan (Bank managers and Funds manager) and it's their jobs to make sure I do have the funds available. I'l post pix of construction, hope you can do same.
Tom I did a prelim layout using the dimensions you list. I was able to get 8foot diameter on the outside loop of the mainline but could only use 6.5 footers on the inside loop.
Tom, after ansureing the WHY's and HOW'S I got finnal OK from the rest of the Board of trustee's ( family) The CFO was happy with project after telling her She would regain some yard space (dirt ). I will start my own post when the rebuild starts. Best of luck with your project and I hope All go's well.
Dave, playing in the dirt soon.
Dave:
Simple, really. It all depends on having the right neighbor/friend. He has a small construction company with some steel window frames (for cinderblock construction) that were too small for the project (his supplier replaced with correct size and did not ask for the old ones back.) Since I have been helping him with his N scale layout (filling the "third car" part of his garage) He is cutting them down to fit. I will end up with 4 - 7ftx18 inch "windows" in the back wall. Tunnel is NOT for storage, just for the ability to run two trains sequencially on the same track. If it turns out that I don't have the space to have the two sidings, I will re-work the concept so that the "inbound" train will acivate the "parked/hidden" train (magnetic reed switching circuitry,)
Tom, how do plan on retreveing those durn derail's from the middel of your 32ft tunnel? I would forget the passing sidings inside the tunnel place them in a more accessable palce. I have two 44 ft passing siding's that now only get used when I m makeing up a long train. After last years mess up I don't leave many trains on the tracks. Its easyer to put them on, then clean off the snale's, speiders and Bugs. I also lost 16 sets of Keede's form all the rain last seaon. Have looked at how Mic did his RR it's Built on18" raised block with stone stacked up the side's. I am considering a rebuild of mine utilzing his method.
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