Ringing in the New Year with cork and pushpins!
Alan
Freelancing the LK&O Railroad
Cork and glue have been a big part of my life for a while now. Nearing the end of the roadbed installation. I may actually get to lay some track before winter is over!
http://www.lkorailroad.com/cork-roadbed-part-iii/
wow great job after looking at your pictures i feal that my benchwork is lacking something
Keep the progress pics coming. I've pulled a few structures and track off my layout in preparation for an expansion and new track plan.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
Bless those who can work in a totally linear fashion. It just bores me to death. After some roadbed was down,. I'd lay some track. Then extend the roadbed, then more track, etc. After some track was down, I'd wire it up and test run over it. Etc.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy, there is a method to the madness and a reason why all roadbed has to be completed before laying track. All of the sub-roadbed is modular-like. It can be removed section at a time and taken to the workbench where I will lay track, install switch machines, wire, etc. Track laying won't actually be done on the layout. If the entire cork roadbed were not in place then there would be great risk of misalignment during track laying.
lifeontheranch 10 Mile Tunnel... or so that is what I am calling my hidden track that connects the north staging helix with the upper deck at Kitzmiller. Finished constructing the sub-roadbed this past week. The full story and many more pictures are here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/10-mile-tunnel/ The hanging end you see is where the north helix will connect once I get it built. In this first picture the track is under scenery. I took the foam out temporarily so you can see the track below. The track is making the final curve before entering the visible layout through a tunnel portal on the opposite side of the backdrop. In this second picture the hidden track will be inside cardboard web mountains. Finally in this picture the hidden track is below the benchwork and will be behind a drape. After I get track laid, hardboard short walls will be put in place on each side to prevent possible plunges to concrete.
10 Mile Tunnel... or so that is what I am calling my hidden track that connects the north staging helix with the upper deck at Kitzmiller. Finished constructing the sub-roadbed this past week. The full story and many more pictures are here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/10-mile-tunnel/ The hanging end you see is where the north helix will connect once I get it built.
In this first picture the track is under scenery. I took the foam out temporarily so you can see the track below. The track is making the final curve before entering the visible layout through a tunnel portal on the opposite side of the backdrop.
In this second picture the hidden track will be inside cardboard web mountains.
Finally in this picture the hidden track is below the benchwork and will be behind a drape. After I get track laid, hardboard short walls will be put in place on each side to prevent possible plunges to concrete.
Alan, nice work and building technique. Like to make a suggestion to those masonite guard rails on the lowered track. The masonite is fine for the backside, however, 1/8" plexi or better yet 1/8" Lexan strips screwed to the subroadbed sides will allow for sighting to see the track for derailment or debris. Makes easier track inspection and cleaning w/o awkward viewing .
This Lexan is used for temp guardrails as scenery progresses, it is set inside the long tunnel, has made track inspection in that dark underside so much easier..
Lexan works far better as it is less likely to crack as will happen w/ Plexiglas (especially in such thin strips).
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Bob, that is a very good suggestion. In fact you jogged my memory. I actually did something very similar on a slot car track many years ago to keep flying cars to a minimum. For the slot car track I went to Kinkos and had them run laminate through the machine with no paper inbetween. The result was a flexible, yet not floppy, very tough clear plastic sheet that I cut into strips. Thanks ever so much for reminding me. It is now the new plan.
www.lkorailroad.com/slot_car_track_2010_010.jpg
Sub-roadbed and cork roadbed all finished! I am ready to lay track. Unfortunately, it came time to say goodbye to my old friend.
See the roadbed results and read the eulogy here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/goodbye-to-a-dear-friend/
I'm impressed with your workmanship!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I for one got a good laugh at your link. I've just been tossing my trackplan printouts when I am done with them, guess I am just insensitive!
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/
Looking forward to your progress.
rrinker Bless those who can work in a totally linear fashion. It just bores me to death. After some roadbed was down,. I'd lay some track. Then extend the roadbed, then more track, etc. After some track was down, I'd wire it up and test run over it. Etc. --Randy I'm with you Randy, but this guy's work is above reproach!
I'm with you Randy, but this guy's work is above reproach!
Dean
30 years 1:1 Canadian Pacific.....now switching in HO
Quite the compliment. You make me blush. Thanks!
Alan, I spent the better part of last night reading through your site. I must say, I've never seen better planned nor executed model railroad construction. I want to say workmanship, since you're at the benchwork / subroadbed stage, but I have to use craftmanship to describe it - it's at a level I can only dream about. Makes me want to start over!
If anyone reading this thread has not seen his build website, you owe it to yourself to visit. Just allow some time!
Ed
Long overdue for a post here on MRR about my layout building progress. A lot has been accomplished. I am actually getting track laid and wired. Have a peek at http://www.lkorailroad.com/
A view from underneath my yard throat area:
And I made my own lighted switchstands: http://www.lkorailroad.com/switchstand-fun/
Another module built and installed. The east end of the yard.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-4/
Brittain Yard track work finished.
Complete post: http://www.lkorailroad.com/connectors-1-2-3/
Views from each eand of the yard:
After a long summer of almost no work on the railroad, I am back at it. Module 5 is built, wired, and tested. After replacing the removed ties and a quick shot of camo brown foundation color paint it will be ready for placement back on the layout.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-5-in-progress/
Also made my very first offset Tortoise linkages. They work great and cost almost nothing!
Module 5 complete and reinstalled on the benchwork.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-5-complete/
I just caught up on your work over the past year. Incredibly well-planned and detailed. But where is all the mess that all (most) of us fight to control? I clean up the layout room every now and then but my workshop seems to stay a total disaster.
The mess is (was) in the workshop. That's why I build them outside the train room and then transport them in when finished. Train room stays clean.
Made great progress this weekend including prep for a river.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/connector-4/
Alan:
I just want to say thanks for sharing your excellent switch stand design. The fact that it doesn't rotate makes things a whole lot simpler, and much cheaper too. I need about 25 switch stands for my yard and other areas. I was looking at commercially available operating stands with a bit of trepedation because of the cost and the sensitivity of the mechanisms. You have eliminated those concerns.
P.S.
Your progress is excellent even if you were off for a while. Your workmanship continues to impress! I am very interested in your track modules because I will have to do something similar when building my layout. Better reinforce that river gap though (as if you weren't planning on doing that already).
Im still following along. Will be interesting to see what you do for the river construction.
More progress. Another module finished.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-6/
The rubber shops switching tracks and ABB interchange tracks are complete.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/connectors-5-6/
I don't want to repeat every response on this thread. I looked at your site. All I have to say is: OH MY GOD. Craftsmanship and I am sure it reflects who you are and your design and everything you do.
Ok fine I will say more: Steve Jobs quoted his father a number of times: just because no one will see it does not mean it should be shoddy ... You are a personification of that principle.
I am building a 23' X 16' double deck layout (check the Francisquito Valley build thread ... Oh no never mind, don't!) with my two preschoolers right now. It is my second layout, third if you count a short lived 4x8. You make me feel inadequate, but in a good way.
Wow!
NP
You make me blush. Thank you NP